Viking Warrior by Connie Mason Read Free Book Online Page A

duty, everyone had retired for the night, though Reyna had no idea how they could sleep with the prospect of a fierce battle looming over them.
    Reyna awakened several times during the night to check on Olaf. He was still feverish. She fed him more willow bark tea and bathed his face and neck with cold water. When she awoke at dawn, it was to war cries and the clash of weapons.
    The Finns had come ashore and the battle had begun.
    Reyna rushed from the sleeping alcove, surprised to seeThora and Olga sitting on a bench, calmly tearing cloth for bandages. Olga scowled at Reyna as she joined them.
    “What are you doing out here? You are supposed to be tending to Olaf.”
    Thora placed a calming hand on Olga. “Do not fuss at Reyna, Olga. She saved Olaf’s life.” To Reyna she asked, “How is my son? He was sleeping when I looked in on him earlier.”
    “Olaf’s wound has not turned putrid and he seems to be holding his own. I am confident his fever will break today.”
    “His recovery is due entirely to your healing skills, Reyna. I thank you. The warriors ate hours ago but there is porridge in the cauldron. Please help yourself.”
    “I couldn’t eat a thing while the fighting is raging, but perhaps we should try to get some broth down Olaf.”
    The din outside became louder. Reyna glanced toward the door. “What is going on out there?”
    “ ’tis none of your concern,” Olga snapped. “You are a thrall. You will either have a new master or keep the old one this day.”
    A commotion coming from Olaf’s sleeping alcove brought Thora to her feet. Reyna cried out in dismay when she saw Olaf stagger through the curtains, a sword hanging from one hand. If Thora hadn’t run to support him, he would have fallen.
    “What are you doing up? Are you trying to kill yourself after Reyna worked tirelessly to save your life?”
    “I want to fight,” Olaf mumbled. “Dying a ‘straw death’ in my bed will not earn me the right to enter Valhalla. When I die, I want it to be with a sword in my hand.”
    The words had scarcely left his mouth before his sword clattered to the floor and he collapsed to his knees. Olga rushed forward to help Thora ease Olaf back into hisbed. Reyna glanced at the sword lying on the floor and without hesitation scooped it up. Though its weight felt heavy in her hand, the weapon reinforced her courage. The battle being waged outside reminded her of that fateful attack upon her farmstead, and her capture by a Norse berserker.
    Reyna’s natural curiosity sent her inching toward the door. She had to know what was going on outside. With shaking hands she unlatched the door and pushed it open just enough for a glimpse of the chaos outside. She covered her mouth with her hand at the sight of the bloody battle being fought with swords, battle-axes and spears. It was a scene straight from hell. It appeared that the Finns had gained substantial ground despite the carefully laid plans of the Norsemen. It didn’t take a genius to realize why. The Norsemen were outnumbered two to one.
    Reyna couldn’t move, could scarcely breathe as she watched the raging battle in growing horror. Blood-soaked men lay on the ground, some wounded, some dying, some already dead. But despite the odds against them, Reyna was heartened to note that the tide appeared to be turning in favor of the Norsemen.
    They were slowly driving the Finns back, toward the fjord and their dragonships. She looked for Wulf and saw him fighting for his life, using his sword and battle-axe to hack at the enemy. Wulf the Ruthless was upholding his name with fierce courage and a magnificent display of skill.
    Then Reyna saw something that stole the breath from her lungs. While Wulf defended himself against a frontal attack from two Finns, a third crept up on him from behind. Wulf was very close to dying and she was the only one who saw it coming.
    Without a thought for her own safety or a valid reason for reacting as she did, Reyna tightened her