“Listen, I –”

Frey interrupted me again and I could tell by his eyes, his tone and the way he held his body that he was getting angrier and I didn’t need our afternoon with the adela cup to read it.

“I could have come back with a bloody branch to find myself without a bloody wife.”

I leaned toward him and said, “Frey, listen –” but I was cut off again.

This time by Kell.

“Got a sharp wit, that one,” he stated and Frey’s eyes cut to him so mine did too. “We were in a bad position Frey, you off doin’ what you were doin’, Baldur suspicious. Got nerve, your woman does,” he jerked a head my way, “got smarts too. Was her idea to fake bein’ sick and how she did it. We’d already used that ploy to call ‘em off, they weren’t fallin’ for it but her act was so good, man, even I thought our lie was true. And the way she faked bein’ sick meant she didn’t have to talk much so I could do the talkin’ for her, which helped hide who she is. In the end, she made a show of takin’ pains in payin’ her respect to a man who don’t deserve it but sure as hell demands it and he came off lookin’ like an arse. Quite a play, all ‘n’ all and worked out fine. So calm, man, pull up anchor and let’s get outta here.”

I thought this was an excellent suggestion, not to mention I was pleased that I’d impressed Kell.

Frey did not agree.

“It worked out well by pure chance,” he growled and when I turned to him and opened my mouth to speak, his eyes cut to me and he kept growling. “And don’t, Finnie, don’t you tell me it was a risk worth taking. Three times,” he held up three fingers, “fortune has smiled at you and, wife, if you keep riding that particular blade of luck, you’re going to get sliced wide open.”

Eek!

All righty, clearly it was time to soothe the pissed off Raider.

“Honey,” I whispered, hoping my tone would calm him, “what did you expect us to do?”

“Not bloody walk into a tent with only two trained guards when Baldur had twenty-four and sit down for a bloody chat,” Frey returned, not soothed even a little bit by my soft tone.

Hmm.

Unfortunately, it seemed I was getting mad.

“We needed to buy time,” I informed him.

“As it works out, love, you didn’t,” he informed me.

“Well we didn’t know that!” I shot back.

“You waited an hour, you would,” he retorted.

I glared at him and then scooted my chair around to face him.

“Listen, Frey, we were in a situation. They weren’t falling in with our efforts to stall. And you were out there,” I swung out an arm, “doing something I didn’t want you to get caught doing. We thought you wouldn’t return for days, not hours and, for God’s sake, I couldn’t huddle in your cabin biting my nails and hoping for a miracle rescue!”

“Finnie –” he started but I talked over him, leaning toward him to do it.

“You know, marriage is marriage, a partnership. You aren’t the only one who needs to step up and keep one of us safe. It’s my job as your wife to do the same if a time comes when I have to and it’s my job to do it however that might need to come about. We were exposed and I didn’t want you to be exposed so I did what I did in an effort to keep you safe. It was dangerous, yes, I’ll grant that. But we had no choice.”

“Fin –” he tried to get my name out but I kept right on going.

“You’re angry because I was in danger, again, well, you were in danger too! You rode right up to those tents and came charging in to keep me safe. What? I don’t get to do what I have to do to return the favor?”

“Love –” Frey began but yep, I kept right on talking.

“I get you’re angry because it was dangerous and you’re concerned. I’m sorry about that. But I’ll tell you this, given the chance, I’d do it again, no joke. I’d do it in a heartbeat.”

Frey was silent after that and I was too but I was communicating through my angry glare. Frey, on the other hand, was not communicating; he was simply holding my glare.

Then he asked, “Are you finished?”

“I don’t know. Do I need to go on?” I asked back.

His tone was quiet when he said, “I think you’ve stated your case, wee one.”

“Told you she had a sharp wit,” Kell put in and Frey and I looked at him to see him gnaw a piece of meat in half and start chewing. Then, with mouth full, he went on, “And she’s got nerve, head-to-head with you?” he shook his head and shoved the rest of the meat in his mouth even though he wasn’t done with the last. Then, still with mouth full, but his voice was different he said, “But you know that, don’t you? Was you told me she had the spirit and, by the gods, man, we learned today you were not wrong.”

I was interested in this spirit business and I was feeling all warm inside because I’d obviously earned Kell’s respect and equally obviously Frey had been talking me up but, as nice as they were, both of these things made me feel slightly embarrassed.

Therefore I admonished, “Kell, there’s a lady at the table. Don’t talk with your mouth full.”

His eyes came to me then he smiled huge exposing meat in his teeth.

I shook my head and couldn’t stop my quiet laughter that mingled with the same coming from Frey’s men around the table.

Then Kell reached out for another hunk of meat while barking, “Boy! Where’s my horn?”

My eyes moved to Skylar who I was stunned to see was looking at me and as he did it he was clearly in another world. His boyish face was soft, his eyes active and wheels were turning in his mind.

“Boy!” Kell barked again and Skylar jumped then dashed to the chart table where he’d put the pitcher of ale and the horns.

I looked to Frey to see he was also studying Skylar then I called, “Husband,” and he turned to me. “Are you still angry?” I asked.

He shook his head and lifted his hand to trail his fingers along my jaw while his eyes roamed my face and he muttered, “No, as all is well.” Then he dropped his hand, faced the table, his gaze circled the men and stopped on Gunner. “Not that this will happen again but if it does, Finnie goes nowhere without heavy guard. I don’t care if you have to arm half the crew and take them ashore.”

“That was my idea, Frey,” Stephan put in and I looked to him. “Gunner, Kell and I discussed it and we thought, considering it was simply a visit with her uncle, if we went in with three boatloads of men, it would expose too much. A visit of niece and uncle wouldn’t normally require that precaution. We decided it was likely he was there because he was suspicious about your ship anchored offshore and what you were doing and wasn’t there to take action against Finnie. And we hoped that she and Kell could pull off something to provide you cover. With that, we didn’t think you’d wish to tip the fact you consider him a threat by making that show.”