The Line of His People (Kindred of the Sea Book 1) by Adrien C.J

Author:Adrien, C.J. [Adrien, C.J.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Creativia
Published: 2013-08-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7: Vingulmark, Early Spring 816 A.D.

A cheerful group of servant girls attended to the grooming needs of the bride-to-be, Kenna. Using a basic wooden comb, a servant girl searched through Kenna's hair for signs of lice or other pests. Kenna had not washed her hair in several weeks during her travels in the war. Not grooming was unbecoming of a highborn woman. Asa, Kenna's aunt and new wife to Gudrød, assisted in Kenna's cleansing to ensure the young woman's presentable appearance at the king's table. Taller than her husband but slender with an attractive figure and hair black as the night sky, Asa befit the epitome of the perfect queen. Soon Kenna would marry her adopted cousin Eirik, making her a queen as she had originally wished, but bound by the rules of her husband who now declared himself King of Herius, Steward of Agder, and loyal servant to King Gudrød. Faced with a difficult future, Kenna found solace in the presence of her aunt whose similar fate they shared. Servant girls brushed Kenna's fingernails, toenails, and wiped away layers of filth from her skin, leaving behind red marks from the scrubbing. Kenna's pale white skin shined marvelously, a much-desired trait to Northmen. Asa fitted Kenna with a traditional long, green dress, trimmed with gold colored seams.

“This was my mother's wedding dress,” Asa explained smiling. “Harald brought it home from his travels. The gold trimming was done in Rome, a marvelous city in the south.”

Cleaned and prepared, Kenna followed Asa to the long hall from her room, passing through winding corridors to the grand opening. A traditional wooden throne which sat above the feasting table was now empty. Gudrød sat at the head of the table with his retinue, now including Eirik. They had begun feasting and drinking, still celebrating their victory in the south where they had accumulated a great deal of wealth. Asa had two chairs placed next to Gudrød's throne where the two highborn ladies sat, elevated to where all the men in the hall could see them. This tradition of sitting in a visible position allowed the other men to stare and admire the beauty and prestige of the king's wife. Predictably, once they had seated themselves, several of the men who were drunk from mead made lewd gestures at the queen and princess as was the custom in acknowledgement of their aspirations to marry so well. It was a sign of great respect among the Northmen for them to covet the king's wife.

Kenna sat quietly for a time, uncomfortably receiving the taunts and advances of some of Gudrød's warriors. Eirik watched, smiling with pride as other men complemented Kenna's beauty and demonstrated what they might do to her if given the opportunity. A fine prize she was, Eirik thought, to have received for his efforts in helping the king. What Eirik failed to anticipate was Kenna's indomitable spirit, and her desire to rise above corrupt men. After a short time, Kenna stood from her chair and descended upon the feasting table.

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