Viking Warrior (15 page)

“Are you finished?” Wulf asked weakly.

“Aye, are you all right?”

“I have been better.”

“Do not move while I spread a healing salve over the wound and apply a bandage.”

Reaching into her chest, Reyna removed a small jar of salve made from dried marigold mixed with lard. Once the salve was spread to her satisfaction, she made a thick bandage out of linen, placed it over the wound and wound strips of linen around Wulf’s chest to hold it in place.

Reyna stood, rummaged in her chest until she found a small sack, and then handed it to Helga. “Brew this into a strong tea, let it steep until the color is a deep brown; then bring it to me.”

“What is it?” Helga asked.

“Valerian. It will ease Wulf’s pain.”

“I don’t need anything for pain,” Wulf mumbled.

“Do not argue with me,” Reyna said sternly.

“Is my brother misbehaving?” Hagar asked as he rejoined them.

“He needs to learn that I am the healer and he is the patient,” Reyna said impatiently. “Help him to sit up, Hagar, so he can drink the brew Helga is preparing for him.”

Hagar eased Wulf into a sitting position. Wulf wobbled a bit, but with his brother’s help managed to remain upright.

“How long do I have before fever sets in?” Wulf asked.

“I hope my herbal salve will prevent infection. If a fever does develop, I will fight it with proven herbal remedies. How is your mother, Hagar?”

“The news that Wulf and Olaf have returned, and that you were with them, cheered her considerably. After you work your magic on Wulf, perhaps you can look in on her.”

“ ’tis why I am here,” Reyna replied.

Wulf turned his brooding gaze on Reyna. “Have you forgotten the words we spoke before your family? We are husband and wife.”

“You and Wulf are wed?” Hagar asked, looking to Reyna for confirmation.

“For now,” Reyna muttered.

“But Wulf just said…”

His words fell off when Helga returned with a cup of steaming tea and handed it to Reyna. “Does this look right to you?” Helga asked.

“Perfect,” Reyna declared as she held the cup to Wulf’s mouth. “Drink it all, Wulf. Then Hagar can help you to bed.”

“I wish to return to my own bed in my own hall,” Wulf said.

“No,” Reyna was quick to reply. “If I am to treat both you and Thora, I will need the two of you in the same place.”

“Olaf and Eric can stay in Wulf’s hall and Wulf can occupy their sleeping alcove as long as needed,” Hagar offered. “Now drink the tea, Wulf.”

Though Wulf’s hands were unsteady, he grasped the cup from Reyna and drank, handing the empty cup to her when he finished. “Perhaps you should help me to my bed now, Hagar,” Wulf said groggily.

Reyna watched with trepidation as Hagar half carried, half dragged Wulf to the sleeping alcove he was to occupy. Once he was safely inside, she collapsed onto the bench, rested her head against the wall and closed her eyes. When she had first seen Wulf struck down, her emotions had had been pulled between rage and fear. Rage sent her flying into the fray to slay Wulf’s attacker, and fear that he would die gave her the strength to react. Now Reyna was exhausted, but she had no time to rest. She still had to wash Wulf’s bloód from her hands and check on Thora.

“What do you need?” Helga asked anxiously. “You look so weary. Inga is preparing a bed for you.”

“First I want to check on your mother. A basin of hot water and soap would be appreciated. I cannot go to your mother with blood on my hands.”

Helga left and returned with a basin of hot water, a pot of soft soap and a drying cloth. Reyna smiled her thanks and thoroughly scrubbed and dried her hands and arms. Then she walked to Thora’s sleeping alcove, parted the curtain and stepped inside. Shock lanced through Reyna. Once robust, Thora looked a mere shadow of herself. Her complexion was too pale, her cheeks sunken and her eyes appeared too big for her face. Reyna hurried to her bedside and took her hand.

Thora opened her eyes, saw Reyna and smiled. “Are my sons truly safe?” Thora asked.

“Aye, Olaf has returned hale and hardy. Wulf was wounded while fighting the raiders but I expect him to make a full recovery. The rest of the family is fine but for a few minor wounds.”

