Page 93 of The Caged Viking

Vikings had busybodies, too…

“You should plan on going a-Viking first thing next spring,” Egil advised. “Nothing like a little plunderin’ to wipe the mind clear.”

Didn’t we bring enough plunder back from Aethelred’s royal court?

“We could use snowshoes and travel north to where the polar bears roam. A white bed fur would make you forget soon enough.” This from Horrick, one of his best hunters.

And freeze my toes, and another important body part?

Bjorn had another gripe. “I thought you were giving me a mother. Couldn’t you have been nicer to her?”

I tried.

Frida didn’t waste words, “Go find the girl.”

As if I could!

“What you need is a good tupping,” Thorkel said.

With whom?

The voice in his head had yet another opinion. “Pray.”

In essence, everyone felt the need to give Hauk love advice. Was he so pitiful? He determined to stop acting like a lamebrained idiot. If nothing else, he should keep these emotions inside.

Hauk did not forget about Kirstin after that. Nor did he stop hurting at her betrayal, when he allowed himself to think about it. But he kept busy, from daybreak to bedtime, and could say that he was surviving. It helped that he gave Signe and Frida free rein to plan both the wedding and yule feast, which might have been a mistake since the entire keep, from the barns to the great hall, were decorated with evergreen boughs. And the sweet succulent scents that emanated from the kitchen tempted even the most hardened warrior who claimed a preference for a meaty bone of beef or pork.

To his surprise, his neighbor Ingolf, the one who lusted after Haukshire lands, invited Hauk to join his family at Stormstead for a yuletide celebration. The date did not interfere with Hauk’s plans, but he had no desire to be away from his estate at this time of year. However, he felt the need to reciprocate the invitation, and, to his disgust, Ingolf accepted on behalf of himself and his family.

“You know why he’s extendin’ the hand of friendship, don’t ye?” Frida said.

“Nay. Why?”

“He has two unwed daughters,” Frida told him with a cackle at his obvious dismay. “If he can’t get his hands on yer lands by force, he’ll do it by marriage.”

“You jest,” he said.

Frida just laughed.

Chapter 21

Home is where the heart is...

Kirstin slept for twelve straight hours. Well, she got up twice during the night from her bed in her old bedroom, once to pee, and another time to get a glass of water to combat her wine-dried mouth. She had been both hopeful and afraid that she would dream of Hauk, but her slumber had been dream-free.

She finally awakened to the gleam of a morning sun and the sound of voices.

Lots of voices.

From a distance.

Downstairs.

Or outside.

Maybe both.

Lying still, with her eyes closed, she tried to discern the voices. There was Torolf. And Ragnor. And her sister Madrene. Her father must have called everyone last night, and now they were all here, or arriving, by the sound of car doors slamming. Each of them would be wanting to welcome her, but also to get the real story of her time travel.