Eirik frowned and looked at Sophie. Seeing her naked, skin flushed and her breasts and nipples ripe from his attentions, he growled “Dress yourself slave.”
Sophie blushed then grabbed her clothes and pulled them on, as Eirik picked up his breeches and eased them up his large powerful legs, quickly pushing his still tubescent shaft into them and tying them tight.
“Please sit Lord,” he said, “Sophie fetch some wine for my guest.”
She rushed to find the best goblets and wine and served Jarl Ivar, who sat at the table watching her, an interested glint in his eyes. “Ubbe, last night in his cups, told me that you had an interesting bed slave. A healer too I believe. How did you come by such a treasure Eirik?”
Eirik kept his voice devoid of feeling as he said “I picked her up on one of my raids, she serves a purpose,” and he shrugged.
“Come here girl,” Ivar said waving her to him.
She so didn’t want to go near him, but as she looked at Eirik his face a mask of unconcern, she knew that Ivar was a man who must be obeyed. Lifting her head high, not knowing that with her long wild hair framing her perfect face she looked like a pagan princess, she went to him.
Standing in front of Jarl Ivar, favourite son of one of the most powerful men of that age, Sophie felt as if her insides had turned to jelly. Ivar was almost as big as Eirik, but his eyes were a washed out blue and soulless. Lifting his hand he cupped her face, turning it from side to side, then his eyes slid down past Eirik’s collar and undressed her all over again. She gritted her teeth and kept her eyes down when Ivar murmured “Flawless. What is her asking price?”
Eirik said as unaggressively as he could manage “I’m sorry Lord, but she is not for sale.”
Ivar frowned, by rights Eirik should be saying that he’d give her to him as a gift, in order to curry favour with him.
“Come, name your price Merkismathr, I would have this woman.”
“Lord, you have my loyalty and my sword, but this woman is different. She would not suit you at all. She’s difficult and wild and I would not trust her not to slit your throat while you slept, disappointed in her cold body.”
“And yet you rut with her in the middle of the day.”
“I have no other suitable slaves to see to my needs, while you have many, and the middle of the day is a good time to hump her as I am in no danger of sleeping.”
“So she does not warm your furs at night?”
“No Lord, she sleeps outside with the dog.” Eirik lied, desperately trying to keep Sophie safe.
Ivar sighed “A pity, a body like that should hold a sensual woman. Still, no matter, there are other more important matters to discuss. Go away girl, leave me and your master in private.”
Without a word and not daring to look at Eirik, Sophie hastened out of the house and went to find Alta.
***
When she saw Ivar leave Sophie went back into the house. Eirik was still sitting at the table looking deep in thought. She sat next to him and didn’t say anything, waiting for when he was ready to talk. Finally he turned to her and said “Life is about to change. Ivar has plans to take Anglia, more men are gathering in Conecastre and will join us on the march.”
“But what about here?”
“A small garrison will be left here, the next few weeks will be spent hunting down the Myrce and chasing them back over the border. Then when Ivar and Ubbe are sure that Weorgoranceastre is secure we will leave for Anglia.”
“Why does he want Anglia?”
“It’s King is weak and we would rule through him if we can capture him. Wessex is too strong at the moment and Mercia would be easier to conquer if we held the part of it that is Anglia.”
“So you will be away chasing the Myrce and then leave and march on Anglia?” Sophie asked. “What about me?”
“You will come with me of course, in the rear with the baggage carts and other slaves.” Eirik said as if it were a normal occurrence. “However the problem is that you will be alone here while I am chasing the Myrce back over the border, and both Ivar and Ubbe want you as theirs.”
“Couldn’t I ride with you?”
Eirik laughed “Of course not! We ride hard and fight hard and you would be...” he waved his hand, lost for words as he saw the look on her face.
“I ride as well as any of your men. I’m fit and strong and can obey orders. Surely you need someone to hold the horses or tend to your wounds, cook your food even.” Sophie was at a loss about what she could do, but definitely didn’t want to stay by herself at the mercy of two men, who if they wanted could just take her from Eirik. While he was with her they might think twice about alienating one of their best warriors but if he was away who knew what they might do. Els-wythe, Ubbe’s young slave, was breeding and Wulf-pryor was showing signs of wear due to her drinking and Ubbe’s cruel treatment. She didn’t know if Ivar had a favourite slave with him and he’d wanted her, so the less she was around him the better.
