VIKING THRALL (Historical Romance, Medieval, Viking) by Joanna Davis Page A

was enough. He knew she was there. And now he knew that she knew.
                  She dropped to her knees, her hands flat against the smooth wood of the gate. It didn't appear that they were set to continue their ransacking. They didn't appear to be doing much of anything. She lifted her face to the peep hole again.
                  Perhaps the stone wall would dissuade them...
                  Her eyes widened as the tree the old man had been hacking at started to fall with a terrible cracking noise. They lifted the trunk and carried it toward the high wall.
                  They were going to barge down the door!
                  "Wait!"
                  The warriors paused, looking toward the tall blond viking. He pushed away from the trunk and walked toward the door. Clearly, the leader was in no hurry to hear what she had to say.
                  "Aye?"
                  His deep voice was nothing that she would have expected. First of all, he spoke perfect Saxon. Second, it was almost… cultured. Intelligent.
                  Mocking.
                  All that he conveyed with a single word.
                  Esme gathered her courage.
                  "There is nothing inside but children and old women! No wealth, no gold. Have mercy!"
                  "You aren't an old woman."
                  That stopped her stream of words. He was right. She alone was neither very young or very old. That's why she was here to represent the others interests.
                  "Nay- I'm one of the orphans. I- grew up and decided to, um-"
                  He smirked.
                  "Stay on?"
                  "Aye! To help. Please don't harm them. There's nothing in it for you."
                  She held her breath as he seemed to consider his options. Of course, he had all the options while she had none. But she didn't have to let him know that she knew that now did she?
                  "What will you give us then? We must have something for our efforts."
                  "I have some fine wine to give you as a gift- a token of appreciation for leaving us in peace."
                  He looked startled and nodded curtly.
                  "Very well. Bring us the wine and we can speak on this further."
                  Blessings be! The villain was being reasonable after all!
                  This was the one idea she'd had all along. Get them drunk, charm them and send them on their way. She smiled happily and tipped the wine barrel onto it side so she could roll it out to them.
                  All was going according to plan.
     
     
     
     
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                  Magnus could not believe his eyes. He'd enjoyed bantering with the maid through the gate, which was surprising, given his temperament so far that day. Things had not gone as planned in the village. The wealth of the settlement was far less than what he'd expected, leaving him a in foul mood. But when she appeared with the wine barrel he was momentarily stunned into silence.
                  The girl was a beauty- the fairest he'd ever seen. Her silky dark hair framed a face of indescribable prettiness. High cheeks, full lips and large green eyes that dominated a face of heartbreaking purity. But below her slender neck, things were another matter altogether.
                  Even bent over as she was, he could see that the maid was all woman. Her firm high tits, narrow waist and graceful hips were made for rutting. His eyes flared as he took in her long, elegant legs. What he wouldn't give to wrap those around him as he-
                  "Well? Isn't anybody going to help me with this?"
                  He