Free Anna Markland - Viking Roots Medieval Romance Saga 01 by The Rover Bold Page A

the cheese wheel apart and laid it on the floor before retreating to the corner with the chest, though he didn’t sit on it.
    “Is he not hungry?” she asked, her mouth full of the delicious smoked ham.
    Bryk frowned, but didn’t turn to look at his servant. He lifted the horn he always carried off his body and poured ale into it. He took a swig before offering it to Cathryn. Her first taste of the bitter brew made her gasp. He motioned her to pass the horn to Ekaterina.
    To her surprise, the old nun accepted it, drank a long draft, belched, then explained, “He will eat when we are done. It’s the way of the Vikings.”
    She should have heeded the warning in the elderly woman’s eyes, but instead she said, “Being a Viking’s servant is obviously a hard life.”
    Ekaterina glanced at Bryk quickly then whispered. “Torstein isn’t a servant. He’s a slave.”
    ~~~
    Bryk was relieved to see color return to Kaia’s ashen face after she’d eaten. Cathryn still leaned against him, but her body had stiffened at something the old nun had said. Everyone seemed to have eaten their fill. He’d have preferred some juicy roast pork and fresh white bread, but in the circumstances Torstein had done well.
    He picked up three slices of ham and a chunk of cheese and threw them to his slave. He smiled as the youth grabbed them, stuffing everything into his mouth at once. Cathryn sat up straight, shrugging off his arm.
    Frowning, he looked to Ekaterina.
    “I told her Torstein is your slave,” she explained.
    Cathryn folded her arms, hugging her body.
    “This upsets her?” he asked.
    Ekaterina shrugged. “The Franks do not enslave their captives.”
    “Tell her Torstein was not a captive. He was born a thrall, as was his mother.”
    To his dismay, Cathryn still resisted his embrace when Ekaterina explained, but she said nothing and refused to look at him. It was a good thing he hadn’t mentioned Torstein’s mother had been sold off in the market at Ribe.
    He touched his fingers to her chin and turned her face to him. He wanted her to understand the ways of Vikings, though why her opinion was important he still couldn’t fathom. “Vikings, Franks, different ways. Not bad people.”
    Frustrated when her pout continued, he slipped back into his own language , depending on the old nun to explain. “Vikings spare the lives of captives. We feed and clothe, give them work, take care of their children. Franks do not show mercy to their prisoners.”
    She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. “Better to be dead than a slave.”
    Her words cut his heart. “Should I have killed you then, that night?”
    ~~~
    Exhaustion heightened Cathryn’s confusion. Her wits had fled. Bryk’s closeness caused joy to surge through her body, but fear held her in its grip. Did he intend to keep her as his slave?
    She knew what obedience was, and humility, but she wanted more from this man who’d captured her heart as well as her body.
    “No,” she replied in a whisper. “I am glad to be alive, and here with you.”
    “ Da !” Ekaterina exclaimed as Bryk smiled.
    I will be his slave if it means I can be with him.
    He squeezed her hand. “ Look treasure now.”
    He motioned for Torstein to bring the chest. The thrall set it down at his side and opened the lid once Bryk had produced a key from his pouch and unlocked it. The corners of the young man’s mouth twitched into a smile at first glimpse of the vestments on top of the pile.
    Bryk slapped him on the shoulder, grinning broadly, then snaked his big hands under the garments and lifted them out.
    She half dreaded he would get to his feet, unfurl the robes and put them on. Instead he set them aside and delved into the chest for something else. He handed a few candle ends to Torstein who pulled a glowing twig from the fire and lit them. Their soft flickering glow brought comfort to the dark hovel.
    He then pulled out a misshapen chunk of candle still wedged onto a candlestick made of