“So Hagar said, but I wanted to be sure. Will you tell me what happened when you and Wulf disappeared? Hagar almost had a fit when he learned that Olaf had sailed across the sea to rescue Wulf in the middle of winter. We were all afraid we had lost two sons instead of one.”

Then Thora launched into a paroxysm of coughing that left her weak and wheezing for breath.

“Do not exert yourself Thora, I beg you,” Reyna pleaded. “I will tell you everything you wish to know after I prepare an infusion of herbs to ease your cough and help you relax.”

Reyna left Thora’s sleeping alcove and sent Inga in to sit with her mother while she removed what she needed from her medicinal chest. Working on a table near the hearth, Reyna measured out portions of two different dried herbs and tossed them into a kettle of boiling
water. While the infusion steeped, she returned to Wulf’s bedside to check on him.

She found Wulf lying on his stomach, a fur pelt thrown over the lower half of his body and his eyes closed. She sidled closer and placed a hand on his cheek, checking for fever. He was still cool to her touch. Just as she started to withdraw, Wulf’s eyes snapped open, and he grasped her arm.

“Do not go.”

“You are still awake.”

“Aye, barely. Why do you do it?”

Puzzled, Reyna asked, “Do what?”

“Make a habit of coming to my defense.”

Reyna shrugged. “I thought the Finn had killed you and I wanted to avenge your death.”

“You thought me dead?”

“I did not know but feared the worst.”

“I live a charmed life.” He tugged on her arm. “Lie down with me.”

“No, I merely came to check on you. I am brewing an infusion to ease your mother’s cough and cannot linger.”

“How is she?”

“I am not sure yet. I plan to examine her thoroughly soon. Close your eyes and rest, Wulf. When you awaken, I will bring you a restorative to help you regain your strength. You’ve lost a great deal of blood.”

Wulf wanted to say something more but his sluggish mind could not form the words. Nor could he recall precisely what he wanted to say. His grip on Reyna’s hand loosened and his eyes closed. Then he knew no more.

Stubborn man
, Reyna thought as she left him to his rest.

By the time the evening meal was announced, Thora had been told about Wulf and Reyna’s abduction and their
triumphant and timely return. Thora was now resting easily, her cough subdued for the time being. Now that her loved ones had returned, Reyna suspected that Thora would recover, though it would be some time before her lungs were completely clear of congestion. Reyna knew of several cures she could try on Thora, and she wouldn’t give up until one of them worked.

When Hagar suggested that Reyna should seek her bed, she didn’t argue. She excused herself immediately after the meal and fell into bed, pulling the fur pelt over herself. Sleep claimed her the moment she closed her eyes.

Reyna’s sleep was not restful. Wulf’s moaning awakened her during the night and she went to his alcove to check on him. When he felt feverish to her touch, she decided to brew him red clover tea, which was good for fever and infection. While she was waiting for the tea to steep, she checked on Thora. Wolf’s mother appeared to be resting comfortably, though she was still wheezing.

Once the tea was ready, Reyna carried it to Wulf’s alcove, surprised to find him awake and lying on his side instead of his stomach. She touched his forehead, but before she could remove her hand he grasped her wrist and pulled her forward.

“Lie beside me,” he said in a low growl.

“You’re feverish. I’ve brewed an infusion to bring down the fever and help you to sleep.”

“I don’t want it.” He sounded like a petulant child.

“Drink it, Wulf, so we can both go back to sleep.”

“I will drink it if you sleep beside me.”

Reyna sighed. If that was what it would take to get him to drink the tea, then she would lie beside him until he fell asleep.

“Very well. Rise up a little and I will hold the cup to your lips.”

Wulf obeyed and drained the cup. Then he eased back down and moved over so she could join him.

“Come, you promised,” he said when she hesitated.

Rather than argue, Reyna lay down beside him, intending to leave as soon as he fell asleep. As luck would have it, she fell asleep before he did. She didn’t awake until the sun was high in the sky.

