THE RELUCTANT VIKING by Sandra Hill

Author:Sandra Hill
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-06-04T22:49:32+00:00

"...Untold arm rings I offered thee, brother, a wealth of gold and what most thou didst wish.

As guerdon for strife now hast gotten neither, nor lands nor lieges nor lustrous rings.

A baleful fate wrought it that, brother I slew thee! Will that aye be told..."

In listening to the poem, Ruby marveled that these primitive people could express themselves so sensitively. And she thought of Thork and his brother Eric, realizing that, like Hloth and Angantyr, they would never have the warm sibling relationship two brothers should have.

Aud was in her element the next morning as she directed the bustling activities in the kitchen. Gyda worked busily at her side, arranging meals for the day, including a sumptuous banquet for the evening.

A steady stream of servants, including a grumbling Ella, marched to the various chambers with linens and bowls of fresh water for the guests. The men had left before first light on a short hunting expedition to kill fresh game to supplement the usual fish and poultry fare. Some of the male thralls already returned with the first of the kill—a brace of rabbits, two deer and several wild grouse.

"Ruby, would you go with Vigi and collect some fresh mushrooms for dinner?" Aud asked.

"Of course." Ruby was glad to be of help and to keep busy. "Shall we pick some blueberries, too? They would be good with fresh cream or baked in a pastry." Aud's eyes lit up at that suggestion, and they exchanged ideas on how best to make a flaky crust for the dessert.

Before she left, Ruby invited Tykir and Tyra to join her, taking linens and soap with her, figuring they may as well combine her errand and a bath. Ruby saw several of Dar's and Aud's distinguished guests eye her T-shirt and jeans with cool curiosity.

When their baskets were full, Tykir and Tyra waded merrily near the edge of the pond. Later, Ruby told the children to go play near Vigi at the edge of the clearing so she could bathe in private. Before they left, she asked Vigi if she could borrow the eating knife he always carried at his waist.

"Why?" he asked suspiciously.

"Oh, really! It's not as if I could disarm you. You still have your sword. I just want to shave my legs, for heaven's sake! I'm beginning to feel like a porcupine."

Vigi's eyes widened in surprise. Ruby knew he already considered her half-crazy. He handed the knife to her, though, admonishing her to give it right back. He probably already rehearsed in his mind the fun he'd have back at the keep telling of this weird stranger's latest antics.

Tykir and Tyra thought it a great joke that Ruby had whiskers on her legs just like their fathers had on their faces. They asked her to lift her pant leg so they could touch them.

" 'Tis like the bristles on a hog's skin afore the butchering," Tykir declared in amazement. Tyra fell over in exaggerated glee at his words.

When she finished bathing and

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