Norse Valor (6 page)

“I am fearful there will be no hope for my little Joka,”
Baldr said sadly.

“Who is Joka, Vakr? And what is Baldr saying?” Svana asked.

“He fears for his youngest daughter. His mother says she
can’t keep the gruel down,” Vakr explained.

“Gee, I wonder why, blah,” David mumbled.

Vakr hadn’t noticed him before. David was standing near Ing
and Baldr. Baldr scowled at him and David gave him a brilliant smile. Vakr
would have to make sure the men became friends otherwise there would be too
much fighting. They would need to learn to hunt together. That meant they would
need to learn to trust one another.

“Tell Baldr I’ll heat some of the pemmican. It’s
concentrated for high energy. If it’s only malnutrition the child suffers from,
this should help,” Svana said.

Vakr relayed her message. Baldr looked relieved. Then upset.
“My wife needs to know how to cook this.”

“I’ll teach her. It can be eaten in the small round cakes
it’s in but perhaps it would be best warmed in this cold,” Svana said.

Vakr translated.

“And what is it you want in return?” Baldr asked uneasily.

“No more fighting with my brother. Also I want help with
your language,” Svana said.

Vakr chuckled while he explained her demands. Baldr looked
over at David. David looked back with a grimace.

“If he hugs me, I’ll kick his leg again,” David grouched.

“What of the rest of the load?” Ing asked. “There are other
things in baskets we have no knowledge of.”

“I took Svana for a tour. She seemed to know everything down
there. I’m certain she will know of their uses,” Vakr said. “She also knew the
strange spices we were given.”

“Spices?” Ing asked.

“Yes it would appear the odd grass isn’t odd grass,” Vakr
said.

“Are you done with your little meeting?” David complained.
“My nipples are so damned cold I feel like I could be used in a beer
commercial.”

Vakr’s eyes rose and Svana smiled. Vakr had no idea what a
commercial was, but he could see Svana shivering.

“Bring your porridge pots to my home and Svana will show you
how to make dinner for your families. Tonight no one goes to bed hungry!” Vakr
yelled.

Cheers resounded all around him.

“Tomorrow we will plan a hunt. With your warriors returned,
I promise you not one more of our people will starve.”

Again cheers sounded. It appeared he had redeemed himself.
Smiling with renewed hope, Vakr jumped to the ground and assisted Svana. For a
moment, he held her in his arms. He grinned down into her upturned face until
he noted her wet eyes. Svana was glancing around at the people as they
dispersed. Perhaps sixty in all, a few more or less. She absently fingered the
material of the leather outfit she now wore. The dress she wore on his vessel
had been beautiful, but far from practical in the biting cold. She had thanked Ari
for its use and given it back to him for his wife. Now Ari had no wife and Vakr
could see her eyes following his friend as he took his son inside. For a
fleeting moment, Svana’s eyes fled to each individual hut. Tendrils of smoke
flittered about. Svana shivered and the corners of her lips tugged downward.
She was decidedly frightened of something. Vakr was concerned.

“Svana?”

“Where am I?” she whispered.

“You are with me, safe in my time. I swear on my life, I
will protect you from harm. There is nothing more sacred than Norse valor. ”

“I’m so far from home.”

“No, Svana. You are home. Can you believe it was a chance
meeting in the mist? You were given to me. My Gods have a reason for your being
here. Your knowledge will save us as much as the Natives will. You may not
believe this, but I am in love with you. The moment I touched your skin in the
water I knew you were mine. But after I saw you sleeping in the morning I was
positive.”

“How?” She looked bewildered.

Vakr lifted her hand and fondled her cold fingers. He lifted
the one with the silver ring. “I know this ring, Svana. I have seen it before.
It belonged to my great-aunt and was lost some time ago. The ring holds a
legend. The one who wears it will always find their way home to their loved
ones.”

Svana’s eyes widened in surprise and Vakr was grinning once
more. “That ring was given to me by my great-aunt. But how?” she muttered.

“You too have heard the legend?” he asked.

“Yes.” She was obviously astounded. “But David wears one,
too.”

Vakr pondered that thoughtfully. It could be that a twin
bond would keep brother and sister together. He cast a glance to David who was
surrounded by young women and some very disgruntled men. Vakr had no knowledge
of two rings—yet his great-aunt was a twin. He frowned when a warrior shoved
David. David shoved him back. Voices were raised. Vakr sighed.
So it begins already.
Svana began moving
toward the skirmish.

“Svana!” Vakr called.

She ignored him and raced for David.

Vakr moved quickly knowing Svana lost all fear when protecting
her brother. The warrior had drawn his sword.

“Koli! Do you think the woman will cook with the image of
her brother’s guts spilling to the ground?” Vakr snapped.

