Viking Warrior Read Free Page A

her instantly and stepped away.
    “Never raise your hand to me again,” he warned. “Though your family may not have killed my wife, yourpeople did.” He raked her with a scornful look. “I would take you to my bed if I wanted you, but you do not appeal to me.”
    Wulf was lying through his teeth. He hadn’t had a woman in a long time, and bedding Reyna would not prove difficult. Hagar had urged him countless times to buy a bed slave and even advised him to bed Uma, who was both young and attractive. Though Wulf had thought about it, he had yet to act upon Hagar’s suggestion.
    Wulf scarcely recalled the days after the raid on Reyna’s farmstead, for he had been mindless with grief, but one thing he did know: He had not raped Reyna. That deed had been accomplished by Rannulf, Olga’s brother. Wulf had a strong suspicion, however, that bedding Reyna would be no hardship for him, despite the fact that she was the enemy.
    Reyna breathed a sigh of relief as she was led off by Uma to a curtained cubical, where she was told to don the rough woolen tunic. She prayed her words had discouraged the Viking berserker from bedding her.
    Recalling the terrible day Wulf had carried her off, she distinctly remembered his blond hair, clean-shaven chin and iron helmet. He had taken her maidenhead, sold her, and then promptly forgotten her. She would never forgive him.
    Reyna removed her silver girdle and prepared to don the rough woolen garment over her silk tunic.
    “Remove the silk tunic first,” Uma ordered.
    “The rough wool will chafe my skin.”
    “You are a slave, and only the master can grant favors. He doesn’t appear inclined to do so. Give me your silk tunic.”
    “Admit it, you want it for yourself,” Reyna hissed.
    Reyna was too surprised to react as Uma reached outand ripped the fragile silk garment from her body. Aware that Uma was studying her naked form with pursed lips, Reyna slipped the woolen tunic over her head and belted it with the silver girdle. Then she followed Uma into the hall.
    Uma eyed the silver girdle enviously. She pointed to it and demanded, “Give me your girdle. It is too grand for you.”
    “No, you cannot have it.”
    “Obey me—I am in charge here. Give it to me now or I will tell the master to beat you.”
    “Go ahead. I won’t give up my girdle.”
    Reyna could tell that Uma was going to be neither friend nor ally. She acted as if she disliked Reyna on sight.
    Uma flew into a rage. Grabbing a broom leaning against the wall, she began beating Reyna with the handle. Taller and stronger than the Norman woman, Reyna wrested the broom from Uma’s hands and pushed her to the ground, looming over her like an avenging Valkyrie. Uma began wailing like a banshee, bringing both Lorne and Wulf running to her defense. Wulf tugged the broom from Reyna’s hands and tossed it aside.
    Lorne helped Uma to her feet. “What is going on here?” Wulf growled.
    “Your new thrall is vicious,” Uma wailed. “She turned on me for no reason.”
    Reyna pointed to the remains of the silk tunic Uma still clutched in her hands. “Uma tried to steal my possessions,” she shot back. “She took my silk tunic but I will not give up my girdle. Am I allowed nothing of my own?”
    Angry at Reyna, his brother and the world in general, Wulf yanked the girdle from Reyna’s hands. “You belong to me, as does everything you own.”
    “I need something to gather the excess material about my waist,” Reyna dared.
    “Come with me. Uma, return to your chores.”
    Glaring at Reyna, Uma obeyed Wulf without question as he led Reyna to the other end of the hall, where he removed a coil of rope from a cabinet. He measured out a length, cut it with his dagger and handed it to Reyna. “This should serve.” He watched while she tied the rope about her slim waist. Then he turned and disappeared inside a curtained alcove, taking the silver girdle with him.
    “Stubborn Viking,” she muttered as he walked away.
    Uma