Enslaved by the Viking: A Medieval Short Story Read Free

protect my people. Now, I must prepare for my wedding.” First she had to dig up the herbs from beneath the fairy tree. While she was there it wouldn’t hurt to tie a ribbon and pray again for peace.

Chapter 3
    H is men made great merriment of tossing Konrad into the cool river and scrubbing the blood, dirt and sweat from his body and clothing in preparation of his wedding.
    Less than an hour later, he strode through the streets, stripped clean of his old life and ready to begin his new one. He only hoped his comely bride would not end it before it began by slipping a knife into his throat as he slept. He would have to convince her that their union would be one of mutual benefit and pleasure.
    His cock swelled at the promise of the pleasure. Yes, indeed, he would have the most beautiful, strong woman to be his bride and thus rule this land with the blessing of the people.
    From experience, Konrad knew nothing was ever quite that simple. Based on his sore jaw from where Brigid had slapped him, he concluded it would not be boring. With a grin, he met Brigid in the village commons where a large gathering of people awaited the wedding ceremony.
    Dressed in a deep green gown, her raven-black hair hanging long to her waist and a wreath of flowers crowning her head, Brigid stood in the middle of a group of women who brushed her hair and plucked at imaginary flecks of dirt.
    The hand fasting ceremony happened so quickly, Konrad barely recalled the words of the priest conducting it. All he knew was that once it was done they would convene in the great hall for the feast and before the sun set, he and his bride would consummate their marriage.
    Would the day never end?
    His men sat at the head table laughing, drinking and toasting Konrad and his bride.
    Brigid sat beside him, her head held high. She drank not a drop, nor did she eat. She stared straight ahead, watching over the women in her charge, her eyes narrowing when one of Konrad’s men became too amorous with the serving women.
    After many toasts and much food had been consumed, Konrad turned to his wife. “Wife, it is time.”
    She nodded, her face stripped of emotion.
    Konrad had a huge task ahead of him to woo the beautiful Brigid over to his camp. All he needed was to be alone with her for the night to lay siege on her heart.

Chapter 4
    C aitlinn and three other women led Brigid out of the great hall and into the master’s chamber where they stripped her of her clothing and helped her into the bed.
    She allowed them to do this, but asked that they bring in food and drink for she expected her husband would be hungry and thirsty through the night.
    The women giggled and hurried away to her bidding. Caitlinn stayed. “If you are unhappy with your husband, I will help you to escape.”
    Brigid shook her head. “This is my path to secure our future.”
    She had her own way of dealing with the men that would use a woman like a mat and wipe their feet on her. Beneath the mattress lay the bag of herbs she’d unearthed from beneath the fairy tree. Once she and her new husband were left alone, she’d offer him a beverage laced with the sleeping herb. Then she would plot his demise and her liberation.

Chapter 5
    T horsten and five other men gave the ladies a few minutes head start before they hefted Konrad onto their shoulders and carried him up the stairs to the master chamber.
    “Do you need instruction on how to bed the lady?” Thorsten asked. “I would be happy to show you where to jab your sword.”
    “Perhaps she would prefer one of us to demonstrate the act first.” Another man pumped his hips to more laughter.
    There was much teasing and jostling before Konrad finally reached the master chamber. The men threw open the door and marched him in, dropped him on his feet and ripped the clothes off his body. Then they lifted him yet again, dumping him on the bed already occupied by Brigid.
    She lay with the furs fully covering her body, only her creamy white shoulders