Tempted By The Knight (Medieval MFM Menage Romance) by Kalena Lyons Read Free Book Online Page A

long, wooden table lined with hand carved serve ware that included trenchers, goblets, trays and bowls that overflowed with the makings of a grand royal feast.
    And as the brothers enjoyed a sumptuous dinner of rich venison, fire roasted potatoes, fresh fruits handpicked from the fragrant meadows of their fertile land of Birka, and refreshing ale served up in ceremonial horns, they fed also their leader’s keen curiosity in regards to their recent journey.
    “So tell me first, my Gentlemen,” Astrid pressed, leaning forward to pierce them with an inquisitive stare, “The moment that you set foot on the earth of each country you visited, did you do exactly as I bid you?”
    Magnus nodded.
    “Yes, Milady,” he answered her, adding as he lifted his sculpted chin with open and evident pride, “We delivered the gold coins and silken clothes that you gave us to orphanages and shelters for women in every country.  Then we traded the valued goods that you sent with us—the silver, the honey, the amber—for those things that our clan and village need most.”
    Eirik grinned.
    “Aye, we now have all of the timber and furs needed to last us throughout the coldest winter,” he reported, tossing his blond hair in a leonine flip that seemed to express his pride. “And, as you always direct us my queen, we did not steal, plunder or pillage in our quest to secure the finest goods this world has to offer. And as always we acted as protectors of the citizens we met, particularly the maidens who crossed our path.”
    Astrid nodded.
    “Aye, this is what I always have taught you. Honor and defend the women!” she declared, raising her goblet high in their honor. “I always have vowed to expel any warrior who dared to violate or molest a female. And you two always see fit to extend this edict—to guard and protect even the most common thrall or karl, especially if she be of the fairer gender.”
    Magnus shifted on his bench.
    “Aye. You set a fine example for us, milady, by at all times insisting to keep thralls and karls as your paid servants, instead of treating them as slaves. And you always teach us to treat every woman and girl just as we would treat you,” he concurred, adding as he exchanged an uneasy gaze with his brother, “It was, as a matter of fact, in service to a maiden that we raised our swords on this trip. Eirik and I were walking the streets of London town one balmy evening, in search of a decent ale house that welcomed Norse folk, when we came upon a woman being beaten and assaulted by a cretin of the streets.”
    Astrid frowned.
    “Assaulted?” she repeated through gritted teeth, balling her fists beside her as she felt a rash of angry color flood her fair cheeks. “Do you speak of rape?”
    Eirik nodded.
    “We do, milady,” he affirmed, adding quickly, “Yet rest assured that we bested the assailant. When he ignored our commands to stop, we pulled his body upward to free his victim—then skewered him in a sensitive part, to ensure that he would never again molest a woman. Indeed, we assured that he never again could attack a woman in this heinous fashion, even if he chose to do so.”
    “We pierced him where it counts,” Magnus clarified, arching meaningful eyebrows in Astrid’s direction.
    Once again Astrid’s goblet came up in a stirring salute to her favorite warriors; this time accompanied by a joyful whoop that brought smiles to the faces of her fellow feasters.
    “Aye!” she cheered them on, taking a hearty swig of her honey tinged ale as she added, “I cannot tell you enough, dear gentlemen, just how very much I value and adore you, my two gorgeous guardsmen!”
    Eirik chuckled.
    “We thank ye, milady,” he replied with a wink, adding in a lower tone, “We also are most pleased to learn that you do indeed find us handsome.  This will ensure that you enjoy even more the gift we have to give you on the morrow.”
    Setting her goblet on the table before her, Astrid leaned forward to fix