Authors: Constantine De Bohon
Valhalla Wolf (19 page)
by Constantine De Bohon
dragon seemed to settle, then slump. Soon the great creature was asleep."
"Wow," Gunnarr said, amazed.
"But it could still wake up," Hrolf said with worry.
"It was now Hrolf's turn," Vicki said. Her eyes brightened with laughter seeing the boys' little chests rise and fall in anticipation. "Hrolf pulled his small rock into his hand. Unsure of what to do he listened with his heart. Soon he thought he heard words whispered on the gentle wind. Confidently he ran his open palm over the rock three times then tapped it with his finger. He moved bravely to the dragon that still wheezed out billowing puffs of heated smoke—and touched it."
"What happened?" both boys cried in unison.
"The dragon turned to stone."
"No," they gasped.
"Yes," Vicki insisted. "They went all through the castle with Gunnarr putting warriors to sleep and Hrolf turning them to stone. It wasn't long before the Viking princess was safely home with her father and the village had great wealth."
"I can't believe such small weapons could be so powerful,"
Hrolf mumbled sleepily.
"It doesn't matter how strong your weapon is," said a voice from the door.
Vicki saw Ulfr watching her with as strange expression.
"What matters is the skill you use it with, and your determination."
"Like when your little Valkyrie kicked Falkor's ass?" Hrolf asked.
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Vicki giggled behind her hand. The expression was obviously learned from his mother. Another funny thing was this small boy had called her little, although no doubt one day he would be an impressive size. It was apparent he was learning from his father and uncle. Perhaps one day he would learn it wasn't all right to harm a woman in the form of forceful sex no matter how gentle he was if she wasn't a willing partner. Sadly she knew captives were far from a thing of the past.
"It's time to leave," Ulfr said and Vicki rose.
* * * *
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Chapter 12
Vicki's heart was pounding in her chest when Ulfr came to the furs. He kissed her lips and stroked her hair and they made beautiful love together with her on top. He then rolled over and went to sleep. Vicki lay feeling flustered and unsatisfied. Instinctively, she knew it wasn't the idea of a baby that kept him restrained. She wondered how long this would continue. In the morning, true to his word, Ulfr took her out to the clearing and taught her further how to use a weapon. Her sword was unfinished as yet, but he taught her knife combat. It was thrilling and dangerous and she loved it.
But as the days slowly passed she became increasingly confused. He was merciless with her on the battlefield and yet at night he made tender love to her. It was as if he had replaced his sexual passion with defense. She wondered who he was defending, her or himself.
Night after night Vicki would lay unsatisfied in the furs after making love with a subdued Ulfr. He refused to speak of his dream with her and she knew it was the stem of the problem. She could see the passion burning behind his eyes and yet his touch remained restrained, almost cordial. It was as though he was worried he might break her during sex. He was slowly driving her mad with desire that built to a mad frenzy and was never satisfied. She was even more dismayed when she sought out Hott and he told her that Ulfr had forbidden him to touch her. Not only had he forbidden Hott from touching her, he had also declared that he would never 171
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again touch Hott's wife. Both women had just scratched their heads not knowing what to think.
Weeks passed and soon Vicki began doing what Ulfr was—
she threw her passion into the new sword he had forged. It was identical to the last one, except this one was brand new and not battered. Soon she could stand toe-to-toe with both Hott and Ulfr and though she doubted she could best either in a drop-dead down-and-dirty fight, she felt confident there were men in the camp she could best. It was apparent other men felt the same and gave her a wide respectful birth. Even Volundr spoke courteously to her and never again suggested a romp in the forest. She wasn't certain if it was because of her newfound prowess or because Ulfr had announced to the village Vicki was no longer his captive, but would be his bride in the spring. She had been surprised he hadn't yelled it from the roof when she agreed and held her high over his head to strengthen his statement. Instead, he had just kissed her forehead lovingly.
The others were out hunting while Vicki helped prepare a huge meal meant for everyone in the village. A snowstorm was building and concern for the hunters' return was growing.
Finally, after darkness had fallen, they trooped in exhausted.
Vicki looked for Ulfr but he didn't follow his brother in. Both Vicki and Valerie approached Hott with concern.
"I'm sorry, Vicki. Ulfr and I became separated. When I backtracked, the storm was building. There were signs of a struggle and blood. I'm afraid Ulfr has been captured," Hott said sadly.
"By whom?" both women asked fearfully.
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"I don't know. There must have been at least five.
Someone must have snuck up on him. I'm certain the blood was his—it's the only way they would have been able to take him. We'll go looking for him at first light. Right now, the storm is too strong. We were lucky to make it back."
He placed his hand on Vicki's shoulder, no doubt seeing her eyes wild with the worry she felt.
"You are not to go off alone. It would be too dangerous. I promise we will get him back. He is strong. They must want him alive or they would have killed him outright. I'm guessing they're slavers. He's powerful. They could use him chained to oars on one of the ships."
The idea didn't make Vicki feel any better. Her hands itched to remove the sword strapped to her back. She wanted nothing more than to race off after Ulfr. But looking beyond the door, she realized she wouldn't get far. She made a point of hovering near the warriors while they ate and talked. Soon enough she knew exactly where Ulfr had been taken by surprise. She was aware of the area, as Ulfr had often taken her on long private walks. She planned on going after him the second the snow died down.
Ulfr woke tied and gagged, and he blinked to adjust to the dim light
. Where the hell am I?
His head throbbed where he had been struck from behind. He was in a solid, though somewhat small hut. He could hear the blizzard blow and howl outside. He felt a chill where cold air snuck through crevices. The fur on his outer wrap ruffled in the frigid breeze and he wondered if he had been tied here to add to his 173
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misery. He knew of the practice, but he was a warrior, and inclement weather had no ill effect on him.
