Astrid hurried to drop the pup at the stable, and without a word to her brothers, who were still at the table in the great hall - she rushed past them to take the staircase two at a time.
She shut the door behind her and leaned against it, closing her eyes tightly, trying hard to chase away the vision that tormented her. She had been enjoying the sight of her beautiful wife when a harsh scenario intruded and refused to retreat to the far back of her mind where she kept it locked away.
It had jumped out at her when Vevina noticed her, and then, instantly, Astrid had no longer been staring at her wife but at the woman who had cause some of her torture. She was the daughter of the leader of the barbarian tribe. She had heard about Astrid's reputation with women and lured her to her tent, a
