Born Of Nothing

15

“Yes, I’ve traveled a great distance over both land and sea,” I admitted. What I could not tell her was that my journey had been far more complex than that. These people would not understand or accept that I had come from another world entirely. “Why have you left your people to come here?” Her hands absently removed her hair from its plait as she waited for my answer. “I suppose my spirit was made to wander. Adventure calls to me, and I follow its lead.” Rumors of the conquering customs of the Norsemen were widespread. Her people were known for their travels and exploration, and as I expected, she nodded in understanding of my plight. “How is it you speak my language? Have you been in these parts for long?” “I spent some time in a southern village where I learned the language, but I speak many languages. I am a fast learner.” I gave her a roguish smirk, and she raised an appraising brow in response. She attempted to run her hands through her wild curls but got caught repeatedly on tangles. “I think I can help with that.” I stood to retrieve my pack that I had left by the wood pile and returned to sit by her as I dug through my leather bag. “Here it is, try this.” I handed over a whale-tooth comb I had acquired recently in another village. She stared at the object with confusion, so I took her hand in mine and guided the instrument through her waving locks. As soon as she realized how well the comb sifted through her hair, her eyes lit with excitement. “Did you make this?” “No, I purchased it from an elderly woman in another village. I am happy for you to keep it—you clearly need it more than I,” I offered playfully. She smacked my arm with a laugh. “Well then, foreigner, perhaps you should come with me. You can show my village what all you have to teach us.” She rose to her feet and held out a small hand lined with calluses and marked with dirt. I took her hand and stood, towering over her petite frame without releasing her warm fingers from my grip. “If I am to come with you, should I not know your name?” Up close I saw that her mossy green eyes were flecked with gold, hinting at her fiery spirit. “Hilde,” she offered proudly. I pulled my eyes from her rosy lips and returned her amused gaze. “I am Fenodree, but you may call me Fen.” “Very well, Fen. This way.” Grabbing her axe and a small pack, she led me inland through a dense forest of trees up and over a hillside. We did not appear to follow any particular path, and yet she clearly knew where she was going. Once we had descended on the other side of the large hill, the trees thinned into an open valley. Nestled at the base of the hill was a small village teeming with activity. There was no protective wall, but anyone who approached would be easily seen from a good distance in all directions. The establishment was situated on a swiftly moving stream that wound its way through the hills toward the coast. Each of the dozen buildings was constructed such that they resembled miniature mountains bursting from the Earth. Two leaning walls met at a high peak in the middle, acting both as walls and roof. Soil and grass covered the surfaces in a way that made the buildings almost disappear into the grassy valley if one were to look from the proper angle. One building near the center stood out larger than all the others. As Hilde led me in its direction, the village inhabitants stared curiously, but I did not receive an overall threatening vibe. The sun had fallen behind the hills, casting long shadows in the dimming light. I had spent many a night out in frigid temperatures, and I was hopeful that I would be spending that night warm under furs by the heat of a fire. Just as we neared the door to the main hall, a large man lumbered over to stand between us and the entrance. His blond beard was divided into two braids, and a fur pelt hung over his barrel chest. “Hilde, who is this outsider?” he grumbled with a glare in my direction. “He’s a traveler. I found him near the shore,” she spoke defiantly, arms crossing over her chest. The man’s arctic glare narrowed further. “And you led him here to our camp? What were you thinking?” he spat at her face. Not only did she not cower, a fire lit in her eyes as her hands went to her hips, and she leaned forward. “This man knows things he can teach us. I, for one, am open to learning ways that will make our lives better,” she growled up at him fiercely. “If you have a problem with that, get your sword and fight me like a man.” I had no doubt the young man could have taken her on easily in a fight, but he simply snarled with a glance in my direction before stomping away. Hilde grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the door and around to the side of the building. “I was going to announce your presence to the Earl, but now everyone will already know of your arrival,” she explained while dragging me behind her. Not far from the main hall, she tugged me inside one of the other buildings. She slammed the door shut and shoved me back against the solid wood. Her small hands pressed at my shoulders, and her eyes casually swept their way up my chest to my face. “You have acquired great knowledge in your travels, yes?” she whispered seductively before reaching up to nibble softly on my bottom lip. “Show me, Fenodree. Teach me what you know.” On her exhaled words, I lifted her into my arms, her legs wrapped firmly around my waist. That night I claimed her body as her soul had already claimed mine. Our fates had been inextricably intertwined from the moment I chanced upon her on that rocky shore. I had never thought to see her again, which was why the sight of Cat had been so unsettling. Cat was a wisp of a woman compared to the force of nature that was Hilde, but the two looked strikingly alike. Had they been standing side-by-side, the most noticeable difference would have been their eyes. Where Hilde’s green irises were dotted with gold, Cat’s eyes were the purest kelly green I had ever seen. Furthermore, the messages they communicated through those eyes were in complete contrast. Hilde’s eyes lit with a keen understanding of the battles required in life, while Cat’s gaze spoke of a childlike naiveté. She was dripping with guileless innocence. I was torn between wanting to claim that purity for my own, and a dark desire to sully her until she was unrecognizable. No doubt the pull I felt toward her was owed to her familiar appearance, but there was a chasm of life experiences between us. She was practically a child. Moreover, I did not care to dwell on the memories the sight of her brought to mind. There was only one purpose Cat might serve, and even that was unlikely.