Both Reyna’s patients began to recover with proper treatment. Wulf was up and about before his mother, for he was eager to regain his strength, even though Reyna had advised bed rest. Reyna continued to treat Thora with her herbal remedies, until her cough and congestion all but disappeared. Little by little Thora’s strength returned and she gradually rejoined her family in their daily activities.

During this time Reyna learned she was not expecting Wulf’s child. If she were honest, she would have to admit that she didn’t believe herself capable of conceiving. With spring full upon the land, the family was engaged in planting crops and making plans to attend the
althing
in midsummer. It was to be held in an empty field near the port city of Kaupang.

Reyna decided she would wait for a time when she and Wulf were alone to tell him she wasn’t with child. She planned to divorce him and return home when her brothers arrived.

That day came when Wulf unexpectedly joined her in the steam hut.

“What are you doing here?” Reyna exclaimed as she grabbed a drying cloth and wrapped it around her. “I thought you were with your brothers.”

“I saw you come in and decided to join you. I wanted to tell you that I am well enough to return to my hall, and that I expect you to accompany me. You are my
wife and I want you in my bed. Mother is sufficiently recovered, so there is no need for you to live in Hagar’s hall.”

“There is no reason for us to remain wed, Wulf,” Reyna replied, inching away from him. “I am not carrying your child. I was waiting for the right time to tell you.”

Wulf’s silver eyes narrowed and the look on his face grew almost fierce. “You are well-versed in herbal remedies. Admit it; you took something to abort my babe!”

Reyna blanched, shocked at being accused of such a terrible deed. Hands on hips, she faced him squarely. “How dare you accuse me of using my skills in such a vile manner! If I had not conceived your child during all the times we have been together, what makes you think I would now? You should be happy,” she charged. “There is no longer any need for you to remain wed to a hated Dane. Please leave now so I can get dressed.”

Reyna’s outburst stunned Wulf. What did she want from him? He had wed her before her family. Dane or no, with child or no, a Norseman’s vow was his honor.

“You are my wife. I will instruct one of the thralls to carry your medicinal chest and the trunk with your belongings to my hall. I will hear no more on the subject.”

“Do you love me, Wulf? Is that why you wish to keep me?”

Stunned, Wulf stared at her. “You know my feelings on that subject. We are speaking of vows here, not love.”

“Why did you wed me before you knew whether or not I carried your child?”

Wulf had no answer that made sense to him. Except that she was a healer and his mother had needed her. Instead of providing an answer, he merely shrugged.

Reyna pressed on. “Did you love Astrid when you married her?”

“What a stupid question. Of course I loved her.”

Annoyance colored Reyna’s words. “Is loving a Dane abhorrent to you? Is loving
me
abhorrent to you?”

Wulf drew himself up to his full height, leaning forward until they were nose to nose. “Love has naught to do with us, Reyna. We have enough lust between us to last a lifetime. When we are together we burn. And right now I am burning for you. Forget all else. We are wed and in lust with each other. Love is unnecessary.”

Reyna took a step backward, hurt beyond description. “Speak for yourself, Wulf. Was lust enough between you and Astrid?”

“Why are you challenging me like this? I told you I loved Astrid. Lust had no place in our marriage.”

Reyna clutched her heart as if she’d been dealt a lethal blow and spun away. Wulf stared after her for the length of a heartbeat before snagging an arm around her waist and tossing her over his shoulder. Reyna kicked and screamed as he carried her out of the steam hut and across the yard to his hall. If her flailing fists caused pain to his wound, he did not show it. Nor did anyone who saw them make a move to stop him.

Wulf opened the door to the hall and strode inside with Reyna still slung over his shoulder like a sack of grain. Uma and Lorne, Wulf’s thralls, stopped what they were doing and stared.

“Out!” Wulf shouted, leaving no doubt what he wanted. When they continued to stare at him, he rasped, “Now! Find something to do outside until I summon you.”

Both thralls made a hasty exit.

Wulf stormed into his sleeping alcove, pulled the curtain across the opening and set Reyna on her feet.

“You are mad!” she charged.

“Aye, mad for you.” He reached for the ties on her tunic. She slapped his hands away.

