Free Timeless by Shelly Thacker Page A

young groom was saying happily. “ Jeg gjor . I will.”
    Nei , Hauk wanted to say. Nay, I will not . He had vowed never to allow another utlending woman—an outsider—into his life, his home. His heart. They were too fragile. Too rare and precious, like delicate blooms he could hold in his hands for only an instant of time. He preferred the occasional liaisons he enjoyed with Asgard women, which lasted however long he and the lady might wish.
    Women like his last mistress, Nina, who had kept him company and shared his nights and asked naught more. She had shed no tears when they parted a few months ago. Mayhap because she understood that the only thing that endured in this world was time itself.
    Understood that he needed to devote his attention to what mattered most: his duty. To protect this island and its people.
    And its secret.
    The elders came to the sixth place in line, where the red-haired English girl stood alone, and Hauk raised his head, bracing himself.
    Thorolf stepped forward from the crowd.
    He heard Avril’s small gasp of recognition and fear as Thorolf cast a cold look their way before shifting his attention to the elders.
    “ Mine eldrer ,” he said, addressing the council in a determined, purposeful tone, “I wish to claim this female, taken by Bjarn. She will replace the woman who was to have been mine.” He pointed to Keldan’s lady. “That woman was in my possession before Keldan interfered and stole her from me.”
    Exclamations of shock rippled through the crowd. Even to touch another man’s claimed female was a serious offense.
    Hauk swore under his breath, but he had been expecting this. “ Nei, mine eldrer . Thorolf does not tell the full truth.”
    He was speaking out of turn, before the elders could talk to Thorolf—and his impertinence earned him an annoyed glance from his uncle.
    But Hauk would not be silenced. Not even by that look, well remembered from boyhood, from this man who had raised him.
    “It was Thorolf who first broke our laws,” he continued, directing his words to the full council. “He did not wait until the brunette was alone. He attacked a guard who was protecting her and killed him in the street. In full view of dozens of people.”
    A louder ripple of surprise and discussion went through the crowd.
    “ Stille! Peace. Let there be peace,” one of the elders said calmly, quieting the throng. “Is this true, Thorolf? Did you use violence apurpose?”
    The knave shook his head, managing to look offended at the very idea. “The guard came at me with sword drawn. I merely defended myself—”
    “ Nei , he attacked first, without warning,” Keldan corrected, stepping forward to join the fray. “And he only chose the lady out of spite, because he saw that Hauk and I had stopped to admire her and her friend.”
    Hauk briefly thought to protest that he had not been admiring Avril, but decided it would be better not to dispute any part of Keldan’s explanation.
    He heard knowing whispers going through the crowd behind him. All were well aware of the old animosity between himself and Thorolf. It occurred to him that he had in truth been staring at the little brunette just before Thorolf moved in to take her.
    No doubt the knave had chosen her for that reason alone.
    “Lies,” Thorolf insisted. “I obeyed our laws. I first saw the wench earlier in the day, long before Valbrand or Keldan ever noticed her. I waited until sunset, as we had all agreed, and I claimed her. I used violence only to defend myself against those who tried to stop me—”
    “You used violence because you have a taste for it,” Hauk said in disgust. “It pleases you the way drink pleases some men. You even used violence against a female—”
    This brought so many gasps and exclamations from the crowd, the noise drowned him out.
    “ Stille! ” another of the elders commanded. “Let there be peace!”
    “It is true,” Hauk insisted, gesturing to Avril. “When she tried to rescue her