Page 60 of The Outlaw Viking

His eyes widened with surprise at her softly spoken words. No doubt she wanted a favor.

“The reason I begged you to take me to Jorvik was so that I might be able to better understand why I was sent here. If I can stand on the same spot where the museum will later be, maybe I will—”

Selik made a loud harrumphing sound of disbelief. “What? Get a message from God?”

“You’re impossible!”

He turned and looked at her, shaking his head incredulously. “Is that like the river calling the ocean wet?”

Rain laughed, and his heart seemed to expand in his chest, almost choking.

“Oh, Selik, I lo—”

He raised a hand to halt her next words, knowing that she was once again going to try to tell him that she loved him. And that Selik could not allow. He looked at the enticing wench, having a hard time resisting her tempting words. He had been successful thus far, since that day at the pond, in refusing to allow her to repeat the precious words. As long as he did not hear the words spoken aloud, somehow he could deny the growing bond between them, could pretend that he did not care. He closed his eyes wearily for just a moment.

Oh, God, or Odin, or whatever being is out there, please do not torture me so. I cannot bear to love again. And lose. ’Tis more than any man can bear.

He straightened his shoulders with determination.

Trust in me.

“What did you say?” Selik asked with alarm.

“When?”

“Just now? Something about trust.” Even as he spoke, Selik knew it had not been Rain’s voice in his head. Oh, bloody hell! She truly was turning him inside out and senseless as a lackwit.

Her wonderful golden eyes widened and seemed to glitter with enchantment. “You heard the voice, too. Didn’t you?”

“Nay. I heard naught.”

“Liar.”

“Men have died for less insult than that.”

“I’m not afraid of you.”

“You should be.”

“Why?”

“Argh!”

“Selik, you really should be careful about losing your temper so much. Every time you get angry with me, a vein pops out on your forehead. You could have a stroke.”

He snarled. “The only stroke that is going to occur is that of my blade when I lop off your wagging tongue.”

Ubbi guided his horse forward. “M’lord, wouldst ye like me to gag the lady so she does not bother ye anymore?” Ubbi asked Selik with oily consideration. He had been practically dancing with glee ever since Selik had told him yestereve that he could accompany him to Jorvik.

Selik raised a brow at that enticing picture. “’Twould be worth a fortune in gold to see you try. And ’twould be worth a double fortune to have both your mouths sewed shut and give the world some blessed peace.”

Ubbi’s shoulders slumped and his lips turned down in dejection at the insult, but Selik could swear he saw the traitor wink conspiratorially at Rain. Wonderful! The two halfwits are in collusion.

“Everyone is ready to depart,” Ubbi announced then.

Selik looked about with dismay at the motley group of retainers and hangers-on he had managed to accumulate. Even though he had ordered a half dozen hesirs to stay with Tykir, along with Bertha to do his cooking, Selik still had two dozen soldiers and six captives in his traveling party. Seven of the male slaves had opted to join the ranks of his followers. All rode on horseback, even Blanche. Somehow his men had found enough horses in the countryside to steal.

Selik was about to give the signal to move out of the bailey when his eyes froze on the last person in the entourage. Persons, rather, he immediately corrected himself. A young woman carrying a babe in her arms rode astride the last horse.