Nena by Ann Boelter (digital book reader txt) 📕

Plains village. But this time was different. Victory in the tournament for him was a given, inasmuch as such things can be, so this time he prepared for the gift more than the events. He carved her a bow from mountain black cedar. And when he presented it to her, he knelt with the greatest respect and vowed to win the tournament, not for himself, but for her, to show the gods his worthiness of her and their union. That she was meant to be Teclan and should have the finest Teclan bow.” Her aunt paused and smiled at the memory. “He had quite a speech, which as you know, for your father and his normal shortness of words, was no small wonder in itself.

“The gods must have liked this gift better, or his words—or perhaps it was only then the right time. Who knows with the gods?” Jalla shrugged. “The final round was between your father and your mother’s brother, your uncle. They had not met in the previous tournament, because her brother had been recovering from a battle wound. But now he was fully returned to form and gave your father fierce competition.

“Ultimately your father got the upper hand. While he was still crouched over your uncle’s prone body in the tournament arena, your mother stood on the dais. She was in such a hurry, she did not even wait for her brother to signal yield before she announced that she had chosen your father. It is a good story, no? It is hard to imagine your father, so young and full of folly.”

“Yes. It is a good story.” But Nena’s thoughts were again back to her own plight. Someone she cared deeply for would die this day. She had no more time for childish stories now.

“You are finished. Go to your Northman, Nena. May the gods have mercy on us all today.”

Nena stepped past the four armed guards outside the cell door. When she entered, she understood their increased presence. Jarl was standing alone, unshackled and half-dressed in Dor armor.

“You are well,” Nena murmured as she took in his tall frame and the wave of energy she felt from him.

“You seem relieved. Did you not have the confidence in your aunt that you professed?” Jarl asked.

“I did at the time, but when I arrived at the cliffs, Gentok swore he did not have anything to do with it. Then I wasn’t sure.”

“He was there?” Jarl’s jaw tightened, and a small muscle in his cheek ticked. “And you spent the four days with him?”

“Yes.” Nena recognized his anger and jealousy. “Though we did not speak after my initial arrival.”

“But you believed him?”

Nena hesitated. “I think so. Gentok has never lied to me, but honestly, I don’t know who to believe anymore.” Not even myself. She stepped toward him and adjusted the laces on the sides of the Dor armor. She watched as Jarl flexed and twisted inside the plates of hardened leather, testing the fit and range of motion. He nodded, seeming satisfied. “Why do you help me and not your brother?” he asked.

“No one else will help you.”

“That doesn’t answer my question. Why do you help me? Do you want me to win?” He smiled at her, his battle fever already spiking in anticipation of the upcoming fight. There was no fear, no hesitation, no consideration for loss on his handsome face.

“My brother wants this to be a fair fight,” she murmured.

“So you do it for your brother? Is that the only reason?” he pressed.

Nena did not answer, but her eyes were troubled.

Jarl’s expression grew suddenly serious. “I was worried you would not return.”

“I told you I would.”

“I know, but being here among your family, your people, I realize this must be very hard for you.”

How did he always know what to say? How did he always know what she felt, when people she had known her whole life did not?

“Nena, why did you leave me before? If you weren’t pregnant, why did you run? Your aunt said you dream of terrible pain. Did something happen to you that I don’t know of? Did someone hurt you while I was away?” The fury he felt at the thought was unmistakable in his clenched jaw.

“It doesn’t matter now,” she said.

“It does to me, and I have risked my life to be here. Doesn’t that qualify me to know the truth? If everyone else is correct and I am soon to die….”

Nena took a deep breath. He was right. He did deserve to know the truth. And being so close to him now—feeling their connection, she knew what the truth was. After so many hours and days of soul searching, she knew. She hadn’t escaped to return to her family, to her people. She hadn’t escaped to return home to the mountain. While all of those things had factored into her decision, what had truly driven her away was clear. It was what her dream had showed her almost every night—what she had admitted to Jalla. “I could not bear to become to you as Altene was. For you to one day tire of me and hand me off to another as you did her.”

“Altene,” Jarl exhaled with a whistle. “Altene is nothing to me—was never anything more to me than a companion. You, on the other hand, are everything. Can you not see that? I don’t understand how or why, but you have become such a part of me, that without you I am no longer whole. I could no more leave you than I could leave my leg or my hand. I cannot explain what I feel for you—how complete I am when we are together, how empty I feel when we are apart. When I returned from battle and you were gone...” He shook his head. “Words cannot describe the depth of what I felt,” he repeated. “I never knew it was even possible to feel that way.”

They were close now. He could smell