Norse Valor (10 page)

“Damn it, David, it’s just me!” Vakr roared to be heard over
the screaming.

Soon they were joined by the others, many who were still
screaming.

“Enough!” Vakr yelled.

The dead silence that ensued was just as frightening. Svana
could barely breathe, then she looked left to right.

Kitta held a hand over her mouth to stay silent as ordered.

Vakr ushered everyone back to camp. All swords were drawn.
The warriors were twisting and turning in all directions to see where the
threat was coming from. The women and children were gathered in a tight circle
surrounded by the men.

“Who screamed?” Koli demanded. “Svana, was it you? Kitta,
you?”

“It wasn’t one of the women,” Vakr said disgustedly. “David,
what the hell is wrong with you?”

Svana looked at David, who was as pale as a ghost in the
firelight. It was apparent something had scared the crap out of him. Svana went
to him and put her arms around him.

“What is it, David? What did you see?” Svana asked him.

“I saw…” David swallowed hard.

“What, man?” Vakr demanded.

“I saw Hakon. His body was ripped to shreds by a wolf. He
had fought back, and he was covered in the creature’s fur. Hakon’s blood
was…all…over…him.”

David swayed back and forth while Svana struggled to keep
him upright. Then he vomited.

Chapter 8

With the discovery of Hakon’s body, the entire village was a
huge bustle of activity the next morning. Vakr demanded all the children remain
in the center of the camp with the older ones watching them. The warriors cut
massive logs and with the women’s help, a strong sturdy cabin was ready by
nightfall. It was a major community undertaking. It wasn’t finished, but all
would fit inside and stay safe from wolves.

Vakr stood on top of a long large wooden table to get
everyone’s attention.

People were asking questions.

“My wife is too distressed to stay in a new home alone and
so I would ask work on my hut not be started until last,” Baldr said.

Many joined in that opinion until voices became heated.

“No one is getting their own hut until the wolves are
removed and there is no more threat. I will not have my people picked off one
by one. Separated, we are vulnerable!” Vakr yelled.

“What does that mean, Vakr?” Ing asked.

“It means instead of huts, we are going to add additions to
this cabin and turn it into one huge home for us all,” Vakr explained.

People began conversing amongst themselves. The word privacy
came up often. Too noisy was another concern.
Who would be cooking for everyone? There were three hearths for warmth,
but would some families be expected to cook outside?
None of them had ever
lived more than two families together under one roof, three at the most. Now
Vakr was demanding the entire village live as one. Even the livestock was
penned near the back of the cabin. Things would begin to smell very soon.

“Svana,” Vakr called. He helped her to stand beside him.
“Svana has agreed to organize the women and children. Everyday tasks will be
divided. I know this is strange, but there will be women who wash clothing one
day while others care for the children and some cook and clean. With spring
here, Svana will organize gathering groups. Every household chore will be
shared so no one becomes burdened.”

“And what will the men be doing while we women do all the
work?” Auga asked, arms crossed. The woman was husbandless and the oldest in
the village. She had two daughters and neither girl’s husband wanted such an
opinionated woman around. Auga was bossy and headstrong, annoying…and Svana
adored her.

“Hold your tongue, old woman,” Ing snapped.

“Don’t sass me, boy. You’ll find yourself over my knee like
you did when you were little and your poor mother couldn’t control you,” Auga
snapped back.

Ing went beet-red.

“The men will be just as busy,” Vakr promised. “On top of
hunting for the wolves, we will need to protect the village and make certain
these cabin walls are sturdy. We will be adding a new room a day for the next
week, including a barn for the animals.”

“Barn?” Auga said.

“A home for our smelly four-legged friends,” Svana said with
a brilliant smile.

“They will not be housed with us?” Halla asked shyly.

Svana smiled at Ormr’s young quiet woman. The girl was
pressed closed to Ormr. It was obvious she adored the man even after such a short
time. Halla kept her waist-long blond hair loose and flowing because it pleased
Ormr. She was shoulder height to the man and when he wrapped his arm around
her, she seemed to meld with him.

“The animals need their own home,” Vakr said.

His look was gentle when he spoke to Halla; it was apparent
he didn’t want to frighten her.

“The women can take turns milking and feeding the animals
and collecting the eggs.”