Koli’s face was red with rage. “He will keep away from my
younger sister.”

Vakr stood between Koli and Svana who was in front of David.
“Will you impale our hope for survival? You were not aboard our vessel. This
woman will fight to the death for her twin brother.” Vakr knew his words held
meaning. Twins in his village were a blessing.

Koli cast a quick glance at Svana who was also red with
rage. Her chest was heaving, her tiny fists balled. Koli was a large man, yet
Svana was fearless.

Vakr couldn’t help his small chuckle. The woman looked like
a tiger he had seen. A formidable creature to be certain. Pity any who would
threaten her young, as they would be twice dead.

Koli reluctantly sheathed his weapon. Vakr’s warriors were
honorable men; they wouldn’t kill a defenseless woman. Koli’s sister gave a
flirtatious grin to David before being hauled away.

Vakr shook his head. If Koli’s sister was interested,
neither David nor her brother stood a chance of getting in her way…or out of
it. The sooner David learned to use a weapon, the better.

Vakr shoved David toward his mother. His mother laughed and
dragged David in the direction of her hut. David would stay with her; he was
after all Vakr’s. From now on, David could help his mother around the hut when
Vakr was busy. He then took Svana by the hand and led her to a hut near his
mother’s.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

Vakr smiled at her. “I don’t reside with my mother. She went
earlier to make certain my fire was burning brightly and furs were down for our
bedding. It is time I showed you where you will live for the next few months.”

“But your people…their food,” she sputtered.

“My men have been gone a long time. Their wives will be busy
for a while yet. So will we.”

Svana’s eyes rose when he grinned down at her.

Chapter 4

It had been a long time since Vakr had stepped through his hut
door. He thanked the Gods for his mother when he noted everything was spotless
and airy. With trepidation he watched Svana move around the furniture. Her
steps were hesitant and to his dismay somewhat wary. The poor thing must be
feeling very alone. Vakr had traveled far in his days and had many interesting
items to show for his endeavors. Eagerly he displayed them for her, wanting to
show an obviously well-traveled woman he wasn’t a heathen. Her opinion meant a
great deal to him. Anxiously, he hovered.

Svana fingered a velvet cloth. It was simple, yet beautiful
with pearls stitched together to form a flower. Vakr had intended to give it to
his mother, but she had told him that one day he would meet a woman who would
appreciate his eye for beauty. Svana’s lips twitched with a tender smile. Her
hand traced a rug that lay atop his table; he hadn’t the heart to toss it on
the dirt ground. Svana roamed her way around his fire that burnt brightly
centered in the middle of his long hut. She gazed up at the hole in the roof.

Before Vakr had left, he had made his mother a hearth in her
hut. The concept was the same except the hearth was built upwards with stone
where the wall had once stood, whereas his own was more like an open fire pit.
His mother had claimed she wished they had styled the fire like the hearth he
had made her, when he was a small child. She only had to watch one section to
keep fingers from burning instead of all around the hut.

Svana strolled to the back of the hut where a penned-off
area stood void of animals. Her nose wrinkled and she looked concerned. That
made Vakr worry and he rushed forwards.

“Do not worry, soon it will be filled with animals,” he said.

“Huh?”

“When spring comes and we are able to raid a few distant
villages, I promise you there will be scores of animals to take care of.”

“Inside?” Her dark eyes widened.

“Well, in the winter months it is too cold for them to stay
outdoors.”

“Vakr, do you know what a barn is?”

“A barn? Your word is unfamiliar.”

“A stable, you know where people find a manger and hay and
straw…and the animals.”

Vakr could hear the sarcasm in her voice. For some reason
she was distressed his hut housed animals.
How
odd.
“You do not find this arrangement appealing?”

“You think?” she said, scowling. “I don’t want to be in the
furs doing the funky chicken with a real live chicken gawking at me from over
here.”

“Funky chicken?”

“Sex, Vakr!” she yelled.

“Why on earth would you be distressed to have an animal
watch you have sex? It’s not like they will be commenting later on technique.”

“I want you to build a barn,” Svana said.

Though her words were controlled he saw her jaw twitch with
irritation.

“When we move, I will build a barn near the house,” he
conceded.

“No animals in the house?”

“None, although a dog would be nice.”

“A dog is fine; a cat is fine, but no cows, sheep, chickens
or horses.”

Vakr opened his mouth to say something, but she practically
jumped down his throat.

“If you say goats or pigs, I’ll kick your ass,” she snapped
in warning.

Vakr clamped his jaw shut.

Svana moved to his pile of furs and sat cross-legged upon
them. Vakr walked over and crouched on his heels before her. Her head was
bowed. “Is it really so different where you come from?” Vakr asked.

