Page 24 of Her Dark Viking
Mairead stared at him, hope flaring in her stormy gaze. "Do you...? I mean, will you not...? I saw what you did, to that other slave."
"I know what you saw and I am sorry you witnessed that. I should have spoken to you, made sure you understood why it was needful. I bear responsibility for that oversight, but it does not excuse your actions today. Had we not been able to track you and find you swiftly it is likely that none of you would not have survived the night. Have you any notion of the dangers you face out here alone?"
"I... I had no choice. I know of the bandits, and the wolves, but I thought?—"
"You thought me more dangerous?"
She nodded, tears now streaming down her cheeks.
"Well, you were wrong and you shall pay the penalty for your error, Mairead."
Her grip on her son had slackened and Gunnar drew the boy slowly away. He beckoned Steinn to come closer, and at Gunnar's nod the man leaned down to haul the child up before him in the saddle. Gunnar returned his attention to the weeping woman who knelt before him and kept his tone low, for her ears alone.
"Mairead, you are to be punished for what you have done today. You endangered yourself and your children, my property all of you, and I will not tolerate that. You are to be spanked, my belt to your bare bottom, but I see no merit in having your son witness your punishment. He will return, now, to Gunnarsholm and you will see him there soon enough. It is better, also, that Tyra go with him."
"No! No, my baby needs me. You cannot take her." Mairead backed off, pressing her baby against her body and glaring her tearful defiance.
Gunnar crouched beside her and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I will not take your baby from you against your will. If you wish her to remain with you while you are punished, I will permit that. But if you will agree to feed her, tend to her needs,then allow her to be taken home with her brother I promise you she will be kept safe for you until you return."
Long moments passed. Mairead did not speak, but her lips were working as she considered his words. She glanced up at Donald, now seated on Steinn's mount and no longer so ashen-faced. She turned to meet Gunnar's gaze once more. "I may feed her, you say?"
He inclined his head. "Of course. Take as long as you need to satisfy yourself that she is well. You will not be separated for long, I promise."
"She will be with Steinn?"
"Yes. You know you can trust him. He will hand her to Aigneis when they get back to Gunnarsholm."
"You promise?"
"I do. You can trust me to ensure your children come to no harm."
She said nothing more, but her nod was sufficient. Gunnar rose and moved away to allow her some privacy to feed her baby. He waited by his horse until she started to get to her feet then he returned to offer her his hand. She made no protest as he took Tyra from her then passed the little one up to Stein.
"The babe is to be cared for by Aigneis until we return. Take half the men back with you, the rest are to await us where they are. No one is to approach unless I summon them."
"Aye, Jarl." The warrior wheeled his horse about and set off back the way they had come. Gunnar watched as Steinn rode up to his men, then a few moments later the youth continued on, accompanied by four of the eight Vikings who had accompanied him on his quest. The rest remained where they were.
Satisfied his instructions were to be carried out Gunnar turned his stern gaze on the woman who stood white-faced at his side. "Do you understand why you are to be punished?"
She nodded, and lowered her gaze to examine her leather-shod feet.
"Look at me, Mairead, and tell me why you deserve to feel my belt across your buttocks."
Her features reddened at his explicit description, but she met his gaze. "Because I tried to escape. I left Gunnarsholm without permission."
"Not good enough. Try again." He deliberately hardened his tone.
Her lovely eyes widened. "Because I put myself in danger."
"Yes, that is better. But there is more."
"I endangered my children too. I did not trust you, I allowed myself to believe that you would hurt my son."
Gunnar moved in close, so close that she had to bend her head back to maintain the eye contact he insisted upon. "What should you have done instead?"
"I am not certain, Jarl."
"No? Then what might you suggest? I will tell you if you are wrong."