“I am not your thrall, Wulf. I do not have to do your bidding. Move away, I am leaving.”

Truth to tell, Reyna wanted Wulf as intensely as he wanted her, but she had yet to hear the words she needed to surrender herself completely to him. And likely she never would.

“Submit, Reyna, you know I will get my way. We are two passionate souls who want each other. You are my wife; we can indulge our desire all we want.”

This time when he reached for the ties on her tunic,
his efforts to undo them succeeded. Reyna sputtered a protest when he removed her silver girdle, for all the good it did her. The tunic slid down past her hips. When she made a grab for it, he released the ties on her undertunic and both garments slid down her body and pooled around her feet. Then he grasped her waist and lifted her onto the bed so he could remove her stockings and shoes.

Reyna gathered her strength to leap off the bed, but when she looked up and saw Wulf tearing off his own clothing, all thought of leaving fled. Her eyes caressed his virile body. He was magnificent in his nakedness. Broad chest, arms like tree trunks and narrow waist. Despite the recent wound he had suffered, he looked remarkably healthy. Her gaze lowered to his loins, where his rampant manhood rose hard and massive between his thighs.

Her gaze returned to his face. He was grinning at her, apparently aware of her close inspection of his body.

“Am I to your liking?”

Reyna gave a snort. “You know you are. Are all Norsemen as arrogant as you?”

“We Norsemen have a right to be arrogant.” He crawled onto the bed beside her, half covering her body. “Shall I prove it to you?”

In truth, he did not need to prove anything to Reyna. She already knew. If he weren’t so dense, he would realize she needed no convincing, even though he wasn’t ready to give her the words she wanted from him. Then Wulf’s mouth covered hers and her thoughts skittered away. All she could do was respond.

She parted her lips and tilted her head back to receive his burning kisses, returning them with all the love in her heart. There was no gentleness in his lips, no tenderness, only a hunger he couldn’t disguise. She met him measure
for measure, tongues dueling, breaths mingling. When her breath was nearly gone, he broke off the kiss, his eyes following the path of his hands as his callused palms slid over her breasts and the aching peaks of her nipples.

Resisting such a virile man was impossible. Freya help her, but he looked so fiercely handsome, hovering over her like a Viking warrior on the verge of plundering a village.

“I need to taste you,” Wulf growled as he bent to lick one nipple; it stiffened in response. He gave the same attention to the other; it was just as quick to respond. He licked and suckled until Reyna wanted to scream in frustration.

A blast of pleasure scorched her. She arched up against him, offering more of herself to him. Long minutes later, his mouth left her breasts, kissing a path to her naval…and lower. He made a low, deep sound of satisfaction as he buried his mouth in her wet center, his tongue and teeth working her into a wild frenzy. She shivered uncontrollably, waiting for him to claim her fully. But apparently Wulf was in no hurry. Suddenly she wanted him to burn for her as she burned for him.

She surprised him by shoving him away, pushing him down and straddling him. His eyes glittered like hot ice as he gazed up at her. When he took her hips in his large hands and attempted to lift her onto his straining cock, she slid away and shifted down his body. Crouching over him, she lowered her head and kissed the engorged head of his sex.

“Thor’s axe!” Wulf shouted as he arched his loins upward.

She took him deeper into the scalding heat of her mouth, swirling her tongue and teeth around the head, tasting his saltiness and the earthiness of his essence. Then she licked his length, up and down, enjoying the
feel of his hardening sex in her mouth. Experimentally she sucked. He muttered a strangled curse and buried his hands in her hair, holding her head in place, urging her on.

She continued to torment him until he gave a shout and rolled her off him. She landed on her back. With one fluid movement he flipped her onto her stomach. “On your knees,” he growled.

Reyna flashed him a puzzled look but did as he asked. Her body was thrumming, her nerve endings tightly coiled. If he didn’t take her soon she would go mad. When Wulf rose up on his knees behind her, Reyna glanced askance at him over her shoulder.

“Wulf, what…!”

