Chapter 23
Zarabeth hated the dim half-light. It was nearing midnight, and yet that strange spongy light kept the night darkness at bay.
She knew that regardless of darkness or light, Orm would come soon and he would rape her.
He had watched her, saying nothing, merely sat cross-legged beside the fire, watching her.
And Ingunn had watched him. As for Kol, he had vomited earlier, and now he slept.
Bein had simply dragged the other woman to her feet and pulled her into the trees.
When they had come back, Bein shoved her to the ground and threw a blanket at her.
Zarabeth wondered if the woman was all right.
She had never said a word, never acknowledged anyone elsea??s presence, merely done as she had been told, her head bowed, her shoulders bent.
She had no front teeth and her upper lip had sagged in, making her look older than she probably was.
Zarabeth had no idea where she had been captured.
Her gown was ragged, her feet bare, her hair tangled and matted to her head.
Zarabeth wanted to go to her, but to her astonishment, some minutes later the woman was sound asleep, snoring.
Zarabeth sat with her back against a pine tree.
She waited. Orm had fed her, but not enough, and he had known it wasna??t enough.
He was toying with her. Her stomach rumbled and cramped with hunger.
She needed to relieve herself, and finally, in desperation, she said softly, a??Ingunn, I must go into the forest for a moment.a??
Ingunn looked away from her. Orm said, a??I will take you, Zarabeth.a??
a??Nay, leave her be! I will go with her!a??
Orm grinned at Ingunn. a??If she wishes it badly enough, she can kill you, then she will have to deal only with me. Do you want that, Ingunn?a??
a??I want us to leave this place. I want us to go to the Danelaw and buy slaves and land and build a longhouse that surpasses my fathera??s. I want us to be wedded, Orm.a??
a??All that? You must know that I have already been to the Danelaw and purchased land. Good farmland near the Thurlow River.a??
Ingunn was obviously surprised. a??You already sailed to the Danelaw?a??
Bein said, a??Aye, and we traded furs and hides and some sea ivory from walrus tusks. We even sold some slaves anda??a??
a??Enough, Bein. Now, Ingunn, when we reach the Danelaw, we will buy more slaves. We already have two, and they are both fine, do you not agree?a??
a??Take the one over there for your mena??s lust, but leave Zarabeth here. Let her go. She will survive or she will die. I care not what happens to her now. Let us go, Orm, and be free of this land and of my father.a??
a??But you wanted me to avenge you. You begged me to sell this woman, for she had deceived Magnus and thwarted you. Your womana??s words confuse me.a??
Ingunn got to her feet. a??I will take her into the forest now. I too must have some privacy.a??
He shrugged, not moving when they left him.
a??He will rape me, Ingunn. You know he will. Do you want him to do that?a??
a??I wona??t listen to you. Hurry now or he will come.a??
a??Youa??re afraid of him. There is something wrong with him, Ingunn, surely you see it.a??
a??Hurry!a??
But he was there soon enough, watching as the two women straightened their gowns.
a??It is time for Zarabetha??s punishment. Should you like to watch, Ingunn?a??
a??You will beat her?a??
He shook his head. He was smiling, that strange calm smile. His eyes glittered in the dim midnight light.
a??What will you do to her?a??
a??I will have Kol take her. Is that sufficient punishment?a??
a??Kol is ill from the blow she gave him.a??
a??Ah, then Bein.a??
a??He cannot. He raped the other slave. He is old and has not sufficient powers.a??
a??Then I am the only one left. She really must be punished. Go back to the camp, Ingunn. I will bring Zarabeth back when I am done with her.a??
Magnus knew they were close, but not close enough.
Already Orm and his party would be boarding his vessel.
Perhaps they were pulling on the oars this very minute.
Perhaps they were already sailing due south to Hedeby.
He closed his eyes against the pain of losing her.
So much loss. Too much. Where would Orm take her?
Magnus knew he hadna??t protected her as he had pledged to when he made his vow to her.
a??By Thor, I dona??t believe it!a??
Magnus turned at Einesa??s shout.
a??Come here, Magnus, look! Theya??re close, very close, not more than three hours ahead of us. Look at these tracks! Is the man a fool?a??
a??Aye,a?? Ragnar said. a??A stupid fool. Does he not care that someone could be following him? Does he think you a coward? Has he lost all his wits?a??
