Free Edin's embrace by Nadine Crenshaw

nose and the scar of an old gouge wound on his cheek. He was somewhat older, and a different kind of man from Thoryn altogether. He was, for one thing, much less serious-minded. Friendship, to Thoryn, was a matter of expedience, but if he possessed such a thing as a true friend, he supposed Rolf was it.
    Right now the man's complexion was high, whipped by the wind. He said, "Whatever you told the woman seems to have scared her badly enough. She sits there like a hazelgrouse in the woods on hunting day. You've shown her who's boss."
    Thoryn preserved his silence for a moment, then said, "Whatever I told her she well deserved. She needs to learn she's but a thrall."
    "And at her master's mercy."
    "Aye."
    "And you are her master."
    Thoryn's eyes grazed the soft curve of her shoulders. She looked tired and defeated. He said, "Aye, I am — for the time being. I was just considering whether I could get a better price for her in Hedeby."
    Hedeby lay on the east coast of Jutland at the head of Schleifjord on the shores of the lagoon of Haddeby Noor —far from Dainjerfjord in Norway. Thoryn saw Rolf considering this. "We couldn't make that voyage until spring," he said. "Were you planning to keep her a maiden that long? Over the winter at Thorynsteading? With the men?"
    "The men will leave her alone."
    At just that moment Jamsgar Copper-eye squatted before the captives and pulled on the bare foot of the one with dark short curls. The girl woke with a start.
    He smiled broadly, pointed to himself, and said, "Jamsgar. Jamsgar Copper-eye."
    The girl giggled and pointed to herself, saying, "Juli—"
    The maiden sat up straighter, threw her arms around the dark-haired wench, as if she were the girl's protector, and said, "Juliana, don't speak to him!"
    Thoryn bellowed, "Jamsgar!"
    The Copper-eye looked at his jarl and shrugged. With a grin, he went back to his room.
    "The men will leave her alone?" Rolf said. "If you say so. But she's a tempting bit, axe-friend. Those lips, and that hair, and . . . have you ever seen a woman with green eyes before?" He sighed hugely. "She'll cause trouble. Winter is long, and there are days when the longhall feels like a corral and the men start acting like stallions."
    Thoryn shrugged. "The profit I'd turn on her would justify a little trouble."
    "Most likely; but truth be told, she would get you a good price even if she weren't
quite
a maiden."
    "The men will leave her alone —or else."
    "During the day when you have your eye on them, aye. But what about at night when you go to your own chamber and nothing but a curtain keeps the wolves from invading her good and fragrant pasture? If I were her master, I think I would see she was safely locked up at night. Preferably with me."
    Thoryn saw the twinkle in his eye.
    "Come, Thoryn, this talk of selling her! As if I'm not a man who knows men —more important, a man who knows you. The lass is beautiful — and she's yours! Since when were you so monkish? No one sells a thrall like that. The best a man keeps for himself. Take her to your bed and be happy. Then, when you've had enough of her, we'll talk of markets."
    Thoryn exhaled through his nose. "You talk nonsense. She won't command eight half-marks if she isn't a maiden."
    Rolf shrugged. "Mayhap you'll lose a few half-marks. It depends on how sorely you use her. And mayhap, after a time, you'll decide not to sell her at all. Think of it, brother!" He pretended to consider the woman. "Having her in your chamber, alone. She would probably be reluctant at first, being a maid. She would need training—much training—many a pleasant night's work, that. You would want to take her slowly the first time or two, so as not to frighten her. I know there are those who prefer a good scuffle, but this one—no doubt she's been brought up cautiously on a diet of piglet and lamb and fresh milk straight from the goat's udder. I don't think you would want to frighten her. No, take her slowly and teach her to shudder