“Wait,” Auga said, eyes raised. “Does this mean if we share
cooking as well, everyone will be eating the same things?” There was excitement
in her voice. All knew why. Sometimes the single men or women found themselves
begging a meal from a relative.

“Yes,” Svana replied. “That’s why these long tables were
made. At dinner they can be pulled away from the walls and we can eat together
as a family.”

Nods and smiles of appreciation were now all around the
room. Everyone could see some benefit to their current situation. Perhaps it
wouldn’t be entirely bad after all.

“Where will we sleep?” Ing asked.

“Inside,” Vakr replied. “If it’s privacy you seek, pitch a
tent. For now, Svana has organized a meal for everyone and we will eat.”

Vakr leaped down from the table and assisted Svana. Huge
platters of mutton and whale were served as well as fresh fish caught that day.
Bread was passed around in wooden bowls. There was much laughter after a busy
day and a great deal of camaraderie.

Svana looked over and watched Sibba, Ari’s new woman, nibble
on a small piece of bread. Svana had a chance to talk to the woman. Sibba still
swore she had been attacked by a pack of wolves. Svana could see the poor
girl’s confusion. Sibba still struggled with the fact she had been raped and
not eaten. In truth, it made no sense to anyone, yet just looking at her they
knew she believed she spoke the truth.

Sibba had lost her entire family to the beasts. Her father
had been ripped apart and her mother, little sister and brother dragged off
into the dark. The village could only assume the people who were dragged away
were meant to feed the young pups who couldn’t hunt. The thought sent a shudder
through many. It would be a terrifying and painful way to die.

Svana watched as Sibba refused any meat Ari handed her. Her
eyes remained downcast. Sibba had told Svana that Ari was kind to her. He
hadn’t touched her except to offer his strong arms as a refuge when she cried.
Njall had taken to her immediately. Svana was glad of that, and she only hoped
Ari and the village could help the poor woman past her tragedy.

* * *
*

“Now?” Svana whispered.

Vakr was teasing one of her nipples. She shoved his hand
away but he put it back. Svana was fully clothed huddled under a large buffalo
fur. The hearths had been banked but everywhere she looked, oil burned in bowls
with wicks for extra light. In a corner, she could see the rise and fall of
Baldr’s hips under his furs while his wife moaned. Ormr had Halla riding on top
of him; her breasts were visible, until Ormr covered them with his huge hands.

“What’s wrong?” Vakr asked with some surprise.

“I don’t want chickens watching me. What makes you think I
want our neighbors to?” she said then gasped as he pinched her nipple harder.

“David doesn’t seem to mind,” Vakr said with a cheeky smile.

Svana went bright red when for a split second she saw
Kitta’s round shapely ass. The woman was all over her brother, also she
apparently could care less who saw her. With all the moaning and grunting going
on all around her, Svana was finding it hard to concentrate. She felt like she
was in the middle of a big orgy.

“Vakr,” Svana groaned when he settled himself over her.

“I have second watch and I’m too wound up to sleep. It’s
your duty as my woman to calm my nerves,” he whispered.

“Duty?” Svana squealed.

Vakr had her pants off and her legs spread. Svana cast her
glance around the room and saw Baldr watching them. Svana was mortified. Vakr
thrust his cock into her. Svana gripped his shoulders as he moved over her.
Baldr was grinning over at her. Svana looked away, but everywhere she looked it
seemed people were watching them and knew what they were doing. Vakr thumped
into her harder and Svana wrapped her legs around his waist. Not two feet from
her, Ing was up on an elbow staring and Svana just knew from his look he had a
good peek of her derrière. Svana twisted under Vakr to hide, with her eyes
squeezed shut. He accommodated her. Svana was on her belly now. Vakr pulled her
hips up and thrust into her again. She moaned and her fingers dug into the
softness beneath her.

Svana had her cheek pressed to the fur. She could see Ari
studying her when she ventured a quick peek.
Good God is everyone watching us?
Ari looked at her hungrily. His
big body seemed to be rocking and matching their motion. Svana was breathing
heavy. She felt like she was being screwed by three different men at the same
time. It was insane…and it was turning her on. The other men couldn’t touch
her, and all knew that. Svana lifted herself higher and cried out when Vakr
plunged deeper. He worked his hand under her breast and squeezed.