Magnus felt fierce purpose fill him.
Ragnar said quietly behind him, a??Ingunn is with them.a??
a??Aye, I know. Our horses are blown. Let them rest, but no longer than an hour.a??
They were all exhausted, their muscles cramped and stiff, but not one of them complained. They hunkered down and ate dried beef and hard flat bread.
a??What will you do with Ingunn?a?? Ragnar asked as he chewed the tough beef.
a??I will give her back to my father. It will be up to him to decide what is to be done with her.a??
Ragnar looked at him, and his voice was firm and strong. a??I will take her, Magnus, if your father agrees to it. I will beat her, doubt it not, if she behaves churlishly. I can control her.a??
Magnus smiled at his friend. a??I believe you are the one who has lost his wits, Ragnar.a??
Zarabeth faced Orm from a distance of six feet. Her gown was tattered and filthy. Her hair was matted and tangled down her back. She felt exposed and more afraid than she ever had in her life. Ingunn was walking away, her head lowered.
a??Ingunn, no! Do not leave!a??
She paused but did not turn back.
a??I am not an ill-looking brute, Zarabeth. Why do you not want me?a??
She looked at him then and saw the honest puzzlement on his face. She very nearly laughed. His eyes were calm as his voice. There was no madness in him yet. Still, he terrified her. He unbuckled the wide leather belt at his waist, all the while watching her.
a??If you rape me I will kill you.a??
He smiled. a??You are a woman. You speak nonsense, yet I do not like to be threatened by you, Zarabeth. If you dona??t wish to feel my belt against your back, keep your tongue in your mouth.a?? He raised the wide belt with the sword still deep in its scabbard.
She kept her eyes on his face and repeated, a??If you rape me I will kill you. You will have to kill me first to protect yourself, for I swear it to my Christian God and to your Viking gods as well.a??
He was on her before she could move. He slapped her hard. She staggered against a tree, lurched forward, and slumped down to her knees. He stood over her, looking down at her, rubbing his hands together.
She pushed her hair from her face. Her breathing was harsh; her cheek felt raw. She should simply let him take her. She shouldna??t struggle against him. She should endure.
But something deep inside her rebelled. She didna??t want to be passive; she didna??t want to submit. She didna??t want to force herself to endure, to silently suffer whatever he would mete out to her.
She raised her face then and said, a??If I do not kill you, Magnus will.a??
He raised his hand again, fisted it, then very slowly lowered it back to his side.
a??I am as brave as Magnus but far more daring, as you know yourself.
I am as strong as Magnus. As boys one of us would always win in wrestling and weight lifting.
But he took one path, doing what his father demanded of him, wedding with that silly girl his family had selected for him, taking his grandfathera??s homestead, Malek, becoming naught but a farmer and a trader, whereas I .
. . I wanted to . . .a?? He frowned as if waiting for the words to come into his mind.
He was silent for many moments; then he shrugged.
a??I have known more women than Magnus. I would pleasure you more than he does.
You come from the Danelaw. I will return you there, to your home, and you will live well with me and not know any want.
There is no reason for you to fight me.a??
a??There is every reason. Magnus is my husband. He is kind and loyal and he loves me.a??
a??He has deceived you, you stupid bitch.
And those are words one would say of onea??s father.
They are not the words a woman should say of a man who gave her passion.
Kind? He is weak and looks not to himself to take what he wants.
Loyal? Aye, Magnus is loyal, for his brothers would kill him were he not.
He is part of them, not a man separate.a?? He saw that his words were having no effect.
It infuriated him, but still he smiled, saying easily, a??Like me, Magnus enjoys a variety of women.
He will not hesitate to take them in front of your nose, be you wife or no.
Did he not take Cyra with you there, watching?
Did he not mock you with her presence?a??
a??I thought you said you knew more women than Magnus.a??
His mouth tightened with irritation. a??Of course I do, a??tis just that Magnus will take whatever female lives at his farmstead. He never ventures away for a woman as I have done.a??
She whispered, a??Ingunn . . . do you not plan to wed her? Do you not plan to keep me as your slave?a??