The Viking's Captive (41 page)

Tyra wore a gown of softest blue wool, sent to her by Alinor. It was adorned with seed pearls and a border of
embroidered hawks. Her flowing blond hair was held back by a slim gold circlet. She was so very beautiful.
My fair Viking.

Adam watched with amusement as Tyra admired, once again, the large gold ring with the hawk crest that he had placed on her finger this day. “So, do you like your bride gift, wife?”

“I love it, husband,” she said, smiling softly at him.

They were both getting much pleasure out of saying the words “husband” and “wife” to each other. Each wondered if the novelty would ever wear off.

“Oh, oh!” she said suddenly. “I forgot to give you your husband gift.”

As she struggled to pull something out of the cloth placket on her belt, he tugged on the war braids on either side of her face, which had been threaded with pearls to match the beading on her gown. “You are not supposed to buy me presents, heartling.”

“Why? If there can be a bride gift, why not a husband gift?”

He shrugged and smiled at her. In truth, he could not stop smiling today.

“Is this a jest gift … like mayhap chicken feathers?” He waggled his eyebrows at her.

“Adam …” she warned, narrowing her eyes at him.

She looked adorable when she narrowed her eyes at him. Adam couldn’t resist saying, “Bok! Bok!”

She narrowed her eyes some more. “If you bring up that subject one more time, there is not going to be a wedding night … if you get my meaning.”

He did, and immediately wiped the grin off his face. He didn’t even say what he’d been going to say … that the best thing about chickens was plucking them. He would save that one for a later time.

Into his hand she shoved a piece of blue velvet, tied
with a thick gold cord. “Here,” she said, her face blooming a lovely shade of pink.

That blush intrigued him more than the gift.

Slowly he opened it, then stared with confusion at the marble wand that lay in his hands. It was about the size of his middle finger and twice as long.

“What is it?”

She leaned close and whispered an explanation into his ear.

“Tyra!” he exclaimed, then threw his head back with laughter. The woman continually surprised him. And he was
really
surprised now.

“If you don’t like it, give it back to me,” she complained and tried to grab for it.

“Hah! Not bloody likely!” he said, holding it out of her reach. Then he stood abruptly, pulled her along the dais, down the steps, across the hall, and up the stairs to his bedchamber. It was a scandalous way to act, really, in front of all their friends and family. Neither one of them seemed to care.

Tykir called out, “Where are you off to, Adam?”

Adam said, “To polish some marble.”

There was a collective gasp amongst the ladies, and chuckles from the men. They thought he was referring to his staff. Little did they know!

The next day, many guests said it was the first time they had ever heard of a bride and groom leaving the wedding feast while it was still daylight … and not emerging again till the next day.

Bolthor promised to write a saga about it.

Tyra just smiled.

Adam beamed.

Berserker—an ancient Norse warrior who fought in a frenzied rage during battle.

Blindfuller—drunk as a lord.

Braies—slim pants worn by men, breeches.

Codpiece—a flap or cover (even a bagged appendage) for the crotch of a man’s hose or tight breeches.

Danegeld—in medieval times, especially Britain, a tribute or tax paid to Vikings; in other words, you pay or we plunder.

Drukkinn (various spellings)—drunk, in Old Norse.

Ell—a measure, usually of cloth, equaling 45 inches.

Hersir—a military commander who owed allegiance to one jark or King.

Hnefatafl—a board game played by the Vikings.

Holmganga—a form of duel fought on a ten-foot-wide cloak. Whoever steps off the garment is considered a coward. Whoever wins such a fight to death gets all of the loser’s property.

Hospitium—a type of hospital usually attached to a minster and attended by monk healers.

Housecarls—troops assigned to a king’s or lord’s household on a longtime, sometimes permanent basis.

Jorvik—Viking word for Viking-Age York, known by the Saxons as Eoforic.

knarr—a Viking merchant ship.

Midden—a refuse dump.

Minster—a church, often connected to a monastic establishment.

Mjollnir—the name of Thor’s hammer.

More danico—multiple wives.

Nithing—a person of no worth, less than nothing.

Norns of Fate—three wise old women who destined everybody’s Fate.

Northumbria—one of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, bordered by the English kingdoms to the south and in the north and northwest by the Scots, Cumbrians, and Strathclyde Welsh.

Sennight—one week.

Skald—a poet.

Soapstone—also called steatite, a soft rock composed primarily of talc, often used for hearths, tabletops, carved ornaments, etc.

Thrall—a slave.

Trepannation (or Trepanning)—one of the oldest medical procedures in the world in which holes are drilled in the skull to relieve pressure or to cure some malady, or as part of a religious ritual, or to release evil spirits from the mentally disturbed. It was done as early as 3,000 B.C.

Uisge-beatha—Water of Life, early name for Scotch whiskey.

Valkyries—Odin’s female warriors who led valiant fighting men after their death in battle to Valhalla, the hall of the slain.

Varangian Guard—the legendary elite guard made up of Viking mercenaries assigned to the Byzantine emperor.

Wergild (various spellings)—a man’s worth, paid in reparation for a death or some crime.

Dear Reader:

I hope you liked my revised version of
My Fair Viking.
Yes, I actually did unkill beloved characters who died in the original version of this story at the request of so many of you who loved Rain and Selik. And I added the funny scene tags which I hope you enjoyed.

Look for similar changes in new reissues of my old books. I am having fun going back and updating them.

I do not take credit for all the Arab proverbs quoted in this book. Some of them are products of my creativity, but most are ancient proverbs, anonymously written, usually of Arab provenance.

To my shame, I do take credit for Bolthor’s horrible poems.

And, yes, head drilling, or trepanning, did take place in the tenth century, believe it or not. Ancient remains show holes drilled into skulls to release evil spirits, to alleviate headaches, and to relieve pressure created by a bruised and swollen brain.

Thus far, there have been nine books in this loosely linked (stand alone) series:
The Reluctant Viking, The Outlaw Viking, The Tarnished Lady, The Bewitched Viking, The Blue Viking, My Fair Viking, A Tale of Two Vikings, Viking in Love,
and
The Viking Takes a Knight.
And more to come. Check out my website for more details on
reissues, ebooks, and for genealogy charts on the characters in all these books.

As always, I enjoy hearing from readers. Please write to me at:

Sandra Hill
P.O. Box 604
State College, PA 16804
[email protected]
www.sandrahill.net

F
or John of Hawk’s Lair, the unexpected appearance
of a beautiful woman at his door is always welcome. Yet the arrival of this alluring Viking woman, Ingrith Sigrundottir—with her enchanting smile and inviting curves—is different … for she comes accompanied by a herd of unruly orphans. And Ingrith needs more than the legendary knight’s hospitality; she needs protection. For among her charges is a small boy with a claim to the throne—a dangerous distinction when murderous King Edgar is out hunting for Viking blood.

A man of passion, John will keep them safe—but in exchange, he wants something very dear indeed: Ingrith’s heart, to be taken with the very first meeting of their lips …

C
aedmon of Larkspur was the most loathsome lout
Breanne had ever encountered. When she arrived at his castle with her sisters, they were greeted by an estate gone wild, while Caedmon laid abed after a night of ale. But Breanne must endure, as they are desperately in need of protection … and he is quite handsome.