Page 26 of The Reluctant Viking

Not understanding, Ruby watched as the thrall walked fearfully, but with dim resignation on his face, over to the small cubicle where he apparently slept. Just once, he looked up and cast her a look of utter hatred, obviously blaming her for his fate. Then he put his pitifully small supply of clothing and personal items in a large square cloth and pulled the four corners into a knot.

Motioning Gudrod toward the doorway, Olaf addressed Thork, “I will take the wretch to the harbor and sell him to the first slave trader I see.”

Thork nodded grimly.

“No!” Ruby screamed when she realized their intent. She moved in front of the slave and held her arms out protectively. “You can’t penalize Gudrod for my mistake.”

“’Twas his mistake as well. Ordered he was to guard you at all times. No man shirks his duty without punishment. No man! Step back.”

When Ruby refused, Thork pushed her aside roughly.

“Before I come back,” Olaf called over his shoulder to Thork, “I will go to the farm and find out why Tostig was remiss in his duties. Freeman he may be, but I want to know where he was when the children idled there unsupervised.”

“Unsupervised!” Ruby objected. “I was with them.”

The looks of cold disdain Thork and Olaf gave her told what they thought of her supervision.

Ruby watched dolefully as Gudrod shuffled out of the barn with downcast eyes, following after Olaf.

She turned furiously on Thork. “Beast!”

“Not as beastly as I soon shall be.” He shoved her toward the cubicle formerly occupied by Gudrod. Coming right behind her, he ordered, “Take off your garments. All of them.”

“Wha…what?”

“Do not force me to repeat myself. You will not like the consequence.” His blue eyes, so like her gentle husband’s and yet so different, flashed fiercely with anger.

“Why?”

“Do you say me nay?” He began to advance on her into the small room which was barely big enough for one person, containing only a pallet and a chamber pot.

She backed away. “What are you going to do to me?”

Thork suddenly seemed to understand her fear of undressing before him, and his upper lip curled with disgust. “I intend to do naught to your traitorous body. You revolt me.”

Ruby flinched at the scathing contempt in his voice. “Then why do you want me to take off my clothes?”

“So you do not escape, you witless wench. I will ensure that you stay in this room till I am well rid of you.”

“Escape! Where would I—”

“Nay! I have listened to more than enough of your lying words. Either remove your garments, or I will return you to the palace. And, believe me, you will not relish our king’s manner of treating bothersome slaves when he gets you naked.”

Refusing to show Thork her terror, Ruby took off every item of clothing, even her socks and shoes, which Thork gathered in his arms, preparing to leave. Her face hot with embarrassment, she refused to cower. She wanted to cover her breasts and lower body with her hands, but, instead, raised her chin defiantly.

Thork stared at her—all of her. Unsmiling, he showed no regret or sympathy for his abominable actions. Only a muscle twitching next to his thinned lips showed any emotion on his blank face.

Through a screen of tears, Ruby looked at Thork and declared vehemently, “I hate you.” Then, with a barely stifled whimper, she added in a raspy, broken voice, “I thought you were my husband. I thought you loved me.”

She saw his fists clench before he spun on his heels and left, barring the door after him.

Ruby sat down on the pallet and cried endlessly for all she had lost. Jack. Her old life. Thork. All mixed together in her mind and became one.

Hours later, Ruby awakened to find herself lying face down on the bed in the dreary, windowless room. Ruby turned over and saw Gyda entering the doorway flanked by all her daughters who watched her in fascination.

She drew her knees up to her chest to cover her nakedness.

“Astrid, did you bring the bed linens?” Gyda asked.