VIKING THRALL (Historical Romance, Medieval, Viking) (7 page)

Fourteen

              Esme had little concept of where she was going. It was cold and the light had long since faded from the sky. She knew they had the sea to the left as they'd ridden to Arne's camp. So as she stumbled out of the burning longhouse, she'd kept the sound of the sea to her right.

              And prayed fervently to the old ones that she was heading in the right direction.

              Several times she fell, weak with hunger and from breathing the smoke from the fire. After Arne had knocked her unconscious, she'd woken to the sounds of fighting outside. She'd crawled into the kitchens to hide unnoticed and hid.

              She'd been so disoriented, that she hadn't noticed the fire until it spread to the kitchen itself. Thankfully there had been a small hole in the wall for sweeping refuse out. She'd crawled through it to safety.

              By the time she went outside, everyone was gone.

              Everyone but the bodies. There were several of them, each more horrifying than the next. But far fewer than she'd feared. She was pleased to see that Magnus was not among them.

              Esme would have thought that Magnus and his men would have searched for her. But instead it appeared that he'd done nothing but avenge her. Perhaps he thought she was soiled goods now and unworthy of his affection.

              That did seem likely in retrospect. Perhaps she was walking to the longhouse for nothing. Perhaps he didn't want her now that Arne had touched her.

              Of course he hadn't really touched her, other than her arm.

              Or her cheek, which still smarted.

              She stopped, realizing she was nearly there. It was dark out but she could see the outline of the building with the familiar outcropping above. She sighed.

              There was no turning back now.

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              "She was alive, I swear to you!"

              Magnus played with the small knife, waving it this way and that. He drank deeply of the mead that he'd been imbibing all day. He was drunk and half mad with grief.

              "You lie! If she was alive Olric would have found her!"

              Arne was bruised and battered from the beating that Magnus had been delivering all day. The man's pretty face was unrecognizable and would be for some time. Yet there was honesty mixed with desperation in the one eye that wasn't swollen shut.

              "I swear to you! I would give you my allegiance gladly."

              "Your allegiance! You have stolen the only thing of value! MY WOMAN!"

              He fingered the sharp blade, bringing it close to Arne's throat.

              "And you will pay for it with your life!"

              "Magnus?"

              Behind him, the room had grown eerily silent. Slowly he turned and saw a wraith. A dark shadow in the shape of a woman. His Esme had returned to him from the spirit world.

              The wraith swayed where it stand. Then she fell forward and he ran to her. She was covered in soot, alive, real, not a spirit!

              Esme was alive!

              He lifted her up, pressing her to him. Her eyes were half open and there was a bruise blooming on her cheek. But she was alive!

              "Esme! Are you alright? Did he hurt you?"

              "Put me down! I'm going to throw up!"

              He set her on her feet and was soon rewarded by a large stream of vomit on his shoes. He cared naught. His woman was alive!

              Magnus resisted the urge to shout in glee. Nay, he must be stern with her now. Let her know that she wasn't to get captured again.

              "Prepare the baths. I will clean this stench from my woman now."

              "I think I need to lay down."

              He chuckled.

              "You may serve me after we bathe woman."

              "No you daft man, I feel ill!"

              He frowned.

              "You should not speak to me thus. I am your master. And  you are the one who disobeyed me and nearly got herself killed!"

              His tiny little slave pulled herself to her full height, which wasn't much. Yet her stance made an impression.

              "It is I who has been hauled across the sea, into your bed, out of your bed, out of the kitchens, across the land, and now I've walked back again. I am with child and I want to LIE DOWN!"

              "With- child?"

              "Aye, with child you daft man!"

              He scooped her up and carried her to the baths, a broad smile on his face.

              "You can lie down after I wash you."

              "I am not up to any of your love games today Magnus."

              He squeezed her then set about stripping the filthy clothes from her body. Then he lowered her into the water and followed suit. Tenderly he washed her from head to toe, paying special attention to the area around her belly.

              A child.

              He dried her carefully and wrapped her in a clean cloth as she dozed.

              Finally alone is his chamber, he made love to her. He could not resist after thinking he had lost her. She was nearly falling asleep but he still brought her to pleasure, twice. He resisted taking her a second time, deciding generously that allowances must be made for her delicate condition.

              At last he curled up around her, arms and legs tangled with hers to be sure she did not disappear again whilst he slept.

              "We will wed on the morrow."

             
"What?"

              "I will free you and you will be my wife. As my wife you will obey me in all things."

              He couldn't be sure but he thought his woman made a small snorting sound of disbelief.

              "Tis true. The unthinkable has happened. I love you thrall."

              "My name. IS. ESME!"

              "Aye, so it is. Thrall."

              He drifted off to sleep with a smile on his face.

Two years later

              Esme stood outside the front door of their new dwelling. Magnus and his warriors were still putting the finishing touches on it but they'd moved in on this very day. She walked over to the side of the structure where a new bathhouse was being completed.

              Magnus had a bundle strapped to his chest while he supervised the men lifting heavy stones into place to support the wooden basin. He paused to press a kiss to the sleeping bairns head. That's when he saw her and came bounding down from the half built wall.

              "What are you doing! You should be resting! I command you!"

              Esme almost laughed. He seemed to order her around even more now that she was his wife. He was bossier as a husband!

              "Aye, I will lie dow- if you join me."

              He reddened slightly but nodded, following her eagerly into their new home. Imagine, she had the power to make this hulking warrior blush! The longhouse below had been reinforced over the past two years, along with building this new dwelling for the headsman and his growing family. Besides, they needed the space now that Arne and his warriors had joined them.

              Esme smiled softly, thinking of the day she'd convinced him not to murder the hapless young vikings. She'd preached tolerance and the need for guidance. She'd declined to tell her husband of the way Arne had demanded she join him in his bed.

              Magnus had no need to know of that!

              Arne was a faithful servant to her now, always eager to help. He knew well that he owed Esme his life. She was glad that these two fearsome viking warriors had learned to work together. As one, they were well protected from any enemies and a force to be reckoned with instead of constantly sparring as they had done in the past.

              'Twas a far better solution for her son and the one on the way.

              She lay down on the sleeping pallet, once again divided from a main room with naught but a curtain. But twas far more private now that only their offspring and servants would be sharing the house!

              Magnus set the baby down on a chest across the room. Then he lay down beside her and kissed her tenderly. She smiled when she felt his arousal press against her growing belly.

              "Are you sure tis good for the bairn?"

              "Aye husband. Just go slow and easy."

              "I can do that. Thrall."

              She squawked in outrage as he pulled her dress down, laving her sore nipples with his tongue.

              "That milk is for the babe Magnus!"

              "I know woman. I just wanted a taste. I will busy myself with other things now."

              He eased down between her legs, stroking her nether lips with his eager tongue.

              "Oh, oh, oh!"

              The child inside her made her body even more sensitive to his touch. Within minutes Esme felt herself floating on a wave of pleasure. When he eased his stiff prick inside her, she was still quivering from her first release. Knowing her husband, it was merely the first of many.

              "You please me well woman. I will keep you for myself alone, I have decided."

              "Aye, you are fortunate in that I find you pleasing as well."

              "Oh I am, am I?"

              He was riding her gently from behind, bringing her closer and closer to another peak.

              "Aye Viking. I've decided to keep you as well!"

Joanna Davis has always been the sort to get lost in a good book. She is an avid traveler and adores wandering through the old cities of Europe imagining herself in another time. Other than writing, her favorite pastimes include gardening and restoring her 100 year old home to it's former glory.

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