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Chapter Nine
Last Updated:
2024-11-12 21:56:38
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Berserker Chapter Ten
The hair on Ulfhild's neck prickled as she followed along in the dance. She'd been participating in this moon rite for so long, her body knew the steps without conscious thought, giving her the ability to sense something else. Someone else. Someone was watching her. She knew it as sure as she felt the sand under her feet. But who would dare? The wood and this area of the beach where the sacred circle stood were enchanted. No one could find them. Unless that someone had magicks as well. Her eyes darted to the nearby trees as she danced by, trying to find the cause of the sudden anxiety twisting in her gut. All she could see were the glowing eyes of some woodland creature. Her breathing came faster as the dance continued, and the patterns became more intricate. A familiar scent wafted faintly from the trees. What was it?She almost tripped when the answer came to her. It was the scent she associated with the stranger, Brandur. But his being here was impossible. He was locked up and gua
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"Ulfhild?" an altogether too familiar voice asked.Reality came crashing back down upon her like a relentless tidal wave. The cocoon that had been spun around her and this captivating creature in her arms shattered into a million fragments at the voice. Ulfhild wrenched herself away from the wolf upon hearing the dark-haired woman. She blinked rapidly, her mind struggling to right itself. "Mamma? What are you doing here?""I might ask you the same, min søte." Astrid stared at the pair, a sardonic smile playing on her lips. A low growl came from the animal's throat as Ulfhild gained her feet to face her mother. She shook like a leaf in a high wind, whether from fear or being out of contact with his soft fur she couldn't say. A shiver ran down her spine at the unwelcome realization and she took a step back. The animal whined, turned in a circle, and sat again. His ice-blue eyes had a pleading quality to them. Ulfhild wondered what they could be pleading for."I…I'm not sure," Ulfhild c
Last Updated : 2024-11-12Berserker Chapter Twelve
Chest heaving, Brand skidded to an abrupt stop, his paws no longer encountering the resistance of pine needles and leaves, but instead sinking into the soft sand and tendrils of seaweed. He was standing on a narrow slice of beach. Looking over his shoulder, Brand could barely make out the wood where he had been talking to Ulfhild and Astrid only moments before. His only thought had been to escape, and he had run with no thought to where he was going other than away. Witches! By all the gods, why did it have to be witches?As he panted, he tried to take in his surroundings and figure out exactly where he was. White cliffs rose behind him. The roll and crash of the sea thundered in his ears where he had only been able to hear his heartbeat moments before. The white foam of waves swirled around his feet, rising farther up his legs with every return. The tide was coming in. He needed to get off this beach and find shelter, but he couldn't move. His gut twisted as he tried to forget the t
Last Updated : 2024-11-12Berserker Chapter Thirteen
Ulfhild marched through the village, the morning fog licking her ankles and the mist beading on her face and leathers. The weather fit her mood. Her mind and spirit were in tumult. She could see nothing clearly after her talk with Astrid the night before. A sense of growing unease permeated her as deeply as the moisture of the morning air. Arriving at the training field, Ulfhild surveyed the grounds, her eyes unwittingly searching out the one person she told herself she did not want to see, Brandur. It took only a moment to find him. He fought Erik this morning. Tall and proud, his muscles bulging under his shirt as their heavy broadswords sliced through the air and clashed so violently, they threw up tiny sparks. He taunted Erik between blows, his lips quirking up in a grin. “C’mon, old man! Is that all you’ve got? My baby sister hits harder than you.”Erik’s face reddened with the insult, and he charged sounding like a wounded bear. Brand easily parried the man’s blade and turned
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His heart lurched as he watched Ulfhild leave the training field. Her shoulders straight. Her strides purposeful, despite the demeaning words her father had spat at her in front of her fellow warriors. Brand had expected her to be formidable, but he had not expected to feel the way he had – fascinated, awed by her ferocity and strength. He had thought to hold back at first, to give her a chance to show off her skills, but as soon as their blades crossed, he realized his mistake. She was coming at him fast, eyes blazing, muscles flexing like a predator, giving no quarter. He felt a surge of adrenaline as he blocked her strikes, giving as good as he got. When their blades had crossed and he had pulled her into him, it was all Brand could do not to throw down his sword, grab her around the waist, and take her mouth right there and then. Magnus' coming had been well-timed.Brand scented the air around him and fought a shudder of desire. Ulfhild's delectable, one-of-a-kind scent suffused t
Last Updated : 2024-11-12Berserker Chapter Fifteen
Ulfhild paced back and forth across the meadow, her brow furrowed with concern, the white woolen dress she wore swaying in the mild breeze. The gentle moonlight streamed through the trees, casting a dappled pattern of light and shade across the ground. The grass beneath her feet rustled softly in the warm, gentle breeze, and the heady scent of wildflowers hung heavy in the air, but Ulfhild could not appreciate the beauty of the nature around her tonight. She was too worried.Her thoughts raced with speculation and fear. What would happen if he hadn't received her note? What would happen if he had? Would he even show up to her vague summons? What if he couldn't get past the guards? What if..."Min søte, please," Astrid's soothing tones pleaded. "You are exhausting me with all the back and forth. He will show up or he will not. He will listen or he will not. Your pacing will not change the outcome."Ulfhild stopped and regarded her mother sitting calmly on a large bolder shrouded in gre
