Page 34 of The Caged Viking

“You speak familiarly of Aethelred and Emma, as if you are personally acquainted with them.” He narrowed his eyes with suspicion, no doubt still thinking she might be a spy, or on the side of the Saxons.

“Well, Emma is related to me…” Hauk groaned softly beside her, and she realized she was giving too much information. But she couldn’t stop now. “My aunt, Lady Katla, is Emma’s godmother.”

Sweyn’s eyes widened with surprise.

In for a penny, in for a pound, she decided then. “My father is Magnus Ericsson. I grew up…my early years anyway…in the Norselands.”

Hauk stiffened beside her, fearing she would tell the time-travel story. She knew better than that.

“Is your father here with you?”

“No, he is—”

Sweyn waved a hand dismissively. “’Tis of no importance now. Tell us how you knew of these plans for escape.”

“Emma told me. In fact, she invited me to go with them,” Kirstin lied, “but I couldn’t abandon my betrothed.” She batted her eyelashes at Hauk, as if she was love-struck.

Hauk pinched her butt. Luckily no one stood behind them who could see.

She put a hand over her mouth and whispered to Hauk, “Should I tell him that he will be crowned king of all England before Christmas, but that he will die about a month later?”

Shocked, Hauk said, “No!” Failing to lower his voice, as she had, everyone heard his response and looked at him with curiosity.

“What did your wife just say to you?” Sweyn demanded.

Hauk glared at her, then told Sweyn, “It’s rather intimate.”

“So?”

Now everyone was really interested.

Hauk sighed in an exaggerated fashion before telling him, “She said, with all the male virility around this table, her woman dew is pooling like hot honey. She wondered if we could take a short break and go swive somewhere.”

Kirstin gasped and elbowed him. Then, realizing they were being watched closely, she pretended embarrassment and said, “You didn’t have to tell everyone, you lout!”

“Sorry, sweetling,” he replied, not at all sorry.

Puzzled, Sweyn stared at the two of them. “I thought your marriage had not yet been consummated. You two seem very familiar with each other.”

“Oh, the marriage might not have been consummated, but that does not mean that we haven’t been engaged in some…activity.” Hauk rolled his eyes suggestively and added, “You’d be surprised what can be done between the bars of a cage.”

At first, there was a stunned silence as each of them tried to figure out what Hauk meant, but then everyone burst out laughing. Even Kirstin.

After that, they discussed at length specific plans for the morning’s assault. Kirstin had to give these Vikings credit. They didn’t rush into battle like wild berserkers, although there were no doubt plenty of those. Instead, they took the time to plan battle strategy, optimum times and locations, weapon readiness, even specific fighting techniques, like the famous skjaldborg or shield wall, or the svinfylking or wedge formation. They would move toward Winchester during the night, with the assault to begin at dawn.

Once everyone was clear on their roles and where they should be at the call to move out some ten or so hours from now…roughly three a.m., by Kirstin’s estimate, it being five p.m. now…the council broke up. Sweyn gave her a look that said he wasn’t done with her yet, but he let her go for now. Hauk held her hand again as he led her out, probably fearing she would bolt. She would, if she knew where to go. Or if she had her arm rings.

Hauk just plodded on, wending their way through the troops and camp fires, presumably heading toward his tent. He remained silent and frowny faced.

“Moody much?”

He ignored her question.

“Have I done something to annoy you?”

He gave her a look that pretty much said, “Are you kidding?” What he said was, “You, m’lady, have become the biggest thorn in my arse.”

“What? Me? After all I’ve done for you. Now you’re pissed off at me for some little annoyance or other? Big whoop!”