“Sophie, women don’t ride out on patrol.”
“What about the shield maidens? They fight, they’re women and not much bigger than me, I can fight if I have to, but I probably wouldn’t need to. As I said I could hold the horses or whatever.”
“No,” Eirik growled, “I’ll think of something to keep you safe. Don’t worry.”
When she went to argue he held up his hand and said “Enough! Don’t argue with your master, slave.” And as far as he was concerned that was the end of the matter.
Chapter 19
That evening Eirik insisted on Sophie accompanying him to the nattmal. She tried to argue that it would be better for her to keep a low profile in the hope that Ivar forgot about her, Eirik on the other hand, knowing how his fellow Danes thought, pointed out that if the new warriors and his own men saw how he prized her, it would make it difficult for Ivar or Ubbe to take her from him without losing face in front of the army. Eirik was Merkismathr, a hero to the younger warriors and a leader his peers would follow anywhere. Ivar and Ubbe needed him.
So, to show what she meant to him he gave her a beautiful dress, made of blue silk from Arabia, covered in gold lace. A long fur lined cloak and neat shoes finished her outfit and for her hair he produced jewelled combs and, to match her collar, a pair of earrings. She hadn’t known that the Danes wore such fancy clothes, but Eirik pointed out that she’d never seen any high born ladies. He too dressed carefully in fine soft leather and wore gold armlets and rings. He wanted to show Ivar and Ubbe that he was rich and a Thegn to be respected. Alta helped Sophie to plait her hair into an elaborate style and placed the jewelled combs to catch the light as she moved her head.
As they walked to Ubbe’s hall Eirik said “If I treat you differently tonight remember that you are my slave, a possession and try to be cold towards me.” Then he grinned “I know that will be difficult as you enjoy my touch so much.”
“Mmm, it won’t be hard if I remember how cruel and big headed you are,” she said disdainfully.
“That’s good but not too much, as I ache to think of the taming of you, already.”
Swatting at his arm she stayed quiet, in truth she was worried about appearing in Ubbe;s hall dressed like a pagan princess.
Ubbe’s hall was packed solid, with most of the slave’s tables taken over by warriors. Only the highest ranked Dane’s slaves would eat in the hall that night, and Eirik took her to a table nearest to the door that was occupied only by female slaves, then he left her and went to take his place at the high table. Sophie could see that Hilde and another shield maiden were on that table and her lips compressed as she saw Hilde do everything but take his shaft in her hand to gain his attention.
“That one is dangerous.” Wulf-pryor told her, she was already on her second tankard of ale and looking weary and dishevelled.
“I know, she’s already warned me o
ff Eirik and threatened to kill me.”
Els-wythe giggled and said “She would too.”
Frowning, Sophie asked Wulf-pryor “Have they had a relationship, is that why she’s all over him?”
“I wouldn’t have called it a relationship. I think she had him once, when they were out on patrol and couldn’t get back to their camp. It’s common sense to share body heat in those circumstances, and after all men are ruled by what’s between their legs.”
Els-wythe giggled again “And I’ve heard that what he’s got is worth having.”
“Huh!” Sophie watched Eirik closely but it was obvious that he wasn’t the least bit interested in Hilde and she was looking sourer by the minute.
Changing the subject she asked where Beald-wine was and the others, who had been at the table, and Wulf-pryor told her that with so many warriors present there wasn’t room in the hall for any but, the highest ranked Dane’s bed slaves. Sophie looked around the table and smiled at the other women “Won’t you introduce me?” she asked Wulf-pryor.
“Oh yes, of course. Ladies this is Sophie, Merkismathr Eirik’s slave. Sophie these are Elfleda. Edburga, Elswite and Gunnhild.”
They all nodded at her and she smiled back “Pleased to meet you all.” Then a thought struck her. “Isn’t Gunnhild a Dane’s name?”
