Chapter 22 #3
Magnus turned to Ragnar then, saying in a low voice, a??I know that you dislike her.
But your reason is a paltry one, Ragnar.
She took advantage of you, aye, that wasna??t well done of her, for you had come to pity her and mayhap even trust her a little, but attend me.
She was terrified for Lotti. She could think only of saving her little sister.
Rid yourself of your dislike of her, else I must rid myself of a man I have held as a brother for many years.a??
Ragnara??s face was frozen.
a??Would you not have done the same thing were your sister in danger? You would have killed, would you not, without thought? She did not want to hurt you, only escape you.a??
a??She is a woman.a??
Magnus laughed at that. a??Aye, she is, and she is my wife now. Make your peace with her.a??
a??I do not believe we will find her so that I can make peace, Magnus.a?? He turned now and placed both hands on his frienda??s shoulders. a??You said it yourself: Orm will reach his vessel before we can catch up to him.a??
Magnus shrugged him off. a??Let us ride.a??
But he knew that they should turn back and finish the repairs on the Sea Winda??s steering oar. But something made him kick Thorgell in the sides. He would ride to the edge of the fjord before he gave it up.
The horses were blowing hard when finally Magnus called a halt. There were six of them, all tough men, all seasoned warriors, armed and ready to fight. By Thor, he wanted Orm. He wanted to kill him. He cared not that Ingolfsson had a prior claim. Orm had taken Zarabeth.
He raised his eyes to the darkened sky. Thick gray clouds floated past the half-moon.
It was quiet, so very quiet, and his thoughts were screams inside his head.
His son, Lotti, and now Zarabeth. Had he sinned so grievously?
Which gods had he so offended? No, he wouldna??t believe that Zarabeth was dead.
He wouldna??t believe that Orm would reach his vessel first.
Zarabeth didna??t look back. She focused on the line of pine trees across the meadow.
She ran until the stitch in her side was so bad she was holding her arms around herself.
But she didna??t stop. It was a twisted dead branch that tripped her, and she went flying.
The grass was tall here, and it softened her fall.
She lay on her face, not moving, feeling the roiling pain through her chest as she tried to breathe. Then she heard the pounding of horsesa?? hooves. Closer and closer. She pressed her cheek to the grass, and the pounding was louder and the earth was shaking beneath her face.
a??By Thor, she is hurt!a??
It was Orm. She lurched up and tried to run, but she stumbled again, and would have fallen except Orm leaned off his horse and jerked her up around the waist. He held her against his side until he had ridden out of the tall grass. He set her down then. He didna??t move, merely looked down at her.
a??Why did you try to escape me, Zarabeth? I told you that you should not try. Now I have no choice. I will have to punish you.a??
She raised her head then. His face was as calm as his voice, but his eyes had darkened. They were glittering in the bright sunlight, and there was a wildness in them that stilled her tongue. She stood there saying nothing.
a??Answer me, Zarabeth.a??
a??I want to go home. I want to return to Magnus.a??
He laughed. a??When we reach York I will have another slave collar put about your white neck. Come here.a??
He carried her back to camp. His arms around her were gentle. He said nothing. She was afraid to face him. She feared she would see the madness in his eyes.
A fire was burning sluggishly. The smell of roasting pheasant was strong.
Kol was sitting there on a log, holding his head in his hands.
He looked up at her and she knew he would kill her if he had the chance.
Ingunn was pale with rage. The other woman, Zarabeth realized now, had been beaten.
She was bent, her eyes reddened from crying. She was in obvious pain.
a??You found her,a?? Ingunn said, her voice flat.
a??Aye, certainly. She is a woman and she was on foot. What would you have me do to punish her, Ingunn? A slave attempting to escape. Ita??s a severe crime.a??
a??Let her work until she falls over.a??
a??That is not enough,a?? Orm said. a??Look at poor Kol. She brought him low, and his head will pound for days to come. Nay, her punishment must be something she will not soon forget.a??
a??Flog her, then, I care not.a??
a??Her flesh is so very white. I dislike the thought of marking her. Did you beat her, Ingunn?a??
a??Aye, I did.a??
a??Did you mark her?a??
a??I dona??t know, for Magnus tended her.a??
a??There are other things I should prefer doing to her.a??
Ingunn nodded toward the other woman. a??Like the things you did to her?a??
Zarabeth realized then that the other slave, that older woman who was thin and bent, her hair straggling down her back, had not been beaten. Orm had savaged her. He had raped her.
a??Nay, Ingunn, I should do different things to Zarabeth. I shouldna??t want her to cry as much as that hag did.a??
Kol spoke up then. a??We must leave, Orm. There is no time to punish the woman now. Magnus Haraldsson will come for her, I know, for I know his reputation.a??
Bein said, grinning, a??I would like to punish her as well, Orm.a??
a??You shana??t take her, Orm! We will leave!a?? Ingunn was on her feet, shouting.
Suddenly Orm turned and backhanded her, sending her sprawling dangerously close to the fire. She cried out, scrambling away from the heat.
Orm merely rubbed his palms together. He was smiling, and again there was that glittering in his eyes, darkening them, but his expression was calm and his voice was even genial.
a??Do not tell me what I will or will not do again, Ingunn.
Next time it will not go so easily with you.
Now, I am hungry. Feed me and feed our poor slave here.
After all her efforts, she must be in need of Beina??s pheasant.a??