Last Updated : 2024-11-12Berserker Chapter Sixteen
The roar of the water was the first clue that they were getting close. As they followed the path around a large boulder, he saw them. The falls Ulfhild had spoken about."What are they called?" Brand asked, coming to stand beside Ulfhild as she looked out over the water spilling over the side of a high promontory he couldn't remember seeing from the village. Magnus' lands were featureless and flat except for the small rise where Ulfhild watched he and his fellow warriors in the mornings. More magicks then. He suppressed a shudder."The Hvergelmir Dewfalls," Ulfhild answered, her voice pitched louder to overcome the resounding rush of the water. "They are said to be the source of all the water in all the rivers. Very powerful magicks are manifested here."Brand's jaw tightened at the confirmation of his thoughts. Talk of magicks made his skin crawl but he was determined to ignore the feeling and try to relieve his mate's distress. A flash of red in the trees past the rushing waters of
Last Updated : 2024-11-12Berserker Chapter Seventeen
Brand couldn't control his eyebrows shooting to his hairline and his lips parting in shock at her words. He wanted to spit some new invective at her but he merely sputtered. The woman had the nerve to flash him a small smile. "Have you lost your words, Brandur the Destroyer?" Ulfhild asked. "Ahh, maybe my brew has begun working, after all."Brand's hands shot to his throat in panic. When a strangled cry left his lips, a low, tired voice came from the bench. "It is not nice to tease, Dóttir. The poor man already has a fear of us and you are going to need him.""Mamma!" Ulfhild scrambled to her feet. "You are awake."Astrid blinked and focused on her daughter. "Yes, I am fine. Simply tired." She pushed herself up until she was sitting. "The power of speaking the prophecy was much stronger than I had planned on. I have never experienced the like."Ulfhild sat next to Astrid on the bench and wrapped her in a fierce hug. "I was so frightened. We weren't sure what to do so I had Brandur br
Last Updated : 2024-11-12
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Berserker Epilogue
The clearing glowed with the twinkling fairy lights that adorned every tree, and the torches that had been lit along the path to illuminate the participants' way. Brand stood in front of the Yggdrasil feeling like his throat was being constricted by a stiff collar rather than a soft tunic. He wore a bearskin over one shoulder to symbolize strength and protection. He was also glad of its warmth as the first snows had started to fall just in the last week. He huffed as Brodi clapped him on the shoulder. "Nervous yet?" he asked with a smile, adjusting the leather hauberk that held his broadsword across his back and the belt at his waist where the sheath for his ceremonial dagger rested. "No, just cold," Brand lied through gritted teeth. His brother just laughed at him. "Don't worry, Brother. It will all be over soon, then we can get to the feasting," Brodi told him jovially.Brand frowned at him. "Easy for you to say," he muttered."Really, Brother. I know you missed our ceremony, but
Berserker Chapter Forty-Seven
Brand's brother turned to him, seeking guidance, just as Brand became aware of the stickiness on his hand. He at first ignored it. He had been in too many bloody brawls in his lifetime for blood to bother him overmuch. But when his mate gasped and tensed in his arms, a wave of dread washed over him. He realized that the stickiness was not merely the expected aftermath of the fight but something far more sinister. His elskede, his alt, Ulfhild, was wounded."Min elskede! Where are you hurt?" he demanded, his hands roaming frantically over her body.Ulfhild slapped at him ineffectually. "It is nothing, min ulv, only a scratch. Go with your brother. There is no time to spare."Brand ignored her and instead shouted to Astrid who had been standing on the edge of the crowd, clearly overwhelmed by her ordeal and its brutal end. Broken out of her reverie, Astrid came forward quickly and fell into healer mode. "Lie her down. Let me look," she instructed, ignoring her daughter's continued prote
Berserker Chapter Forty-Six
In the meadow, the winds seemed to take on a malevolent life of their own, their force intensifying with each passing moment. They twisted and spiraled, whipping through the grass and causing mini-tornadoes to erupt from the churned ground. The very earth under his feet seemed to groan in protest, and the acrid scent of freshly turned dirt mingled with the sharp tang of ozone, assaulting Brodi's senses as he ducked his head against the maelstrom and continued to silently advance.Above, the heavens were entirely shrouded by roiling, malignant clouds that seemed to devour any trace of starlight or moonshine. Leif and Astrid appeared to him only in the stark, searing flashes of the lightning overhead. The thunder that followed was a deafening roar, so powerful that it resonated deep within his chest, but still he stalked toward his prey. Squinting against the flying debris, he finally saw his brothers and the warriors in position against the backdrop of the ancient tree, whose gnarled b
Berserker Chapter Forty-Five
