Page 90 of The Reluctant Viking

Chapter Sixteen

“Nay, I cannot do such,” Thork shouted, not caring if it was his king he addressed. “I go to Jomsborg.” His eyes blazed furiously.

“You can take the wench on the way to Jomsborg,” Sigtrygg advised unctuously, his face rigid at Thork’s questioning of his orders.

“On the way…on the way…,” Thork sputtered. “Normandy is nowhere near the route to Jomsborg.”

“I trust you, Thork, more than any other to undertake this task for me,” the king cajoled.

“What makes you think I would behead the wench?” Thork asked, running his fingers through his hair. “I have already said I do not think her a spy.” He flashed Ruby a quick look that said he would have plenty to say to her when he finished with the king.

“Yea, but that signifies naught. You cherish honor more than aught else. If Hrolf denies her, you would kill her if you had sworn me your pledge. Of that, I am certain.”

Thork snorted rudely at the blatant trickery in Sigtrygg’s oily words.

“Oh, and didst I mention,” Sigtrygg added, coolly examining his fingernails, “you will represent me at Athelstan’s coronation.”

Thork turned dark red as he cursed wildly.

“Do not think to say me nay on this,” Sigtrygg said in a steely voice that bespoke his rigid determination. “You know well and good you are the only Viking who knows his way round the Saxon court well enough to avoid a knife in the back.”

Thork’s eyes shot rebellious daggers at his king, but Sigtrygg faced him off stubbornly, with arms folded implacably over his mountainous chest. The retainer of royal bodyguards moved forward in a line behind Sigtrygg, daring Thork to defy the orders.

“I will find someone to do these duties for you,” Thork offered. “Mayhap Olaf could—”

“Nay! I cannot,” Olaf asserted loudly, affronted that Thork would throw him this unwelcome task. “Wife and family have I who need me here in Jorvik.”

“And I have a Jomsviking oath which I have ignored for two years.”

“Do you refuse my request?” Sigtrygg asked Thork bluntly.

“Can we discuss it further?” Thork evaded.

“Were you not the man who convinced me of the importance of a marriage alliance with Athelstan?”

“Yea, but—”

“Can you name one man who could carry out my orders as well as you?”

Thork thought for a moment. Then his eyes narrowed as he turned with deliberation. “Yea, my scheming grandfather could do the job very well. He has met both King Athelstan and Hrolf afore.”

Aud gasped and turned in outrage on her grandson. “For shame, Thork! Ne’er did I think you would do such to us.”

“You know I will be needed to protect my lands once the Saxons attack,” Dar said icily.

“You are right,” Thork said sheepishly. “I apologize. In my anger, I did not think.”

Dar and Aud nodded, accepting his apology.

“Well? What say you?” Sigtrygg asked Thork once again. “Enough time have we all wasted on this wench, and I mislike your churlish attitude. Thor’s blood! Surely one more month will not signify in your return to Jomsborg.”

“So be it then,” Thork conceded ungraciously. He started to storm away, then stopped abruptly in front of Ruby. Piercing her with icy blue eyes, he pointed a finger at her chest menacingly and stalked her as she backed away from him. “’Tis your fault. You will rue the day you ever met me, wench.”

Things were not going as Ruby had hoped. She should be deliriously happy. She had at least another month with Thork. Why couldn’t he share her good fortune? She tried to apologize. “I’m sorry, Thork. I never meant to be so much trouble to you.”

He said a very, very foul word.

“Thork, I—”