Page 18 of Her Dark Viking
"So soon, Jarl. You have but this moment walked in the house..."
"We need to be after the robbers, while there are still tracks to follow. I intend to retrieve our livestock, and teach those brigands the folly of attacking us here."
Aigneis set a bowl of broth before him, and a hunk of bread at his right hand. "I understand, Jarl, but?—"
"You will take Mairead and Donald to Sindri at the forge, and bid him remove their shackles."
"Yes, Jarl." She did not question his command, and he did not expect her to. Indeed, it would have been strange if she had since none of Gunnar's thralls bore the shackles favoured by his brother.
"Mairead is to sleep in my bed, the baby with her. The boy shall be found a space elsewhere in the longhouse. Somewhere warm though."
"Of course. There is room close to Weylin and I. She is to be your bed-slave, then? The Celtic woman?"
Gunnar fixed his servant with a glower. It was not her place to question him in this manner, though she and all others would draw the inevitable conclusion when it became known the red-haired female shared his bed. Or would share it, as soon as he found himself at leisure long enough to stretch out on his own mattress again. Gunnar glared at Aigneis, then at Mairead who regarded him with undisguised apprehension as she sought to hush the fretting baby. No doubt she had recognised her own name on his lips and feared what that might mean.
"The child is hungry," observed Gunnar.
Aigneis translated his words and Mairead gave a short nod. She proceeded to enclose the squirming, complaining infant within her loose clothing, and soon all was silent but for the softsounds of suckling. Would that all issues might be so readily solved.
Gunnar ate his meal without further conversation. Aigneis bustled about the longhouse gathering supplies for his coming journey, as well as the fresh clothing he required. By the time he pushed the bowl away, all was in readiness. Throughout, Mairead had uttered not a word. No questions, no comments, not so much as a hint of censure at what she had seen. Words were not necessary, her expressive features spoke for her.
She feared him, and she loathed him.
Gunnar rose to his feet and strode to the door. He addressed his final words to Aigneis. "We shall be gone at least a sennight, maybe longer. I shall send word when we are on our way back."
He encountered Weylin in the doorway and quickly apprised him of his intentions. The man offered no comment, just assisted Aigneis in carrying the supplies out to Gunnar's waiting stallion. Gunnar had called for a fresh horse, and already several of his men were leaping into their newly saddled mounts. It required but a few minutes for him to instruct them as to their new mission, and issue the signal that they were off. The party formed up behind their chief and they cantered from the village. Gunnar did not look back.
"So,he has taken ye as a fuck-slave then."
Aigneis offered the bald, crude statement as she showed Mairead around the longhouse. The servant had already answered Mairead's questions regarding their master's hasty departure and offered her a tour of the homestead. The female thrall explained where various foodstuffs were stored, shown Mairead the boxes where blankets were kept dry and free fromvermin, and the smaller chest which housed the few medicinal supplies they possessed. Mairead was particularly interested in this since her own bags of herbs and healing potions had been left behind, abandoned in her brother in law's house in Pennglas when she was taken. She found the Vikings' range of remedies woefully lacking and was just compiling a mental list of plants to seek out, leaves and roots which she might collect and dry in preparation for future ailments among her new community, when Aigneis made her stunning comment.
"No! Of course not. Why would you think that?" She gaped at Aigneis, open-mouthed.
"He said it. Ye're tae sleep in his bed. That can mean but one thing."
"You are mistaken," insisted Mairead. Why, the very notion was ridiculous. A man such as this dark Viking, this powerful, cruel Nordic chieftain who exuded masculine beauty and could have any female he chose, would not spare a second glance for one such as she. She went on to explain. "I am not young. I have borne two children, one of them just two days ago. My body is... not one which he would find in the least attractive."
"Ye will be sleeping in his bed." For Aigneis this was all the evidence required.
"Perhaps he offered it as his bed is the most comfortable. He has been most kind, most considerate since Tyra was born. And as he will not be here..."
"He will be back, in a week or two."
"Yes, and when he returns he will doubtless require me to move to another part of the longhouse."
Aigneis merely shook her head so Mairead opted to change the subject, raising the matter which had so shaken her.
"Earlier, when I went to the privy, I heard noises and went to investigate. There was a man, tied to a post and... and..."
"Ah, I wondered if ye saw that." Aigneis shrugged, her features hardening. "Ferris had it coming. The man is lazy, and a thief. All here know that."
"A thief? But..."
"It is the law. All must obey. Ferris knew what would happen if he stole from the village, from the Jarl. Gunnar had no choice but to deal with him severely."
"Will he... Will the man be all right?”
"In a few days, I daresay. Let us hope he has learnt his lesson." Dismissing the matter of the hapless thrall Aigneis dusted down her hands on the front of her woollen skirt. "Come, we must find your boy and go to the forge."
