Page 121 of The Outlaw Viking

When she finished her unbelievable story, he said, “I ne’er believed Ruby’s story of coming from the future; nor do I accept it from you.”

Rain waved a hand in the air dismissively. “Ruby is my mother. Whether you think we came from another time or another country isn’t important now. The most important thing is getting Selik free. Can you help me? Have you seen him?”

“I just came from his prison,” he said, rubbing the nape of his neck wearily. “And, nay, I cannot help him. I have already tried. Selik has pushed Athelstan too far. The king will not bend this time.”

Rain couldn’t stop the low, mewling sound of distress deep in her throat. She shivered with the cold fear that swept over her and wished she could crawl under the furs on Eirik’s bed and sleep and sleep. And when she awakened, this whole nightmare would have ended, and she would be back in Selik’s arms.

“Perhaps if I talked to the king, I could convince him.”

Eirik slanted her a look of disbelief. “Not bloody likely.”

“But I’ve heard that Athelstan has a need for good healers. I’m a surgeon—a good one, Eirik. There are medical marvels he’s never dreamed of that I could tell him about, services I can provide—”

“You are a physician? Truly?” Eirik’s mouth slackened with amazement.

Rain nodded. “I graduated from college when I was twenty and went through medical school in a record four years. I have a rather high I.Q.,” she said with an embarrassed shrug of her shoulders. “Then I served a two-year internship in an army hospital to pay off some college loans before becoming a surgeon. I’ve been helping at the hospitium in Jorvik, but believe me, I know much more than those primitive healers.”

“Boastful, are you?” Eirik said, grinning.

“No, desperate.”

“In your desperation, wouldst you, perchance, lie?”

“I’m not lying,” she said with a groan. “What can I say to prove what I tell you? Let me think. In my time, we can artificially inseminate a woman who had previously been unable to conceive. We can reattach a limb that has been severed totally, and even regain some of the bodily functions. There are heart and kidney transplants. All children are vaccinated against smallpox, and—”

“Enough!” he said, holding up two hands as if in surrender. “The king may be interested in your tales of such a strange world, even if they are not true. Whether he will consider a reprieve is a totally different story, however. Do not get your hopes up needlessly.”

“Just get me in to see the king,” she said. “I’ll take care of the rest.”

Eirik nodded, then shook his head in wonder. “A sister? That will take some getting used to.” He stood, seemed to hesitate, then held out his arms for her, enclosing her in a huge bear hug. “Later you will have to tell me about this Eddie person, my twin. No doubt he was fiercely handsome and very brave.” He deliberately puffed his chest out.

Rain sniffled and looked up at him. “Yes, and extremely arrogant.” Suddenly, she thought of something else. In a soft shaky voice, she asked, “Can I see Selik?”

Eirik shrugged uncertainly. “I will see what I can do, but Rain…I am not sure Selik would want you to come.”

“Why not?”

He grimaced and tried to joke. “He is no longer as comely as he once was.”

She put a hand to her chest and closed her eyes for a moment to fortify her courage. Then she looked directly at him. “For God’s Sake, Eirik, I’m a doctor. How badly hurt is he?”

“No mortal wounds, as far as I could tell. But—well, there is not a part of his body that has not been battered or broken.”

“Broken?” she gasped out.

He nodded. “A broken arm, cracked ribs—oh, Rain, I do not know. I just got back today from Normandy and only saw him for a short time.”

Rain lifted her chin defiantly. Someone would have to pay for Selik’s torture. She began to think there was nothing more deadly than a former pacifist. But for now, she had to get Selik free.

“Go and arrange for my audience with the king. There’s no time to waste. And see if you can find some medical supplies—linen strips, ointment, anything.”

“First you had best bathe and change your garments. The king will not see you in such attire, stinking up his noble air.” He grinned as she jabbed him in the arm with mock annoyance.

A short time later, Rain had bathed and washed her hair and donned the clothing Eirik had provided for her—a beautiful belted tunic of deep amber silk over a soft, cream-colored wool chemise. She sat anxiously wringing her hands as she listened to Eirik speak of his meeting with King Athelstan.

“The king will grant you an audience on the morrow, but a short one only. Know this—Athelstan can barely speak over his fury at the deaths Selik has caused and his glee at finally having caught The Outlaw. ’Twill be nigh impossible to convince him to soften his attitude.”

Rain swallowed hard. I’ll be talking to You about this later, God. Depend on it. “And can I see Selik?”