Svana saw Baldr lick his lips, then he pounced onto his wife
who yelped with his unexpected force. Soon Baldr and Vakr were moving in
rhythm. Svana knew Ari wouldn’t touch Sibba yet, since she was so traumatized.
But she could see his hand moving under the fur. Svana pinned her gaze onto
him. Vakr was wild now. His thrusts were brutal and she gasped and sobbed
wanting him harder. She mouthed the word,
Harder
.
Ari narrowed his eyes and Svana had a wicked thought of wanting him, too.

Vakr had her crushed to him with an arm around her waist.

Svana wasn’t normally a tease, but she could see Ari willing
her not to look away. He needed release. She moaned and licked her lips and
whimpered, “Faster.”

Vakr took her faster. Ari was moving his hand under the fur quicker.
Svana couldn’t hang on any longer, she came and cried out. She heard Vakr’s
controlled grunt. She saw Ari shudder. All three had found release. Svana gave
herself a shake. Never before had she done anything like that. She was
surprised with herself.

Vakr turned her over. He grinned at her then at Ari.

Svana went red.

“You should have said you were interested in a threesome,”
Vakr said.

“I’m not,” she said in her best prim-and-proper tone.

“Ari and I have taken many women together,” Vakr confided.
“Perhaps if you’re a good girl, just once I’ll let you indulge in a fantasy.”

Svana’s eyes were wide as saucers.

Vakr rolled over and soon enough he was snoring. Svana
looked over at Ari who was smiling widely at her. Svana swallowed hard.

Ari then rolled over and was soon still.

Svana gazed over at Baldr who winked at her.
Oh no you don’t!

“Keep me out of your fantasies,” Svana muttered . She curled
up to Vakr’s back and was soon sound asleep.

Chapter 9

“What kind of wolf shreds his prey but doesn’t eat it?”
Baldr asked in confusion.

Before they buried Hakon, each man wanted to have a good
look at his ravaged torso and throat.

“And what kind of wolf only bites a man’s face, throat and
guts but leaves no marks on his legs?” Ing asked.

“Hakon wasn’t killed where we found him,” David said grimly.

“What do you mean? How do you know?” Vakr asked.

“Look at the ground where we found his body. There was some
blood on his body, but there wasn’t enough for all the wounds,” David
explained. “No, he was killed somewhere else and bled out. Then he was carried
here, because there were no drag marks.”

“Carried?” Baldr asked, eyes wide. “Wolves can’t carry a
man.”

“Exactly,” David said.

Vakr rubbed his chin thoughtfully. David was right. There
had been no drag marks. They would have heard Hakon’s cries for help if he had
been that close to the village. He was brought back to be found.
A warning? By wild animals?
Goosebumps
dotted his arms. There was an old legend of wolf-men, werewolves he believed
his father called them. They were said to possess the strength of many men and
were crazed fighters in trancelike rages when they slaughtered.

“Ulfhednar,” Vakr whispered.

“Vakr, I don’t care what century it is, werewolves are
myths,” David said.

“A werewolf would explain why Sibba was raped. It was her
time of the month. Perhaps they thought her to be in heat,” Ari said.

“No, no…” David said.

“What if she is with child?” Ing said horrified. “She could
be carrying a werewolf cub. Its pack will come for it. It will change when the
moon is full and kill us all.”

There were nods of agreement and Vakr knew he had to stop
this before the poor woman was outcast. She would die if left to fend for
herself. Ari would wage war if they dare tried to harm his new woman. Vakr felt
she had suffered enough. Oddly enough it was David who came to the woman’s
rescue.

“Don’t be stupid,” David snapped scornfully. “Good Lord, if
you were from my home, I’d swear you were watching too much TV. There is no
such thing as werewolves. Or vampires.”

“What’s a vampire?” Ing whispered.

“A flying man-bat that sucks the blood from your neck,”
David said evilly. He stalked Ing who backed away slowly. “They have the power
of ten normal Viking warriors. More fierce than a berserker. It is said they
can only come out at night because the sun burns them. But it’s really because
they see in the dark making their victims more vulnerable. They could be two
inches from you in the pitch-black night and you would never see them coming.

“The only thing that can kill them is a wooden stake through
the heart. Which means you have to be in arm’s reach of them. They have long
fangs and yellow eyes that keep you from moving when you stare into them. But
the worst thing is they can take you into the sky and suck you dry then let
your poor body spiral to the ground where it lands with a loud,
bang
!”

Ing jumped in fear when David shouted the last word.

