Viking Warrior Read Free Page B

appeared before her, holding a broom in her hand. She shoved it at Reyna. “Make yourself useful. The hearth needs sweeping.”
    Gritting her teeth, Reyna took the broom and headed to the hearth. Though her stomach was growling hungrily, no one had offered her food. Were they going to starve her? The cauldron bubbling over the hearth on a tripod gave off a delicious aroma, making her mouth water. Spying some crockery bowls, eating utensils and a loaf of bread on a nearby shelf, Reyna decided to help herself.
    Setting the broom against the hearth, she cut a generous slice of bread, ladled out a portion of stew from the cauldron and dipped a hunk of bread into it. She dipped and ate with gusto, until Uma spied her and let out a shriek.
    “What are you doing?”
    “I am eating. I have put nothing in my stomach since yesterday. This is wonderful. You are a good cook, Uma.”
    Uma grabbed the bowl and tried to pull it out of Reyna’s hands. “You cannot eat without permission! You must wait for mealtime like the rest of us.”
    A tug of war began. At first Reyna refused to relinquish her food, but then she thought better of makinganother fuss and released her grip. Unprepared, Uma flew backward. The contents of the boiling hot stew splashed on her bare arm. Uma screamed, bringing Lorne and Wulf running for the second time that day.
    Reyna hadn’t wanted to hurt Uma; it had just happened. Now she knelt beside the thrall and picked up her arm to inspect the damage. The girl had suffered a superficial burn, painful but not life threatening unless it festered.
    “What’s happened now?” Wulf demanded as he helped Uma onto a bench.
    Before Reyna could answer, Uma wailed, “The witch threw hot stew at me. She wanted to kill me. Sell her, master, before she kills us all.”
    “I did no such thing,” Reyna scoffed. “I was famished and merely helped myself to the stew simmering over the hearth. I hadn’t eaten since yesterday and no one thought to ask if I was hungry.”
    She paused, glaring up at Wulf. “Uma tried to tug the bowl out of my hands. I didn’t want to cause trouble so I released my hold. The stew was hot. What you see is the result of Uma’s clumsiness.”
    “Is that true, Uma?” Wulf asked.
    “No,” Uma denied tearfully, “the witch lies. She threw the bowl of stew at me.”
    Wulf turned to Lorne. “Did you see what happened, Lorne?”
    Lorne hung his head, stammered a bit and then said, “Reyna lies. It happened just as Uma said.”
    “I do not lie!” Reyna vehemently protested. “Your thralls do not like me.”
    Wulf sent her a heated look. “We’ll settle this later. First I must determine how badly Uma is hurt.”
    Reyna grasped Uma’s arm and inspected the burn.
    “The burn is not serious, Wulf the Ruthless. Fetch your medicinal chest.”
    “Lorne, go to my brother’s hall and fetch the medicinal chest.” The young thrall took off. To Reyna, he said, “Can you treat the burn?”
    “Aye, it will be fine. I hope your mother keeps the chest well stocked.”
    Wulf sighed. “My aunt was the healer in the family. She died in the raid along with my wife. My mother isn’t much of a healer so I cannot attest to the contents of the chest.”
    Lorne returned with the medicinal chest and placed it on the bench beside Uma. Reyna opened it and frowned. The herbal preparations inside were not as adequate as she had hoped. Searching among the neatly labeled jars and vials, she found the preparation she was looking for, opened it and sniffed the contents.
    “Is something wrong?” Wulf asked.
    “This salve will do, though it is not fresh.” Cradling Uma’s arm, she began slathering a thick coating of salve over the burn.
    Apparently Uma didn’t appreciate Reyna’s efforts. “She is trying to kill me. Stop her, master.”
    “Are you sure you know what you’re doing, Reyna?” Wulf asked.
    Reyna sent him an affronted look. “I am a healer. Of course I know what I am doing. Tomorrow I will