kissing." Thank the gods!
"That's a shame. Not a shame that you didn't have to kiss Kugge, but that you have been deprived of good kissing for such a long time. By the way, have I told you I am a very good kisser?"
"You are incorrigible."
"It's one of my best qualities."
"And the others?"
He grinned. "I don't know you well enough to tell you… yet."
Their conversation was cut short then by a bustle of activity just below them in the cleared area between the high table and long tables. To her amazement, Dagne was taking out her lute, something she had not done these past five years.
Encouraging her was the young man named Geek. What an odd name! Sounded more like what a person said when stepping in sheep droppings. Geek had his leg in a splint, even though his knee was just sprained, not broken.
Dagne adjusted the strings and leaned her head down, checking the tones. Then she began to strum softly. Once the room was totally silent, except for the sizzling of the fires, the clack-clack-clacking of the hand loom being worked by one industrious weaver, and Frida clanging some pots in the scullery, she began to sing one of the old saga songs. It was the tale of two twins, Toste and Vagn Ivarsson. She told how inseparable these two twins were from birth, even when they went to war together, where they presumably died together. But each had been rescued and began different life journeys, each thinking his other half had long gone to Valhalla. In the end, the two brothers found each other again.
It
was a love story, of course, which held the women in thrall, even though most of them had heard it many times before, but it was also a poignant story of the love two brothers had for each other.
Hilda glanced at Torolf to see his reaction to the music. He appeared stunned, but then he stood and began clapping. His men did the same, and soon the women followed suit, realizing that the clapping showed their appreciation.
When Torolf sat back down and Dagne began another song, Hilda glanced at him, noting the serious expression on his face.
Sensing her scrutiny, he said, "I feel the same connection with my brother Ragnor who, you know, is the same age as I am, though we had different mothers.
I suffered the same loss as those twins when we were separated for more than ten years."
Hilda decided that mayhap there was another side to Torolf. She wasn't altogether happy with that prospect. It would not do for her to be attracted to the rogue. As one of the old proverbs said, "If a rogue woos you, count your teeth." Not that Torolf would ever woo me.
"Your lips are moving. Are you talking to yourself again?"
She made a face at him. "Why are you here?"
"Steinolf."
She raised her eyebrows at him.
"I've come back to avenge my family honor and to rid our land of this heinous villain."
"How?"
"By killing the bastard and returning Norstead to its rightful people."
"And who would rule there? You?"
"Not if I can help it. I'll find someone to take my place. I intend to go back to America, if I can."
"Perhaps you are not aware of how powerful Steinolf is. He has not only overtaken Norstead and Amberstead, but many other estates in the northwest."
Torolf was not pleased with that news, but then he shrugged. "Whatever.
Steinolf
is a dead man, that I promise."
Hilda's heart lightened at his words. "You cannot fight Steinolf with a mere five men… unless you have an army following you. Do you?" she asked hopefully.
"No, but we're Navy SEALs. I know it'll sound like bragging to you, but five of us can do what fifty men can, in the right circumstances." Seeing the confusion on her face, he added, "SEALs are elite forces with specialized talents for fighting."
"Like Jomsvikings or Varangians?"
"Sort of."
"How are your methods different?"
"Many ways. The weapons are different, we use strike and retreat guerrilla tactics. In essence, we use our heads as much as our brawn."
"Can you teach us those skills?"
"Huh? Who?"
"Us women.
"That's a shame. Not a shame that you didn't have to kiss Kugge, but that you have been deprived of good kissing for such a long time. By the way, have I told you I am a very good kisser?"
"You are incorrigible."
"It's one of my best qualities."
"And the others?"
He grinned. "I don't know you well enough to tell you… yet."
Their conversation was cut short then by a bustle of activity just below them in the cleared area between the high table and long tables. To her amazement, Dagne was taking out her lute, something she had not done these past five years.
Encouraging her was the young man named Geek. What an odd name! Sounded more like what a person said when stepping in sheep droppings. Geek had his leg in a splint, even though his knee was just sprained, not broken.
Dagne adjusted the strings and leaned her head down, checking the tones. Then she began to strum softly. Once the room was totally silent, except for the sizzling of the fires, the clack-clack-clacking of the hand loom being worked by one industrious weaver, and Frida clanging some pots in the scullery, she began to sing one of the old saga songs. It was the tale of two twins, Toste and Vagn Ivarsson. She told how inseparable these two twins were from birth, even when they went to war together, where they presumably died together. But each had been rescued and began different life journeys, each thinking his other half had long gone to Valhalla. In the end, the two brothers found each other again.
It
was a love story, of course, which held the women in thrall, even though most of them had heard it many times before, but it was also a poignant story of the love two brothers had for each other.
Hilda glanced at Torolf to see his reaction to the music. He appeared stunned, but then he stood and began clapping. His men did the same, and soon the women followed suit, realizing that the clapping showed their appreciation.
When Torolf sat back down and Dagne began another song, Hilda glanced at him, noting the serious expression on his face.
Sensing her scrutiny, he said, "I feel the same connection with my brother Ragnor who, you know, is the same age as I am, though we had different mothers.
I suffered the same loss as those twins when we were separated for more than ten years."
Hilda decided that mayhap there was another side to Torolf. She wasn't altogether happy with that prospect. It would not do for her to be attracted to the rogue. As one of the old proverbs said, "If a rogue woos you, count your teeth." Not that Torolf would ever woo me.
"Your lips are moving. Are you talking to yourself again?"
She made a face at him. "Why are you here?"
"Steinolf."
She raised her eyebrows at him.
"I've come back to avenge my family honor and to rid our land of this heinous villain."
"How?"
"By killing the bastard and returning Norstead to its rightful people."
"And who would rule there? You?"
"Not if I can help it. I'll find someone to take my place. I intend to go back to America, if I can."
"Perhaps you are not aware of how powerful Steinolf is. He has not only overtaken Norstead and Amberstead, but many other estates in the northwest."
Torolf was not pleased with that news, but then he shrugged. "Whatever.
Steinolf
is a dead man, that I promise."
Hilda's heart lightened at his words. "You cannot fight Steinolf with a mere five men… unless you have an army following you. Do you?" she asked hopefully.
"No, but we're Navy SEALs. I know it'll sound like bragging to you, but five of us can do what fifty men can, in the right circumstances." Seeing the confusion on her face, he added, "SEALs are elite forces with specialized talents for fighting."
"Like Jomsvikings or Varangians?"
"Sort of."
"How are your methods different?"
"Many ways. The weapons are different, we use strike and retreat guerrilla tactics. In essence, we use our heads as much as our brawn."
"Can you teach us those skills?"
"Huh? Who?"
"Us women.
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