Page 70 of Truly, Madly Viking

"Everything."

"I already told you everything afore."

"I wasn't listening closely then."

He gave her an exaggerated glower. "There is not much to say, to my mind. I am one of four living children born to Eric Tryggvason, a high jarl of Norway, and Lady Asgar, a Christian of Saxon birth who has adopted the northern ways these many years."

Mag-he stared at him, transfixed, her chin propped in the cup of two hands, her elbows resting on the table, her tea forgotten. "You've already mentioned your older brother Magnus, the farmer. He's the one with the big ears and an overabundance of women and children, right?"

"The selfsame once." He missed his brother, just speaking of him. Had Magnus returned to Norway by now? Jorund hoped he had not stayed at sea searching for him.

"And you've also talked of your younger brother, Rolf... the one you were searching for. A shipbuilder, you said. But who was the fourth sibling?"

"My sister, Katla. She was married a dozen or more years ago, at age thirteen, to a Viking prince from Normandy. I have not seen her in many a year, though I hear that she fares well."

"Thirteen! Your sister was married at age thirteen?"

He shrugged. "Women wed young in my land. Their lives are not usually as long as those of women in your country. Mostly they die of childbirth fever. 'Tis the reason why my ancestors first began the practice of more danico, I warrant."

"More danico meaning polygamy, I presume?"

"True, but let us not argue that issue again. Suffice it to say, the countries and the times are different."

"Tell me about your wife."

He stiffened.

"Did you love her hopelessly? Do you miss her still?"

He put a hand to his chin and rubbed thoughtfully. "I do not wish to speak ill of the dead, but Inga was a conniving witch. She and her brothers decided that I would make a suitable husband, based on my wealth and that of my father. So they invited me to a feast and showered me with mead. The next morn, I found myself with a big head and a naked woman in my bed... no longer a virgin. Inga, that is... not me.

Soon after, I was forced to announce the wedding banns when Inga's monthly flow stopped and she was breeding."

"Surely you can't lay all the blame on her."

"I did then, but I mellowed toward her later. After all, most marriages are arranged in my time. And woe to the party who will not comply. I recall the time King Olaf wanted his sister, Astrid, to wed Erling Skjalgson, a man of good lineage and fine looks. But Astrid refused since Erling was not a prince, of equal station to her. The next day, so wroth was Olaf that he had Astrid's pet hawk taken from her, and he returned it to her that eventide with all the feathers plucked off. Needless to say, Astrid soon agreed to the marriage."

Mag-he was staring at him in horror. "That's awful."

"Nay. That is life in my land."

"Back to your own marriage—did you ever forgive Inga?"

"Yea. In time. She was young. I was old enough to know better. And besides, she gave me a great gift."

"Your twin daughters," she guessed.

"Yea, that she did." He did not want to speak of them. It was too painful. But Mag-he was like a puppy tugging on a man's boot. She would not let up. "I was there at the birthing... which is not the usual practice in my land. I saw them first, as they emerged from the womb, wrinkled and blue and more beautiful than anything I had ever seen afore, or since."

"You loved them from the start then?"

He nodded. For the first time in a long time, he allowed his memories to spill forth. "In many ways, Greta and Girta are similar to your twins. Girta was a daredevil, as you say in modern language... outspoken and adventuresome. Greta was the gentler soul, but willing to try anything her sister dared her to. They loved me unconditionally. I loved them madly."

Mag-he reached out a hand and squeezed one of his. There were tears in her eyes... and his as well, he realized with mortification. Vikings were not supposed to cry. He wiped at the tears. "I let them die. For that I will be eternally guilty. 'Tis probably the reason for my punishment... being banished into another time. I am not even welcome in Valhalla."

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," she said ferociously, in that husky voice he so appreciated. "Don't you dare blame yourself. Bad things happen. It's no one's fault."

He would like to believe her. He really would. But enough of his spewing forth his confidences. "'Tis your turn. Now that you have opened a hole in my chest and let my heart hang out, tell me about yourself. What are your secrets? Why have you never married?"