Viking Love Beyond Time (Time Travel Romance) (28 page)

             
“Y - yes, she is.  Er - in answer to your question, yes I was a cooper, I lost my tools when I had to get money to pay for my wife.....”

             
“Yes, well, the queen was only complaining to me earlier that she cannot get hold of enough barrels and needs at least another ten a month” she turned, the kitchen staff were staring at her, open mouthed “do you mind?” she snapped - as one they turned back to their chores, muttering to themselves.  “Where was I, oh yes, could you make ten barrels a month?  Good ones, mind?”

             
Wat scratched his chin “Aye, easily mistress, but I have no tools, no workshop, no money to buy seasoned wood”

             
“That’s where I can help.  Look for a vacant workshop and order all the tools and timber you need, then come back and tell me how much it will cost.  Get a workshop with living quarters above it so you don’t have to leave the children as much”

             
Wat’s face hardened “What’s the catch?” he muttered.

             
“No catch, Wat.  I want to help you”

             
“Why?”

             
“Margaret tugged at my heartstrings.  I too lost my mother when I was small.  I was brought up by my father, I never saw him, he was always away”

             
“I don’t take charity from anyone lady” he said and got to his feet.  “Tes a handsome offer and I’m grateful but I’m a free man and....”

             
Alodie threw up her hands “Of course you are.  I wasn’t suggesting charity, you can look on it as a loan, pay me back at so much a month, we can work out how much later, or if you prefer, make me your partner, pay me so much a barrel, but first find your accommodation and get your wood and tools”

             
Wat’s face first began to break into a tiny smile and then a grin “I - I can’t hardly believe it, Margaret said you were an angel milady!”

             
Alodie smiled.  “No angel, I look on it as a shrewd business move.  I’ll expect you back soon then Wat, and I’ll be coming to inspect the premises”

             
“Of course, milady, of course.........”  he moved toward the door, then turned “thank you milady, me and my family will mention you nightly in our prayers”

             
She smiled “until tomorrow then Wat”

             
He grinned again and tugged his forelock then left, his step jaunty, his head held high.

             
Alodie smiled again, she felt, for the first time in her life, truly virtuous - she had done them no favour, rather it was the other way round. Getting to her feet and ignoring the curious glances of the serfs she opened the kitchen door and left.

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

             
The Norseman, Luke, Oswy and the rest of the company arrived back in the hall just after the meal had started. 

             
Luke walked purposefully up to Alodie, who was dressed this evening in apricot silk, and kneeling, kissed her hand.  “I rejoice you are safe, my love” he said loudly, then turning to King Alfred he bowed “my lord, I beg your indulgence, may Alodie sit with me tonight?”

             
Alfred waived his hand expansively “Assuredly Luke, no one would be happier than I to see you and the lady Alodie patch up your differences”

             
Bowing again, Luke took Alodie’s hand in his and, as she shot a glance of anguish at Aehlswith who shrugged helplessly, he walked with her to his place down the table.

             
The Viking missed none of this exchange and with a face like stone and a quick bow to Alfred he mounted the stair and disappeared into his room.

             
Luke pulled out Alodie’s chair and handed her into it as though she were a piece of Dresden china, then, still smiling, he seated himself next to her. “Right” he snapped in modern English “lets get down to brass tacks Alodie - what the hell were you doing with the Great Dane all afternoon?”

             
Alodie speared a piece of chicken and chewed it slowly “none of your goddamned business Lieutenant Commander” she said at last.

             
“ah, so you
were
with him then?”

             
Alodie dipped her chicken in the sweet honey sauce then turned to him “What the hell is it to do with you if I was?” she hissed “I am not, nor ever will be, yours to command”

             
Luke smiled and took a drink of ale.  “Be sensible, hon” he replied “what is there for you if you don’t marry me?  Service with Aehlswith until you either die of old age or marry some skinny Saxon thegn with body odour, bad teeth and head lice”

             
Alodie turned on him, eyes blazing “better that than being married to a bullying braggart who hits women!”

             
Luke tried to stare her down but found himself lowering his gaze.  He took a package from inside his jerkin and unwrapped it.  “I - I bought you this, Alodie” he said “to say sorry for what I did last night, it was unforgivable”

             
He laid it on the table.  It was lovely, the amethysts caught the candlelight and the gold and silver twinkled.  She picked up the bracelet thoughtfully and examined it.  After a second or two she replaced it on the table “Beautiful Luke” she replied “what do you expect me to do? Cry
‘my hero what a fool I’ve been to doubt you’
and throw myself into your arms?  Give it to that fat, black haired slut across the table who you’ve been bedding for the past month, I wouldn’t touch it with the ........” her voice tailed off.

             
Luke did not need to look round to see what had interrupted her tirade.

The Viking had reappeared, washed, shaved and dressed in white leather braeis, white silk shirt and a white leather jerkin, his long dark curly hair caught by a leather strip and his gold earrings flashing in the firelight.

             
As he passed Alodie their eyes met.  They said nothing to each other but the look which passed between them could, Luke was convinced, have physically ignited the air.  Alodie’s knuckles were white as she gripped the edge of the table and Rorik smiled that devastating smile of his.  Then bowing slightly to her and ignoring Luke completely, he made his way to his place on the king’s table.

             
“Well, well, well” said Luke, quietly “so Princess Cool herself has fallen in love in a big way.  Really Captain Austen, I thought you had better taste”

             
Alodie dragged her eyes away from Rorik.  “My taste in men is superb, Owen” she snapped “I am the only woman in this room, with the exception of the queen, who can see right through you”

             
Luke banged his tankard on the table with such force that several people looked in their direction “that bastard is going to be a pile of psi-gunned Scandinavian ashes before he’s much older!” he snarled.

