The Shipwreck by Glynnis Campbell Page A

lowered his head.  “And I have one on my forehead, like you.”
    “Did you run into a table, too?”
    “Nay.”  He tried to scowl, but his eyes were twinkling.  “That’s where Thor struck me with a bolt of lightning.”
    “Really?”
    His frown melted into a smile.  “Nay, not really.  My brother caught my brow with an axe.”
    “Is your brother evil like my mama’s brothers?”
    Avril’s breath caught.
    “Nay,” he said.  “It was an accident.  We were sparring.”
    After a thoughtful moment, Kimbery rose to press a kiss to his brow.  Avril’s jaw dropped.  “Mama says this will make it all better.  Now you give mine a kiss.”
    Before Avril could gasp out a word, Kimbery leaned her head toward Brandr’s lips, giving him no choice but to repay the gesture.
    When Kimbery pulled away, she cocked her head and touched a finger to his temple, where Avril had clubbed him with the driftwood.  “Is that a battle scar?”
    A hint of a smile threatened at the corner of his lips.  “Aye.”
    “My mama has a battle scar.”
    Avril nearly choked.
    Kimbery continued, “It’s right here.”  She pointed to the right side of her chest.
    Brandr’s smile blossomed into a full grin.  “Really?’
    Avril had heard enough.  Blushing, she swept into the room.  “Kimbery, what happened?”
    Kimbery jumped up and ran to her.  “Mama, I have a battle scar!”
    “Is that so?”  She crouched to inspect Kimbery’s brow.  There was a red bump and a tiny cut there, so tiny that she’d be surprised if it left any mark at all.  Nonetheless, she frowned in concern.  “And who were you battling to give you such a scar?”
    “Sir…Table!”
    “I see.”  She ruffled the top of Kimbery’s hair.  “And did you give Sir Table battle scars as well?”
    Kimbery nodded and then leaned against her and began twining her fingers in Avril’s hair.  “Mama, I let Brandr kiss my cut.”
    And I let him kiss my lips, Avril thought.  But all she said was, “Oh?”
    Kimbery added in a loud whisper, “I don’t think he’s a very bad man.”
    Avril sighed, and she felt the tension go out of her.  Kimbery was right.  He wasn’t a very bad man.  He’d done nothing wrong.  In spite of being shipwrecked and captured and tied up, he’d been civil and even kind.  He’d told Kimbery stories, he’d eased away her tears, and been a model father to a little girl who’d never had one.  He’d even saved Avril from falling into the fire.  Avril slowly raised her gaze over Kimbery’s shoulder and looked him squarely in the eye.  “Neither do I.”
     
     
    Brandr should have been relieved.  Avril was staring at him with complete trust now.  He could tell by her eyes that she had no intention of turning him in.  He wouldn’t have to worry about escaping, because she wouldn’t tell anyone he was here.  She meant to set him free.
    To his surprise, his heart sank.  As mad as it was, despite his broken arm, his banged-up nose, and the cursed dog collar around his neck, he’d rather enjoyed the past few days.  Avril was a fascinating woman—spirited and passionate, sensitive yet strong, and her daughter was delightful.  Now that the opportunity for escape was at hand, he wasn’t sure he wanted to leave.
    The way she was looking at him made his heart melt.  Ever since he’d lost his wife and children, there had been a deep, hollow abyss in his soul.  Losing his ship and his men had thrown him farther into the chasm and made it seem impossible to ever reach the surface.  But between Avril’s kindhearted honor and Kimbery’s innocent adoration, he’d started to believe that he could climb out of that hole, that he might be capable of caring and loving again.
    Kimbery pushed away from her mother suddenly and galloped across the room into the bedchamber, announcing, “Look at me!  I’m a Valkyrie!”
    Avril looked askance at him, and he lifted one corner of his lip in a sheepish half-smile.
    She