“You have no idea.”

“Tell me.”

“What would be the point? You would have no grasp of
technology. Your men fight with swords and hunt with bows and arrows and
spears. You live with animals, no less. You have no planes…”

“Oh yes, I have seen vast plains,” Vakr interrupted, nodding
vigorously.

Svana blinked at him. She then muttered something
unintelligible before beginning again. “You have no phone; you have no
electricity or television. I’m sorry to sound so desolate, but I can’t help but
feel like a good whine.”

“I’m sorry, Svana, there is no wine.”

Svana dragged her hand down over her face and muttered a
string of more unintelligible words.

Oddly enough, Vakr thought her words could be mistaken for
expletives.

“Oh good God, you have no indoor plumbing!” she suddenly
cried out. “I need a shower. I smell funny. You smell funny. The eighth century
stinks, literally.”

She looked so lost sitting there. Vakr knew there was one
thing he could treat her to. “Come with me, Svana,” Vakr said and rose.

Vakr hauled her to her feet. He draped a buffalo hide over
her shoulders and took her outside. The snow had tapered off and the sun would
soon be setting in the distance. Vakr led her up a hill to a large hut that was
set not too far from the village. Once inside, he heard Svana gasp. The hut was
warmed naturally by the hot springs. A large pool was steaming before them and
lit torches burned in three corners of the hut. They were not alone. Vakr
scowled when Ari dragged himself out of the water. To Vakr’s dismay, he could
see Svana gaping at the huge man. Ari was nude, and his big body dripping wet.

Ari was one of Vakr’s best warriors; he was also a good
friend, normally. Vakr felt bad about his wife’s demise, but the way Ari’s eyes
were devouring Svana made Vakr’s hackles rise. Ari was built as impressively as
Vakr. Ari’s eyes were dark brown and his hair was black as a raven’s. He had
shaven off his beard. He was still a young man having been married at a young
age to a woman he had captured from a distant village. Like Vakr, Ari was in
his prime and formidable. Ari stood for a moment and allowed Svana to take a
good long look at him.

“We will come back,” Vakr growled.

Ari picked up his clothing. “I was just leaving. I had hoped
to be bathing with my wife, but that will no longer be the case. My son awaits
my return.” Ari dried quickly and tugged his clothing on.

“I am sorry for your loss,” Vakr said. He could see
something in Ari’s eyes that made him watchful.

Ari looked Svana over. “You may keep the dress; I have no
use for it.” His words were nothing short of a heated growl.

“Why don’t you just say what you really feel?” Vakr said.
For all Ari’s size and sometimes gruff disposition, the man was compassionate
and Vakr could see his raw emotion battling. His friend had a need to vent.

Ari scowled at him. His look was fierce and he didn’t blame
Svana when he heard her large intake of breath and she moved to stand behind
him. Ari’s fists were balled.

“We leave with great promises of wealth and I return to have
no one to share my life with. You forbid us to bring back slaves with your
compassion and half the women here are weak and starving. You on the other hand
have found yourself a woman. Someone to warm your bed and stroke your face,”
Ari raged.

“I did not kill your wife,” Vakr said quietly. “We couldn’t
have stopped the famine. We have no power over the weather. Perhaps we would
have made a difference, but what if we didn’t? There would only have been more
mouths to feed and we would have starved sooner. You are my friend, Ari. You
agreed to accompany me, as did all of the other men. I personally did not kill
Ing’s mother or make little Joka ill. Have you not grown tired of the whimpers
of a frightened woman who aches for her own home and her missed family?”

“Does Svana not ache for hers?” he demanded.

“Svana is different; there is no way to return her. She also
has her brother. I have sworn to her that I travel no more.”

“You are always traveling,” Ari snapped. “Even when you are
still, the ground moves beneath your feet; you have spent so much time on a
vessel.”

“I said I will travel no more. I gave Svana my word. Until
we move our village and rebuild, no one will go anywhere.”

Ari moved to stand only inches from Vakr. Both men were of
the same height. Svana was pressed up to Vakr’s back, trembling.

“If you leave Svana alone, I will claim her,” Ari threatened
or promised.

Vakr wasn’t altogether certain.

Vakr and Ari stared into one another’s eyes. Vakr could see
the threat. He could also see the moisture in his friend’s eyes. Ari had loved
his wife. Vakr placed his hand onto Ari’s shoulder in a gesture of
understanding. They stood motionless for a few moments before Ari pushed past
Vakr and left the hut.

“Vakr?” Svana whispered.

“He has given you the dress, sweetling.”

“It’s like he chewed on it in his mind first,” she muttered.

