“Ah, you awaken.” He touched her cheek, which still stung from Grima’s blow. “I regret you were mistreated, but Grima had orders to take you any way he saw fit.”
She pushed his hand away and sat up straight. “What have you done to Stein? If you’ve killed him, I’ll...I’ll...”
“What will you do, little one? Pout prettily for me? Or will you steal a dagger and try to murder me in my sleep?” He laughed and chucked her under the chin. “I don’t believe you have the nerve.”
“Just try me.”
“Hah!” He ran his hand down the column of her throat. “You don’t frighten me, little goddess, but I admire your spirit.” He leaned toward her. “I like a challenge in bed.”
“Dream on. I’ll never sleep with you.” She tried to get off the bed, but he held onto her wrist.
“I’ll bed you all right, if I have to tie you up to do it.”
“What have you done with Stein?” She twisted her wrist free. “Those men knocked him unconscious and dragged him out of the house.”
Magnus stroked the cones of his beard. “He deserves everything my men will give him.”
“How can you hurt your own son? It’s inhuman.”
“He is not my son,” Magnus ground out.
“Of course he is. How can you be so stubbornly ignorant?”
Magnus snorted. “He’s been defiant since he was a boy, just like my brother, Haakon. My dead brother, Haakon. If Stein were truly my son, he would respect me.”
“Respect you? After you slept with his wife and killed her? You must be nuts.” She punched her finger into his chest. “He saved your life in the fire, for heaven’s sake. He could have just left you there to burn.”
“He did it to save face, that’s all. He hates me. He wanted to look good and have everyone praise his strength and bravery.” He pulled back to study her. “You’re really in love with him, aren’t you?”
She crossed her arms defensively over her chest. “Yes. Yes, I am.”
“That’s too bad. He’ll be dead by nightfall.”
Her jaw dropped. “Dead? You’re going to kill him?”
“Yes, now that my brother is out of the way, I might as well rid myself of the other thorn in my side.” He massaged his bandaged leg and grimaced. “I should have done it before I bedded his wife. It would have prevented a lot of hard feelings around here.”
Her hands grew clammy and her chest ached. Stein couldn’t die. Fate wouldn’t be so cruel, would it?
“Where is he now?”
“My men have taken him into the forest, toward the mountains. His body will be left there for the wolves to feed on.”
Bile shot up her esophagus, making her cough.
“Ah, you’re upset.” He began to massage the huge bulge between his legs. “I have just the cure.”
She swallowed repeatedly, trying to clear her throat of the vile acid.
He leaned close, the smell of his breath as foul as his despicable soul. “Are you ready to become my concubine, little goddess?” He grazed her breast with his fingers. “I’ll have you pregnant before the week is out.”
She pushed his hand away. “I’d rather die than be your bed slave.”
He grabbed her by the back of the neck and pulled her toward him. “You will be my woman. Now enough talk.” He released her hard, pushing her down on the bed. “It’s time for us to become better acquainted.” Lifting her dress, he slid his hand up her thigh.
She slapped it away with both hands. “Don’t touch me, you pervert.”
“You don’t dare defy me. One word from me and my people will hang you as a sorceress.” He returned his hand to her thigh, inching it toward her pussy, and chuckled. “You and Stein concocted quite a tale. I don’t believe you’re Thor’s daughter, of course, but I’ll get you with child anyway. You’re young and can give me many sons.”
“Think again, Magnus.” She pulled his hand off her thigh and wriggled towards the edge of the bed.
“Oh, no you don’t.” He swatted her down like a fly and pressed her into the bed. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“Let me go, you bastard,” she shouted, her arms and legs flailing like a helpless insect.
Grunting and groaning, fueled by lust and adrenaline, he tried to straddle her. “See, my little dove? You can’t escape me.”
As he threw his good leg over her, she saw her chance.
“Don’t be so sure.” She balled up her fist and, using every bit of power she could muster, punched him in the genitals.
