spluttering with surprise. His
arms splashed the water as he tried to right himself. The other men
laughed. Volundr looked at her angrily.
“I said we would not hurt you,” he growled and rose, dripping
wet, to his feet.
“I don‟t remember agreeing to the same thing,” she retorted.
“Give us what we want, and we will leave,” demanded
another man.
When he came close, Valerie flipped him, too. She stood
before them smugly with her hands raised boxer style.
“Damn you,” snapped a man. “Behave like a woman.”
Valerie‟s eyes rose. “And just how does a woman behave?”
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Viking Warriors Book 1: Valhalla Hott
“You beg sweetly, „please do not hurt me‟ and we tell you
that you will be fine. You spread your legs and give us what we
want and no harm is done,” said a man as though it made perfect
sense to him.
From his mannerism and the many words she caught, she
understood a great deal of what he said.
“You‟re serious? Really?” she asked incredulous.
She had slipped back into speaking English she was so
surprised. A man came forward looking relieved, obviously
thinking she didn‟t know how to plead for mercy in their language
so she was just using her own. Her raised fist shot out rapidly then
retreated. She smashed his nose drawing blood with her quick
precise blow, as he stumbled back another man lunged and grabbed
her around the waist.
“Twenty-first century women don‟t beg, because of Sandra
Bullock in Miss Congeniality we know how to sing !” she bellowed,
again in English.
Her elbow smashed into his solar plexus. Her heel jammed
down onto his instep and she spun out of his arms, punched his
nose then hoofed her foot into his groin . He went down howling.
The others came at her at the same time. But before any of them
got their hands on her, a war cry rent the air, and Valerie would
have screamed in terror if she hadn‟t recognized Hott and Ulfr
splashing through the water barreling towards her. They looked
murderous, and she thought for a second she was a wee bit wrong.
She most definitely would have begged for her life if they had
looked at her like that, as it was she spun and fled for the bank and
her clothing.
Valerie pulled her tunic over her head and moved to her left
as a man was tossed onto the bank where he bounced, skidded, and
then remained still. He groaned, and she sidestepped him. Ulfr had
two men suspended by his large fists in the air and cracked their
heads together. Hott had another up off his feet. He lifted him into
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Viking Warriors Book 1: Valhalla Hott
the air high over his head and tossed him onto the bank as well.
Other men were shouting and running. Valerie wrapped her arms
around her chest, and was grateful when Bera came forward and
led her away.
Valerie and Bera waited together a long time in the hut with
the door latched. Valerie wondered what was going on and wished
Hott would come and get her.
* * * *
The men were all gathered in a large hut. Everyone was
speaking at the same time. Hott was yelling that the men should
have known better. The others were yelling that the woman should
be shared. This sparked rage from the men who had women and
were already sharing with brothers or cousins.
“Hott said it himself. His little Valkyrie was a gift from Odin
and Valhalla. She should belong to us all!” a man shouted.
“Why do you not marry off your daughter? She is old
enough,” came another argument.
“Your wife waves her ass at everyone knowing we can‟t touch
her,” complained yet another.
“Enough!” boomed Alfarin. Everyone quieted, though a few
remained grumbling. “I understand your frustration.”
“How can you, old man? Do you even rise anymore?” a man
snapped.
Alfarin glared at him. “I could still, at my age, take more
woman than you, Geirr. It is obvious we need to make plans to
find us new women.”
A cheer went up. “But who will protect the women here
when you
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