Viking Love Beyond Time (Time Travel Romance) (16 page)

Turning, he faced her, she let her cloak fall open a little more.  He cleared his throat, his eyes glazing over at the sight of the young, firm bosom which was, inadvertently he thought, visible under her cloak.

“Aye lass, you did”

She smiled sweetly at him “well, do you think I could have my bracelet back?  It isn’t worth much and the stones are synthetic”

Thorkil frowned and glanced down at his wrist.  “Synthetic?  What’s synthetic?”

“Oh hell” stammered Alodie “I mean, er, synthetic - it’s a term used in
Bohemia
, where I come from, for polished pebbles, my grandmother gave it to me on her death bed.  It means a lot to me”.  She hoped that she sounded more convincing than she thought she did.  Thorkil grinned and pulling off the bracelet, handed it to her.

“Aye lass, the amount you’ve earned for me, I can let you have your synthetic bracelet!”

“Thank you Thorkil” she said sweetly as she slipped it back onto her wrist, thinking, as she did so, that if he had kept it on much longer he might have had problems, it had a female autodoc function.  She hoped that the word ‘synthetic’ would not be repeated by Thorkil, enter the vocabulary, be written down somewhere and throw historians of the future into a ferment.

Alodie glanced up.  Thorkil’s eyes were burning into her and she realised, to her dismay, that, as she had reached out to take the bracelet, she had let her cloak fall open more than she thought and her breasts were naked to his gaze.  She dragged the cloak over herself, blushing hotly.

Thorkil looked up, sweat had begun to spring from his hairline and was running down his face.  He licked his lips.  “Herger’s a lucky bastard alright” he said “he’s got a thief’s bargain” and, blowing her a kiss, left the room, locking the door behind him.

Heaving a sigh of relief, Alodie flicked up the blue stone and pressed the communicator button, the light flashed four or five times then there was a hollow sound, Alodie heard someone say “ssh” and in the background female giggles, loud music and shouting, then the sound of Luke’s voice saying “I must go to the privy Gwen, let go” followed by a hiccup.

Alodie sighed and drummed her nails on the clothes chest – her only hope and he was drunk!

At last, after what seemed like an eternity, Alodie heard the sound of a door slam and Luke’s voice once again “Yesh Alodie, what is it?” another hiccup.

“I hope my signal didn’t inconvenience you Lieutenant Commander” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm “but I think you ought to know that the
village
of
Bredond
is in the hands of the Danish and Norwegian forces.  A combined ship and land army made a concerted attack at about ten hundred hours today.  There are approximately sixteen thousand Vikings stationed along the coastal villages between
Wareham
and Bredond.  They came, I think, originally from
Cambridge
and the land army slipped past the
Wessex
muster”

Alodie heard Luke moan, then silence “Oh Jeezus” he muttered at last.

“My sentiments exactly Lieutenant Commander, only I am here in the middle of it all.  I have no idea where Godgyth and the rest of the villagers are, I am very worried about them.  Emma disappeared into the forest just before the attack and just to complicate matters I have been captured, stripped, auctioned and bought as a bed wench by none other than King Herger himself”

Silence.

Alodie felt anger rising in her like a red tide.  “Well, what the hell are you going to do about it?” she snapped.

“Send my compliments to King Herger, what
can
I do about it?”

“Bastard!” hissed Alodie.

“How much did you fetch?”

Alodie sighed, heavily.  “Six thousand in gold, three thousand in silver, four dragon ships, two shields, two swords, a jewelled ring and a blood ruby”

“I knew you were above diamonds – Jeezus, this beer!”

Alodie got to her feet and began to pace the room.  “But I’m going to have to sleep with this smelly creep unless you do something!” she hissed.  

“Look” said Luke.  “I can’t think at the moment, I’m drunk.  I’ve been boozin’ all day.  I caint really say I’ve had a message on my bracelet that there’s been a Viking attack now, can I?  Can’t you psi gun the bastard or have a headache or something?  You’ve managed to hold me off for long enough”

Crossing to the window Alodie threw open the shutters, moonlight streamed into the room, glancing down she saw two huge guards under the window and sighed in exasperation.  “Be sensible, Owen, King Herger might be a historical figure, I can’t psi gun him – First Rule remember”.  Suddenly she heard a noise at the door – “over and out” she snapped and flipped down the blue stone.

