Page 78 of The Outlaw Viking

“You give me an arse burn.”

Her lips curling with disgust, Rain tried to control her temper because she really wanted to see the primitive medical facility. Very calmly, she explained. “Aspirin is a modern pill, a painkiller.”

“Hah! You name your pills as well as your perfume. See, Tyra, is she not an odd bird? And she criticizes us Norsemen for naming our swords.”

Rain was finding it harder and harder to stop herself from clouting him over the head. She clenched her fists so tightly that her fingernails dug into the soft flesh of her palm.

Selik’s eyes glittered knowingly.

Tyra glanced back and forth between Rain and Selik as they exchanged insults, seeming confused. “Selik, methought she was a hostage. Why do you allow her to speak so? Should you not cut out her tongue?”

“’Tis an interesting thought.”

“I know you think to barter her for your freedom from King Athelstan, if e’er he captures you, God forbid, but mayhap you should rid yourself of the crone now. Save yourself the bother. Dost think a slave trader would buy her for one of the Eastern harems? ’Tis said they seek the oddity on occasion, and mayhap her size would not be such a disadvantage.”

Rain was beginning to dislike the Norse girl once again.

Selik tilted his head and seemed to seriously consider Tyra’s suggestion. “Yea, now that you call it to my attention, I could see her in naught more than a few wispy veils. Mayhap lying on silken pillows beside a marble pool awaiting her master’s whim. Perchance she could even—”

“Argh!” Rain growled through gritted teeth, finding it increasingly difficult to curb her tongue, especially when she knew Selik was just goading her. She put her hands to her ears to shut out his teasing words.

“So, Selik, do you return to the harbor to sell her?”

He looked Rain directly in the eye. “Tell me, wench, do you promise to mend your shrewish ways?”

Rain bit her tongue and nodded.

“Will you promise, if I take you to the hospitium, that you will speak only when I allow and obey my every command?”

Rain hesitated but finally agreed with another short nod.

“So be it. But first, come with me. I must bind your breasts.”

Rain stared after his departing back. He had grabbed a length of brown fabric from a bench and was already halfway up the stairs before the his words registered.

Bind my breasts?

Chapter Twelve

When Rain caught up with Selik, he was standing in the middle of the bedchamber pulling the brown fabric over his head. Once the cloth had settled into place and he had tied a rope belt about his narrow waist, Rain realized that Selik had donned a monk’s robe, complete with hooded cowl.

“Shut your mouth, Rain. ’Tis uncomely to show me your throat—from the inside.”

Rain snapped her teeth shut. “What are you up to now?”

Selik turned slowly to demonstrate the full picture of his costume. “I bought this at the harbor this morn when I delivered the captives to the slave trader.” Rain winced at his casual mention of selling slaves. “I must needs be more careful in public. A large number of Saxon soldiers patrol the streets and even now may be watching Gyda’s house.”

“Oh, Selik. How I wish you would leave Britain and go to some land where you could start over and be free!”

His jaw jutting forward stubbornly, Selik declared sharply, “No coward am I to run from my enemies. And freedom ever eludes those who hide in foreign lands.”

Rain wanted to argue with him, but she could see by the steely glaze of his eyes that he wouldn’t be convinced. At least, not now. She decided to change the subject. “Will you really take me to the hospitium?”

“I promised, did I not?”

“Yes, but…” Rain gave up the argument and smiled with exaggerated sweetness, willing to do just about anything to visit the tenth century hospital. She saluted smartly.

“Anything you say, master.” You big galoot!