Page 34 of To Tame a Viking Warlord

"The Brotherhood," he said. "They paid these men."

"Normans," Njal said slowly.

Mathias had moved to the four who came for Samira. He straightened. "Not these. No purse, no coin, nothing on them at all." He turned one over with his foot. "Bought men carry their pay. These were sent."

"By whom?" Torstein asked.

"Someone who wanted your wife. Only her."

Torstein stiffened with anxiety before the two riders approached.

The taller rider pushed back his head wrap.

"Torstein Hagansson," he said. "You are far from home."

Torstein stared in disbelief. "Ajani?"

The second rider was already unwrapping his face, grinning wide.

Torstein went down on one knee. "Prince."

"Get up. Up." Prince Kato hauled him to his feet and embraced him. "There is nobody here to be impressed."

They greeted one another with hugs and a good deal of banter. Kato was not only a prince but also Jarl Thorfinn's illegitimate son, and Ajani was the man who had first told Torstein about a place called Morocco, several years prior.

"What are you doing here?" Torstein asked.

Kato waved a hand. "Three weeks we have been on the trail of rebels. Men stirring the coast road, well paid and badly disciplined. These are the same. Someone is buying trouble in our kingdom, and we are following the trail in the hope of finding them soon. What brings you here?"

"An errand from your sire and some trade opportunities in Fez," Torstein replied.

Somewhere in the midst of it all, Kato saw Samira, and the look he wore changed entirely. "And who is this?" he asked.

"She is my legal wife, recognized by the laws of this region, and she is not your concern," Torstein clipped as his arm wrapped around her back.

Samira was still holding the koummya. There was blood on it.

Kato and Ajani both raised their brows, and then, much to Samira's surprise, they burst out laughing at Torstein's possessiveness.

"Mabrouk. I did not mean to give offense. Congratulations on securing such a fine wife with excellent fighting skills," Kato replied.

Samira blushed but nodded.

Torstein narrowed his eyes at them. He had never in his life been the jealous type, but right now he was ready to punch the handsome prince in the face for daring to admire his woman.

Samira looked from one man to the other, then confessed, "I have seen you both before. In the souk, at the spice sellers, not a month past."

Kato paused, studying her face. Then his eyes lit. "You are the saffron woman! I heard you driving a hard bargain."

She grinned then. "He wanted more, he got less."

"He looked as if he had been robbed," Kato said, then laughed and swept her a bow.

Torstein felt his jaw set hard. He did not like the easy manner in which Kato spoke to his wife.

While he was still glaring at Kato, he missed the amusement on the faces of his men. They were enjoying watching their chief's jealousy because it was a trait they had never seen him display for any woman.

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