“AIEEE!” he screamed. Clutching himself, he slipped to the floor, writhing in agony. “Oh, my balls! My balls!”
She bounded off the bed but, as her feet hit the floor, Magnus grabbed her ankle and sent her reeling. Slamming into the hard ground on her side, she rolled over and tried to get to her knees.
Magnus grinned maliciously, his eyes blazing. “I’ll crush you like a moth.” His hand shot out and clutched her throat.
“No!” she yelled, pulling back her fist. Punching him, she connected with his jaw and watched in awe as he keeled over.
“What’s going on in here?” Grima’s booming voice preceded him.
Esme jumped to her feet. Now what? Grima was built like a tank.
He burst through the door and skidded to a stop, shocked at the sight of Magnus’s crumpled body before him. “My lord!” Grima turned to her. “What have you done, witch?”
“He’s just unconscious.” She glanced at the door, trying to calculate if she could do an end run around him.
He knew what she was thinking. “Don’t bother. You’ll never make it.”
Maybe her smaller size would give her the speed she needed.
“You wanna bet?” Her blood surged, propelling her into action.
Focusing on the door like it was the end zone in the Super Bowl, she sprinted forward and feinted to her left. Grima fell for it and lunged for her, grabbing thin air. She wove around him to her right, but the big guy was quicker than she thought. With a loud grunt he lurched toward her and caught her arm, nearly pulling it out of the socket.
“You’re a dead woman,” he hissed, yanking her into his arms.
“No!” She fought him, but it was futile. Her life flashed before her eyes as his hands closed around her throat.
A panicked choking sound made her eyes fly open.
“Release her!” Stein’s massive arm coiled around Grima’s neck. “Let her go, now, Grima, or I’ll kill you.”
Stein was alive! Relief swept over her, infusing her with strength and determination. She broke free as Grima’s arms slackened, but Stein would not let go of him. He tightened his hold, forcing the other man’s eyes to bulge and roll up until all she saw were the whites.
“Don’t kill him. Don’t leave the clan with blood on your hands.”
Stein released him reluctantly, and Grima sank to the floor like a sack of potatoes.
“He doesn’t deserve to live, and neither does my father, but I’ll not be their final judge.” Scowling, he spit on the floor in Magnus’s direction. “My father will suffer for all he’s done in the next world. Odin himself will bar him from Valhalla.”
He held out his arms to her. “Esme, are you all right? Did they hurt you?”
“I’m fine,” she panted, clinging to him. “Thank God you escaped. How did you get away?”
He crushed her in his arms. “I had more reason to fight than they did.”
“Don’t ever let me go,” she sobbed into his chest.
“I won’t. Now come with me. We must hurry.”
Magnus stirred and pushed himself upright. He opened his mouth several times, testing his jaw. “She packs quite a punch.” He looked ridiculous sitting on the floor, half-naked, with his pants bunched around his feet.
She glared at him. “I wish I’d broken it.”
He fixed his bloodshot eyes on Stein, a look so filled with hate it made her recoil. He spat on the ground. “You’re too late. I’ve already had her,
” he croaked.
“You’re lying,” Stein rumbled.
“It was easy.” Magnus’s lips curled in an malevolent grin. “She thought you were dead, so she threw herself at me. Just ask her.”
“You disgusting pig,” Esme snapped. “I’d never let you touch me.”
Stein stared daggers at Magnus. “Stop deluding yourself, old man. Esme would never deceive me.”
“All women are deceivers,” Magnus ground out. “She’s no exception.”
Stein turned to her, his lovely blue eyes filled with love. “Not Esme. I’d stake my life on it.”
She was light-headed with joy. “Thank you, Stein.”
He held out his hand to her. “Come. We’re finished here. My horse is outside.”
He tugged her toward the door, but she resisted. “Wait. There’s something I must take with me.”
She scurried to the chest of heirlooms and lifted the heavy lid. The map still lay face up on top. She grabbed it and rolled it up into a slender tube.