Vakr turned and pulled her into his embrace. “He is saddened
by his loss.”

Svana reached up to stroke his cheek. “You are sad, too.”

“Yes.”

Svana stepped back from him. Very slowly she began to
undress. Soon her high firm breasts were spilling from her garment. Long
fingers slid down her bare flesh as she exposed her flat belly then rounded
hips. The leather hit the ground with a small plop. She smiled so seductively
he felt his hard cock twitch. When she turned, he watched her behind sway as
she walked over to the steamy pool. Svana stepped down and groaned.

“Oh God, this feels so good.”

Vakr was panting as he shed his clothes in record time.
Svana’s gasps and squeals of delight made it sound like the water was
pleasuring her. When Vakr entered the water behind her, she turned and pressed
herself against him. Her fingers stroked his back and behind. Her delicate lips
kissed his chest. Vakr buried his hand into her long auburn hair and tilted her
face up to meet his gaze.

Svana trailed her fingers down the side of his face. Her
hand lowered and he quivered when she gripped his hard length. Back and forth
her hand slid. Vakr leaned down and captured her lips. He could fell her breath
in his mouth. He squeezed her behind and pulled her closer. When his eyes
opened to gaze upon her, he was treated to the tenderest expression. Vakr could
tell his sadness was shared.

“The village suffering is not your fault, Vakr. You are not
a God,” Svana whispered.

“Sometimes I think they expect me to be.”

“You can only give them what you expect from yourself. I see
already it’s too much. Be yourself; be a man. Let the Gods be Gods,” she
advised. Svana’s look became playful. “Show me how much man you can be.”

Vakr groaned when her grip on his cock tightened. Vakr lift
her up and settled her legs around his waist. He slid ever so gently into her.
Her body welcomed him and her back arched. She closed around him as he felt her
stretch to accept all of him. Her hands clutched around his neck. Hot warm
kisses were then trailed over his throat and jaw.

She whispered to him that she loved how he tasted. Their
loving was sweet, slow. Her back arched again when he thumped harder into her.
The motion created little waves in the pool. Swishing sounds filled the hut as
the water lapped at them both.

Svana’s fingers curled round his neck and into his hair.
Vakr pressed her back against the smooth stone keeping her immobile. Both of
his large arms wrapped around her back and waist. They rocked together. It was
sweet and wonderful and hot and fulfilling. Vakr thought it fitting to make
love. He wasn’t feeling sad anymore. From the way Svana was crying out his name,
he guessed she wasn’t either. For the first time in his life Vakr felt
complete. His feet didn’t feel the need to wander in search of something. Vakr
had finally found what he needed. She was in his arms.

When his seed exploded into Svana, he gripped her tight
without moving. He was buried as far as was humanly possible into her. They
remained that way for some time until Svana began squirming against him. Vakr
wouldn’t budge. He wanted none of his babies to escape.

“Vakr?”

“Give me a child.”

“Maybe one. But six is pushing it.”

Vakr chuckled.
One
would do for now.

* * *
*

Svana was hunched over a huge cauldron in Vakr’s mother’s
hut. Vakr was watching with interest. In fact he had been dogging her every
move for the last two weeks. At first she was relieved, now she wondered if he
would follow her around for the rest of her life. Vakr had been right when he
said he was a curious man. He wanted to know everything about the future—her
life, her parents. He asked more questions than a six-year-old. At times she
didn’t know whether to laugh or pull her hair out.

Svana had taken all of the tomatoes she could salvage. It
was a good thing the natives were proficient in packing or all would have been
rotted through. She cooked off their skins. The seeds had been squeezed out and
she had added spices as well as different spices in a cheese cloth. She was
making ketchup to go with the French fries for their dinner. The day before,
she had used a few of their precious egg yolks, oil, salt and pepper to make
mayonnaise and made potato salad.

The potatoes and the pumpkins were being put to good use.
Daily, she was instructing the village women on the culinary arts of modern
living, well at least some modern eating. Helga, Vakr’s mom, had made a
flatbread and the ketchup that was like a sauce made a nice pizza with goat
cheese Vakr’s mother had been saving and meat toppings. Vakr and many of his
warriors had gone hunting and were able to snag an elk. Unfortunately there
wasn’t enough to dry and save for later. The village once more needed meat.
Also the hull stores wouldn’t last forever. Their village could once more go
hungry if something else didn’t come along.

The ketchup wouldn’t last long either and Svana had set
aside apple cider and yeast with garlic and other spices covered with cheese
cloth. She was making vinegar. Svana tasted the ketchup. It was good, but
nothing like what she was used to. The villagers thought it tasted amazing.
Svana had kept seeds and was very hopeful the soil would yield tomato plants in
the summer.