The girl called Gunnhild, who was very pretty in a rosy cheeked kind of way, nodded “Yes, I am a Dane. My father owed Jarl Ivar a lot of money and he took me as a slave in payment of the debt.”
“Oh!” Sophie was appalled at that. How could a father give his daughter into slavery?
“It is a normal occurrence with these Danes.” Wulf-pryor told her, “If a man owes a debt he cannot pay then he is made a slave until his debt is deemed paid off. Gunnhild’s father was lucky that Ivar lusted after his daughter and took her instead of him.”
Gunnhild spoke up “You are the crazy pagan healer I have heard about. Is Thegn Eirik as lusty as we have heard?”
Sophie was taken aback, what a question when she didn’t know the girl, so she just shrugged her shoulders and applied herself to her plate.
When the tables were cleared away she didn’t know what to do, but as Wulf-pryor and the others found a corner and laid furs on the benches she joined them, knowing that with female Danes present she couldn’t join Eirik. The noise in the hall was a lot worse than usual and the games the men were playing were becoming more and more raucous. The shield maidens joined in the games including arm wrestling and one or two seemed to be as strong as their opponents. They avoided the wrestling games in which the men were quite often badly injured but joined in the board and betting games on an equal footing. Having known nothing about the Viking’s society, Sophie was amazed at how the warriors treated the shield maidens almost as equals, a bit like women were treated in a modern army.
Hilde had stayed with the men who’d been on the top table and was sprawled on the furs next to Eirik, obviously trying to attract him. He however was in deep discussion with Ivar, Ubbe and Ivar’s Merkismathr, Tarstein, and oblivious of her. She was drinking hard and looking more and more fed up, but the other woman who’d been at the top table had joined in the arm wrestling and seemed to be doing well.
Suddenly Wulf-pryor asked “Do you know where Ceolwen went?”
“No, we were sleeping in the wood and when I woke up, she was gone, along with Caena. I do hope they’re alright.” Sophie replied.
“They’re lucky that Ivar is planning to attack Anglia otherwise they would have been chased and brought back. I wouldn’t have liked to be one of them then.”
“I wonder what has become of them? Let’s hope they made it to a Saxon village, at least with Ceolwen’s knowledge and skill as a healer she would be welcome anywhere.”
“Yes, without her us slaves have a problem.” Wulf-pryor said quietly.
“Mmm,” Sophie said, “I haven’t any ‘herbal’ tea, so I can’t help you”
“Yet you are not breeding.”
“No, well I’m not sure. My flow should be about due, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.” Sophie said trying to work out when her period should start.
“It’s a pity Ceolwen’s house burned to the ground, is there absolutely nothing left?”
“The house burned to the ground but I don’t know about the stone outhouse. Maybe that survived. If it did she kept a lot of herbs out there to dry.”
“Would you know which herbs to use and which was which?” Wulf-pryor asked eagerly.
“Yes I’m certain I would, they all smell so differently even when dry.”
“Then we must investigate the outhouse.”
“We’re not allowed out of the city” Sophie pointed out. “Not without a guard and what would we tell them we were looking for?”
Gunnhild joined in “If you are talking about what I think you are, some of the shield maidens would help. Especially Astrid. She likes men but doesn’t want to breed, she likes being a shield maiden. If you offered to make some for her, she’d help. She’s friendly towards me as I am a Dane, so I could ask her.”
Wulf-pryor frowned and narrowed her eyes “Why would you help us?”
“Because I am not stupid, if I were to have Ivar’s child I’d never be free, and I intend to buy my freedom one day. I save every bit of gilt I can lay my hands on and when Ivar tires of me, or his wife finds out about me, then I’ll give him my slave price.”
Sophie nodded, thinking how pragmatic and sensible this young girl was, even though she could be no more than seventeen or eighteen.”Then when you get a chance will you ask her?”
“Yes, I’ll watch for the right moment and get her alone.” Gunnhild said, shelling one of the nuts she was eating.