The door opened and a small dark girl entered.  “Good even, my lady” she said in strongly accented Saxon, bobbing a curtsey.

Alodie sighed again, this time in annoyance, “and who might you be?” she asked imperiously.  It wasn’t one of the village girls so the Vikings must have brought her with them.  The girl blushed and took a step backward.

“My – my name is Kelda” she stammered “my lord Herger has sent me to serve you”

Alodie closed the shutters with a slam.  “Well  I don’t need serving Kelda, so go tell your lord Herger to......” her observations were interrupted by two hefty village lads carrying in the large wooden bathtub which they placed in front of the fire.  They were followed by several more servants carrying ewers of hot water.  When the bath was full the last two bowed and left.

Alodie smiled.  Whatever was to come she felt she could face it more easily after a hot bath.  It was just the thing she needed to wash away the horrors of the auction.  Shrugging off her cloak she climbed in, letting the fears of the day at least temporarily disappear as she luxuriated in the perfumed water.  Kelda squeezed what seemed to be essence of verbena onto Alodie’s hair then washed it.  Afterward the girl dried her with rough towels and rubbed each separate strand of her hair with silk then, anointing her with attar of roses on the neck, wrists and between the valley of her breasts, she helped her into a soft lawn shift.  Finally, opening the cedar chest at the foot of the bed, she drew out the white silk kirtle and blue and gold embroidered gunna which Alodie was to wear for her wedding to Luke.  Unprotesting, like a half finished android, Alodie allowed herself to be dressed.  On her feet Kelda placed blue leather slippers beaded with tiny stones and from her neck were hung amber beads.  Then around her waist was fastened a belt Alodie had never seen before, hanging from which were gold chains holding a knife and some ornate keys.

On being questioned, Kelda answered that, as she was to be married to King Herger, these signified that she was in charge of his household and, as such, must be obeyed by the other women.  “Whaat?” gasped Alodie “Married!  What do you mean, married?”

Kelda’s brown eyes opened wide.  “But milady, of course, you did not think that my lord would spend such a stupendous fortune on a woman if he did not intend her to be his wife.  You are a very lucky lady!”

Alodie dropped the chain holding the keys, it swung against her skirt .  “I will go down on my knees daily and thank the Lord, Kelda, for my good fortune!” she snapped, then immediately regretted her outburst.  The girl looked confused and Alodie realised that she was probably a captive just like herself, she sounded Welsh or perhaps Cornish, and was so naïve that sarcasm was probably lost on her.

Alodie tried to remember which one of the huge leering heathen had been Herger but as the whole nightmarish experience had passed in a daze, she could not recall him.

“We had better be going, milady” Kelda said quietly.  “Milord Herger is awaiting you”.  Alodie nodded (what was the use of objecting?) and allowed herself to be draped in a long blue velvet cape which was fastened at the neck with a garnet and ruby brooch, her hair was left unbound, and on her head was placed a circlet of gold.  Finally, Kelda pushed several unwieldy bracelets up onto her arms, which jangled when she walked.

As they left, Alodie glanced in the mirror, even with the traumas of the day she had to admit to herself that she had never looked better, whether or not the excitement had contributed she had no idea, but her skin seemed to glow with a golden sheen and her hair cascaded round her shoulders like molten sunlight.

Soundlessly, Alodie followed Kelda through the hall, deserted now except for an old servant who was scrubbing the huge oak table.  He glanced up and on seeing her knuckled his forehead.  “God preserve ‘ee milady” he muttered, Alodie noticed an open lash mark on his cheek, the poor old soul had probably suffered more than she had.  She smiled at him sympathetically.

