Chapter 41

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

T he graves came in handy. There were five in total, so a few of them had to share, but it wasn’t like they could complain.

The shovels they had left us also came in handy as we used them to dig up the rest of the island and collect as much of the King’s treasure as possible. Some we sold to Greenland in exchange for a hefty price, but admittedly, we kept most of it–the pieces we deemed to be the most valuable. After going through so much to get our hands on it, it was the least we deserved.

Perhaps I was only saying this because I was traumatised by the horrific ordeal, but the treasure was stunningly beautiful. It even glistened in the darkness of the bottom deck, where we had kept it for the trip back to Jorvik.

I finally started to see the true virtues and rewards of being a sailor, although I couldn’t help but favour being a Captain’s wife more.

After everything we had been through to get there, Greenland was nothing short of a dream. The trade was completed on the first day, and after hearing the horror stories of our journey there, they gifted us some expensive furs.

Greenland was somewhat of an anticlimactic end to our trip before we returned to Jorvik, but none of us were complaining.

We stayed in Greenland for six days, eating and resting before boarding The Serpent to return home. Treasure Island was deserted, and there were no provisions for animals to live there, so it was of no interest to us. On our way back, we made sure to avoid both Canne and Mann.

The trip back took four weeks, which felt even longer because we made no stops along the way, not even when we got low on food and supplies. After everything we had been through, we were unwilling to take any more risks.

After months at sea, The Serpent was finally docked at Jorvik again, and I couldn’t be more relieved if I tried.

The moment The Serpent docked at the shore and the plank was laid down–albeit two inches short from where it broke off when escaping Canne–I rushed down it before anyone else and all but threw myself and Kis into the awaiting arms of my family.

My mother, father, brother, and sister-in-law squeezed the life out of me, but there wasn’t a single complaint on my lips. And soon after, Viktor joined us, too.

When I spotted a baby in Freja’s arms, I squealed but quickly quietened down when she began stirring. I couldn’t hold back my excitement when I was offered to hold her.

I didn’t miss how Viktor melted at the sight of baby Rosa, eager to carry her. When my mother pointed out that Viktor was absolutely smitten with our baby niece, a warm flush spread over my cheeks, and I looked away.

She didn’t need to tell me twice. In fact, she didn’t even need to tell me the first time.

Viktor and I were separated from our family, or more importantly, we were forced to return baby Rosa to her parents when Barden pulled us to the side.

“I’d like to start by welcoming you both back,” Barden smiled brightly at us both, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “We can discuss the trip first thing in the morning after you get some food in you and a good night’s rest, but I’d like to start by clearing the air between us.”

“How so?” Viktor hummed, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.

“I wish to apologise for how I treated you before you left for the mission—specifically you, Viktor. After you left, I realised my behaviour was wrong and was driven by my greed for the King’s treasure. Being married myself, I should know what it’s like, especially since you were so newly married. I should have been more accommodating, and I guess I’m trying to say that I never should have expected things to stay the same after you married. I should have respected you, both of you, and I need to apologise for my behaviour. I’m really sorry, Viktor and Astrid.”

Viktor pursed his lips, and I gave his hand an encouraging squeeze.

“And what about when you said you’d replace me?” He asked, and internally, I was dancing in happiness that we were finally confronting Barden for his brash behaviour before we left. Outwardly, I was calm and collected, the perfect Captain’s wife.

“I’m sorry about that as well. I could never replace you, Viktor. You know that I was only chatting out of my ass,” Barden sighed, looking sorry for himself. “No offence to your father, Astrid–” He glanced at me. “–but you’re the best Captain we’ve ever had, Viktor. I don’t know what we’d do without you.”

“As long as you promise me that something like this will never happen again, I’ll hold no grudges,” Viktor countered with an ultimatum of his own.

“Yes! Yes, of course!” Barden nodded his head frantically. “Nothing like this will ever happen again. I give you my word.”

“Then all between us is good, Barden,” Viktor grinned and pulled him in for a hug, clapping him sharply on the back. “It’s good to be back.”

“It’s good to have you back. Both of you,” Barden grinned. “I hope you’re not too tired because we’ve started preparations for a grand feast as soon as we saw The Serpent in the distance.”

“We’re all a little tired, but nothing a quick nap won’t fix,” Viktor smiled, a dark promise shining in his eyes when he turned to glance at me.

I was half-relieved, half-expecting Barden’s apology, and it appeared that many other things had also changed in Jorvik while we had been away.

For one, Jerrik’s wife was pregnant, having found out the week after we had left for sea. Chara was now between six and seven months along, and much to my surprise, Crosby ran into her arms as soon as he got off the ship. Odin’s children had found a kitten in the forest while on a walk one morning, and Kis was smitten with him. Laurence dropped to his knees in front of the girl who held his heart, and even Caspian moved to ask for a private moment with one of the teachers from my school. I didn’t even know he had his eyes on someone!

After that rather pleasant conversation with Barden, Viktor and I kept our heads down and skilfully avoided everyone as we rushed back to our hut. It hadn’t been lived in for months, and it was absolutely freezing and lacking life upon entrance, but neither of us could be gladder about being back.

We would be more than happy to indulge everyone in our wild sea stories later, but right now, we needed some time to ourselves. After all, the last time we had been here, we had both been newlyweds, and it took me ages to look him in the eyes after I sucked his cock for the first time.

Privacy was necessary after spending months at sea with the entire crew surrounding us all the time.

As if he could read my mind, Viktor palmed himself over his breeches as he slowly approached me, a dark glimmer in his eyes. “How about we consummate our marriage bed, wife ?”