There was a lone fire blazing in the middle of the structure; the floor was dirt. It smelled stale inside and shadows played against the far walls. He was surrounded by five warrior women. Their leader, the tallest and strongest of the bunch looked down at him with loathing.
"Such a weak man, bested by women," she snapped.
Ulfr glared at her. He had been struck from behind; it was the only way they could have bested him. The woman's foot shot out to kick him viciously in the ribs. He didn't move or flinch, just continued to glare at her.
"You think you are so strong?" She stood there looking at him as though summing him up. An evil calculating grin split her lips into a foul grimace. "A strong man should have a woman at his feet, or on his cock," she said. "Slave!" she snapped suddenly.
A woman approached meekly with her head bowed. "Yes, Brynhild?" she said quietly.
"Service the man," Brynhild demanded.
The woman nodded and when she knelt before Ulfr he shook his head at her sternly, glaring daggers at her. Her blue eyes were sad when she returned his gaze for only mere seconds. His body stiffened when the woman loosened his pants and her hand and mouth began to work on his penis.
Though her slender fingers were cold her mouth and tongue felt hot. She was skilled and Ulfr groaned as he hardened.
The other women laughed and moved away to watch in comfort from their furs. They began feasting on dinner. The 174
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slave was threatened by the woman she had called Brynhild.
She had best make the powerful
warrior
come or she would be beaten. After all it was the only hospitable thing to do—
entertain a guest. The other woman found her sarcasm and wit hilarious.
Ulfr was not amused.
Ulfr had been tied to a sturdy pole in the ground and was unable to move away from the woman as she gave him oral sex. She kept her eyes squeezed closed to keep from seeing the hard look on his face. Her tongue traced over him in a sultry fashion. His teeth gritted together and another grunt escaped past his lips
.
By the gods, he was furious.
How dare
they.
He didn't want to come and tried to fight the overwhelming feeling of needing release. It was a battle he soon lost. He was a slave to his own desire. Perhaps any warrior's only failing—a beautiful, pleasing woman.
Ulfr gasped when he came, and his body arched against his bonds until he settled and the warrior women shouted in delight. When the woman before him went to put his flaccid cock back into his pants the leader demanded she leave it out, as they wanted her to take him again after dinner. She nodded and again cast her sad glance at Ulfr. Her tiny hand lifted to wipe a single tear as it traced down her face. He could tell she was terrified of him, and of the women in the hut. But a small act of defiance flared upon her features for just a brief moment and the woman pulled part of Ulfr's shirt down to cover him. He was grateful, the hut was cold and his vulnerable member would have soon frozen while wet and exposed.
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After the warrior women had eaten, Brynhild went to him and again kicked him in his leg and ribs. She then backhanded him across the mouth. Another woman moved to do the same. Ulfr was outraged.
How could they do this?
He was bound and gagged. He was unable to fight back. He wondered if this was further punishment from Odin. But he had never beaten any woman or Vicki. She had claimed over and over she had wanted him. She tried everything he had asked of her eagerly and told him how incredible it made her feel.
Ulfr was hit with a revelation. Vicki was a strong woman.
She gave him control when he played with her, knowing he wouldn't allow anything bad to happen to her. That was his control—to keep her safe when she was completely vulnerable. She trusted him enough to let down her guard knowing he would never beat her as he was being beaten now.
Ulfr leaned his head back against the pole. He didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. Although he was certain of one thing, he was getting annoyed at Odin's odd way of teaching him a lesson.
"Leave him, Brynhild. We can play with him tomorrow. If he's too battered we might not fetch a fair price at the market for him," said a woman and she yawned. She then leaned over and grabbed Ulfr by the hair. She bent his head back so she could look into his furious glare. "You're a handsome brute. And strong. With the money we make on your sale we can lay low for the winter. One by one we can pick off your 176
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comrades. Soon we'll be rich enough to start our own village of warrior women. But by then you'll be far off to sea."
The woman chuckled with delight and strolled away. Ulfr glared at her back. He had other plans. Already the tight rope at his wrists was giving way. The women were too full of themselves. Didn't they realize only heavy chains could keep a male Viking warrior contained? And sometimes not even then.
"I will keep first watch, Brynhild. You and Gunnhild get some rest," said another woman.
Ulfr watched as four of the warrior women settled for the night. The woman they called slave was sent to a dirt area off to the side where she curled into a tight ball with just a small worn blanket. She was shivering and he could hear her teeth clattering together. Like his little Valkyrie, she was too thin to generate her own body heat. It was apparent she had been deprived of food for some time. Ulfr felt sorry for her. He determined when he broke free he would take the little slave to his village. She would make a nice gift for a deserving man who would not beat her and make certain she was kept warm and fed. Ulfr continued to stretch the ropes, he was certain he would be free before long. Then he would make them pay.
Vicki had disobeyed Hott's order. She had left before first light and struck out on her own in search of Ulfr the second the snow had stopped. She was desperate to find him. The snowstorm had tapered off during the night and Vicki backtracked to where Hott had seen Ulfr last. She wasn't an experienced tracker, but even a novice could make out the imprint of a large form of a man having been dragged.
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Thankfully, the blizzard hadn't obscured the imprint. There were five sets of prints. She was curious as to why they hadn't just carried him. Ulfr was huge but she had seen Hott heft his brother's great weight once. She knew for certain they would have to be close. They couldn't have dragged such a heavy man far.
It wasn't long before she came across a hut somewhat obscured within the forest. It was obvious the owners had done their best to hide the domicile. Tendrils of smoke drifted from the roof. She saw a woman hauling water from the river into the hut. When Vicki approached she did so with caution.