Valknut

CHAPTER|26 A Brother's Wrath

The next morning, Olaf was a busy man. He made his way to the smithy with a purpose. He needed something forged and the smithy was the only place he could think of for the task. After a long hushed chat with Aengus, he left promising to return in a few hours with what the man needed. Olaf then made his way to Klaufi. 

“A'm needin' the pouch” 

Klaufi raised his eyebrows. 

“Dinnae give me that look. I asked ye for something that is mine. I would like it now” 

Klaufi grinned, “Is this for the reason that I think it is?” 

Olaf growled, his eyes narrowing into slits. He did not like being teased. 

“Found her, have we?” Klaufi continued. 

“Ye best be fetching me what is mine” Olaf spoke quietly, taking a threatening step closer to Klaufi. 

“Ah will fetch what is yours” Klaufi raised his hands in surrender. At a safe distance from Olaf, Klaufi then turned and made an obscene gesture before running off.  

“I will have your head for that!” Olaf roared. 

Kieran walked into the middle of the not-so-pleasant exchange between the two men. 

“It’s nothing” Olaf muttered, shuffling his feet uncomfortably. 

“Is it now?” Kieran mused. 

“Nae here. Too many ears. We must speak in private” Olaf said, resigning himself to the fact that the whole world must know of his plans.  If it was any consolation to the already embarrassed man, Kieran had to be part of this. Seemed alright enough that he explain matters to Kieran. 

They found themselves in the study soon enough. 

“Ale first, if ye don’t mind” 

“At this hour of the day? Ye must really be unhappy with having to speak of this matter/” 

Olaf grunted in response as Kieran dragged out two ale mugs. He threw their contents out the window, rinsed them with water from the basin before pouring fresh ale from the flagon. 

Olaf took several large mouthfuls of ale before speaking. “Ye know how I feel about her”. 

Kieran grinned and nodded. He didn’t want to interrupt lest the man decide he was too embarrassed to share his thoughts. 

“Ah almost lost her ye know”. 

Kieran nodded again. This time with without the huge grin that had previously adorned his face. 

“We almost lost her. In her own way, she saved me once ye know.” Kieran mumbled. This time, it was Olaf’s turn to raise his eyebrows. 

“Anither day mibbie. Today we speak about ye” 

Olaf nodded before continuing. “I would like yer permission to court her. Seeing how ye are her only real guardian left, Norse traditions dictate that I need yer permission.” 

“About time” Kieran said, his happy grin returning. “Ah thought you'd ne'er ask” 

Olaf shifted in his chair. Why was this so hard? He scolded himself for behaving like a young boy in love for the first time. But then, perhaps he was. “There is something you must know first”. 

The seriousness in Olaf’s voice caught Kieran’s attention. This was obviously difficult, and not just because it involved Olaf’s feelings for Catriona.