Chapter 12: Chapter Twelve

ADA

We traveled back to the farm, and I found fresh water in a wash bucket by the stable. I splashed the cold water on my face a few times, wishing I had returned sooner to bathe.

Cayden went into the house, and I took a few moments to gather myself. The men were still awake inside; I could hear roars of laughter every so often. They must have brought more ale back to the house.

I ran my fingers through my hair a few times and straightened out my dress. Cayden was right, I would not let this break me. I could not wallow in self-pity anymore.

I should act the way I wished to be treated. With my head held high, I entered the house and found my seat at the table.

The men’s laughter quieted with my bold move in joining them. I saw Gosta and Egil exchange glances with one another. The others looked to Cayden, who sat at the other end of the table, for his response.

He told them that while I would continue to partake in my usual chores, I would be treated as one of them. Cayden told them I wished to learn how to fight like a Viking, and he would include me in their training.

Holding his cup of ale high, he said, “For Kyra.” The other men instantly understood the meaning behind this and joined their glasses together.

Caxton was seated across from me and, as usual, would not look away. In other times, I would have ignored it, but I plainly stared back at him.

“Caxton, do you have any issue with the way I look?”

“It’s just that you look different without your veil.”

“And you still look like a horse’s arse. Seeing as I do not need my veil any longer, you may borrow it anytime.”

The room fell silent for a moment, followed by loud laughter. Padriac poured a glass of ale and passed it to me. My insult seemed to be exactly what I needed to do to become a part of their group.

For the rest of the night, they shared stories about their childhood, which were mainly at the expense of one another. It felt good to laugh again, to feel genuinely happy.

Gosta retold stories about previous battles and how Cayden was one of the greatest leaders. His older brother, Sayer, was a fierce warrior, but Cayden was able to strategize.

He often saw weaknesses that Barra and Sayer did not.

I tried my best to keep up with the men, but ultimately could not. I retired to bed much earlier than they did.

It was mid-morning when I awoke on the floor of the loft. I could hear snores coming from the others down below. I looked over the rail to see that Egil had fallen asleep with his head on the table.

He was the only one I had not really talked to yet. I could tell he was of mixed breed—he looked the most like me.

I quietly opened my mother’s trunk, careful not to wake Cayden, who lay a few inches from me, and pulled out another one of her dresses.

I wished to wash myself immediately and clean the dress I had been held captive in.

With the dress in one hand and my washing items in the other, I ventured downstairs and went to the river. It was the beginning of October, and autumn was here.

There was frost on the grass as I walked the path down to the river’s edge. The river would be very cold, but I looked forward to washing away the nightmares of that dungeon.

I placed my mother’s dress on top of the bush and my other items onto the ground. As I untied the back of my dress and went to slip my arm out, I noticed a figure out of the corner of my eye.

It was Cayden once again, slyly standing there.

“You really find too much amusement in sneaking up on me,” I said to him, pausing in my action. “What is your reason for being here?”

“I have come to bathe. Is this river not open for all to use?”

I rolled my eyes at him. He started pulling off his fur overlay, and I realized he was being serious. My cheeks turned red with embarrassment. Never had a man undressed in front of me before.

“Are you really going to bathe now?” I asked in disbelief.

“Yes. Do not worry, Ada, I will keep my distance from you. I just hope you can do the same for me,” he said playfully.

“I hope you know I will always be able to keep my distance from you.”

He was amused by my statement and continued to take off his shirt and shoes.

“If you really insist on bathing when I do, then you must let me enter the river first.”

“I can agree to that.” His smile widened.

“That means you will need to turn around while I undress! I will tell you when you are able to look…” He stood there a few seconds, until I yelled, still annoyed at him, “Turn around!”

After waiting a few seconds to make sure Cayden stayed facing the hill, I finished taking off my clothes. I hoped to enter the river quickly, but the water was painfully cold.

I took a deep breath and made it thigh-level into the water.

“What are all those marks on your body?”

Horrified and abashed that he was indeed looking, I covered my backside with my hands. It was better for me to remain facing away from him; fewer parts to hide.

I could hear his feet enter the water, making their way toward me. Before I could yell at him to turn back around, I felt his hands move my hair toward the front of my body, exposing even more bruises around my shoulders.

He carefully touched me where I was bruised from being pushed and passed among the men at the hall. I jumped a little. This was the first time a man had touched my naked body.

I was scared to speak and did not answer his question.

“There are so many of these large bruises. Is this from Weylin and my uncle?” The agitation in his voice was growing. “Swear to me this was the worst of your mistreatment. Nothing more.”

“I swear.”

“Why did you not tell me how violent they were with you?”

“I suppose that I am used to this type of treatment. The bruises will fade with time.”

“Used to this type of treatment? From whom?”

I stayed silent, ashamed of the past treatment I had endured from my stepfather. Cayden would think I was weak for not defending myself more.

“Who?”

“Lugh.”

“Then he should be thankful he is already dead. By the time I finish with my cousin, he will be begging for the same!”

Cayden’s voice was loud. He walked back toward his things and dressed himself. I was not sure what to do. He was so angry, and I had never seen this side of him.

This was the warrior Padriac and the men had spoken about. He started up the path back toward the hill, and I ran out of the water, grabbing my dress to catch up with him.

I did not have time to completely put it on and held it in front of my body.

“Cayden! Stop!” I was running as fast as I could. He was determined to leave and would not acknowledge my pleas for him to stop moving.

I attempted a few more times, but it was no use, as he was almost to the top of the hill. If he would not listen to me, then maybe he would hear what one of his men had to say.