Chapter 8: Chapter Eight

ADA

The next few weeks carried on uneventfully. Harvest was upon Kilcoran, and the remaining villagers were tasked with tending to the land for the Northmen.

Only ghosts of the townsmen I had once known remained. We went about our work, barely making eye contact. None of them wished to be noticed by Cayden and his men.

So, I spent my days preparing meals, cleaning, taking care of the animals, and helping with the mill. It was hard work, but I enjoyed the purpose it brought to my life.

My relationship with Cayden grew more and more complicated with each passing day. Even though I was still able to conceal my beauty, I found that this did not deter his desire to be with me.

I favored each part of the day when Cayden would find me to see if I was completing my chores. It was a poor excuse for us to spend a few moments together.

I even felt a bit of sadness when he and his men traveled into the village multiple times throughout the weeks, either to feast with the chief or to settle business.

One day, he returned with the news that he and his men would be joining his father and brother to go hunting.

“We’ll be gone for several days. I’m leaving you in charge of the farm. The slaves shall help you with the grain and any other tasks you may need to complete,” he said, chewing on a piece of grain.

I stood up from milking the cow and adjusted my dress. From working on the farm over the past few weeks, I had lost weight and my old, loose-fitting dresses had become a nuisance to wear.

“Can I not go with you? I wish to learn how to hunt.”

“Not this time. I will arrange to take you out when I return.”

I nodded, not pressing the subject further. There seemed to be something heavy on his mind. We prepared the horses for the journey together, making sure they were fed a hearty meal.

He was gentle with them, speaking softly in Danish as he brushed their manes.

Cayden looked up and caught me watching him. Where he would usually make a joke, he just stared back. I felt my heart beginning to race as he took a step toward me.

But before he could take another step, Padriac called from across the field. Cayden handed me the bundle of straw he was using to brush the horses and left the stable.

I exhaled, realizing I’d been holding my breath the entire time.

“What is this energy between us?” I wondered aloud. For the rest of the day, I distracted myself from it by gathering blankets, preparing food, and completing whatever other tasks the men needed.

The next morning, the men left before the sun had risen. They rode into town to meet Chief Barra, Cayden’s older brother, and the rest of the men.

Since it would still be a few hours until the workers arrived, I wandered down to the river to take a long bath without worrying that someone might be watching.

Many of the workers were men that I had known from my childhood and I trusted them. I decided that for the next few days, I would walk around without my veil.

I couldn’t remember what it felt like for my hair to fall freely.

Returning to the house, I spent a few moments cleaning up the mess the men had left. I gathered the blankets from one of the beds and tossed them down to the main floor to be beaten.

I moved over to the other loft—the loft Cayden and I shared. I still slept on the floor, but my mind wandered as I examined the bed.

I imagined what it would be like for us to share it together. What it would be like to feel the warmth of his body against mine. My heart started to race again.

Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I rummaged through my mother’s trunk to find the small silver dish she’d used to look at her reflection.

As I looked at myself, I began to wonder what Cayden thought of me. What if his heart already belonged to another? Why did I even care? I was his slave, after all.

I put the dish back into my mother’s trunk and retrieved the hairbrush. That was when I saw her favorite green dress. It was a carefully sewn dress made to show off the shape of my mother’s body.

Lugh had it made to wear to festivals and feasts in the town. He wanted every man to lust after the one thing they could not have. I pulled off my dress and tried it on.

I liked the way it made me feel, the confidence that it brought as I looked down at my curves. I decided at least for a few hours, I would keep it on. I was curious as to how it would feel to finally wear my own skin without shame.

I closed her trunk and made my way downstairs to sit by the fire and dry my hair. I felt my eyes grow heavy as I watched the fire crackle on.

I took one of the blankets and lay on the floor to sleep until the townsmen arrived for work.