Page 96 of My Fair Viking

In battle his sword did sing.

Alas, a mighty head wound did he gain

Which caused him much sleep pain.

His daughter, the princess soldier,

Brought her father a far-famed healer,

Who drilled a hole in the king's head,

Thus bringing the man back to life.

The only trouble is now the king has a hole

Which many a randy Viking, high in the mead,

Might try to swive,

Thinking it is a hole…

Of an entirely different kind."

Thorvald seemed stunned at first. That was most people's reaction to hearing one of Bolthor's sagas for the first time. Then he threw his head back and released great peals of laughter, which gave all the other Vikings in the hall permission to join in.

Adam had to give Norsemen credit for one thing… they did have an ability to make mock of themselves.

"I give you fair warning, Tykir… you had best not be thinking about leaving Bolthor behind with me when you return to Dragonstead," Adam told Tykir even as he took another long swig of ale.

"I am deeply offended that you would think such," Tykir said, placing a hand over his presumably wounded heart.

"That is precisely what you told me you were going to do," Alinor pointed out. "Your exact words were: 'Adam needs a poet to brighten his life.' "

"For the love of Allah, do I not brighten your life enough?" Rashid asked. He also put a hand over a presumably wounded heart.

"Best you examine your tongue and where it might lead you," Tykir chastised his wife. Meanwhile, he patted his restless baby on the head, clearly a doting father despite all his arrogant man-talk.

"You liked my tongue well enough yestereve," she answered saucily.

"Al-i-nor!" Tykir exclaimed with pretended shock, accompanied by a huge grin. "A biddable wife would never speak in such a wanton way."

"I thought you liked my wanton way."

"I do. I do."

"Would you two mind taking this conversation elsewhere?" Adam suggested. "I am busy turning my brain into gruel."

"Which brings us back to the original subject," Alinor said. "Advice to Adam."

"I do not want any advice," Adam protested.

But no one was listening to him.

Tyra's sisters had just come up and had apparently overheard part of the conversation.

"Forget about advice," Breanne remarked. "It will probably go just as badly as our seduction plan for Tyra."

"Well, the feminine attire seemed to work," Drifa said.