Norse Valor Read Online Free PDF Page B

David snapped. “You’re built like a brick
shithouse. She’s like a damned doll next to you. Bloody right, she’s little.”
    Vakr looked enlightened. “I was not going to harm her. It
would seem you’re not as puny as I first thought. You do have fight in you.
That is good. You’ll need it.”
    Vakr shouted some words to Ari who came forward with two
other men. They dragged David below kicking and howling. Svana tried to go with
him but Vakr caught her around the waist, stilling her flight.
    “He’s hurt,” Svana cried out. She struggled against Vakr to
no avail.
    “He will be fine. In truth, he’s lucky he is alive. If any
other man had attacked me onboard he would be dead already and heaved over the
side for the sharks,” Vakr said and spun her in his arms to look down at her.
“He felt you were in danger, his blood kin. I understand that. I may not be so
understanding of a recurrence.”
    Svana heard the threat. “He can’t help it. David loves me.
He would put himself in danger for no other, including himself.”
    “I will keep that in mind when I teach him to fight his way
out of wet holey wool.” Vakr grinned then seemed to think of something. “I will
also teach him a new battle cry. By the Gods, he sounded like a dying banshee. Or
an old woman bit by a snake.”
    Svana felt heat flame her cheeks. “He can’t help that
either,” she muttered.
    Vakr’s finger under her chin tilted her face up, forcing her
to meet his gaze. “I will not hurt you. You will just have to trust me. Do not
ever question my men’s loyalty again. Mutiny is a dangerous word aboard a
vessel. Your words came too close. My men would die for me and I them.”
    Svana gazed up into troubled blue eyes. “I hurt your honor,”
Svana said wisely.
    Vakr nodded. “Nothing is more important than honor.”
    “I’m sorry, Vakr. I was angry. My brother is important to
me. I love him, too. I was worried about him, I still am.”
    “Do not fear, Svana. I am a man of my word.”
    “What will happen to David below deck?”
    “He is being taught to row.”
    “Taught to row?” she said taken aback.
    “Yes row.”
    “David can row a boat, Vakr. Any moron can row a boat,” she
said dryly.
    “Really?” Vakr looked amused.
    Vakr took Svana by the hand and led her to the side of the
vessel. Her gaze traveled to either end of the craft. With a dragon head on
both ends it was impossible to differentiate between the bow and the stern.
Both she and Vakr looked down over the side. Svana was surprised to see many
oars in the water. A small square opening allowed each paddle access to the
water. Svana could see the possibilities. At any different time they could
about-face and the stern could become the bow or vice versa. What an amazing
strategic maneuver. It would enable them to avoid collision, or if they were
really Vikings, they could avoid an attack… What was she thinking? Svana gave
herself a sound shake.
    Each long paddle lifted in unison. She imagined the power
behind their strokes. It was impressive to say the least. The sheer strength to
slide a boat this large through the ocean was phenomenal. Vakr then led her to
the other side of his vessel. Again oars rose and fell like moving poetry…all
except one.
    One oar lifted too high then crashed into a wave. The force
of the wave sent it back into another oar. The wood crashed. The oar was then
sent flying into the oar in front of it. Svana could hear a lot of yelling from
this side. David’s name was mentioned often. The wayward oar dropped straight
down and now she could hear David yelling. Svana put her hand to her mouth.
    “Do your men understand him?” she asked worriedly.
    “A few took the time to learn the language. We were not in a
place called England long—we were most unwelcome in the tiny village we stopped
at. They too had never heard of us. They named us heathens and infidels. It
amused us to stay for a short time. They were cut off from their lord and