Page 123 of Hot & Heavy

Ah, well, Magnus thought, he probably wanted Madrene to have private time with her family.

So the five of them were about to make an important decision: Magnus, Jorund, Rolf, Ragnor and Torolf.

"Madrene is going to be pissed that we didn't include her," Ragnor said after taking a swig from his longneck bottle.

They all nodded their heads. Madrene could peel the rust off a broadsword with her sharp tongue when she went off on one of her tirades.

"Dad… all of you… you should know something," Torolf began. He had everyone's attention.

"Madrene told you that she was able to hold off invaders at Norstead for one year until Steinolf sailed his many longships up the fjord. And I know she told us, sketchily, how she went from one harem to another over the following two years." He smiled to himself. "I know she even told us of her creative method for keeping those horny sultans from raping her. But what you don't know is what happened to her before Steinolf sent her away."

Magnus felt blood rush to his head. "The slimy codsucker! Did he rape Madrene?"

"No. No. It was almost worse than that," Torolf said. "First, he killed all the warriors and cotters who resisted the invasion. It was a mass slaughter because he slithered in during the darkness of night and caught them unprepared. They had just fought off an invasion of pirates a sennight before and were not as alert as they should have been. Some were able to escape to the hills. Steinolf believed that, if Madrene would marry him, all her people would return and—"

"—he could slay them under a flag of surrender," Jorund finished for him. At one time, Jorund had been a far-famed warrior. "I am familiar with Steinolf. He is a nithing … a man with no honor."

Sensing that Torolf had not yet finished, Magnus prodded him, "Go on."

"Madrene refused, knowing full well that the marriage would result not only in her death but in the death of all our people."

"What did the bastard do?" Rolf asked icily, sensing what was to come.

Torolf took a deep breath and disclosed, "He had her whipped repeatedly over a period of three days.

On the last day, they led her by a neck tether through the great hall, afore two hundred fighting men.

Naked."

Tears welled in Magnus's eyes and he started to stand.

Torolf put up a halting hand. "Let me finish while I can. I know that we saw those scars on Madrene's shoulders, but we did not see it all. Ian told me that she carries welts from neck to buttocks, dozens of them… scars that will never go away. That beast broke the skin and drew blood with each of his blows."

Magnus did stand then, and pulled at his own hair. With a bellow of rage, he went berserk for a moment.

They all understood a father's fury at learning his daughter had been violated so. When he sat back down, his shoulders sank. "'Tis my fault. I never should have left the Norselands."

"Nay. 'Tis my fault for leaving Norstead to search for Rolf," Jorund said.

"Well, if anyone is to blame, 'tis me," Rolf said. "I was the first to leave. I started this nightmare."

They all argued at once then, getting louder and louder. Finally, Ragnor stood and shouted, " No!" When they quieted and turned to listen to him, he said, "I was the last. I did not need to go off to war with Svein. 'Twas I who left Madrene alone. I will ne'er forgive myself for that. But I know how to make amends. I will go back to Norstead and regain our family home. 'Tis the least I can do."

"Dost think it is possible to go back?" Magnus asked.

"I do not know, but it seems to me there must be a way. Perhaps, going back to the present-day site of Norstead would be the way to begin." Ragnor had always been the smartest in the family, and everyone heeded his words.

They all sat silently then, pondering what would be best.

"I am her father. I should be the one to avenge her," Magnus said.

"I am the warrior in the family. I would be best able to avenge her," Jorund said. No one mentioned that he had not been a fighting man for nigh on fifteen years. His body was still hard, but his skills must be rusty.

"I am absolutely the one to go," Ragnor said, "because I was the last to leave her alone."

"Mayhap we should all go," Magnus offered, but no one seemed enthusiastic about that plan. Too many family members would be left alone here.

Torolf stood then. He had seen thirty and some winters, and he was in peak condition. The SEALs training had truly made him into a skillful soldier in the war on terror, not just in body but in honor, too.