by Ana Meadows
“Kill him or the virgin will be killed.”
Tani shriek, “NO, Mistress!”
Snatching the knife up, Asta rolled away a split second before Zekia attacked. She leapt onto the warrior’s back, locking her long legs around his waist, and grabbed his braided hair. Before she could bring Thorlak’s knife down, the tall warrior lunged backwards and sent them crashing to the ground.
The breath left her but she managed to hold onto the curved knife. Drawing it downward, she partially scalped Zekia. Howling, he rolled away and slung his head. Seeing that she had sufficiently blinded him, she tossed the knife into her clean hand and rounded on him.
His keen hearing, honed from many battles, alerted him to her footsteps. Kelci boldly leapt forward, providing much needed distraction. When Zekia spun toward Kelci, slashing wildly with his long blade, Asta attacked. Thorlak’s knife came down in his shoulder.
Asta pulled the blade free and plunged again, riding him to the ground. So intent on stopping him, she did not know that Kelci had also fallen. Tani threw herself over her injured friend, screaming and begging for aid.
Although wounded, Zekia was tough. He roared upward, throwing Asta off him. She slid to a stop at Thorlak’s feet, stunned and bloody from scrapes down her side. Zekia charged toward Tani, howling with rage.
Asta fearlessly propelled herself toward Zekia, clicking her tongue in an ancient war cry. Admiration flooded Thorlak’s face. Before Asta could reach Zekia, Thorlak’s knife whizzed past her head and lodged in the warrior’s back. He fell hard in the dirt, inches from Tani.
Asta dropped at the sight of Kelci holding her stomach while Tani sobbed over her. Shaking her head in denial, Asta threw herself on Zekia. Rage poured out of her. Zekia attempted to crawl away but his injuries were too extensive.
“Bring the sage forth.”
Having witnessed the battle, Thorlak’s warriors were ready. The elderly woman was shoved into the circle. Warriors picked the fallen Zekia up, looking to Thorlak when he said, “Get him out of my sight.”
The elder told the massive chief what she needed to help Kelci. He hesitated, studying Asta’s form bent over her, and finally nodded. The remaining females were in various levels of shock. Many of the younger ones cowered behind the older.
Thorlak barked at a warrior, “We have much to celebrate tonight. A new first lieutenant is in order. Take the females to the main cavern. Do not touch them. There will be no mating without my word.”
Two young warriors picked Kelci up, ignoring the elder when she urged care. Asta and Tani started to follow them but Thorlak stopped Asta, “The sage saved ye. She will save her if she can. I need attending.”
Thinking he meant sex, Asta’s chin thrust forward, “I submit to no man but Master Johan.”
Thorlak stared at her before repeating, “My attention is not a request.”
He pulled her into his arms, again slinging her over a shoulder. Knowing fighting would do no good, Asta still resisted, “I can walk.”
“So ye have proven. I choose that ye do not.”
She slapped his back, grimacing when his heavy hand came down on her already stinging rump. Given no other choice but to follow, Tani hurried after them. Covered in dirt and marred from her jarring side, Asta winced every time Thorlak took a step.
When they entered a cavern, Tani’s surprise made Asta look around. Thick, soft furs were covering the floor and braided fabrics were strewn about. Trickling water could be heard but the source was out of sight. Tani stumbled after him, looking everywhere at once. Light from a natural chimney flooded part of the cave, while torches along the wall sufficiently lit the rest.
Within their own clan, these accommodations were considered too lush. Thorlak did not put Asta down until he stopped by a clear pool of water. Pure white fish swam about in the pool. Tani squeaked in awe, “Fish.”
She reached for one but Thorlak caught her wrist. His other hand, streaked with dirt and blood, splashed the water. The fish swarmed, churning the liquid in a frenzy.
“They hunger for flesh. Pain me and they will grant pain.”
He pointed to a waterfall that fed the pool, “We shall wash.”
Tani stared at him with such shock that he tilted his head, “I know Zajihn to be barbaric but ye must surely bathe.”
