Anna Markland - Viking Roots Medieval Romance Saga 01 by The Rover Bold Read Free Book Online Page B

thousand monks had been slaughtered, the abbey sacked.
    Bryk was a man who commanded respect. He had shown mercy to Sprig, listening to the Abbot’s suggestion that the monk be confined to his cell.
    He questioned the stonemasons about the construction of the abbey, inspected the cottages in the village, tallied the town’s provisions. Ekaterina went with him. Cathryn did not.
    H e seemed anxious to avoid her. She longed for another kiss, for his touch, for any sign he cared. At night she clutched the scarf to her breast, tracing her fingertip along the intricate braiding on one edge, inhaling his scent. She’d never set eyes on the sea but she rode the waves with him when she licked the salt from the fibers. In two days she had turned into a seething mess of thwarted wantonness, jealous of an ancient nun because Bryk fussed over her.
    It was foolish. Soon he would be gone. She was being tested.
    She pulled away from the window. “I suppose now his people are coming, he will leave,” she said to Ekaterina. “They will plunder and destroy, then return to their native land.”
    “ Nyet ,” came the unexpected reply. “They settle in Francia.”
    Her heart did a peculiar somersault. “Settle? King Charles won’t permit it.”
    Ekaterina shrugged, smiling one o f her enigmatic smiles. “Don’t vorry ,” she whispered.
    Kaia sauntered over to the window slit. “I can’t see anything,” she said, her voice flat. She’d been pouting for two days because she’d seen nothing of Javune. Cathryn wondered if her own preoccupation with Bryk was as obvious.
    “ Gardbruker,” Ekaterina said.
    Had the old woman read her mind? “What?”
    “His last name means he is a farmer.”
    Cathryn came close to snorting. “Farmer?”
    “ Da . He vants to cultivate apple orchards in Francia.”
    Cathryn didn’t know what to make of this startling revelation. Her thoughts went to the river where the gentle farmer was greeting his warrior chieftain.
    Watch over him, Saint Catherine .
    ~~~
    Stroking the pad of his thumb over the carved Viking on the handle of his dagger, Bryk kept his eyes on Hrolf as the chieftain brought his longboat to shore. Cath-ryn had returned the talisman to him. He hoped she would have no further need of a weapon when Hrolf took over the town.
    Many of the boats rode lower in the water. His countrymen had indeed stopped along the way to help themselves to treasures which now lay no doubt in the men’s sea chests.
    He gritted his teeth when he noticed Alfred was missing. But it wouldn’t be wise to let his alarm show.
    He relished the prospect of explaining how he had captured Jumièges with a handful of inexperienced men and precious little blood spilled. It would raise his standing, allowing him to protect the woman he’d taken.
    He wasn’t sure why he was preoccupied with her. She was a Christian who had dedicated her life to the Vite Krist . His thoughts wandered to the brief kiss they’d shared. Her sweet taste had taken him off guard. She hadn’t fought him like she’d fought the monk. Indeed, it was as if she’d enjoyed it—thoroughly. And certainly he had. Perhaps next time he might delve his tongue—
    His musings were interrupted when Hrolf jumped from the boat and strode over to him. “ Gardbruker.”
    He bowed slightly, satisfied that the sloping bank allowed him to look the giant in the eye. He hoped the carnal heat spreading through his body wasn’t evident on his face. Better to get his mind off tongues mating. “It is safe to let everyone come ashore. I have secured the town.”
    Hrolf frowned, looking to the buildings beyond. “Secured?”
    Bryk quickly summarized events, then paused before making his last remark. “I deemed it wise to kill as few men as possible. If we wish to ultimately be welcomed here, we should show that we are civilized people with much to offer.”
    Hrolf stared at him for long minutes until Vilhelm came up the bank. Bryk took advantage of the moment.