Promises
Of The Runes
He travelled
through time to capture her heart.
The amulet
was still in the palm of his hand. Was it some sort of conduit to the past? The
image of the anguished woman in his vision was seared into his mind. Perhaps it
could help him find her?
Ivar
Thoresson is desperate for adventure. As an archaeologist specialising in
Viking times, he wants nothing more than to travel back to the ninth century as
his loved ones have done, to learn everything he can about the era which fascinates
him. And whilst his adopted family have always made him feel loved, the chance
to meet a true ancestor, the warrior Thorald, is a temptation he cannot resist.
But while
Ivar is preparing to go, he uncovers an amulet which shows him a vision of an
arresting woman with red-gold hair. Clearly in distress, she is pleading for
help. Convinced of the power of the charm and its message, Ivar’s journey takes
on a new purpose. He steps back in time determined to follow his destiny – and
find the woman who has called to his heart.
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PROMISES OF THE RUNES – book extract
Ivar knew he should move. Go and find Álrik to try and persuade
him to lend Ellisif some of his clothes. But he was very comfortable, with a
warm, pliant woman snuggled up against him. He was happy to do nothing more
than hold her for now. Last night she’d seemed frightened when he’d told her he
wanted her to stay. He didn’t want her to be scared of him; he wanted to win
her over.
That thought brought him up short. Win her over? As in courting
her, as the Vikings would say? That was ridiculous. He hardly knew anything
about her. Besides, this was the ninth century. You couldn’t just have a casual
relationship with a woman without marriage being involved. Not unless she was a
whore, and he was quite sure Ellisif was far from that. It was obvious that she
was high-born, if she was an heiress. Did he really want to start something
with a woman like that? It would be madness, and yet . . .
No, he absolutely shouldn’t.
She stirred, breaking into his thoughts. As she became aware of
her surroundings and exactly where she was – no doubt registering every inch of
him pressed up against her – her whole body went rigid. As his hand was near
her ribcage, the sudden fluttering of her heart was very noticeable, and her chest
rose and fell with an indrawn breath.
‘Shh, it’s only me, Ivar,’ he whispered, keeping very still so as not
to frighten her. ‘You’re safe for now. Remember?’
She turned within his arms and glanced up at him, her eyes large
and luminous in the half-gloom, squinting slightly. ‘I remember.’
They studied each other wordlessly. It was her! There was no mistaking it. Ivar’s
gaze travelled over the heart-shaped face he’d seen in his visions. It was
still pale and drawn, but starkly beautiful to him in that fey way he’d
glimpsed before. In the morning light, her eyes were the green of a mossy
forest pool, surrounded by long dark-brown lashes and topped with bird’s-wing
eyebrows. Her nose and mouth weren’t perfect, but they were eminently attractive
nonetheless; the nose dotted with a few freckles and the mouth luscious with a
pronounced Cupid’s bow. The freckles continued across her cheeks and he found
them enticing. But this was not the time to think about that.
‘I should go.’ She made a move as if to rise, but she was still trapped
by his arm and didn’t get anywhere.
‘Please don’t. I want to help you.’ He waited for her reaction and
watched her eyebrows lowering.
‘You’ve already done enough. I must fend for myself now.’
‘Ellisif.’ He whispered her name and liked the feel of it on his tongue.
It was a beautiful name and suited its owner. ‘I’m offering you assistance.
Refusing would be churlish, don’t you think?’
‘Are you sure about this?’ she asked quietly, her eyes not leaving
his, as if she was trying to discern what manner of man he was. She looked to
be having trouble focusing, but he figured she was probably exhausted from
everything that had happened.
He nodded. ‘I am. Do you trust me to get you away from here?’
She didn’t hesitate. ‘Yes. I do.’
For some reason, he felt as though her words held a deeper meaning.
There was a definite connection between them – chemistry unlike anything he’d
ever experienced before – but it could wait. There would be time enough later
to pursue that thought; for now, he needed to ensure her safety.
‘Good. Then please stay here while I go in search of a disguise for
you. I’ll be back as soon as I can.’ With that, he reluctantly disentangled
himself from her and ducked out of the tent. He was very much hoping he’d be
allowed to wake up next to Ellisif again in the near future.
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