22 #2
a??Ha,a?? said Old Alna, a??Sculla is out doubtless hitting his head against a low-lying oak branch, that, or polishing one of his weapons. a??Tis all the man thinks ofa??his weapons.a??
a??He thinks about me when he is angered,a?? Amma said, and smiled. a??I have the skill to make him angry quite often now. Nay, he spends little time on his axes and knives when I am close to him, goading him to anger and to pleasure.a??
a??Ah,a?? said Erna, tears filling her eyes. a??How I wish Asta were here. Cana??t you just hear how she would tease Hafter? How she would laugh and hit him on the arm? And tease him until his eyes crossed?a??
a??Aye, I can hear her,a?? Mirana said, and wondered if Gurd had gone off by himself to grieve for his dead wife. She didna??t like him, but she felt a small portion of his grief.
a??At least you survived the bad food,a?? Old Alna said, a??though what it was I dona??t know.
Ia??ve thought and thought, but I cannot imagine how only you and Asta were struck.
Ah, it is too much for an old woman to bear.
Aye, wea??ll miss Asta, a fine treasure that one was.
I remember when she was born, came out of her mothera??s womb squalling louder than a Vikinga??s battle cry.
And then she gurgled, I swear to you, all were astonished.a??
a??Aye,a?? said Amma. a??And Ia??ll wager she made her mother laugh but moments after that.
I remember when she first met Gurd. She said he had the strongest arms of any man in the world.
She said she wondered about his temper, but then she just laughed and said that no man could resist a good jest and she would bring him many jests.a??
Utta said, a??Mirana, you are very pale. Should you not be in bed?a??
Mirana agreed and returned to the sleeping chamber. She lay there, wondering what Entti and Hafter were doing.
Hafter had found Entti at the dock, untying the mooring lines to one of the smaller longboats. He yelled at her, running full tilt toward her. She turned, then began to tug more frantically at the knots.
He caught her and twisted her about to face him.
a??What are you doing? Do you think yourself a man? Nay, a dozen men to row this damned boat? You are a fool, my girl. Now, I will follow Lord Rorika??s advice.a??
a??And what is that, pray?a??
a??That I tie your arms and legs and open you to me, and do whatever I want to with you.a??
She howled and sent her fist low in his belly.
Hafter felt the bolt of pain, but this time it was high enough so that he didna??t drop like a stone at her feet.
He drew back his fist and hit her jaw, not too hard, for he didna??t want to hurt her.
She crumbled against him. He liked the feel of her limp and soft against him.
It was different from the loudmouthed woman, all fists and meanness, that shea??d become.
When Entti awoke, she was in the barn and her wrists were tied above her head to a stake, her legs spread, ankles tied as well.
She stared up at Hafter, who was seated beside her, his legs crossed. He looked like a man who hadna??t a care in the world. He looked like a man who had gained what he wanted. He was whistling and chewing on a piece of straw.
He saw she was awake and gently felt her jaw. a??You are all right. Your jaw wona??t even be bruised. Well, perhaps just a bit, but that you deserve. I controlled my great strength with you since you are but a woman.a??
a??Untie me.a??
He shook his head and smiled. a??I am not a fool.a??
She pulled at the bonds but they didna??t loosen. She looked at him with murder in her eyes.
a??Ia??ll untie you,a?? he said, enjoying that look, and unfastened the knots of her tunic.
a??Now Ia??ll do more than untie you.a?? Then he calmly pulled her clothes off.
It didna??t take him long for she didna??t wear many clothes, not even a shift.
She didna??t have anything save rags, and it angered him immensely.
He would see that she was well garbed, just as soon as he convinced her to trust him, to cease playing her womana??s jests on him.
a??There,a?? he said, sat back again and looked at her as he would a platter of boar steaks. a??I have missed seeing you. You please me.a??
Entti stared up at this golden man who had helped sack and destroy her town, his skills and enthusiasm well suited for such an endeavor. He was staring down at her, not at her breasts or her belly, but into her face. He was silent, just looking down at her. Then he began to frown.
Finally, he said, a??What is wrong with you?a??
She said nothing, merely turned her face away.
a??Entti!a??
He grabbed her face between his palms and jerked her back. a??Dona??t you look away from me, damn you!a??
She closed her eyes.
a??All right, if this how you wish things to be between us I care not.a??
She heard him rise, heard the rustle of his clothing. She felt his body come down over hers, felt him hard against her, felt the hair of his chest rubbing against her skin, felt his hot breath on her cheek.
He moaned and moved over her. He kissed her ear, her jaw where he had struck her, her nose. a??Youa??re crying,a?? he said suddenly, rearing back. a??No, dona??t do that, Entti. You never cry. You are too mean to cry.a??
a??There is nothing else to do,a?? she whispered.
He cursed, then cursed again.