Free Viking's Love by Karolyn Cairns Page A

pleasure.”
    Allisande ignored his boast, sipping her mead
as Grogan and Sarne returned to sit with them. Sarne was obviously
impressed with her skill at swords. Grogan eyed her with grudging
respect too. The two drank in pleasant moods as the hall filled up
with merrymakers.
    Ivar was once more at the high table,
laughing with his men over the entertainment. Wulfstan glowered in
silent rage at his side, his frosty gaze never wavering from
Allisande. Joran nodded to him and the man finally looked away.
    “ It appears Wulfstan isn’t appeased at
all, Joran,” Grogan commented, his pale blue eyes filling with
unease. “He will not relent.”
    Joran watched his half brother scowl into his
cups with a shrug. “He can do nothing now. She has won her
life.”
    “ Do we make for home now, my Chieftain?
Janna will be angry at the delay.”
    Joran laughed at mention of his friend’s tiny
blonde wife. “It is you who curses the delay, not she! Don’t think
she misses you! Is she not carrying her fourth child now?”
    Grogan looked pleased, his eyes twinkling.
“Another son it is, too. It would be my fourth in so many years.
When will you take another wife and have sons?”
    Joran shrugged. “It would appear I’m more
uneasy of marriage than you, my friend.”
    “ Merta will not like knowing
that.”
    “ Merta has known from the start my
thoughts on the subject.” Joran avoided further talk of his leman,
seeing Allisande’s attention was on Hakon being tended across the
hall.
    “ Your bedmate will not like you
bringing home the spoils of war.”
    Joran grinned and tipped back his tankard.
“She goes home. I see no need for us to continue with this. It’s
time Garran found her a husband.”
    “ You don’t know women, my friend. She
will not go quietly so you can enjoy your English beauty, mark me
well.”
    Joran never took his eyes from his
dark-haired slave, imagining her already warming his furs for the
long winter months ahead. “But go she will, Grogan. I have another
on my mind now.”
    Grogan was delighted to know the redhead was
being ousted from Joran’s longhouse. His wife despised Merta and
complained of her constantly. “There will be trouble.”
    “ When dealing with women, there is
always trouble,” Joran complained and his lips tightened. “Why do
you think I take such pains to avoid them?”
    “ I think we can both agree the
Englishwoman is no normal woman, Joran. Be careful you keep her
little sword hidden.”
    “ You think I don’t know it? The girl
would carve me into pieces if given half the chance. Do not worry.
My new slave will learn her place.”
    Allisande swiveled in her chair and drank her
mead, disinterested now in the goings on within Ivar’s hall. She
appeared tired as she sat back in the chair, eyes growing
heavy.
    “ Come, we leave now,” Joran ordered as
he stood. He refrained from tying her up.
    Allisande seemed surprised when Joran didn’t
rebind her hands. He merely clamped an arm on her wrist as he drew
her away. He led her out of the hall, past Vikings who eyed his
slave with more than a little interest now.
    They leered down at her as she passed. She
spared them not a glance. He was protective as he shouldered
through the crowd, pushing her ahead of him.
    It was dark outside now. When they were
outside Ivar’s longhouse, Joran swept her up into his arms,
carrying her as they walked back to the ship. She hardly protested,
too tired to do more than appreciate his holding her. The feel of
his hard chest against her own and his strong arms holding her
protectively was her last thought before she fell asleep during the
trek back to the ship.

Chapter Five
    Allisande didn’t waken as they arrived to the
ship. His men were obviously relieved to see his slave was still
alive, grinning in relief before Sarne and Grogan regaled them with
the tales.
    Joran took her to the enclosure, marveling at
how light she was in his arms, and how good she felt there, in
spite of her