Page 75 of The Outlaw Viking

Selik’s mouth dropped open with disbelief. “You lied,” he accused her. “You said they were gone.”

“They were, but I found another package in the back pocket of my slacks.”

“Oh, you are a deceitful witch. First you break oath; then you lie.”

“Give me a break, Selik. It’s just a lousy piece of candy.” But Rain sucked loudly, pretending to take special pleasure in the flavor.

“How would you like to have a Lifesaver up your nose?”

“Don’t be so ungracious.” Rain smiled sweetly and pulled out her Rubik’s Cube. While Selik soaped his body and hair, she solved the puzzle, over and over and over and over. She thought she heard him grind his teeth once before he ducked his head under the water and stayed there for an extra long time.

Rain woke early the next morning, realizing as she scanned the little room that Selik hadn’t slept with her. Still groggy, she went over to the door. She tried it once, twice, three times, finally accepting with disbelief the fact that she was locked in. “I’ll kill the bloody barbarian,” she seethed.

Last night, after taking his bath and flaunting his nude body before her in an infuriating manner, Selik had surprisingly left her alone. When she’d completed her private ablutions and the servants removed the tub and wet linens, Selik still hadn’t returned. Tired after the long day of traveling and the emotional upheaval over Selik’s betrothal—oh, Lord, she had forgotten about that—Rain had lain down on the cot, just to rest for a moment, and slept through the night.

But where had Selik slept? More important, with whom? And why had he locked her in?

Despite the early hour—it couldn’t be much past daybreak—Rain began to pound on the wooden door, yelling for Selik. After a short time, Gyda answered the door with a clucking sound of disapproval at Rain’s behavior.

“Tsk, tsk! All of Jorvik surely hears your caterwauling.”

“I’m sorry, Gyda. I didn’t mean to awaken you.”

“Hah! I have long been about the day’s chores.”

“Why was I locked in this room?”

“You were confined to your bedchamber because you tried to escape yesterday. You cannot be trusted, and Selik could not spare any more men to stand at your door.”

“So, I’m a prisoner now?”

“Were you ever other than that?” Gyda asked, peering up at her through very intelligent, discerning eyes. “Methought Selik referred to you as a hostage from the first.”

Rain felt her face flush. “Yes, but I did save his life at Brunanburh and—”

Gyda let out a whooshing sound of dismay and sank down onto the bench opposite her. “You did?”

Rain explained and Gyda listened intently.

“Do you love him?” Gyda asked bluntly when she finished.

Surprised, Rain hesitated, not sure if she could even express her feelings. “I think so. But God help me, there was never a more mismatched, doomed-to-failure relationship in the world. Selik’s life is a total contradiction of everything I value. The jerk makes me so mad I could spit. He says the most hateful things to me, tears my heart apart, then puts it back together again with one simple little smile over something as stupid as a piece of cherry candy.”

Gyda studied Rain’s face intently, seeming to understand her conflicting emotions. “Yea, sounds like love to me,” Gyda finally concluded, then rubbed her hands together enthusiastically. “Now, we must needs decide what to do about it.”

Rain tilted her head questioningly, curious as to why Tyra’s mother would want to help her, but her question was halted by Gyda’s next words.

“Didst know that he intends to leave shortly for Saxon lands? Steven of Gravely has let it be known that he is in Winchester. The demon earl hopes to lure Selik into his death trap. I fear Selik’s hatred will blind him to Gravely’s devious tactics.”

Rain gasped and put a hand to her chest in dismay, recognizing the name of the vicious man responsible for the death of Selik’s wife and baby. “No!”

“Yea, and well you should be concerned. Selik may not return alive this time.”

Foreboding turned Rain cold with fear. Selik couldn’t travel endlessly on this road of revenge and remain unscathed. Someday he would surely die, and she sensed it would be soon.

“I think you may be able to stop him. I have an idea,” Gyda offered tentatively.

“Oh, Gyda, anything. I would do anything to help him.”