“Stop!” Magnus croaked, trying in vain to get to his feet.
“That is the map you described earlier?” Stein asked.
“Yes. It’s very important to me and to my father,” she said, jamming it into his boot. “It’ll be safe in here.” She stood. “Okay, now I’m ready.”
“Goodbye, Magnus.” Stein’s voice was filled with bitterness. “Our paths will never cross again.”
Magnus shook his fist. “Good. It’ll save me the trouble of killing you.”
Esme took Stein’s hand. “Let’s get out of here.”
Rolling thunder greeted them as they ran outside. The sky had turned an ominous grey-black, and the winds lashed the pine trees, curving them in a swaying hula dance.
They ran to a small grove of trees near the burned out shell of the hall. Tied to a sapling was Baldur, Stein’s horse, and next to him sat Ulla on Sunna, her grey mare.
“I’m coming with you, after all, Esme,” she said, handing Stein his sword. “To help with the children, remember?” Her eyes crinkled merrily.
“I’m so glad,” Esme answered as Stein helped her into the saddle. “We’ll need all the help we can get.”
Stein climbed behind her and nestled her into the curve of his body. He lowered his mouth to her ear. “Yes. We’ll make many babies.”
She smiled up at him. “Don’t think child rearing is only for women. Your mother and I will teach you all you’ll need to know.”
He squeezed her. “You’ve already taught me much.”
Esme grinned. “Yes, you’re coming along nicely.”
Mother Nature didn’t give him a chance to answer. A powerful wind gust nearly blasted them off their mounts, and overhead thunder boomed ominously.
He signaled for Ulla to follow and they took off. But instead of going south to Túnsberg, he led them west toward the forest. Esme assumed he wanted cover for their escape, but she wasn’t worried. He’d get them to their destination safely.
They plunged into the dark pine woods and threaded their way through the trees. It was not easy going. The lower branches of the pines thrust out from the base like rigid turnstiles, scraping the horses’ legs and poking at their sides. Fortunately, the way grew easier as they moved deeper into the forest.
Twenty minutes later, when they stopped to regroup, he raised his voice to be heard above the slashing winds. “When we reach Túnsberg, the first thing we’ll do is find a blacksmith to remove the slave collar. Then we’ll find a ship sailing for Iceland.”
Iceland wouldn’t be her first choice, of course, but she’d stay with him, no matter what. Same thing if the light vortex appeared. They’d all go through it together. If they wound up in Minnesota, great. If not...they’d manage. They’d be together.
Stein’s voice penetrated her daydreams. “...to start a new life together,” he shouted. “To make our own way in the world.”
“What did you say? I’m sorry, my mind was drifting.”
“We’ll be together, as man and wife. We’ll be able to make our own choices. Do you want that, too, Esme?”
“Yes, I do. I don’t care where we go as long as I can stay with you.” An unwelcome thought occurred. “Say, do we have any money to pay for our passage?”
He pulled a gold bracelet from beneath his shirt. Shaped like a rounded horseshoe, it was made up of individual strands of gold coiled together into one large, rope-like bangle. The two gold end caps were embossed with tiny dragon heads.
“It’s gorgeous. Is this the bracelet that Gudrun covets?”
“Yes,” Ulla shouted above the wind. “It’s only fitting that Magnus fund our escape, don’t you think?”
“Are you willing to part with it?”
Ulla nodded vigorously. “Yes. I want a new beginning too.”
Esme gave her a thumb’s up. “Way to go, Ulla!”
Just then the wind picked up, bowing the tops of the tall pines and stirring the carpet of needles under their horses’ hooves. The dark clouds swirled in foreboding eddies, reminding Esme of the storm that had brought her to this wonderland in the first place. In fact, it more than reminded her. It was identical, as was the prickly sensation around her neck and shoulders.
She knew without a doubt what was happening. The vortex was coming.
She shivered. “Stein, I know this sounds crazy, but I think something’s going to happen.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t have time to go into it now. You’re just going to have to trust me.”