David laughed while the others chuckled nervously.

Vakr shook his head and studied Hakon’s body. Slash marks of
a wolf were across his chest. They weren’t too deep. On closer inspection Vakr
saw something odd.

“Look,” he said.

The others moved closer.

“This cut wasn’t from a claw. It’s a puncture or stab wound
made from a knife. It’s far deeper than all the others and not as jagged. The
slashes from the claws almost cover it but not quite. Hakon was mauled all
right, but he was killed by a stab wound.”

“What kind of wolf carries a knife?” Ing asked.

“Do werewolves carry weapons?” Baldr asked and swallowed
hard.

“Something very odd is going on here,” Vakr said.

“Sibba swears her people were attacked by wolves and I
believe her,” Ari said.

“So do I,” Vakr mussed. “I think it’s high time we went
hunting, men.”

Nods of agreement were prominent.

* * *
*

“Do not leave the cabin for any reason,” Vakr reminded Svana
again.

It had taken two days to build a sturdy log structure
attached to the cabin for a bathroom. David had designed it. A long wood
structure void of windows led like a tunnel to the large cabin—‘outhouse’,
David had named it. It was attached to the main cabin by a tunnel. The tunnel
ran about fifteen feet with a door at either end keeping the odors of the
outhouse as contained as possible from the main cabin. The outhouse was without
windows but had numerous slits high on the walls where an arrow could be
launched if under attack. These were only reachable by standing on the wooden
benches inside. Vakr wanted no chance he would be shot from outside while he
sat with his pants down on the constructed bench toilets in the outhouse cabin.
They would also be handy for ventilation. This way they only needed to venture
down the tunnel that had been dug into the ground like a trench. There was a a
solid door into the waste cabin. There were three ‘toilet seats,’ another of
David’s words. They sat with lids on benches where the ground beneath had been
dug deep. They used the extra dirt outside against the bottom of the walls.

The structure as well as the tunnel was low in the ground.
The heavy beams were then lashed to one another to build the high walls and
solid vaulted ceiling. Vakr reasoned a wolf may not be able to climb, but they
could dig their way in. It would take forever for even a determined wolf to dig
four feet into the hard earth. Every morning and every night, a patrol studied
the earth to see if anything had attempted to breach the walls. So far there
was nothing.

“I won’t go out. You’ve built Utopia indoors,” Svana said.

“You have enough water for three days and enough to eat to
last awhile. We should be back before anyone needs to leave,” Vakr said.

Every available container had been filled from a stream not
far from the cabin. The chickens were once more laying eggs after being
unsettled. A cow had been slaughtered then quartered to turn in the hearths.
The women were busy making cheese and sourdough bread. The children were happy
with their bellies full from applesauce. The other village had been well
stocked. Vakr was confident his people would be safe without him with the men
he would leave behind for protection.

“Please be careful.”

Vakr cupped her chin and kissed her hard. Her long auburn
hair was flowing loose down her back the way he liked. She always seemed so
small next to him, but he knew what she lacked in size she made up for in
determination. She was strong and strong-willed.

“Don’t let Auga boss you around,” Vakr joked.

“We’ll all be fine. After all, we have David here.”

Vakr rolled his eyes. David was growing in skill with a
sword and Vakr was pleased, but he still screamed like ten cats in heat and fainted
at the sight of blood. As a hunter, he was useless—he cried when he killed his
first rabbit. There was something oddly disturbing about a grown man wailing
about a ‘poor wittle bunny wabbit’. Vakr not only wanted him out from
underfoot, but he wanted him close to his sister. Vakr remembered the other
night when Ari and Baldr and for a moment even Ing had watched Vakr and Svana
have sex. Vakr couldn’t blame the men for wanting Svana. She was an animal in
the furs. But she was
his
little
tigress.

Vakr gathered his men and they ventured into the forest. It
was early dawn and a heavy mist still hung in the air. Their group numbered
fifteen. All were heavily armed. A few were wary. Vakr’s men were mighty
warriors, but the thought of werewolves could unnerve even the strongest of
men. They moved with caution.

The sun began to rise higher in the sky the farther they
ventured and the men were feeling less worried, until they came to an overgrown
section of forest. The tall trees obscured a great deal of the sunlight, making
their surroundings more like dusk. The area was strange. Vakr could feel the
fine hairs on the back of his neck rise indicating pending danger.