             
Alodie turned and glared at him with such loathing that he fell back onto his seat. “You touch him, or anyone else for that matter, with that thing and I will personally hit you with a blast so large that we’ll be able to fill the crater with water and call it ‘
Lake
Owen
’, do I make myself clear?”

             
Luke took another drink “perfectly Captain, perfectly.  Listen, I’ll do you a deal, you marry me on 9th September as planned and I promise I won’t psi gun Mr. Wonderful”

             
Alodie shook her head.  “I don’t do deals with insubordinate bullies Owen.  I’m warning you, kill Rorik or harm him in any way with twenty fifth century weaponry and I will blast you.  This is not an empty threat”

             
Aehlswith had been watching the heated exchange between her friend and Luke with growing concern and after a while tapped her husband on the arm.  “My lord” she said meekly “I hate to bother you with trivialities when you are so caught up in the affairs of state but I am worried for Alodie.  I think her antipathy for Luke has gone beyond mere dislike and is bordering on hatred.  May I recall her to sit next to me?”

             
Alfred rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then shook his head.  “No my love, Luke is a fine young man and I feel that it is well past time that milady Alodie was wed, she is too - er - mettlesome.  Actually, Oswy has taken me to one side and asked me to command her to marry Luke, as he is afraid that outside sources.......” and here he glanced at Rorik, sitting two places down the table and watching Alodie and Luke’s argument just as intently as they were “....are turning the lady’s head in a direction it should no be permitted to go”

             
Aehlswith sighed “as you will my lord” she said quietly.

             
“I intend” he continued evenly “to have the wedding announced the evening after our Danish friends have departed.  Rorik seems so taken with her at the present time that if I announced it any earlier it may push him into - er abducting her or something.   He should never have been left alone with her in the first place”

             
“But Alfred” reasoned Aehlswith “it was you who asked me to see that Rorik was kept occupied”

             
The king made a sign of impatience and took a quaff of wine, “Blast it Aehlswith, I did not intend that you send him out riding with any of the ladies of the court.  Especially not Alodie” he gestured in her direction.  “look at her woman!  Alodie, a Viking and a thick forest! Thank God the outcome was not worse” Alfred raised his voice and called Rorik’s name, the Viking looked up. “Rorik” he said “tomorrow I would be obliged if you would accompany me and my housecarles when we go out collecting your ransom.  I would like you to see how your gold is wrung out of our countrymen.  Although I and all my nobles and thegns have contributed as much as we are able a good three quarters still remains to be collected” he broke off to blow his nose on his fingers, then flicked it into the rushes.  “We go to the monastery of Asham tomorrow, there should be coins and plate enough there to help us, unless your friends have already sacked the place before we get there”

             
Alfred’s voice had carried and the hall fell silent, the only sound being the hiss of fat dripping into the fire and the snarl of the dogs under the table.

             
Rorik’s expression did not change.  “As you wish, your Grace, I am yours to command” he replied evenly “I would like to point out, however, in the interests of accuracy, that I myself had no part in this demand for gold”

             
“Indeed, sir Viking” said Alfred with a hint of sarcasm in his voice “pray tell me more, I am interested in this sentimental attitude of yours”

             
Rorik smiled and took a bite of pork.  When he had chewed and swallowed he leaned across the table, reached into the salt bowl and sprinkled a pinch on the remainder of his food.  “You misunderstand me sir, sentiment does not enter into it, I am a warrior.  I would rather fight you to the death than demand money from you.  I consider what we did to be very - demeaning”

             
The silence continued for a few seconds, whilst the room drew its collective breath, then it dissolved into pandemonium as fists were waved and rash challenges issued.  Edric himself jumped to his feet and drew his
sceax
, closely followed by Luke.

             
Alfred waved his hands in an effort to instil calm whilst Rorik looked round, totally unmoved.  He shrugged “You did ask my opinion sir, did you not?  This is my personal view, I would not want it to affect the peace negotiations”

             
Alfred leaned closer to Rorik and lowered his voice.  “I consider the violent court you are paying to a lady, a lady betrothed to one of my warriors, could very well affect the peace negotiations.  Luke Edmundson is holding himself in very well I think, considering the attention you pay to Lady Alodie”

             
The Viking smiled, lazily.  “Your Grace, that I am attracted to the lady I will not deny.  A man would have to be a eunuch not to be.  She is the most beautiful and intelligent women I have ever met, but she is already bespoken and I would not dream of pursuing her”

             
A look of relief crossed Alfred’s face.  He had been riding all day, he had a headache and a sore backside and was worried that the gold would not be collected in time.  He had enough promised by his nobles and thegns true, but most of then lived in outlying areas of Wessex and could not get to their estates, raise the gold and return in the time allotted.   On top of that, Oswy had approached him with the problem of Alodie and Luke and had asked him to use his royal command to bring the wedding about.  He glanced down the table at the lady in question, he would be glad when that blonde beauty was safely wedded, bedded and out of harm’s way - Jesu, he was even attracted to her himself and there was none more God fearing than Alfred, King of Wessex.  With difficulty he dragged his attention back to the Viking who, to his slight annoyance, had followed his gaze and had a sardonic smile on his face.  Alfred coughed.  “I am glad to hear you say that Rorik” he blustered “I would hate to have to report to your brother Guthrum that Luke had killed you over the lady”