15
THE FOLLOWING DAY dawned warm and sunny. More birds than Mirana had ever seen in her life seemed to have visited the island for their wedding, flying overhead, swooping downward, spinning through the clouds, their keening cries filling the air. It was magical.
It was a perfect day to be married.
Mirana stood opposite Rorik, beneath a sweet-smelling apple tree, her hand held in his across the space between them. His men flanked him, with Hafter at his right hand. The women, led by Old Alna, stood behind her, Entti at her right hand.
The women had done wonders. Theya??d sent Mirana off to bed the previous night, and immediately made their plans.
Mirana was now wearing a gown of the softest wool, dyed a rich saffron.
Her tunic was a pale cream, fastened at her shoulder with two beautifully pounded silver brooches, a gift from Rorik.
She wore soft leather slippers on her feet, a gift from Erna, whoa??d said softly, a??I havena??t two good hands, but I do have two good feet and they are just your size.a??
The slippers fit her perfectly. Miranaa??s hair was loosely plaited, as one would a belt of soft leather, and wound up onto the top of her head with pale saffron-colored linen ribbons threaded through the thick coils.
She felt calm. Her decision was a good one.
Even if Rorik were marrying her to forward his revenge against Einar, she didna??t care.
She still believed him honorable. She held to that thought, now looking at Rorik, who said slowly, his voice deep and sure, a??I will take you to wife, Mirana, daughter of Audun.
I give you all that is mine and promise you my honor and loyalty and fidelity until I die.
Before all our gods and all our people, this I vow.a??
Some of the men cheered, several slapping him on the back, but most were silent, their eyes on the ground, uncertain and wary. When there was again full silence, all eyes went to Mirana.
a??My Lord Rorik,a?? she said, looking up at him, and now she smiled, for he was looking very serious, overly serious, and it charmed her.
Shea??d thought about what she would say to him and to his people, words that were critical to all of them.
Her fingers tightened about his. a??I come to you with naught save myself and what I am.
I will be faithful to you and to your people for as long as I live.
I swear to place your welfare above mine own, to honor you as my husband and as the lord of Hawkfell Island, and hold your interests first in my mind.
I will never betray you. This I vow before our gods and before all who are here with us.a??
Now the women cheered, much more loudly than the men, full-bodied cheers that rang out over the island, sending the birds winging upward, shrieking wildly.
Kerzog barked madly, danced about the two of them and licked Miranaa??s feet.
She felt pats on her shoulders and back. a??Well done,a?? Entti said in her ear.
a??Thank you, Mirana,a?? Rorik said. He looked at his men.
Then he raised her hand and slipped a small golden band on her middle finger.
It was tight. She wondered to whom it had belonged.
To his first wife? She made a fist, thrusting her arm high toward the cobalt-blue sky, symbolizing her acceptance and commitment to her marriage with Rorik.
The cheering began again, but not as loud as it could be.
The women were shouting their heads off, making up for the mena??s wariness, Mirana knew, and felt a stab of anger for Rorik because his men were holding back, still uncertain of his decision, looking at her and knowing that she was of their enemya??s blood.
Rorik took her fist in his hand, gently opened her fingers, and laced his own fingers through hers.
He grinned like a happy boy. The men eased, Mirana saw it and felt it.
They began to cheer. When Rorik pulled her against him, lifting her high off the ground, his arms wrapped around her, and kissed her long and deep, the men began to laugh and jest. The women giggled and nudged each other.
Chickens clucked wildly some feet away. The dozen or so children present looked uncertain, staring from their parents to Mirana and Rorik, then they were laughing and hooting and stomping their feet as loudly as the men and women.
Mirana felt such relief she would have shouted herself, but then what she felt was Rorika??s mouth, warm and soft and firm.
He wasna??t particularly insistent, nay, he wasna??t trying to savage her.
He was more like an explorer, feeling the texture of her mouth, letting her learn him, taking his time, moving ever so slowly.
Mirana, who had never before been kissed, hung there in his arms, relaxed as she could be with her blood crashing through her body, her hands on his shoulders, not understanding what all this was about, this strange concoction of feelings that were rioting in her belly.
