Chapter 13

Chapter 13

After spending some time in the chambers, I left to join the servants in the kitchen. They were preparing dinner, and I saw Aslaug among them.

"Come on," she nodded for me to join, and I stepped forward. "Here. Chop these vegetables."

Though I had little experience with cooking, I was glad I had learned some from Siggy back home. I would stand close to her in the evening and watch her and the other thralls cook meals.

I struggled, holding the vegetables in one hand and chopping them with the knife. A thin layer of sweat formed on my forehead as I stood there for minutes.

"What are you doing? If you continue like that, you will cut your finger and ruin the vegetables."

I slowly turned around to see Aslaug behind me. She looked at me, then at the board where I was cutting the veggies.

"I'm sorry," I murmured, handing her the knife.

"Don't be," she said. "Hold this." She handed me the bowl of water. Unlike how I had been struggling to chop the veggies, Aslaug did it with ease, and within a few minutes, she was done.

"That is how you do it," she said, flashing me a small smile.

"Thank you. I will try again," I said.

"No, you should go to Jarl Eirik's room to have it cleaned before he returns," she said.

I wiped my hands with the towel before leaving for Erik's room. I removed the sheets and spread new ones on the bed. Then I moved on to sweeping the floor and dusting the cupboard and windows.

After I was done and ready to leave, I opened the door, and my eyes widened in surprise to see Erik standing there. Next to him was Knut, and they were talking about something before they saw me.

"Are you all right? I heard you hurt yourself," Erik said.

"I am fine."

"No, I can smell blood." Erik furrowed his brows as his eyes moved to my head.

He took a step closer. "Let me see the wound."

He closed the distance between us, gently holding my cheek and turning it to different sides as he inspected my head.

"It's still bleeding," he murmured, and I could feel his breath on my face. He smelled of a warm, spicy fragrance with a hint of clove and vanilla. "We need to clean it before it causes any infection."

Erik turned to Knut, who was still standing behind, staring at us. "I will talk with you later."

Knut nodded and walked away.

Erik turned back to me, and as he moved closer, the scent of him grew stronger. I felt at ease, wrapped in it.

He slowly opened the door and ushered me inside his chamber.

"Sit," he said, pointing to the bed.

I hesitated, and when he walked toward me with a box in his hand, he raised a brow.

"I told you to sit."

"The bed has just been arranged," I said.

He turned to the bed. "It will not hurt to be messy for once. Sit, Freydis."

I sat down on the edge of the bed, and Erik sat down next to me. He wet the cloth and turned to me.

"You fell from the horse," he said.

"I didn't fall on my own."

"I know," he muttered. "I never wanted you outside."

"I was out on a stroll with Knut. We were not that far from the estate when it happened."

His lips curved just a little as he reached for me. "The woods become very dangerous when there are those who wish to harm you."

He tilted my chin, slowly brushing my hair to the other side.

"You must understand—this house is your only safe place. If you wish to survive, you must not leave," he said.

"Who would want to hurt me?" I asked. "I know no one in the North. I just came here."

"The Hounds," he said. "They want you because of what you are."

"I don't understand."

"You will understand later," he murmured.

The wet cloth brushed over my head as he cleaned the blood. I felt the coldness from it. I didn't miss the way Erik stared at me as he tended to my wound.

"There," he murmured, his breath fanning my face. "All better now."

He did not pull away. Instead, his eyes traveled to my lips. I knew I should move away, but I could not.

I slowly closed my eyes, having a vivid imagination of Erik's lips brushing mine. When I opened them, Erik crashed his lips onto mine.

My eyes widened in surprise. Though the way he did it was unexpected, he kissed me softly.

He pressed his body closer to me, sucking on my bottom lip. The heat of the kiss spread to my face, and I felt a light flush.

For some odd reason, I didn't recoil—until I did.

I pulled away quickly, my breath uneven as I rose to my feet. Erik stared at me with widened eyes.

"I'm... I'm—"

"I should go," I said, bowing my head, and I dashed out of the room.