Tani’s mouth opened and closed as a stunned look flooded her face. Asta’s bark of amusement bounced off the cavern walls. It still echoed as she corrected him, “Zajihn are not barbarians. The Vojihn…”
Thorlak towered over her, waiting for her to disrespect his clan. Thrusting her chin forward, Asta jabbed a finger at his chest, “Your own first lieutenant proved that ye are the barbarians.”
“Zekia’s temper rages. He is a true warrior but has needs.”
Knowing she would get nowhere with this line of argument, Asta shot back, “What of the slaughtering nature of Vojihn?”
Thorlak countered, “All clans’ nature is to war and slaughter. Ye cannot tell me different.”
She scowled at him but Tani spoke up, “Zajihn does not rape, pillage, or eat humans.”
Thorlak’s eyebrows rose, “I hear different.” His gaze licked down Asta’s body, “Besides, a tasty female of two is never bad.”
Tani’s eyes widened. Asta snapped, “She means not in the mating way.”
Thorlak roared with laughter, almost deafening them from his echoes. They nervously shuffled their feet, unaccustomed to a clan leader acting this way. He ignored their anxiety and pushed Asta toward the waterfall, “I refuse to taste such filth.”
She curled her lip but blushed at the hungry way he looked at her. Since the water was cold, she easily covered her rebellious body’s response. Gritting her teeth, she rubbed furiously at her skin. The coldness stung but stopped the oozing of her cuts.
“Go fetch some furs, Girl.”
Tani shivered all the way back to the main room. While she did his bidding, Thorlak watched Asta scrub at her soiled hair. She tried not to shake but it was impossible.
“AHH!”
Asta spun around and almost fell on the slick rocks. Thorlak had stripped his clothing, proudly displaying a cock just as huge as Johan’s. Asta’s jaw dropped. She dragged her eyes up to his chest. Her body was suddenly hot under the cold cavern falls. Blushing furiously, she jerked her gaze to his face.
A smirk rested there. Spinning to hide her discomfort, she completely missed Tani’s wide gaze focusing on his back. The dark phoenix birthmark spread over it, larger than Johan’s and appearing to take flight every time he moved. Before Tani could find her tongue, Thorlak stepped forward and clasped Asta by the shoulder, “Ye will wash me.”
She turned, finding his wide muscular chest way too close. Even knowing there was no use arguing, she still said, “I am bonded to a mate. I will not touch…”
“Mayhap, I should touch ye again to prove how your mouth speaks different than your body.”
His head tilted and lowered. Asta quickly said, “I shall…wash ye.”
He stared at Asta as her hand rose to spread water over his chest. Never flinching under her cold touch, Thorlak voice was husky when he told Tani, “Girl, wash my back.”
Tani raised a shaky hand to the marking. Her mind worked at what it meant. How could this giant have the same marking as our own great leader? Knowing she must tell Asta, she also knew that she could not simply blurt it out in front of Thorlak.
‘Tis a sooted mark. A warrior trick. Like the Eastern Shire men of old wore.
She scrubbed harder but the mark remained. ‘Tis embedded. Memory of the tall warrior Zekia’s ankle marking drifted through her mind. They must pound the ochre in as tradition declared.
His heated grunt made her jump, “Woman, my shaft needs washing.”
Asta vehemently shook her head, “I cannot!”
He grabbed her wrist, dragging her hands lower, “Ye can and will.”
He stepped forward, pushing Asta back under the waterfall and thrusting his chest
under with her. Cold water poured over her. Asta silently thanked the Gods that the cold spray masked her shivering at his nearness. She rebelliously clenched her hands into fists and closed her eyes.
“Look upon my face, Asta.”
She would have disobeyed but the shock of him using her name caused her to submit. She tensed when he grabbed his cock by using her fists. On impulse, she chose to punish him. Knowing males to be overly sensitive, she grabbed and squeezed him as hard as she could. One eyebrow lifted as lust fired in his eyes, “I enjoy your harsh touch. I cannot wait to find out if ye enjoy mine.”
She quickly released him and muttered, “Ye will not have me.”