As they reached the yard she pondered on her dilemma.  It was not the sex act itself which terrified her; in fact not so deep within her was hidden a great curiosity about it and if Oswy and Edric had not interrupted them in the garden she would definitely have allowed Luke to have his way with her, it was what would lead from it.  As captain of a starship Alodie Austen’s celibacy had given her power over men.  On the starship her power had been more or less absolute and would have been lessened by allowing herself to have a sexual relationship with one of her crew but she could not deny her genes.  Her mother, Nerissa,  had come from the Venusian colony and their passion and sexual attraction was a byword in the civilised galaxy.  She had to admit there had been times, especially this last trip, when she could have gladly given in to Luke Owen but she knew that if she once allowed herself to give in to a man she would be in his power, therefore celibacy on the starship was right and necessary.  Here on Earth in 876, all the reasons for it no longer existed.  She had no power, or rather the only power she did have was the granting and withholding of her sexual favours.  She would have to swim with the tide and do something which, when practised by women in her own time she abhorred – use her womanly wiles and sex appeal of which, she had now discovered, she had an overabundance, to get her own way.

So, if this Viking was not altogether hideous she would submit to him (to deny him she knew would be not only futile but dangerous) she would gain power over him and keep herself, and hopefully the villagers, alive until she could escape.

They had almost reached the square.

“Alodie my dear” she spun round and Godgyth flung her arms around her neck.  Alodie gasped as she saw her friend’s face.  Her frock was torn, both cheeks were bruised, she had a black eye and her lips were split.

“Lord, Godgyth, what have they done to you and what are you doing here?  I thought you’d escaped”

She sat down heavily on an adjacent log and looked up at Alodie, tears running down her plump face.  “They raped me Alodie, beat me and kicked me” she sobbed “five of them and me an old woman, I’m in such pain dear, but I hear you  had far worse”

Alodie gritted her teeth, all thoughts of appeasement disappearing.  How could anyone negotiate with such animals?  Why, even the L’axkinians, who were the most warlike race in the galaxy, spared old people and children.  Alodie crouched down, oblivious to the mud on her skirt, and took Godgyth’s hands. “Milady” hissed Kelda “my lord will be waiting”

Alodie turned her head and glared at the serving maid.  “Let him wait!” she snarled  “this is the lady of this manor.  She has been sorely hurt, now keep quiet and stand over there out of earshot whilst I talk to her” she turned back to Godgyth and kissed her gently on the forehead then lowering her voice she said “Gytha, I’m to be married to King Herger.  Most of the heathen will be at the service and feast to follow, do you think you can escape the village?”  Godgyth nodded.

“I – I think so, but I’m in no fit state to get far”

“Let me worry about that, can you get to the dell in the forest about four miles west of here?  You know the place.  There are lots of bluebells, its where the forest comes out on the grassy knoll by the edge of the cliff”

  Godgyth nodded again.  “I’ll try dear, why, do you have a plan?”

Alodie smiled wanly “I think so Godgyth, a sort of a one.  Look, get to the dell, set off in about two hours, wait for me there until dawn, that should give you time to rest, if I haven't arrived by then it means I’m either imprisoned or dead, so try to make for Winchester”.  With that she kissed Godgyth on the cheek, straightened her shoulders, and walked to the square to be married.

***************************

On their arrival, Alodie and Kelda were met by a man dressed in black and silver who handed Alodie a sheaf of corn.  Carrying this, she was led to the village pond, she noticed that two of the elm trees which surrounded the pond had been cut down and on each stump there was a statuette.  Motioning Alodie to stand in front of the one which looked for all the world like a Neolithic earth mother Kelda explained that it was a likeness of the goddess Freyja, and her blessing on the marriage ensured fertility.  Alodie glanced at the tree stump to her right on which was resting a revolting, definitely male, phallic statuette representing, she was informed, Freyr, Freyja’s twin brother and lover. 
Delightful
she thought
nothing like incest to get the marriage off to a good start.  I wonder what’s keeping the groom?

As if in answer to her question Kelda hissed in her ear “Lord Herger approaches” as she spoke horns blared a strident fanfare and Alodie, despite her vow to be disinterested and remote from the whole proceedings, glanced round.