Tempted By The Knight (Medieval MFM Menage Romance) Read Online Free PDF Page B

glittered diamonds, both glowing resplendent as the ship approached its native home base of Birka, Sweden.
    Magnus the great warrior, the keeper and captain of this heralded Norse vessel, always basked in the vision of the ship that he helmed with his brother, Eirik, one that the two piloted on journeys that took them all around the world—trading and selling the goods crafted and produced in their home village, in their beloved clan of Sigrid.
    “Our honorable Queen Astrid insisted on naming the clan in honor of Sigrid the Haughty, one of the bravest and proudest of Norse women,” Magnus reflected, keen gaze focused straight ahead of him as a vast expanse of crystal blue ocean gave way to the appearance of golden land. “Aye, but she would—our dear Astrid is herself a portrait of strength and nobility. I daresay I worship that woman as I would the greatest Norse goddess.”
    “Are ya talking to yourself, my brother?”  Magnus’ grin broadened as he heard the deep, robust voice of his younger brother Eirik, the man who now approached him at the helm of their ship. “Indeed, if you continue to display such insane behavior—insane, I daresay, even for a warrior—then I just may have to seize command of the ship.”
    Erupting in laughter, the two brothers exploded in hearty, robust chortles as they clapped each other’s backs.
    “Nah my brother,” Magnus shook his head, adding as he kept his gaze trained on the sparkling land mass before them, “I simply was taking a moment to reflect on our wondrous queen, Astrid the Good, one who constantly realizes her reputation as a kind, strong leader—just as she always embodies and demonstrates the literal meaning of her name, which as you know translates to ‘godlike beauty.’”
    Eirik nodded.
    “Well while I am not certain that I would deem our queen a beauty, at least in the traditional sense,” he offered in a low, reverent tone, “She is indeed an incredible woman.  Who could have imagined that a peaceable queen, one that taught us to bargain for goods as opposed to stealing or pillaging them, who also reminds us to be kind to all, especially women, also could reign among the most powerful Cheiftans in all of Scandinavia?”  He paused here, adding with a broad smile, “Astrid is a great lady, true to her name—it’s a shame, then, that she seems a bit lonesome at times.”
    Magnus arched his eyebrows.
    “The queen? Lonesome?” he asked, adding with lips pursed, “Eirik, Astrid has told us repeatedly that she desire no mate—that she is married to our clan.  How could she be lonesome?”
    Eirik sighed.
    “Well perhaps lonesome is not the right word,” he amended, adding in a lowered tone, “I hesitate to mention this, my brother, but about a moon ago I happened to overhear a conversation that transpired in Astrid’s longhouse, between her and her sister Inga. She mentioned that, with all the time she expends ruling and caring for our clan and village, she has little time for, um, other pursuits.”
    Magnus shook his head.
    “Other pursuits?” he repeated, adding with a chuckle, “I daresay the gal guzzles just as much ale as we do, and she regularly bests us at foot races; a fact which rather troubles me, in all honesty….”
    “I do believe the good queen was referring to carnal pursuits,” Eirik interrupted, adding in a tentative tone, “She told her sister that it has been ages since she enjoyed the company of a man—and that, as much as she reigns as a proud and powered queen, she is still a woman who has certain needs, so to speak.”
    Magnus nodded.
    “Say no more, my brother,” he declared, adding as he raised his sturdy hand high in the air, “As you well know, Eirik, that woman has bestowed upon us riches and tokens beyond our wildest imagination, as well as both the well-honed skills and the gallant longship that we need to carry out her missions—thus helping us to secure our position among the wealthiest Norsemen in all