Viking Love Beyond Time (Time Travel Romance) (49 page)

             
Alodie noticed, as the small raiding party beached the boat, that the wind seemed to be dropping.  They set off up the shingle, through a small copse and into a clearing, then, crossing a field, they headed towards a huddle of houses clustered round a sizeable hall which was blazing with lights.  The Vikings made for a hut in the middle of the village about three hundred yards from the hall and, kicking open the door, deposited the terrified women none to gently on the floor.

             
Alodie curled up her nose.  The room was filthy, the rushes on the floor did not bear inspection but should have been swept out and changed months ago by the smell of them, and the four hastily made up truckle beds (which, along with a rickety table upon which rested a cracked wine jug, seemed to be the only furnishing in the bare room) were covered with what looked like filthy animal skins.

             
Alodie debated whether or not to tell the Norsemen, when her gag was removed, that they had inadvertently captured the queen of Wessex, and to pass herself off as the queen’s maid but the only problem with that was that they would take them to Herger (and it just
had
to be him who was in charge of this little band) who would recognise the ‘maid’ as his long lost bride and then........well, death would be preferable to spending her life bedding with a faceless heathen monster.  They must avoid being taken to Herger at all costs.

             
Leif had hardly taken his eyes from Alodie since they had arrived, and the look on his face was not lust but puzzlement.

             
Taking the ale jug Erik took a deep draught, belched and passed it to Cnut then Ragnor who in turn passed it to Leif, slapping him between the shoulder blades.  “Look Leif” he said jovially.  “No one will worry about these two.  They are not women of quality.  What ranking lady would be walking home on her own in the middle of a blizzard?”

             
Leif shrugged.  “I don’t know but there is something about this one” he gestured to Alodie “the way she fought, it reminded me of someone”

             
“Probably your wife in an attempt to stop the wedding!” interjected Cnut.

             
The Vikings roared with laughter and even Leif smiled.  Alodie thanked the Lord that he was a moron but had the feeling that, given time, he would be able to see through a brick wall.

             
“Right girls” said Erik suddenly, rubbing his hands together, then shrugging off his cloak he turned to Cnut.  “Throw some logs on the fire and light some candles, let’s see what we have here” he pulled Aehlswith to her feet and, after removing the gag from her mouth, unfastened her hands and feet then removed her cloak.  His eyes swept her trim form from top to toe and he whistled silently, whilst Aehlswith shrank back against the wall.  “Loki’s balls, what a beauty” he moaned.  “I think fortune’s smiled on us with this little darling, lads, I’m going first”

             
“I’m having first go at the other then” cut in Ragnor.

             
Erik laughed.  “Go ahead boy, what’s the betting she’s a snaggle toothed old bat with tits down to her ankles and cross eyes”

             
Ragnor hauled Alodie to her feet and took the gag from her mouth then slitting the bonds which held her hands and feet he pulled her into the firelight and removed her cloak and hood.

             
As he caught sight of her in the flickering flames his jaw dropped.  “Thor’s hammer” he gasped “will you look at that?  Have you ever seen a woman as beautiful as this in your life?” he reached for her and Alodie winced as his hand caressed her breast and then followed the curve of her body down, over the soft swell of her hip.

             
The room fell silent, she glanced round fearfully as four lustful pairs of eyes stared lasciviously at her.  Ragnor removed the pins with which she had fastened her thick plait on top of her head and untied the ribbon at the base of the thick rope.  Her soft hair, loose now, swung round her face in a golden waterfall.

             
The Vikings were speechless, then Leif said slowly “Have you noticed their frocks lads?”

             
“No Leif” said Erik with a sigh “but if you want them you can have them, I think they would probably suit you. You can have their ribbons too, to tie up your lovely dark hair”

             
A roar of laughter greeted this sally but then Erik walked over to where Ragnor was struggling with the knot at the top of his braeis and without a word grabbed Alodie’s arm and pulled her toward one of the beds.  “Hey!” snapped the younger man “this one’s mine, you chose the other one!”

             
Leaning over Erik grabbed Aehlswith by the arm and threw her at Ragnor.  “There’s nothing wrong with that tasty little pullet, when I’ve taken this beauty, we’ll swap”

             
“Oh yes!” snapped Ragnor “a minute ago she was a snaggle toothed old hag and you’d chose the beauty of
Wessex
”

             
“Now listen boy......” snarled Erik, reaching for his knife with his left hand whilst gripping Alodie’s arm with his right “......I was out a’viking when you were shitting your linens, I’m in charge, I get first pick, if you don’t want this little red haired beauty...” he gestured to Aehlswith “leave her, I’ll get onto her next”

             
“.......................and Leif and me get sloppy seconds as ever” snapped Cnut.

             
“Well, I’m not touching either of them” broke in Leif.

             
The room fell silent and Erik guffawed.  “
Ragr!
He’s a
ragr man
, what did I tell you?”

             
“I’m not Erik” said Leif slowly “it’s just that I’ve never seen serving girls wearing silk and velvet gowns like these two and I’ve just remembered where I’ve seen the blonde one before”

             
“I’ve seen her in my dreams” moaned Ragnor.

             
“.........and I’ve seen her naked and auctioned - that’s none other than the lady Alodie, wife of Herger!” Alodie groaned and hung her head.  Ragnor released his hold on Aehlswith’s arm and reached for the wine jug, he took a nervous swallow, then glanced up.  “Are you sure, Leif?” he croaked.