Baldur and Sunna, Ulla’s horse, pranced around like they sensed it too.
“Explain, Esme. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She didn’t know how to say it without freaking them out. “I think a light may appear. A very bright light.”
“A light?” His eyes were full of questions.
“Don’t ask me to explain it. The light will show up to take me home, and I want you and Ulla to come with me.”
“To take you home?” He stared at her as if she’d grown antlers. “You are a sorceress, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I guess I am in a way.” Time travel was hardly natural. “But in a good way.”
“What are you saying, Esme?” Ulla asked.
“I’m asking you and Stein to trust me with your lives.”
Ulla’s brow furrowed. “I don’t understand.”
“I know both of you have wondered about me. Where I’m from, who I really am.”
“Yes,” Stein and Ulla said at the same time.
“If you come with me, I can show you. If you believe I love you and trust that I would never let anything harm you, then come with me. Begin your lives again in a new country full of wonders.”
“What about Iceland?” Stein asked.
“My home is way better than Iceland. I guarantee it.”
Stein and Ulla exchanged glances.
“Then we shall go with you,” Stein said.
“Yes,” added Ulla.
Thunder rumbled continuously overhead as if the gods were doing the polka. Then, one of them must have turned on the tap, because cold rain began to pour down, stinging their skin and running down their necks. Fifty yards away a crack of lightning split a tree.
Ulla turned to Stein. “I think we should find some kind of shelter.”
“All right.” Stein pointed to a dark cavity under a large juniper bush. “It’s not much, but let’s take cover under there and wait out the storm.”
They dismounted, and Stein tied the horses to a tree. The women huddled together, drenched by the icy rain and chilled to the bone.
“Come with me,” he said, taking their hands. They crawled beneath the dense, bluish evergreen and crouched together, trying to keep warm, but it was no use. The freezing rain fell in sheets, easily finding its way through the branches and soaking them to the skin.
Impossibly, the storm intensified, throwing buckets of water on them. They clung to each other in terror as thunder and lightnin
g rumbled and crackled overhead with frightening power. A tremendous clap of thunder rent the thick air, making them all jump.
Clutching Stein desperately, Esme crushed her face into his chest. “Please trust me, Stein. When the light shows up, you must come with me. I can’t lose you now.”
“You won’t lose me. Not now. Not ever.” He released her and cocked an ear. “Do you hear dogs barking?”
Esme’s heart stuttered. “Yes, I do.”
"What does it mean, Stein?" Ulla's voice was desperate.
He stared into the trees, his hunter’s vision focused on something. “Stay here, both of you.” He crawled out from under the juniper and drew his sword. “They’ve followed us.”
“May the gods save us!” Ulla shrieked, digging her fingers into Esme’s arm.
“Magnus must have changed his mind and decided to finish me off after all.”
“Oh, no!” Esme cried, crawling from under the bush on her knees.
She wondered how anyone could track them in this storm, but they were Vikings, after all, masters of their universe. Peering through the curtain of water, she saw several horsemen and dogs picking their way through the trees.
“How many are there?” she cried.
“Eight, I think. Grima is in the lead, but I don’t see Magnus.”
“What are we going to do?” Ulla shouted, joining them.
“I’ll fight them and keep fighting them until they are dead,” Stein said grimly.
Or until you are. There was no way he could fight off an entire troop of hardened warriors. They were doomed.
“You cannot win, my son,” Ulla shouted.
“You both must escape into the forest,” he yelled. “I’ll keep them busy here.”
Esme threw her arms around his neck. “No, I won’t lose you.”
He gazed down at her with eyes already gleaming with battle fever. “What about your magical light?”
“It’s late!”
He turned to his mother. “Get going, both of you. There’s not much time.”
“No!” Esme screamed. “No, no, no!” It wasn’t fair. They were supposed to be together. Where was the Universe when you really needed it?
Vanquishing A Viking Page 21
