Page 89 of A Tale of Two Vikings

Tied him to a bed,

bent him to her will,

with a smile and a wink.

But how did a Viking

get himself in this position?

Methinks he was thinking

not with his head brain,

but with his “other” brain.

That is the downfall

of many a Viking.”

“Good poem!” Alinor said.

“So, how are things going, Toste?” Eirik asked, sitting at the bottom of the bed. “Anything new happen whilst we’ve been gone?”

“Dost think we can play this game when we get back to the keep?” Alinor asked Tykir.

“We’ve already played this game afore,” Tykir reminded her.

Alinor didn’t even blush as she replied, “Oh, that is right. Now I recall.”

“Sarah and Sigrud would like for you to dance with them at the yule feast, Toste. Dost think you will be up by then?” Eadyth inquired sweetly as she batted her lashes at him.

“He is too old for the girls,” Eirik told his wife.

“That is what I told them,” Eadyth said.

“Does anyone want to hear another saga?” Bolthor asked.

“No!” they all exclaimed.

“Do not dare to go through that door,” Toste ordered as he saw Esme edging toward escape. “Bolthor, block her way.”

Of Eirik he demanded, “Cut my ties.”

When he was standing free, uncaring of his nudity, he ordered all of them, “Out! Except for you, Esme. You will stay.”

“Now, Toste, do not be too hard on her—” Eadyth began.

“You will not interfere in this, Eadyth,” he told her. “Nor you, Alinor. This is betwixt me and her. Begone!”

Both Eirik and Tykir led their protesting wives away, and Bolthor followed, chuckling and no doubt composing a dozen verse poems, all at Toste’s expense.

Within seconds, he was alone with Esme in the hut.

He could have put his braies on at this point. He should have put them on. He did not. He wanted to intimidate her with his nudity, or anything else, for that matter.

To give her credit, she did not cower in fright. Instead, she raised her chin defiantly, ready to take whatever punishment he would deliver. She was either very brave or very dumb.

He moved toward her.