He said against her lips, a??Kiss me, Mirana.
Ita??s only right that you do so. You are now my wife, before the gods and before our people, who are finally yelling their throats raw.a??
a??I dona??t know what to do,a?? she said, her breath warm against his mouth.
a??Open your mouth and I will show you.a??
She did. His tongue slid between her lips. She gasped, wriggled unconsciously, much to the uproarious delight of all their people.
a??He already makes her wild. Rorik wona??t contain his seed until the night falls!a??
This was from Aslak, the only one of Rorika??s men who truly approved his mastera??s choice, for hea??d lived at Clontarf for nearly six months and seen Mirana as she was.
He quite liked her, save for her skill with weapons.
That, as it should be for any reasonable man, was a bit frightening, for females were unpredictable at the best of times.
a??She wriggled like a happy little stoat, she did. Did you see her bottom?a??
a??Rorik will make her scream with pleasure and all of us will be awake to hear it.a??
a??No longer will he be a sullen bear in the mornings, envying us the moans wrung out of us by our wives. Not with her beside him, ready and eager to make him smile.a??
Their jests and laughter finally pierced Rorika??s brain.
Reluctantly, he eased Mirana down the front of his body until she was standing once again on the ground.
He started to release her, realized dimly that she wasna??t standing on her own, and leaned down to say in her ear, a??Mirana, sweeting, we must wait.
Come now, and we will let them jest with us and give us impertinent advice.
They will drink themselves silly and soon we will be free of their attentions.a??
She was breathing hard. It was very strange, this difficulty she was having drawing air in and out of her body.
And her heart was pounding as if shea??d run farther than her body wished to.
Her skin felt hot, particularly where his fingers were touching her bare flesh.
All of this from a man who was more a stranger than not, and yet shea??d just enjoyed having him kiss her, enjoyed having him hold her, enjoyed the strength in his arms and his body pressed hard against hers, and knowing he wouldna??t drop her.
Ah, more than enjoyment, more than the growing insanity, shea??d wanted something that was still a mystery, a deep incredible mystery, a mystery she knew was there, waiting for her, to be granted to her by him.
a??Rorik?a??
a??Aye?a??
a??I dona??t understand. Give me another moment, please. I feel quite odd.a??
He looked like a man who was immensely pleased with himself. His blue eyes were gleaming brighter than the sky. He stood tall and straight, the lord of his domain, and said loudly, a??I will give you whatever you wish.a??
Hafter, who had heard their words, hooted with laughter. He turned to Entti, who was looking at him as though he were naught more than a slug to be ground under her foot. a??Hear you that, girl? Rorik is so besotted with her that he offers her anything she wants.a??
a??Well, you needna??t worry, conceited oaf, you are quite safe, for never will she want you.a??
Hafter narrowed his eyes, riled instantly at the mocking in her voicea??her very intelligent voice.
a??I hope she wona??t want me, for I plan to be very busy with you in my bed.
I will keep you to myself for a while. Hear you!
a?? he shouted, turning to the men. a??This wench is mine. You will have to wait!a??
Entti spat at him. Right in the eye.
Hafter, normally a man of good sense and fine humor, yowled.
This girl, this slave, this vicious witch hea??d always treated well and kindly, even patted absently, had spat on him.
He grabbed her arms and jerked her up against him and shook her hard until her head snapped back.
a??Damn you, Entti, Ia??ve held you in my arms and given you more pleasure than you deserve! a??
a??Pleasure, ha! Youa??re naught but an animal, a filthy selfish beast who cares only for himself. You pass me around as you would a platter of boar steaks! Take yourself to the Christiana??s hell, wretched bastard.a??
He paused. He frowned down at her. a??Do you really think I am selfish?a??
a??All men are alike, all of you selfish goats.a??
a??Ia??m not. Surely I gave you pleasure. Surely you must agree with me. And you said I was filthy. No Viking is filthy. I bathe each day in the bathing hut. Yet you must say that I am filthy. What mean you?a??
a??Let me go, Hafter. You speak a mana??s nonsense.a??
a??Not until you answer me. You are a slave. You will show me obeisance and respect. You will answer me, you willa??a??