A Heart of Fire Read Online Free PDF

'tis
time to change our tactics if they shall not change theirs. Let us go out and
meet them head on," he said, shaking a fist. "Let it be us to give
the surprise attack.”
    His
Jarl's suggestion surprised him so that for a moment that Valdrik was taken
aback. He mulled the idea over a moment, contemplating the position of the camp
they had found. “This plan could work,” he agreed at last, rubbing his thumb
over his dark beard in thought. Valdrik watched as Hadarr rose from his seat
and took up the sword propped against the wall. Valdrik cocked his head to the
side with some alarm. “But surely you do not intend to come with us, Jarl,” he
said, looking between the man and the sword.
    Hadarr
lifted his broadsword up, looking with admiration on the bright sheen of
polished iron, and he gave the blade's edge a kiss. “You shall not gainsay me
in this. We cannot afford to leave even one man behind. They shall surely
outnumber us by thrice. I am old, but I am not bedridden. If I can still drink
ale and bed my wife then I can still fight, and if I die, then I am to Valhalla
to dine with the gods.”
    When
Hadarr looked at him, his eyes sparked with a determination Valdrik had not
seen in the man in a long time, perhaps ever. This struck him speechless for a
moment. He did not wish his Jarl to risk his life when his men could handle
their foes, but who was he to stop him? He gave his Jarl a short nod. “My men
are skilled, even if few in number. You risk your life,” he warned with
concern. "What of the people here?"
    “You're
not my son, but if I had one, Valdrik, I would wish him to be just like you.”
Hadarr slid his sword into the sheath at his hip and crossed the room back to
Valdrik. He patted him on the shoulder.
    “Make
me your son," Valdrik said. "Allow me to take your daughter as
my—" He stopped short when Hadarr waved his words aside.
    “Not
now," Hadarr said. "Let us consider this when we return.”
    Valdrik
nodded even though his hopes withered. “Aye, I shall make ready.”
    “And
I shall follow with the rest of the men. Leave one man behind to lead our
group. Go back to warn the others to prepare,” Hadarr said. He squeezed
Valdrik's arm. "For Finna, my firstborn, we shall be victorious this
time!" He turned sharply on his heel and started to the wall where an axe
was mounted in a grouping of weaponry. Hadarr plucked the axe from the wall and
turned to look at his wife. Surguilde's anxiety was palpable.
    "Aye,
Jarl," Valdrik said as he bowed and then retreated from the room, not
without noticing the sadness in his Jarl's eyes. The pain of the massacre years
before always weighed heavily on Hadarr, but the sadness was not quite the same
until his eldest daughter entered the man's thoughts. Valdrik could always tell
when her ghost was with Hadarr, and it saddened him greatly.
    "For
Finna," Valdrik said hollowly as he made way back into the open hall. For Geera , his heart sang at the sight
of the woman awaiting him. His loins ached with his long-denied lust for her,
and anger began to burn in his gut as a powerful surge of bloodlust swelled.
    "What
is happening?" Geera asked as he came to her.
    "We
ride out to meet them head on." Valdrik took her hands in his, pulling her
close. "You shall be safe. The village shall be safe." He reached up
to run his hand over her hair and down her cheek. "Do not fret. I shall be
back again before you know it, and we shall feast together over our
victory."
    Her
eyes widened. "Valdrik, you speak of victory so easily." Her voice
shook as she reached up to cup his face in her hands. "Return to me,"
she whispered.
    Valdrik
lowered his head and claimed her lips in a gentle kiss. "I shall return
soon, and when I do, I am to speak with your father of a marriage." He
winked and kissed her, not with the ferocity he wished, but enough he could
stand to pull away and leave her side with a look of longing lingering over his
shoulder.
    Valdrik
hurried across the large room and