Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 36416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Exhausted, the gentle rocking of his horse lulled me to sleep in his arms as he took me back to the cabin.
CHAPTER 6
“We have to go to town to sell the furs,” Tore announced. “And to pick up some fresh provisions.”
“We also have the dry meat that we’ll sell,” Dagr added.
I stood silently near the fire, acting as if I wasn’t paying close attention to what the men were discussing, even though a surge of hope almost made my knees go weak. Would they go to town without me? Leave me behind again? I knew the nearest town was far enough away that them being gone could give me the perfect opportunity to finally plan and execute my escape. Sufficient time had passed that my feet had healed enough that I felt confident I could run again.
My heart fell when I heard Freyr say, “You all go to town to do that. My brother and I will remain back and watch over Snow.”
“Yes, we’ll stay,” Steen agreed, kicking off his boots as he leaned back in the large wooden chair by the kitchen table.
There would be no way for escape if I had the twins watching over me. No way at all. Defeat darkened the small spark of light that had been present for a quick moment.
Taking hold of a rag, I began wiping down the surfaces around the kitchen, trying to not show my emotions or the fact that I was trying to come up with a million ways to flee during this small window of opportunity the huntsmen going into town afforded me.
There had to be a way.
I nodded politely in silent goodbye as the huntsmen—other than Freyr and Steen—set out to leave, wondering if it would be the last time I would see any of them again.
When the door finally closed, I heard Freyr say, “I’m sleepy. I’m going to go rest for a bit.”
I turned with hope in my heart to see Steen nod with a roll of his eyes. “You go ahead, you lazy arse. I’m going to go collect some firewood. Someone better do the work around this place.”
I walked over to the broom propped up in the corner, hoping that I appeared to be simply lost in my chores rather than masterminding my escape. If either of them grew suspicious, I knew I would lose what could be my one and only chance at finally breaking away from my cage guarded by these wolves.
Luckily, it appeared as if both brothers had no idea of the plans running through my head because Freyr stood and walked to his bedroom while Steen exited the house with an ax in his hands. The minute the door closed, I jumped into action. I knew I didn’t have long. Running to the front door, I reached for a pair of leather boots that belonged to one of the huntsmen and put them on my bare feet. They were far too big but would be better than attempting to run through the woods barefoot again. The borrowed shirt I wore wouldn’t be enough to keep me warm, so I grabbed a fur and threw it over my shoulders. It was heavy, oversized, and smelled musty, but it would certainly keep me warm in the woods. I paused for a moment and considered grabbing a satchel of food, but worried that Freyr would decide against taking a nap, or Steen would come back having forgotten something. There was no time to pack, and I would just have to hope I could find food or even some kind villager who would assist me.
Opening the door, my heart beat hard against my chest.
This was my chance. My only chance.
Run. Run fast.
Charging forward with all my courage helping give me the strength, I ran straight into a stone wall.
Or what felt like a stone wall.
Looking up into the eyes of a furious Steen, I gasped in surprise.
“What are you doing?” He looked down at the oversized boots, then the fur, and then into my wide eyes. “Were you trying to run away again?”
“No, I…I needed to…”
“Don’t lie to me,” he boomed.
Rather than trying to come up with a futile excuse, I bolted to the right and ran as fast as the ill-fitting boots would allow me to. Maybe Steen wouldn’t chase me. Maybe he would allow me to go and just pretend he hadn’t seen me in the first place. Maybe—
No.
Steen took hold of the nape of my neck and forcibly pulled me back against his chest mid-run. My body snapped back, and had it not been for his thick arms holding onto me, I surely would have fallen to the muddy ground.
“Fool,” he hissed as he dragged me into the house. “Such a fool you are.” He almost sounded sorry for me as he said the last sentence. “Freyr!” he called out as we crossed the threshold. “Freyr, get out here.”