His body was tense, the hard planes of his face stark with need as he grasped her hips, pulled them hard against him and thrust into her hot core. Reyna cried out as he filled her with his massive length and strength. The act was incredibly erotic. It felt wonderful,
he
felt wonderful inside her. And then he began to move, pounding into her, probing deep as his hands slid around to fondle her breasts, tugging and rolling her nipples between his fingers as his mouth caressed her neck.

Their bodies were so in tune, so violently ready that they came simultaneously. She called his name as rapture streaked through her. She rode the waves of ecstasy from climax to climax, first one and then another and yet another. Each flung her higher, until she reached the summit and shattered. She heard Wulf shout and felt his hot seed fill her. Then her knees gave way and she collapsed beneath Wulf’s shuddering body.

Wulf rolled away so as not to crush her, his chest heaving, his breath rasping in and out of his lungs in great gulps. Never had Wulf been so lost in mindless, overwhelming pleasure. Each time he and Reyna came
together was more intense, more satisfying than before. Earthshaking was a better word. What in Thor’s name had she done to him?

He glanced over at her. She was lying in a boneless heap, a beautiful smile on her face. His chest swelled.
He
had put that smile on her face. Suddenly he thought of his beloved Astrid and a nagging memory rattled him. Why had he never seen that smile on Astrid’s face? Though Astrid loved him, he had never seen her smile in blissful satisfaction after he made love to her. Nor had he ever found this kind of bliss with his beloved wife.

Pulling Reyna into the curve of his body, Wulf listened to her even breathing and then joined her in sleep.

The weather continued to improve as spring warmed the air, and trees and flowers burst into bloom. The men were busy preparing their dragonships for their summer voyages and supervising the planting. This was also a busy time for the women and thralls.

Thora’s cough had all but disappeared and everyone appeared to be in good health. Olga and Hagar’s son had prospered and grown during Reyna’s absence. Reyna was fascinated with the babe and played with him as often as possible. It saddened her to think she would never have a babe of her own.

She was also disheartened because she had heard nothing from Wulf to change her mind about divorcing him. She wanted love but got lust instead. Any bed slave could give Wulf what she gave him. Reyna knew Uma was eager for Wulf to invite her to his bed. Though Reyna tried to be kind to the thrall, Uma did not treat her like someone whose good will she depended upon.

When Reyna tried to make friends with Uma, she was rebuffed with the words, “Though Wulf has wed you, he will never forgive you for being a Dane.”

“What lies between Wulf and me is none of your business, Uma,” Reyna answered.

“You were once one of us,” Uma reminded her, “until you used your wiles on the master. We will see what happens when he tires of you.”

Reyna didn’t intend to stay around that long. She feared that Uma was right about Wulf’s feelings for her and didn’t want to wait until he grew bored with her. Though they were wed in the eyes of their families, there was no longer a reason for Reyna to stay with Wulf. It was apparent to her that she was barren and could never replace the child Wulf had lost when Astrid died. She would rather wed Ragnar than be held in contempt by the man she loved.

There was a great deal of excitement about the
althing
as the weather grew mild and the season progressed. The time approached for people to bring their grievances before the lawspeaker. Lawbreakers would be punished, property disputes settled, and men and women would announce marriages and ask the lawspeaker to sanction their union.

New clothing fashioned from silks, satins and brocades that Hagar had brought back from Byzantium was being made by the women. The
althing
was also a social occasion, where friends gathered and exchanged gossip and news of births and deaths.

Until her brothers arrived, Reyna bided her time, waiting for Wulf to declare his love to her. How could he make love to her with such intensity, such wild abandon and not care for her?

Did his love for his dead wife still burn in his heart? Was that why he couldn’t love her? If so, then he would never love her and she was wasting her time with him. Loving a man who could not return her love was hopeless.

Some weeks after Reyna returned to Wulf’s farmstead, she was rudely awakened in the middle of the night by someone softly calling her name. A light sleeper, Reyna answered at once, keeping her voice low so as not to awaken Wulf.

“Who is it?” Reyna asked.

“ ’tis Hagar.”