“Vakr, do you hear that?” Ari asked.

“I don’t hear anything,” Vakr replied.

“That’s what I mean, there’s no sound at all. Not a bird
call, no animal sounds, no wind, nothing,” Ari said.

Vakr was about to respond when something caught his
attention from the corner of his eye. Vakr drew his sword, so too did his men.

“What is it?” Baldr whispered.

“I thought I saw a blur of something, maybe fur,” Vakr said.

“There!” Ari cried out.

All spun about as another blur slipped through the trees.
Soon there were more blurs weaving around the dense brush. They were being
surrounded. Ari fired off an arrow and they heard a high-pitched yelp.
Answering calls from the beasts howled in every direction. Vakr could feel his
skin crawl. As each moment passed, the beasts crept closer. Ten, Vakr counted,
no twenty…they were everywhere and nowhere. They yipped and barked to one
another. At a sharp bark from the biggest wolf, obviously the alpha leader, a
wolf moved close then retreated. At another yip another dodged, snapped,
snarled and retreated, taunting them.

They’re talking to
each other.

“Get away!” Ing yelled. “I am not afraid of you.”

“No, Ing, wait!” Vakr shouted.

Ing bellowed out his lusty battle cry and launched himself
in the direction of a beast.

Ing was attacked by the pack.

Huge wolves the likes of which Vakr had never seen before
began slashing at Ing’s chest and throat. Ing screamed in agony. His sword was
bitten from his hand.

Vakr and the others raced forward but the pack dispersed
before they reached him.

Ing lay gasping and bloodied on the ground.

Vakr and Baldr helped him to his feet.

“I was bitten,” Ing howled. “I’ll be a werewolf by sunset.”

“Get a hold of yourself, man,” Vakr chided.

“They were man-wolves,” Ing cried out.

“I wounded one,” Ari said.

Ari had moved off a ways. Vakr and the others joined him.
Blood was on the ground, as well as Ari’s arrow.

“What do we do?” Baldr asked.

Vakr narrowed his eyes and looked into the distance. The
wolves were gone. “If they can bleed, they can die,” he said grimly. “For now
we need to take Ing back home.”

* * *
*

When they returned later in the evening, it was apparent
something else had occurred. Vakr went to Svana who was washing the face of a
young woman. The woman was deathly pale, and wasn’t moving, just starring off
into space.

“What happened?” Vakr asked.

“She went outside for a tryst with one of the young men,”
Svana whispered, then got up and pulled Vakr aside. “She said she and the boy
only wanted a few moments of privacy. They were jumped from behind. Vakr, I
don’t really know what happened next. She was so hysterical when she stumbled
back into the cabin. We had no idea she and the young man had even left. She
swears they were attacked by creatures. Huge man-wolves. The young man is gone.
She said they ripped him apart. When they were done, they raped her. Like they
did Sibba. Vakr, what’s going on? Animals don’t rape people.”

Vakr looked into her panicked eyes. All of his people were
frightened. Ing howling he was attacked by werewolves wasn’t helping matters.

Thankfully, Auga had a remedy that put him to sleep and he
was quiet while she tended his wounds.

All around him everyone was subdued. All were looking to him
for guidance. Vakr jumped up onto one of the tabletops.

“From now on when I say no one leaves, I
mean
no one leaves.” With sympathy,
Vakr’s eyes settled onto a weeping woman and her sorrow-filled husband. The
slaughtered young man had been their son and only child.

“We are prisoners in our own home! We should go back to our
old village where it’s safe!” a man shouted.

“And starve?” Auga asked.

“Better to starve than be slaughtered like sheep one-by-one!”
he shouted back.

“We will not starve and we will not go back!” Vakr yelled.
His gaze traveled over each person. “This is wolf territory and the beasts are
going out of their way to frighten us off. I say we stay and make it our
territory. Our warriors are strong and many. What we need to do is learn the
area, where the beast’s lair is and then attack them.”

“But we are attacked when we go out. What will we do?”

Vakr grinned. Beside him lay a huge fur. Vakr draped it
around himself. “If they can be man-wolves, we will be man-bears. When next we
go into the forest, it will be as warrior beasts. And it will be at dusk. I am
guessing those wolves have never seen a buffalo either, and in the dark of
night all they will encounter is a massive shaggy beast.
The prey is now the predator
!”