Page 112 of My Fair Viking

"Allah be with you," Rashid called out.

"May Odin watch your back, and Thor lead your sword arm," Tykir added.

"Bring my daughter home, I pray thee," Thorvald directed, gruffly.

"Please, God," Adam concurred in prayer. And he was off.

"If any of you lackwit doctors think you're going to stick a finger inside me to check for a maidenhead, you are sorely mistaken."

The other harem houris shrunk away from her. She was always getting in trouble, and they probably feared contamination by association. Or else they thought she was demented… which she very well might be.

The Arab physicians who had entered the harem a short time ago probably didn't understand a word she'd said, although she could have sworn one of them chuckled, but she announced, "Here is some news for you. I am not a virgin anyhow."

The chuckling doctor chuckled some more behind his hood.

Kareem wasn't chuckling, though. He hissed a warning from behind her and waved his little whip.

They were in the round tower of the castle. The women would be led, one at a time, into separate rooms off the central reception area where they stood now. Each of the rooms opened onto a balcony that encircled the entire tower and looked down over a beautiful fountain garden. The serene picture was deceptive. The garden was pretty, and 'twas true there were no iron-grilled windows on this balcony, but it was a prison just the same… like a gilded cage. Beyond the bright flowers and tall bushes were high stone walls and iron gates. It was an impregnable fortress, not a pleasure place, as far as Tyra was concerned.

When Tyra's name was called, four eunuchs had to prod her with pointed spears into the appropriate examining room. She balked, but to no avail. Well, she might not be able to fight off the eunuchs, who were rowing out of the chamber, but there sure as hell was going to be a physician with a broken finger if that appendage meandered into forbidden territory.

"Listen, I have about had it, up to my gullet with this harem business," she said to the hooded doctor, "so let us not make something you do be the last straw. I am a warrior, you know, and…"

Her words faded away as she turned to confront the physician, who was just now lowering his hood.

"Oh… sweet… Jesus!" he murmured as he stared at her scandalous costume. Then he grinned.

She would know that grin anywhere.

"Adam?" was the first utterance out of her mouth, immediately followed by, "Stop looking at me. And don't you dare grin at my attire."

Adam grinned some more. "I could no more stop looking at you than breathe, especially in that garment. Make sure you bring it with you. But hurry, there is no time for talking now. Put this on." He shoved another Arab robe at her, similar to his.

Before she could pull the robe over her head, though, Adam yanked her into his arms and kissed her hotly. "God, I was worried about you. Do not ever do this to me again."

She had no idea what he meant. Do what again? she wanted to ask. Run away? Be a soldier? Join a harem? She would have to save the questions for later. But she had to warn him, "Adam, it is impossible to get out of here. You should not have come. The danger is too great."

"Shhh! For once, let someone else take care of you " He shoved her away and was already out on the balcony wrapping a long rope with a three-pronged hook on the end around one of the columns. "I hope you do not fear heights," he said, motioning her forward. "We have only a few moments to accomplish this, and it is three floors down " He kept glancing from right to left to make sure no one emerged from one of the other examining rooms, then down below to the gardens to make sure no one had wandered into the area for a stroll.

She rushed forward, tying the rope belt of her robe as she ran. "Any fear of heights I have is outweighed by my fear of beheading... which is the penalty for escape from a harem "

"Beheading?" He laughed. "I never would have come for you if I'd known beheading was involved."

She smacked him on the arm. "What a time for teasing!'"

Minutes later they had both shimmied down the rope... an experience she never wanted to repeat... and were running as stealthily as possible through a maze of corridors till they came to a hidden door that led out onto a public street. With a forefinger to his lips, cautioning silence, Adam lifted the hem of his robe and handed her a long dagger. He pulled his sword from its waist sheath for himself. This was the most dangerous part of all, she realized. Much coin must have been paid to clear their way through the oddly absent inside guards, but there were sure to be guards posted at intervals all along the castle walls... too many to be contacted or bribed.

"Your father and your troops are awaiting us a short distance away."

"They are?"

"Oh, Tyra, how could you think otherwise? You are a much-beloved daughter and military leader and friend."

And lover? Why that omission should bother her so much, she could not say, but it did, even in the midst of all this danger.

He took her hand in his, entwined their fingers, then raised her hand so he could kiss the knuckles.

"This is it, hearthng. Here's hoping we live to see the stars tonight."