mistress’s hand.
It gave Margit satisfaction that the thrall trembled as she tried once more to unsnarl the thick curly tangles. She was in a mood to make others suffer. As usual, Gorm had left her bed during the night after satisfying his own needs, leaving her wanting. It amazed her that such a well-endowed man knew nothing about a woman’s pleasure. He had not been persuaded to marry her, though she had tried every ploy in her arsenal to convince him.
The comb snagged again. Margit screeched, leaned back in her chair and kicked the child hard in her swollen belly. The thrall cried out and doubled over, crawling out of the chamber when Margit sent her packing. “Send another thrall, one who is not so careless.”
That should take care of the wretch who had stupidly gotten with child, probably Gorm’s.
Margit seethed as she paced back and forth, tugging the comb through her black hair. Gorm’s smell still clung to her. He treated her no better than a thrall. Worse, because he would kill her if she lay with another man. He seemed to have forgotten that without her help he would not be sitting on the throne of Strand.
He gave her no say in the judgments he rendered, did not allow her a seat on the dais beside him. She would have been better off marrying Reider. She cupped her breasts, remembering with a shiver how Reider’s big hands had fondled them. She barred the door, took a deep breath and brushed her palms over her hard nipples, frustrated that she would have to once again take care of her own needs.
~~~
Reider choked on his response when Dagfinn Alfredsen embraced him, uttering words of condolence he knew were heartfelt. His father and Dagfinn had been friends and allies for many years. The two neighbouring principalities had supported each other for generations. The Hall in which they stood had witnessed many marriages between the two peoples.
Dagfinn looked him in the eye. “I never trusted your step-brother.”
Resentment stuck in Reider’s throat. “Was I blind? Why did everyone else see his treacherous nature, but I didn’t?”
The older man put his hands on Reider’s shoulders. “Because, my boy, you see the good in people, but sometimes you are blind to their faults. Your father was the same. He became so determined to make a strategic marriage with Gorm’s mother, he failed to see the son’s greed. It cost him his life.”
Reider let out a long breath. “My life too, had it not been for Kjartan.”
Dagfinn shook Kjartan’s hand and embraced him. “Welcome, Kjartan. Your cousins are anxious to renew acquaintance. It’s been too long since you visited your family here.”
Kjartan smiled. “I agree, and it is to my shame that it is tragedy that brings me here this time. With your permission I will seek them out.”
Dagfinn slapped him on the back. “Go now. Bring them.”
Reider watched his friend leave, envious of Kjartan’s extended family. Dagfinn eyed him curiously. “What of Margit?”
A worm coiled in Reider’s bowels. “She betrayed me. Her betrayal cut deeper than Gorm’s. I will never trust a woman again.”
But as he swore, his thoughts went to Ragna. He sensed she cared for him. Would she betray him, if he trusted her with his heart?
A thrall approached with tankards of ale for Reider and his men. Others brought victuals. “Sit! Enjoy our meagre fare,” Dagfinn declared.
Reider gazed at the haunch of venison and inhaled deeply. “My lord, we have dined on naught but fish for a month. This is ambrosia.”
Dagfinn chuckled. “Eat then! We’ll fill our bellies and talk of how we might defeat this murderous usurper.”
They sat down to feast. Kjartan entered the Hall with uncles, aunts and cousins in tow. He had not seen them for several years, and their boisterous joy was evident. He reintroduced Reider to two female cousins, little girls when Reider had last seen them. Now they were alluring young women. Reider winked at his friend.
“Never mind that,”
It gave Margit satisfaction that the thrall trembled as she tried once more to unsnarl the thick curly tangles. She was in a mood to make others suffer. As usual, Gorm had left her bed during the night after satisfying his own needs, leaving her wanting. It amazed her that such a well-endowed man knew nothing about a woman’s pleasure. He had not been persuaded to marry her, though she had tried every ploy in her arsenal to convince him.
The comb snagged again. Margit screeched, leaned back in her chair and kicked the child hard in her swollen belly. The thrall cried out and doubled over, crawling out of the chamber when Margit sent her packing. “Send another thrall, one who is not so careless.”
That should take care of the wretch who had stupidly gotten with child, probably Gorm’s.
Margit seethed as she paced back and forth, tugging the comb through her black hair. Gorm’s smell still clung to her. He treated her no better than a thrall. Worse, because he would kill her if she lay with another man. He seemed to have forgotten that without her help he would not be sitting on the throne of Strand.
He gave her no say in the judgments he rendered, did not allow her a seat on the dais beside him. She would have been better off marrying Reider. She cupped her breasts, remembering with a shiver how Reider’s big hands had fondled them. She barred the door, took a deep breath and brushed her palms over her hard nipples, frustrated that she would have to once again take care of her own needs.
~~~
Reider choked on his response when Dagfinn Alfredsen embraced him, uttering words of condolence he knew were heartfelt. His father and Dagfinn had been friends and allies for many years. The two neighbouring principalities had supported each other for generations. The Hall in which they stood had witnessed many marriages between the two peoples.
Dagfinn looked him in the eye. “I never trusted your step-brother.”
Resentment stuck in Reider’s throat. “Was I blind? Why did everyone else see his treacherous nature, but I didn’t?”
The older man put his hands on Reider’s shoulders. “Because, my boy, you see the good in people, but sometimes you are blind to their faults. Your father was the same. He became so determined to make a strategic marriage with Gorm’s mother, he failed to see the son’s greed. It cost him his life.”
Reider let out a long breath. “My life too, had it not been for Kjartan.”
Dagfinn shook Kjartan’s hand and embraced him. “Welcome, Kjartan. Your cousins are anxious to renew acquaintance. It’s been too long since you visited your family here.”
Kjartan smiled. “I agree, and it is to my shame that it is tragedy that brings me here this time. With your permission I will seek them out.”
Dagfinn slapped him on the back. “Go now. Bring them.”
Reider watched his friend leave, envious of Kjartan’s extended family. Dagfinn eyed him curiously. “What of Margit?”
A worm coiled in Reider’s bowels. “She betrayed me. Her betrayal cut deeper than Gorm’s. I will never trust a woman again.”
But as he swore, his thoughts went to Ragna. He sensed she cared for him. Would she betray him, if he trusted her with his heart?
A thrall approached with tankards of ale for Reider and his men. Others brought victuals. “Sit! Enjoy our meagre fare,” Dagfinn declared.
Reider gazed at the haunch of venison and inhaled deeply. “My lord, we have dined on naught but fish for a month. This is ambrosia.”
Dagfinn chuckled. “Eat then! We’ll fill our bellies and talk of how we might defeat this murderous usurper.”
They sat down to feast. Kjartan entered the Hall with uncles, aunts and cousins in tow. He had not seen them for several years, and their boisterous joy was evident. He reintroduced Reider to two female cousins, little girls when Reider had last seen them. Now they were alluring young women. Reider winked at his friend.
“Never mind that,”
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