Storm Maiden by Mary Gillgannon

Author:Mary Gillgannon [Gillgannon, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical romance, ireland, vikings, norseman
Publisher: Mary Gillgannon
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Dag slipped out of his bedcloset into the early morning gloom of the longhouse. The place was quiet, save for the jarl’s oathmen snoring on benches around the hall. But he wasn’t the first one up. Mina leaned over the hearth, poking the fire into life again.

He crossed to where she stood. “Mina, can that not wait? Surely it is too early to begin cooking.”

“I couldn’t sleep.” She turned, and Dag saw the shadows under her eyes, the pinched look of her features. “I didn’t want to wake Sigurd.”

“Don’t be a fool, woman! That man can sleep through fierce sea squalls! Take yourself back to bed.”

Mina shook her head. “Nei, the boys will wake soon.” She reached unconsciously to rub her lower back, and Dag watched a spasm of pain cross her face.

“ ‘Tis the babe, isn’t it? All is not well.”

“I don’t know what’s wrong. I’ve never felt so uncomfortable this early on.”

“You should speak of it with Fiona.”

“She examined me some days ago.”

“What did she say?”

Mina sighed. “Nothing helpful, only that I should rest more, as if I could sleep when I feel as if a band of trolls does battle inside me. I don’t mean to criticize her,” Mina added quickly. “ ‘Tis clear there is nothing she can do.”

“I could wake her, and she could feed Gunnar and Ingolf their morning porridge.”

“Nei, let her sleep. Since you keep her up most of the night with loveplay, I vow she needs her rest.”

“I do no such thing!”

A twinge of a smile curled Mina’s lips. “Explain then those screams and moans which come from your bedcloset.”

Dag allowed himself to return Mina’s half-smile. Fiona was an exuberant and noisy bedpartner.

“ ‘Tis no harm done,” Mina added. “Because of her outcrys, half the warriors are convinced you beat her nightly. They are pleased you show her discipline.”

“Brodir?”

Mina shook her head. “Nothing but rivers of blood would satisfy that one.”

Dag sighed. “He’ll never cease in his efforts to have Fiona put to death. Knorri has always said a woman shouldn’t come between sword brothers. But if I had to choose between Fiona and Brodir, I wouldn’t hesitate.”

“She is kindhearted,” Mina said. Her voice trembled with emotion. “I owe her much.”

“I’m pleased she has won your concern.”

Mina straightened and returned to the fire. “If you wish to help, find Breaca for me. She wasn’t in the thralls’ dwelling, and I fear she spent the night with one of the men. Please make certain she hasn’t been hurt.”

Dag smiled again as he left the longhouse. Nei, Rorig was not like to hurt Breaca—lest you called the rending of her maidenhead an injury!

He easily located Breaca, curled up with Rorig in a corner of one of the byres, a favorite trysting place during the summer. Breaca hastily grabbed for her clothes, but Rorig merely sat up, fully naked, and regarded Dag with lazy contentment. “Do you not have enough to handle in your own bed that you must interrupt the pleasure of others?”

Dag snorted.

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