The confidence on his face said otherwise. He moved her hands over him, forcing her to complete the task. Keeping her wrists circled in his hands, he said, “Girl, I need a fur upon my back.”
Tani obeyed, wishing he would leave her with Asta so she could tell her Mistress about the mark on his back. Tani waited with another fur in hand but he slung her Mistress over his shoulder. Asta grunted and said, “Why will ye not let me walk?”
“A spirited woman such as yourself does not walk. Ye run and fight.”
Tani waved her hands, catching Asta’s attention, and pointed to the fur on Thorlak’s back. Frowning at first, Asta shook her head. Understanding sprang on her face and she blurted out, “Ye are hungry.”
Thorlak agreed, “I am.”
He bent at the waist, lowering Asta to the floor. A warrior stood with the sage at the cavern entrance. Seeing them, the warrior said, “Zekia is nowhere to be found. This elder said his wound looked deadly but Zekia is a strong one.”
Thorlak flicked a wrist, “Have two warriors track him. How is the girl?”
The sage spoke up, “If she lives through the fever, no more babes will be in her future.”
Confused, Asta told the elder, “She has no young ones.”
“Ye speak true. The warrior finished it.”
Tani’s knees buckled, dropping her to the floor. Asta wrapped arms tightly around herself, curling inward at the news. Thorlak dismissed the sage with a wave of his hand, “Stay with her but be warned. Do not try any boldness or ye will join the unborn.”
The sage backed out quickly, murmuring a prayer to the Gods and Goddesses. Thorlak rolled his shoulders under the fur, keeping an eye on the entrance. Seeing his distraction, Asta edged away. Before she could complete a few steps, he barked, “Come to me!”
Tani obeyed right away. She wrapped her arms around his legs and begged, “I plead of ye, Chief, let us go to Kelci.”
Asta darted toward the entrance of the cave. Two warriors appeared, blocking her exit. Thorlak picked Tani up and motioned for the warriors to bring Asta to him.
“Do not harm her.”
She twisted in their grasp, kicking and screaming, “My Master will reward my return. Let us leave. We have been harmed enough.”
They dumped her at Thorlak’s feet. He reached down and grabbed Asta’s hair, “Woman, ask me now why ye cannot walk. Your feet are like your mouth—always moving.”
She spit at him. He grinned and spat in her face in response. Watching her cringe, he thrust his face in hers, “That will not be our only exchange. At the night’s feast, ye will give of yourself in every way to me.”
Pulling her face to his naked member, he smeared the spit from her face onto his cock and promised, “Ye test patience well. I will have ye lavish me and teach the women to attend to all my men. After tonight, ye will be the Mistress of my shaft!”
He pushed her face away, rolling his shoulders and dropping the fur. Slapping his chest, he boldly declared, “I waste no more words on ye. We act now. Tie them up.”
The warriors pulled them to the wall, snapping heavy shackles on their wrists and ankles while Thorlak watched. When he was satisfied they were secured, he turned and pulled a long tunic off a stack of furs.
Asta gaped at the mark of the phoenix spread across his back, “Ahhhhh! Gods and Goddesses be with us!”
Thorlak turned and shouted, “Gag them!”
Before the warriors could, Asta screamed at him, “Who are ye? Why do ye bear a false Jihn mark?”
Thorlak ignored her and left the cave. Asta tried to bite the warrior who gagged her. Tani’s squeals joined her Mistress’. The gag muffled their noises but not their fight. Left hanging on the wall, both of the clanswomen tried to free themselves until exhaustion overcame them.
Ana Meadows
The sequel to this story is available now!
The Stolen Valkyrie: Fated Mates (Part Two)
Refusing to take her assigned duty as Thorlak's personal slave quietly, Asta proves a tough nut for her fearsome chieftain master to crack. As the rival clan's celebrations begin, however, Asta finds herself unable to resist her strong, silent captor any longer, and comes to realize that he may not be the barbaric, loathsome man he's been made out to be; where do Asta's true loyalties lie? And what will happen when her clan mounts an effort to rescue her?