Gunnar stopped on the edge of the clearing where the giant Yggdrasil grew. He shifted, holding up a hand to forestall the warriors behind him. "He and Astrid are in the clearing," he whispered to the men.Birger squinted, trying to see them through the screen of skinny pines that blocked their view of the meadow. "Where? I can't see a thing through all these-" he stopped and hit his forehead with his palm. "Right. Wolf. You smell them."With a crooked smile on his face, Gunnar nodded to the man. "Yes. Their scent is very strong. The boy is fearful." He sniffed the air again. "And the woman is angry. More angry than fearful."Erik tipped his chin up in agreement. "That would be Astrid. She may not be a warrior like her daughter, but she is stronger than most men I know. She would never have gone with him if it had been only her own life that was threatened."Vidar's face showed his worry. Again, he was in the middle of a disaster. At least this time, it was a disaster not of his own ma
Berserker Chapter Forty-Four
Liv rested her forehead against Brodi's chest, fear almost taking her breath. His arms tightened around her as she shook with silent tears. Brodi had brought her back to the house, forbidding her to continue with the hunt. Overwhelmed by concern for her baby, she'd teetered on the edge of hysteria, her emotions running wild. She had to calm down, especially considering the news she had discovered just this morning."Min elskling, you must try to remain calm. We will find him," Brodi had assured her, holding her close to his broad chest and rocking her in his arms like a child. Her sobs finally quieted, taking strength from within his strong embrace and the firm certainty of his voice. He flattened a large palm on her belly. "This child will have a big brother that is healthy and hale. I swear to you."Looking up into the blue eyes she loved so much, she could see his absolute conviction that what he was telling her was true. They knew every inch of their pack lands. Surely, they would
Berserker Chapter Forty-Three
"Quit mumbling, witch!" Leif ordered as he continued to pull her along with the leather cord that bound her wrists. "I won't have you spelling me! Keep it up and I will stick a gag in your mouth. Do you understand.""Yes," Astrid said shortly. A bit of her usual calm composure returning to her after completing her frantic prayers. "I understand perfectly." She paused for effect. "But, young Leif, I do not think you understand your situation very well."Leif twisted his neck around to fix her with a venomous glare, his eyes blazing with an insanity that sent a shiver down her spine, but she maintained her dispassionate look. "What are you talking about, Witch? I'm the only one who understands exactly my situation. I've been stuck in this place for over a week, alone. How to get myself back to my proper time is all I've been thinking of.""What you have not thought through," Astrid continued calmly, "is what will happen to you once the Alpha finds you. Cubs are rare here, I understand."
Berserker Chapter Forty-Two
Leif panted as he leaned against a tree to catch his breath. The child was heavier than he'd expected, and the air here was thin. Placing the baby at his feet, he looked around, trying to get his bearings. He estimated he'd run several miles from the women and the clearing already. Suddenly, howling rent the silence of the forest. The baby inexplicably smiled and clapped his chubby hands, but the fine hair on the back of Leif's neck and arms stood straight up in atavistic fear. Were the creatures close? Dusk was approaching but he didn't dare light a fire. Where could he hide with the krakki?The wolf song died out and the baby began to fuss. Leif glared down at him. This was going to be more complicated than he thought. If the baby started wailing, the sound would bring people and wild things alike. Was he even old enough for solid food? He should have grabbed that big bag with the silly looking animals all over it that was sitting next to him. He bet that housed some baby things. B
Berserker Chapter Forty-One
Ulfhild felt more like herself than she had since coming to this new place. Asta had beat her soundly at axe throwing, Ulfhild not having much practice at that particular skill, but she was sure she could compete in archery. Though she missed a lot of what they were saying, it was good to laugh with the women and experience the comradery. She'd always been set apart by the women in her village who would never have thought of throwing axes. Maybe this time wouldn't be so bad.Suddenly, she heard terror in Liv's voice. "Brand? Brand?" she called in a panic, searching frantically around the boulder.Ulfhild realized the baby was no longer on the blanket playing with his toys. Fear clutched at her heart. She thought he could not crawl or walk? With all the wolves around, there were no other large animals around for miles. She'd heard the men discussing the lack."He can't have gone far," Asta said soothingly, trying to calm her sister-in-law's panic. She started to search around the nearb
Berserker Chapter Forty
Liv had not been kidding when she had said they'd have to tromp through some woods. The training field was much farther from the area where they had their homes than she had expected. The distance and rough terrain didn't seem to bother the women. Baby Brand was strapped onto Liv's chest with some complicated looking knots of fabric that created a comfortable carrying sack for the large infant. It was obvious by her easy stride that carrying the boy this way was commonplace to her. On the way, Liv pointed out landmarks and told her things about the area. Asta tried to keep up with all the words, but Ulfhild felt she missed quite a few. It didn't matter. Simply being in nature and stretching her unused muscles was a relief to her. And they were going to train. Her heart leapt at the thought. This was exactly what she needed to dispel her melancholy and feel more like herself.Finally, they rounded a large boulder and came into a meadow that reminded Ulfhild of the meadow in her woods
