“Of course.”
“Tell me.”
“I will, but first I wish to hear about you, about your Viking. Is he kind to you?”
“I suppose?—”
“Other than in his bed. We shall come to that soon enough. Are you happy living in his household?”
“Ulfric is kind to me, and to the rest of the thralls too. His sister hates me and I avoid her at all costs. Ulfric will not permit her to beat me, but she will do all in her power to convince him to do so.”
“And does he? Beat you?”
“Once or twice, with a switch. It was… not so bad and after, he… he…”
“You find pleasure with him, sweetheart? Is that what you are trying to tell me?”
“I could not help it. He is very… compelling.”
Taranc laughed. “Fiona, if your Viking pleasures you to take the sting out of a spanking, then that is a good thing. A rare enough thing, in my view and it shows that he cares for you.”
“He does not. As far as he is concerned I am just a wench to fuck, worthless to him in all other ways. He said so, to Brynhild, soon after he brought me here.”
“Those were the words he used?”
“Aye, more or less exactly. I overheard him.”
“A strange thing for him to say. It seems not in his nature, though I confess I do not know the man well. Despite what you overheard my impression of him is that he does value you. Maybe you should ask him what he meant by such heartless words.”
“I shall not! That would merely offer him the opportunity to repeat them.”
“Very well, that is your choice. Yet even after you heard him say this, you still respond to his touch?”
“He can be… persuasive.”
“And there lies our problem, the reason we were in no rush to complete our own nuptials. I do not believe I could have persuaded you.”
“You might, had you tried.” She paused, then, “We were together too much, as children.”
“Aye, I do think that is at the root of it. I grew up thinking of you as my sister, and that never changed. I always loved you though. You do know that?”
“I loved you too.”
“You did, as a brother.”
“I had a brother, but the Vikings killed him.”
“Do you think of Adair often?”
“I did, at first, though we were not close especially. Not like I always have been with you. I wanted to hate Ulfric for what he did to my family, but that is difficult when he treats me well and I do not know that he wielded the weapon that killed my brother.”
“You could ask him, if it bothers you.”
“I… no, it is better left as it is. There would be nothing I could do to change things, and… I have no choice but to remain here, with him.” She paused. “Do you know if my father lives still? Have any of the others who were taken said anything?”
“No, and I believe that is a good sign. Had the lord of Pennglas fallen in the battle I am sure it would have been noted.”
“Yes, you are right. There is reason to hope.”
