Svana
would be willing to help them set up a safe home for the night. If they stayed
together, they would be fine until they made new friends, or even caught a
man’s eye. Maybe she could convince Vakr to aid in building them a shelter.
As Vakr called to each man, Svana held her breath.
One by one, the men agreed they felt no concern with any of
the women. Indeed, half-starved as they were it was obvious they were no
threat.
Svana breathed a sigh of relief.
Vakr caught her eye and smiled at her. With hesitance she
returned it.
Then one by one the four men of the slain women came forward.
Svana blinked hard. Then she began shaking in sudden fury. How could Vakr? Helga was smiling in
delight beside her. Just when Svana had thought she had figured him out, the
man went and did something boneheaded. Men…
Later that night, Svana said nothing to Vakr when he entered
their small lean-to. He leaned down and came in on all fours as there was no
room for him to stand. A heavy wool blanket dropped back over the entrance.
Everyone in the village was huddled in lean-tos across a small area for protection.
Many fires burned brightly both around their area and on the close shoreline to
keep animals away. There was no fire in their shelter, but many furs littered
the ground and it was comfortable enough.
“You are still angry.” It was a statement.
“How could you?” Svana demanded.
When the warriors decided the women posed no threat, Vakr
had given them to his men like sheep.
Svana had gone from fearful to furious. Not one of the women
was able to voice a complaint, say no, nothing. They were given no choice as to
their own fate. It was appalling. When Vakr had approached her after his deed,
he had been smiling like a hero. Svana had scowled at him and turned on her
heels and marched into the lean-to. Vakr now plopped down beside her onto the
furs; she scooted away from him.
“What would you have me do? Bring them all in here with us?”
Vakr asked.
“You gave those four women to men whose wives were killed by
their husbands. How do you know they won’t be abused?”
“Do you think Ormr will kill his new woman?”
Svana had seen the look on Ormr’s face when a young
beautiful woman was handed to him. The poor thing was terrified. Ormr was huge
next to her. He could break her in half. Svana had been surprised the girl had
remained standing she was shaking so hard. The poor thing was so thin and pale.
Tears had streamed down her porcelain face, her loose long blond hair streaming
in the current of wind, fanning her cheeks and throat. Ormr had circled the
girl like a wolf, deciding whether or not he wanted her. Vakr had claimed it
his right, as her husband had killed Ormr’s wife.
When Ormr nodded and said he would take her and care for
her, the girl had fainted. There were a few grumbles from other men who would
have liked her. All of the men had claimed the women they were given. There was
no fear of starving with such a prize on the beach. The children were as easy
to pass off. Three couples had lost their own children to famine and they took
two. It was Vakr’s hope to make their transition easier if they were paired
together.
“It should have been the women’s choice,” Svana insisted.
“They have minds, you know. They’re not cattle.”
“So you think I should have brought all of them here and
dumped them in the middle of this chaos and said fend for yourself? Make your
own huts, find your own food?” Vakr sighed deeply.
“Well no, but…”
“Svana, they are frightened. What would you have done if I
had brought you here off my vessel and told you that you were on your own? Now
feed and clothe and house yourself and you have no protection against any man
or animal.”
“You could have offered to…”
“To what? Watch out for each one? Ten extra women and
children would not fit in this lean-to. I watch out for an entire village, remember.
Even I need some help sometimes,” Vakr said, then
would be willing to help them set up a safe home for the night. If they stayed
together, they would be fine until they made new friends, or even caught a
man’s eye. Maybe she could convince Vakr to aid in building them a shelter.
As Vakr called to each man, Svana held her breath.
One by one, the men agreed they felt no concern with any of
the women. Indeed, half-starved as they were it was obvious they were no
threat.
Svana breathed a sigh of relief.
Vakr caught her eye and smiled at her. With hesitance she
returned it.
Then one by one the four men of the slain women came forward.
Svana blinked hard. Then she began shaking in sudden fury. How could Vakr? Helga was smiling in
delight beside her. Just when Svana had thought she had figured him out, the
man went and did something boneheaded. Men…
Later that night, Svana said nothing to Vakr when he entered
their small lean-to. He leaned down and came in on all fours as there was no
room for him to stand. A heavy wool blanket dropped back over the entrance.
Everyone in the village was huddled in lean-tos across a small area for protection.
Many fires burned brightly both around their area and on the close shoreline to
keep animals away. There was no fire in their shelter, but many furs littered
the ground and it was comfortable enough.
“You are still angry.” It was a statement.
“How could you?” Svana demanded.
When the warriors decided the women posed no threat, Vakr
had given them to his men like sheep.
Svana had gone from fearful to furious. Not one of the women
was able to voice a complaint, say no, nothing. They were given no choice as to
their own fate. It was appalling. When Vakr had approached her after his deed,
he had been smiling like a hero. Svana had scowled at him and turned on her
heels and marched into the lean-to. Vakr now plopped down beside her onto the
furs; she scooted away from him.
“What would you have me do? Bring them all in here with us?”
Vakr asked.
“You gave those four women to men whose wives were killed by
their husbands. How do you know they won’t be abused?”
“Do you think Ormr will kill his new woman?”
Svana had seen the look on Ormr’s face when a young
beautiful woman was handed to him. The poor thing was terrified. Ormr was huge
next to her. He could break her in half. Svana had been surprised the girl had
remained standing she was shaking so hard. The poor thing was so thin and pale.
Tears had streamed down her porcelain face, her loose long blond hair streaming
in the current of wind, fanning her cheeks and throat. Ormr had circled the
girl like a wolf, deciding whether or not he wanted her. Vakr had claimed it
his right, as her husband had killed Ormr’s wife.
When Ormr nodded and said he would take her and care for
her, the girl had fainted. There were a few grumbles from other men who would
have liked her. All of the men had claimed the women they were given. There was
no fear of starving with such a prize on the beach. The children were as easy
to pass off. Three couples had lost their own children to famine and they took
two. It was Vakr’s hope to make their transition easier if they were paired
together.
“It should have been the women’s choice,” Svana insisted.
“They have minds, you know. They’re not cattle.”
“So you think I should have brought all of them here and
dumped them in the middle of this chaos and said fend for yourself? Make your
own huts, find your own food?” Vakr sighed deeply.
“Well no, but…”
“Svana, they are frightened. What would you have done if I
had brought you here off my vessel and told you that you were on your own? Now
feed and clothe and house yourself and you have no protection against any man
or animal.”
“You could have offered to…”
“To what? Watch out for each one? Ten extra women and
children would not fit in this lean-to. I watch out for an entire village, remember.
Even I need some help sometimes,” Vakr said, then
Similar Books
