Nena by Ann Boelter (digital book reader txt) 📕

She nodded.

“When do you leave?” he asked.

“Tonight. Now.”

“I will miss not seeing you, but at least you will be away from this Gentok, too. Will you return for the trial?”

“Yes.”

“What if your father commands you somewhere else?”

Defiance flashed in her eyes. “I will be there.”

He nodded. “Good. Do you anticipate any treachery while you are gone?”

“No, but just in case, Jalla will be caring for you. Eat or drink nothing that she does not provide.”

“Jalla?” Jarl exhaled and screwed his face into a grimace. “Are you sure?”

Nena smiled at his reaction, not knowing its true cause. “She may seem unyielding, but she knows the truth about us now. No harm will come to you at her hand.”

“I guess I’ll have to trust you in this—it appears I have no choice.”

“Nena.” Gentok was the first to greet her when she arrived at the cliffs in the dark.

Nena stared at him for a long moment before she slid from the mare’s back and held up her hand. “Do not speak to me unless it relates to guard duty,” she said, and turned to walk away.

“Nena, what’s wrong?” he asked. “Has something happened?”

She whirled to face him. “Do you think I am stupid? Did you think I would not know you betrayed me when I was suddenly sent here?”

“What are you talking about? And lower your voice,” he cautioned.

“There will be no need to lower my voice. We will not be speaking.” She turned away again.

“Yes, we will, but in private.” He grabbed her by the arm and dragged her toward the trees. “Now, what is the meaning of this attack on me?” he demanded when he stopped out of earshot of the others.

Nena jerked her arm away from him. “Did you really think I would find it coincidence that my father suddenly sends me away until the day of the trial? And that you are also conveniently here?” she seethed.

“You are needed here,” he responded. “As am I. As are all the warriors here. You would never have questioned that, had that Northman not twisted your thoughts. Of what is it you accuse me, Nena?”

“You told my father what you heard that night, to manipulate him to send me here with you.”

“Listen to what you are saying! First you rant at having to do your warrior’s duty like a spoiled child, and then you make accusations—all because it takes you away from the Northman! He is the enemy, Nena, or have you forgotten that? In less than a week, he will try to kill your brother—your only remaining brother—as he killed Ruga, or have you so easily forgotten that, too? What has happened to you? I told you before, neither of you were quiet with your voices that night. Someone else could have heard you. The Northman even bragged he would tell anyone who would listen. Perhaps he told someone else.”

“But ‘someone else’ was not waiting to be chosen by me, Gentok. ‘Someone else’ did not have so much to gain.”

“What is wrong with you? Why do you defend him over me? You shame yourself!” Gentok took her by the shoulders, his fingers biting into her skin. She expected him to start shaking her. “I did not betray you, Nena, no matter what you might think. But seeing how you act, I am grateful to whoever did. It is clearly for the best that you are here, away from him, to prevent you from shaming yourself even more. He has some spell over you. Somehow he has trapped the honorable woman I know inside an unrecognizable shell.” His face was contorted with emotion.

But if Gentok was telling the truth, then who? Nena was suddenly terrified. Jalla? She had told Jarl to trust her, and now there was nothing she could do about it. She could not leave her post and race back to the village on a suspicion. Everyone would think she was mad. Was she?

Gentok was still staring at her, breathing hard from their explosive confrontation. That he cared for her deeply was clear, but that did not necessarily make him innocent. She took a deep wavering breath.

“Apologies, Gentok. You are correct. I am not myself. Please forgive me.”

“Nena, I worry for you,” he began.

“I know. I will be alright. This will all be over soon.”

“Why don’t you rest. I will cover your shift tonight,” he offered.

“Gratitude, Gentok, but sleep will not come to me. It will be better for me if I am useful.”

“As you wish.” He nodded. “Since you are the most familiar with them, you have been assigned the post with the clearest view of their camp. You will be best able to recognize any changes in their routine, and know if they are planning anything out of the ordinary.”

The next four days were an unending hell. As she watched the relaxed activities of the Northman camp below, Nena knew Gentok was right; she would have easily recognized the battle preparations that always preceded their attacks. There were none. They clearly posed no threat, and it made her presence there even more useless and frustrating. But she could not say a word. Gentok would assume she was only looking for some excuse to return to the village. He hadn’t approached her again after the first night, but his eyes always followed her with concern.

Nena regretted her outburst, but did not apologize. She was consumed with far bigger worries. She looked to every messenger or replacement warrior arriving from the village with trepidation, more than half expecting one to bring word of Jarl’s death. The more thought she gave it, she could not believe Jalla would lie to her and then betray her. She would not have promised to care for him. And if she believed Gentok, which she was inclined to do, that only left her father.

She had assumed someone had told him, but her father was not a fool. He knew why Jarl was there, and he