marauders plaguing the lands with incessant battles.
Brigid had no intention of bartering her beloved sister for protection of her land and people. She’d offer herself in Caitlinn’s place first, not that Seamus would agree. He had a taste for delicate, fair-haired beauties, not for women with hair the color of midnight.
After admitting defeat in the short, but bloody battle with the Norsemen, Brigid tied a ribbon to the fairy tree, wishing for an end to hostilities for good, knowing she was out of choices and able-bodied soldiers.
Caitlinn laid her hand on Brigid’s arm, her fingers digging into her skin. “Brigid, they are heading our direction.”
Brigid squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. She had at least one more battle to fight with this hulking Norseman and she vowed to win.
The big Norseman, dressed in his bloodstained armor stopped in front of her, his feet planted wide, his arms crossed over his chest. He stared down his arrogant nose at her and announced, “I am Konrad of Kristiansand.”
He spoke Gaelic, almost as well as an Irishman. As much as she wanted to tell him she was not impressed and he could leave, she held her tongue and nodded graciously. “I am Brigid of clan O’Ceallachain.”
His gaze swept her length and back up as if finding her wanting. Then he swung his head around so that his perusal encompassed the entire village. “Am I to understand that you are the leader of this clan?”
Her teeth ground together, but she managed another nod. “I am.” Her nostrils flared, as she fought to control her temper. “Or I was, depending on your intent.”
Again, he looked down on her from his lofty height, towering over her. “This is now my land and my people. Have them assemble to hear my words.”
Her first inclination was to spit at his feet and tell him to assemble them himself. She chewed hard on her tongue to retrain herself, before turning to her sister. “Caitlinn, please have the people come out.”
Caitlinn hurried away to grant her bidding. Konrad’s second followed her with his gaze, practically salivating like a dog over a juicy bone.
The men stood silent while the village folk gathered. Most were women and children with a few old men scattered among them.
When all had assembled, the big brute opened his mouth, his voice booming loud enough to be heard by all. “I am Konrad of Kristiansand, your new leader. I have come to settle in the O’Ceallachain lands and make this my home. I will marry one of your people and produce heirs to ensure the protection of these lands for future generations.”
He lifted his chin higher. “Today I will choose my bride. All unmarried women of child-bearing age come to the front of the crowd.”
Brigid’s fists clenched. She should be happy that he was willing to marry the woman he bedded rather than using her as a concubine to slake his manly lusts. But these were her people, the women for whom she felt responsible. It made her belly ache with an anger so great she could barely breathe.
When the young women stepped forward, their eyes downcast, Brigid’s blood boiled.
Konrad marched down the line of potential brides. He stopped in front of one buxom lass, turned her around, stared at her hips, turned her back around and made her open her mouth to display her teeth.
Brigid stepped forward, scathing words on the tip of her tongue.
Caitlin’s hand on her arm kept her from launching herself at the oaf and raking her fingernails down his back.
He moved down the line and back to where she and Caitlinn stood. He turned his attention to Caitlinn. “And you? Are you unwed?”
Caitlinn nodded, her head bowed, her gaze on his boots.
He lifted her chin and studied her face. “Open your mouth.”
She did.
“You have all of your teeth,” he observed. He lifted her arm. “Strong arms.” He turned her around. “Good hips for breeding.” He placed a hand on either side of her hips as if measuring. “What do you think,
Brigid had no intention of bartering her beloved sister for protection of her land and people. She’d offer herself in Caitlinn’s place first, not that Seamus would agree. He had a taste for delicate, fair-haired beauties, not for women with hair the color of midnight.
After admitting defeat in the short, but bloody battle with the Norsemen, Brigid tied a ribbon to the fairy tree, wishing for an end to hostilities for good, knowing she was out of choices and able-bodied soldiers.
Caitlinn laid her hand on Brigid’s arm, her fingers digging into her skin. “Brigid, they are heading our direction.”
Brigid squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. She had at least one more battle to fight with this hulking Norseman and she vowed to win.
The big Norseman, dressed in his bloodstained armor stopped in front of her, his feet planted wide, his arms crossed over his chest. He stared down his arrogant nose at her and announced, “I am Konrad of Kristiansand.”
He spoke Gaelic, almost as well as an Irishman. As much as she wanted to tell him she was not impressed and he could leave, she held her tongue and nodded graciously. “I am Brigid of clan O’Ceallachain.”
His gaze swept her length and back up as if finding her wanting. Then he swung his head around so that his perusal encompassed the entire village. “Am I to understand that you are the leader of this clan?”
Her teeth ground together, but she managed another nod. “I am.” Her nostrils flared, as she fought to control her temper. “Or I was, depending on your intent.”
Again, he looked down on her from his lofty height, towering over her. “This is now my land and my people. Have them assemble to hear my words.”
Her first inclination was to spit at his feet and tell him to assemble them himself. She chewed hard on her tongue to retrain herself, before turning to her sister. “Caitlinn, please have the people come out.”
Caitlinn hurried away to grant her bidding. Konrad’s second followed her with his gaze, practically salivating like a dog over a juicy bone.
The men stood silent while the village folk gathered. Most were women and children with a few old men scattered among them.
When all had assembled, the big brute opened his mouth, his voice booming loud enough to be heard by all. “I am Konrad of Kristiansand, your new leader. I have come to settle in the O’Ceallachain lands and make this my home. I will marry one of your people and produce heirs to ensure the protection of these lands for future generations.”
He lifted his chin higher. “Today I will choose my bride. All unmarried women of child-bearing age come to the front of the crowd.”
Brigid’s fists clenched. She should be happy that he was willing to marry the woman he bedded rather than using her as a concubine to slake his manly lusts. But these were her people, the women for whom she felt responsible. It made her belly ache with an anger so great she could barely breathe.
When the young women stepped forward, their eyes downcast, Brigid’s blood boiled.
Konrad marched down the line of potential brides. He stopped in front of one buxom lass, turned her around, stared at her hips, turned her back around and made her open her mouth to display her teeth.
Brigid stepped forward, scathing words on the tip of her tongue.
Caitlin’s hand on her arm kept her from launching herself at the oaf and raking her fingernails down his back.
He moved down the line and back to where she and Caitlinn stood. He turned his attention to Caitlinn. “And you? Are you unwed?”
Caitlinn nodded, her head bowed, her gaze on his boots.
He lifted her chin and studied her face. “Open your mouth.”
She did.
“You have all of your teeth,” he observed. He lifted her arm. “Strong arms.” He turned her around. “Good hips for breeding.” He placed a hand on either side of her hips as if measuring. “What do you think,
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