             
Leif nodded.  “I was among the party who captured her in the first place.”

             
Erik looked long and hard at Alodie “in that case she’ll be able to understand every word we say - are you Lady Alodie?”

             
What a choice
she thought
deny it and be raped by the halitosis brothers or admit it and be taken to Herger - oh well, at least Aehlswith will be saved.

             
Drawing herself up to her full height she shook Erik’s hand from her arm and nodded then said in Norse.  “I am Alodie, lady of Bredond and betrothed of Edric heir to the lord of Lamporth, yes”

             
Erik took another swallow of his drink “Now what?” asked Cnut.

             
“I vote we take them back” said Ragnor.

             
Alodie flashed a look at Aehlswith then realised her friend would have been unable to understand a word of what had just been said.  “.....and I vote you shut your gob Rag, we can turn this to our advantage” snapped Erik “we all know that King Herger thinks the sun, moon and stars rise and set on milady here, he was going to lead a raiding party to get her anyway.  We’ve saved him the trouble.  We’ll probably be rewarded.”

             
“You’ll probably be killed” cut in Alodie.  Four pairs of eyes swung round to look at her.

             
“.................and how do you come to that conclusion my lady?” sneered Erik.

             
Alodie smiled sweetly at him.  “Lord Herger will not be very pleased when he finds out that the wife who you say he adores has been raped by four of his soldiers, castration will be the least of it I should imagine”

             
“B-but we never touched you....................” blustered Ragnor.

             
Alodie walked over to the table and picking up a bone cup looked at it, ran her finger along the rim and replaced it with distaste then, without looking up said, smiling sweetly “you know that and I know that but does Herger?”

             
“You would lie?” said Erik evenly.

             
Alodie swung round on him “You can stake your life on it!” she hissed, “the only thing to do is to release me and my friend here”

             
Erik climbed to his feet and smiled, an unpleasant sight considering the state of his teeth, then, draining his cup he replaced it on the table.  “There is another alternative” he said, almost pleasantly “we could kill you both and throw your bodies in the river, after we have all pleasured you senseless that is”

             
Alodie felt an icy hand clutch her vitals, he was bluffing, she would have to out manoeuvre him “What?” she said evenly “and risk one of the others talking?  I think not”

             
She glanced round the room.  Leif was wringing his hands together, Ragnor was biting his bottom lip and Cnut was just listening open mouthed.  Erik sat down and began to pare his nails with his eating knife.

             
Suddenly he turned to the others and grinned. “What a woman, a mind like a king’s adviser and the looks of an angel, I can understand Herger scouring the four corners of the kingdom for her, I would myself”

             
Alodie smiled “I’m truly flattered but I repeat - are you going to let us go?”

             
Erik laughed and jumped to his feet.  “The answer to that my beautiful Valkyrie is no, you are far too valuable a prize, I will take you back your husband, the lucky bastard, but I will keep your little friend here for one night.  If you tell Herger this black lie he will probably come to kill us but before he does.....” Erik nodded in Aehlswith’s direction and drew a finger across his throat “however, if we have heard nothing from Herger by tomorrow
noon
or if we get a reward....” he rubbed his thumb and forefinger together “your little friend will be brought to you, safe and sound, what’s her name by the way?”

             
“Aehls....Emma” stammered Alodie, this man was clever, cunning almost.

             
Erik snorted then pushed Aehlswith toward Ragnor, “Here Rag,  look after Aehlsemma - Loki’s balls - what jaw crackin’ names these West Saxons give their women” then crossing the room her grabbed Alodie by the upper arm, “now then  milady, no funny business or your friend will be discovered tomorrow morning, headless, in the river.  Do I make myself clear?”

             
She nodded, then looked up at him.  “She will be unharmed?  I cannot countenance your men ravishing her”

             
Erik held up his hand, palm outward.  “Safe as houses” he replied “I swear”

             
Alodie then turned to Aehlswith, who was slumped on a stool between the two young Vikings, she took her hand and said slowly in Saxon, “your name is Aehlsemma, this slob has promised not to hurt you if I - he has promised not to hurt you, they will bring you to me tomorrow”

             
Aehlswith looked up, tears in her eyes.  “Where are they taking you, Alodie?” she whispered.

             
Alodie shrugged.  “It seems my darling husband is here and is eagerly awaiting my presence, I am going to Herger” Aehlswith drew her fist to her mouth and sobbed.  “You are a hostage for my good behaviour ‘Swith” she continued “if they touch you in any way I shall make sure Herger kills them in as unpleasant a manner as I can devise.  Don’t worry love, everything will turn out alright, he’ll probably keep his helmet on in bed and anyway he has a wonderful body!”

             
Despite herself Aehlswith smiled “that’s my Alodie, you always see the funny side of everything and make me smile, for Jesu’s sake take care of yourself”

             
“You too, your Grace” replied Alodie, and patting her friend’s shoulder turned and followed Erik and Leif out into the stormy night.

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

             
After leaving the house they walked through the middle of the village and crossed the small bridge which spanned the stream, as they did so a strong gust of wind almost knocked her off her feet, sending snow flying into her face, momentarily blinding her and filling her mouth.  Erik turned and shouted something at her but his words were whipped away by the steadily worsening wind as he uttered them.  She was cold, wet and wretched but even so, being outside in this terrible storm was infinitely preferable to being inside with Herger, the one man in the world she did not ever want to see again, the very thought of giving herself to that bloodthirsty monster with the deformed face was almost more than she could bear.