Reyna reached for her tunic. Hagar wouldn’t be summoning her if it weren’t an emergency. “Is someone ill?”

“Aye, ’tis my son. He’s gasping for breath. Please hurry.”

Already dressed by now, Reyna stepped through the curtain. “Rollo seemed fine yesterday,” Reyna mused. “But with babies, one never knows. I’ll fetch my chest and be there directly.”

“Let me carry that,” Hagar said after Reyna removed the chest from a nearby cupboard. “Perhaps you should tell Wulf where he can find you.”

“I will tell him,” Uma said, rising from a nearby bench, where she had been sleeping.

“Thank you,” Reyna replied as she sailed out the door without giving Uma’s offer a second thought. A baby was ill and she was needed.

Hagar’s hall was ablaze with light. Reyna followed him inside and heard the baby’s harsh breathing followed by several gasps, as if he were struggling for breath. She hurried over to Olga, who was doing her best to comfort her son.

“Thank Freya you are here,” Olga said, holding the child out to Reyna.

“How long has he been like this?” Reyna asked. She placed the babe on a table and removed his swaddling clothes to examine him. Rollo was a sturdy child who, according to Olga, had had few illnesses in his short life.

Reyna’s brows furrowed when she saw his tiny chest heave with each breath he took.

“Can you help him?” Hagar asked anxiously.

“I have seen children heaving and gasping for breath like this before,” Reyna said. “It happens most often during the spring and summer, when plants are growing and flowers are blooming. I will brew red clover tea; you and Olga can try to get some of it down him while I boil burdock root and mash it into a paste for a poultice.”

Reyna set to work immediately. When daylight arrived, Rollo was beginning to breathe easier. Reyna spent the day with him, treating him with various cures. That evening Reyna told Wulf she intended to stay the night in Hagar’s hall in case she was needed.

“Are you deliberately abandoning my bed?” Wulf growled.

“Your nephew is ill, I am trying to cure him,” Reyna retorted.

Wulf stomped off. He didn’t like Reyna sleeping anywhere but in his bed. Now that Reyna was his, he was jealous of her time away from him. He knew her brothers would arrive one day, and that she might leave him. He tried to tell himself she didn’t matter all that much to him and that he would survive her leaving, but he knew it was a lie. Reyna had become an important part of his life and vital to his family.

Would opening his heart to Reyna be such a bad thing? he wondered. Would he ever get past the fact that she was a Dane? He would have to if they were to live in harmony as husband and wife.

Wulf returned to his hall in a sour mood and sat down at the table, calling for a horn of ale. Uma hurried to do his bidding. When she returned, she hovered over him while he drank deeply from the horn.

“Is there something you need, Uma?” Wulf asked.

“When is Rey…the mistress returning?” Uma asked.

“She will remain in Hagar’s hall as long as it takes to cure my nephew.”

Uma raised her head, smiling beguilingly into Wulf’s eyes. “You must be lonely. A virile man like you needs a woman’s comfort. I would be happy to serve you in any way you wish.”

“You want to take Reyna’s place in my bed,” Wulf repeated tonelessly.

Uma brightened. “I would be honored to serve you in such a fashion.”

Wulf heaved a sigh. He wasn’t even tempted. Uma was attractive enough but she wasn’t Reyna. “I must decline your offer. Had I wanted you, I would have taken you to my bed long before now. There are male thralls aplenty on the farmstead. Choose one of them to bestow your favors upon for I am not interested.”

Bowing her head, Uma shuffled off. Wulf stared after her, wondering why she didn’t appeal to him, had never appealed to him. Was it because Wulf wanted Reyna with an unquenchable passion? The more he thought about it, the more he wanted Reyna in his life. Despite his hatred for Danes, Wulf realized he needed Reyna in his home and his bed.

That night after eating the evening meal with his family, Wulf retired to his own hall, wishing he could take Reyna with him. She appeared weary and in need of rest when he had bid good night and sought his bed alone. Sometime during the night he felt Reyna slide beneath the furs and cuddle next to him, her body warm and inviting.