Page 108 of The Outlaw Viking

Alise nodded, and Rain told Father Rupert to make sure the girl’s father understood the disease and the importance of a strict diet.

For hours, she worked side by side with the culdees, examining the patients, listening carefully to their diagnoses and remedies, many of which came from the revered Bald’s Leechbook prepared about twenty-five years earlier. Surprisingly, many of the recipes they followed proved effective, even by modern standards, especially the herbal ones. Rue was used as a capillary anti-hemorrhage agent. Henbane, known to modern doctors for its properties in blocking nerve fibers and as a hypnotic, induced sleep. Pennyroyal settled the stomach. Woodruff and brooklime, both rich in tannin, relieved burns when applied in butter with the root of a lily.

Her biggest complaint was against the widespread practice of bleeding for almost every ailment. But she followed Selik’s advice on observing, offering minor advice, but doing nothing to call attention to herself as a modern physician.

Occasionally, she even forgot that Selik accompanied her and would look up suddenly to see him leaning lazily against the wall, his finely honed Viking body a spectacular picture, even in a monk’s garb. How could anyone miss his beautifully sculpted face, his gracefully long fingers, his beautiful smile?

“What is that wonderful scent?” Father Bernard asked suddenly, sniffing near her cowl.

“’Tis Brother Godwine’s Passion,” Selik answered devilishly as he took her arm and moved her down the aisle.

Father Bernard just gaped after them, stuttering, “His…his…did you say passion?” He practically drooled.

Finally, disgusted with Selik’s snide remarks, Father Bernard commented testily under his breath, “Why does the big lump not get down on his knees and help, instead of standing around idly?”

But Selik overheard him and commented boldly, “I am observing, Bernie, for our book.”

Father Bernard’s face colored, highlighting the pus-filled pimples that dotted his face. “Methinks Father Ethelwolf’s arrogance is unseemly for a priest,” he complained to Rain. “And frankly, it appears to me he is observing more than he should.”

Rain looked up then and noticed, just as Father Bernard had, that Selik’s appreciative eyes were fastened on her posterior as she bent over to pick up a wad of linen.

She hissed to get Selik’s attention, but instead of being embarrassed at being caught in the act, he winked. He winked. She heard Father Bernard make a low, strangling sound, and Rain realized she had to get Selik out of there before he gave them both away.

“We’ve got to go, Father Ethelwolf,” Rain announced suddenly, pulling on Selik’s sleeve. “I just remembered that we must stop at the mercer’s to purchase more cloth for the children’s tunics.”

“Oh, but you cannot leave yet,” Father Bernard protested. “Father Theodric will be here shortly.”

That was just what Rain was afraid of, especially with Selik being so blatant in his attraction toward her. The highly intelligent Father Theodric saw too much. Already he raised questions she couldn’t answer about healers in Frankland whose names she didn’t recognize, about how she’d gained her vast medical knowledge, and even about her feminine characteristics.

“You must pray that God will help you control your baser instincts,” he’d told her once after she shrieked girlishly when a mouse darted over her foot in the minster herbarium. He referred to what he must consider her effeminate nature. If he saw her with Selik, the sexual chemistry that sizzled between them whenever they moved within looking distance would undoubtedly cement the idea in his head.

“Tell Father Theodric that I will see him tomorrow, and we can discuss brain fevers and the vaccinations I mentioned to him. I will have plenty of time, since Father Ethelwolf will be unable to accompany me.”

“Huh?” Selik asked, looking up from the bag of food he was examining near the door. “Why will I be unable to come with you?”

“You will be transcribing all your mental notes onto parchment. For our book. Remember?”

He waved a hand in the air dismissively. “Ah, I can do that anytime. We will discuss that later.” He turned then to Father Bernard. “But now I want to know who is responsible for the pig swill you have been giving Brother Godwine as his laece-feoh—the physician’s fee?”

Rain turned to Selik with surprise. She hadn’t realized that he knew about the rotting food the priests sent for the orphans.

Father Bernard’s face turned bright red. “’Tis not a physician’s fee, just a gift, a favor from the minister to the orphans.”

“Are you saying, Bernie, that Brother Godwine’s healing skills have no value?”

“Nay, I ne’er said such. But well, ’tis good enough for the scurvy lot,” he mumbled defensively, pointing to the food. “Leastways, ’tis the same food we priests eat each day.”

“Ah, then that is different,” Selik said with a resignation Rain knew was false. “You will not mind then having a bite of this.” He reached in the cloth bag and pulled out a hunk of pork that smelled to high heaven.

Father Bernard backed away but Selik followed, pushing the putrid meat in his face, against his lips.

“Selik,” Rain protested, pleased that he defended her, but afraid he would attract undue attention.

Selik ignored her pulling hands and told Father Bernard icily, “Do not ever dare to give Brother Godwine such spoiled food again. Dump this in the cess pit. ’Tis not good enough for the dogs in the street.”

He shoved away from the shaking priest angrily and grabbed Rain’s arm, pulling her through the door.

“Selik, we have to bring food back for the children. I’m sure I would have been able to salvage some good things from that bag.”