Wulf-pryor fetched a board for the game ‘innefatfl’, which was similar to chess, and invited Gunnhild to play, and Sophie, who had been learning the rules by watching Eirik and Ubbe play, watched with interest. They were laughing and chatting as they played and she found herself thoroughly enjoying the company. She’d forgotten all about Hilde, but she hadn’t forgotten about her. When Eirik had taken her to the bottom table and seen her settled before joining Ivar and Ubbe she’d seethed with jealousy, especially when she saw how Sophie was dressed and how beautiful she looked. The more Eirik ignored her the more her hatred and anger rose against this slave who looked like a pagan princess. Sophie’s collar, combs and earrings were worth more than Hilde had managed to earn or steal during the hard life of a shieldmaiden, and she was certain that if Sophie were gone Eirik would have succumbed to her plans to make him hers.
Slightly drunk she persuaded herself that the upstart slave was laughing at her and gossiping about her with the other slaves, so she staggered to her feet and made her way through the throng to where Sophie and her friends were sitting.
Drawing her sword she growled “Hoah there slut, get on your feet, I’ll take no more impertinence from you.”
Sophie gaped at her, then seeing how dangerous she looked quickly jumped to her feet and faced her. “I haven’t been impertinent to you, but if you think I have then I apologise.”
“You snivelling cur, how dare you stand there defying a Dane, on your knees slut. I intend to beat some manners into you. But first, remove those jewels and that dress, a slut who’ll open her legs to anyone has no right to dress like that.”
Sophie’s head came up “I am no slut and Thegn Eirik ordered me to wear these things, he is the only one who can tell me to take them off.”
With a snarl Hilde grabbed Sophie’s collar and twisted. It didn’t break but the sharp tines on it dug into her neck, drawing blood and hurting her. She screamed and tried to pull away which caused the tines to dig in even deeper. Black spots danced in front of her eyes and she struggled to breath. To her horror she saw Hilde lift her sword and start to swing it and she reacted in the onl
y way she knew. Her arm came up and the heel of her hand connected with the underside of Hilde’s chin. This time she hadn’t had time to think and didn’t pull the force of the blow and as Hilde’s sword started to descend, her head snapped back and the vertebrae in her neck parted, she was dead before she hit the floor.
Sophie sank to her knees clawing at her collar as Hilde’s sword fell from her lifeless hand and hit Sophie on the shoulder, luckily with the flat side rather than the razor sharp edge. All the women around her were screaming and as blackness descended she heard Eirik’s roar. He reached her side as she collapsed sideways onto the floor, her mouth open gasping for breath as her lips turned blue. Realising that she was suffocating Eirik grasped her collar and pried it off her neck. The tines that had been stuck in her throat made a sucking noise as he pried them loose, then throwing it aside he held her to his chest and rubbed her back. For seconds he thought she was gone, then her body spasmed and she took a deep shuddering breath as she gulped oxygen back into her aching chest.
“Sophie, Sophie” he moaned, but then as her eyes fluttered open and he saw the lucidity return to them he said “You live, don’t move while I try to contain this disaster.”
Ivar and Ubbe had pushed their way through the crowd and Ubbe said “A slave has killed a Dane, her life is forfeit Eirik. Guards take her outside and return with her head.”
Eirik was about to draw his sword and protect her with his life when a voice drawled “Jarl Ubbe, it is one of my shieldmaidens who has been killed. Surely it is my right to decree her punishment?”
All turned to look at Astrid as she stepped out from the crowd and drew back so she could reach Hilde’s body. Astrid bent down and inspected her neck then she reached out and picked up her sword carefully holding it point down at her side. Turning to Ivar she knelt and said “Lord, I apologise for the disgraceful behaviour of one of my maidens. To dare draw her sword in Lord Ubbe’s hall and try to use it on Merkismathr Eirik’s property is beyond every discourtesy. Plus, because of her action she has reduced my force which will be needed by you on the march to Anglia. Surely the only punishment this slave deserves is a beating and to be made to take Hilde’s place in the shield wall. She fights well enough not to get killed too easily, and I shall take it upon myself to punish her and train her to fight like a shield maiden.”
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