Dream of Me/Believe in Me

cloudless sky and sparkling sun hinted at nothing of the sort. Her first thought was that her brother was gone and she missed him. But she took such longing firmly in hand and turned her mind to her duties.
    Now that all the feasting was over and the food well stored for the winter, there was time for the women to relax a little. But only a little, for the weaving had been neglected and must be resumed. So, too, Cymbra wanted to be sure she had gathered every possible flower, seed, grass, and bark that could be useful in the coming winter. Her garden was well begun and she looked forward to expanding it the following spring, but wild plants would always be necessary to add strength to the tamer variety.
    She went in search of Wolf and found him just coming off the training field. Her sheer pleasure at the sight of him made her smile. Although she missed Hawk, she felt as though in some ways her marriage was only now beginning, free as it was from doubt and fear.
    With love shining in her eyes, she went to her husband and laid a hand lightly on the bulging muscle of his upper arm. “I trust you have not overstrained yourself, my lord.”
    He raised an eyebrow but already his smile came, drawn by her own. “Surely you've noticed, my lady, that I am only given to excess when I am with you?”
    She blushed, which made him laugh and caused her to swat at him in playful reprimand. He reached out teasingly to grab her even as she danced away, laughing in her own turn. Around them, Dragon and the other men made a show of seeing nothing even as they observed the merriment of the jarl and his wife with tolerant grins of their own.
    “You wanted something?” he asked when he had caught her and drawn her close against him. She inhaled the heady scent of leather, horses, and man, and momentarily forgot everything else. Only with effort did she recall her purpose.
    “Oh, yes, I need more wild plants for the garden and to dry for the coming winter. Brita will go with me and Olaf, too, if you will kindly give your permission.”
    She said the last lightheartedly, a teasing bow to his rule, but to her surprise he considered it seriously. She was astonished to see him hesitate. “Wolf—?”
    He stared at her silently for a long moment during which she had the uncanny sensation that he sought to look into her very soul. Slowly, he took a breath and seemed to relax. He even mustered a faint smile as he said, “Of course, go but don't linger too long.” His expression changed again, becoming sensual. “I would we had some time together before supper.”
    It was on the very tip of Cymbra's tongue to suggest they take that time right now. She well remembered her one trip to the sauna and would not be at all reluctant to repeat it. But Brita and Olaf were waiting, as were several traders who hovered nearby, hoping to speak with the jarl.
    With a sigh, she promised to return promptly. Before she could move away, Wolf caught her hand, raised it to his lips, and pressed a light kiss into her palm. Again shewas tempted to change her plans, but she only laughed and fled, aware of his warm gaze following her.
    With Brita and the ever-watchful Olaf, she spent a pleasant morning in the hillsides and groves just beyond the town. Toward midday, they ventured down to the beach, where Cymbra found seaweed useful for clearing the chest and treating disorders of the skin. Olaf looked especially skeptical when she told him this but he already had some experience with her treatments, having the benefit of an ointment that eased the aching of his joints, and wouldn't entirely dismiss anything she said.
    “If there is worth to be found in that,” he said, looking down at the pile of seaweed she had collected, “you'll be the one to do it, my lady.”
    She thanked him prettily for the compliment and a short while later they made their way back to the fort. With the sea lanes soon to be closed by winter, Sciringesheal was thronged with traders, many of whom were passing back and forth through the gates in the berm. It seemed to Cymbra that the guards on the watchtowers were more numerous than before but she wasn't really sure of that and thought little of it in any case.
    The day lengthened and soon enough she was busy with preparations for the evening meal. Having seen the women well started at that task, she left the kitchens and was walking toward the lodge, intending to bathe and change before seeking her husband, when a ripple on the edge of