Ketil could not take his eyes off his ‘slave’ as they shared a communal feast later in the empty hut which had once been occupied by Ulf. It had become something of a tradition to toast the absent warrior, who must be drinking with the gods in Valhalla now. He doubted he would be waited on by as lovely a Valkyrie as this one. His thoughts turned to Astrid. Sigurd’s little sister was always sobbing over something and agreeing she felt better afterwards. What had she been, fourteen, when they left? Ketil hoped she was safe wherever she was. It was odd how they hadn’t been able to find her, and perhaps just as well given the secret he had kept for so long. Still, he couldn’t save everyone. As he watched, Miriam smiled at Magnus and poured him more beer. She seemed to be struggling with the heavy jug. Those hands were meant to stitch tapestries, pluck harps, or arrange flowers not to do heavy peasant work. He wondered how they would feel around his cock and had to check himself. That wa
Miriam was panting as well as soaking wet when she reached the hut. It was a haven, though not, she suspected, for long. She searched frantically for something to wear before subsiding in a kind of daze. More than likely, in this mood, Ketil would only rip it off.Why was he being like this with her? Belatedly, she realised he had been naked. She must have been in a kind of brain fog when she entered the water. That had soon woken her up.Common sense prevailed. She needed to dry herself, perhaps on an old chemise, and maybe wear the peach dress which was currently lying on the floor. It could well be covered in insects by now.On hearing the creak of the door, she snatched it to her for the minimum of covering, only to see Magnus.“Are you all right, lass?” he asked, adopting the local vernacular.She managed a nod before she found her voice. “I fear I have killed a robin unknowingly,” she said. “All this bad luck.”“Speaking of which,” he began, and sighed. “I am the bearer of furth
The table in one of the lesser Halls was already set for supper. Shocked gasps greeted their entrance. Miriam held her head high, her carriage royal as she made her way to the seats reserved for the guards and their wives or women.“Touting for business?” Daphne hissed, her voice carrying a long way.“I leave that to you, dear sister,” Miriam replied, placing a napkin on her lap.“We are here to negotiate,” Ketil said, helping himself from a platter of cold meats.“Seeing as you have my choker now, Daphne, I feel it only right you return those jewels which were – no, are – mine.”“What is she talking about, Dee?” Lady Rutherford asked.“I know not. Something trumped up between the pair of them, no doubt.”Miriam waited to be served with wild mushroom soup, before continuing, “And I will have my gowns.”“What need have you of those now?”The scorn almost had him reaching for his dagger.“They are hers by right.”“You cannot deny it, my lady,” Magnus said. He had arrived early, and no S
Ketil could hear the others going about their morning tasks – the clink of weapons, the filling of the cauldron with water – and still he made no move to stir. The smell from the cooking fire was both comforting and tempting, though not as wholly satisfying as the woman sleeping beside him. Miriam. He wanted to be there when she woke, not to taunt her or force his attentions on her, but to reassure her in case she felt shame for behaving the way she did, something which had not been wholly her fault given his encouragement. He did not regret a single thing about last night. She had been so receptive, so responsive and not, he judged, from either fear or compulsion. Was she really so set against the idea of him finding her a noble husband? If Jenna was unable to vocalise her feelings – and Orm had hinted she may not be wholly dumb given their nightly activities – Miriam was a whole other matter. The breathy gasps had been followed by shrieks which turned to screams as she jerked and
Miriam screamed when she saw the armed intruder. Unbelievably, King Gregory himself was not far behind. She was only thankful she had snuck out for a quick wash after Ketil had gone. It would not do for her sovereign lord to suspect what had happened to his youngest daughter last night. As if he cared. Of one thing she was certain: Prince Renaud would not have measured up. Ketil had certainly stretched her, even after she relaxed and began to enjoy her first time. The kissing had been her favourite part. This man was no groper. She felt like she had been worshipped – everywhere. Why she had ever feared him was a mystery. Maybe it was because of his overt masculinity. She had a bad feeling now. Why was her father just standing there, his mouth opening and closing? There had been a horrible smell emanating from the direction of the palace and the village was strangely quiet. Were they keeping indoors, just as birds stopped singing when there was a sparrowhawk about? Miriam sank into
Miriam would never forget the look on her father’s face, the agony he endured before his head lolled forward and his crown slipped. “Training?” she queried, beginning to quiver. “As a sex slave,” Renaud told her, roughly fondling her backside. Why couldn’t she learn to keep her mouth shut? “Do I get a choice of instructor?” she queried, and was unprepared for the reply. “No, but it’s someone you know very well,” the Masked King sneered. Miriam wondered how he knew, seeing as he had only been in the territory for a very short time. Or had he? Maybe he’d camped a few leagues distant and had been plotting this for weeks? The same applied to Renaud. Had someone betrayed her? She wouldn’t put it past Daphne, or maybe even the late King Gregory. Numbness was all she could summon when she thought of her father and the horrible way he’d died. Perhaps she was still in shock. She ought to be upset, enraged, and worried about her own circumstances, too, but it felt like all those emotions
“Greetings, my beauty,” the Masked King said. “I do hope you won’t be a disappointment.” His receding chin was clean shaven, the blade of a nose overshadowing nearly every other feature. The knowing eyes belonged on a much younger man. They were a cloudy shade between blue and grey and held her rooted to the spot. “I saw her first,” Sigurd said, grinning now. The Lizard ignored him. “Maybe I will observe your first session. Take her to the room with mirrors. This man is going to train you in what is required of a slave. Remind me of your name. Miriam, wasn't it?” “Mimi,” she supplied, and was gratified to see Sigurd’s eyes widen, though he did not correct her. “Excellent.” He treated her to a long, appraising look. “That gown is far too maidenly, would you not agree?” “Want me to rip it from her body?” “Careful, Norseman. This piece of merchandise is precious to me. No, take her to the eunuch. Tell him a choice of three. He will understand. Go, now. I am impatient for the show
The room was square in shape with mirrors on the ceiling and at various points on the wall. There was even one beneath her feet. At least, it would have been had she not stepped over it.“Is this what you do to supplement a mercenary’s meagre income in a time of peace?” she asked, in case anyone was listening.“What do you think?”If she was honest with herself, she couldn’t see him in such a role at all and yet, here he was. Here they were.“So what happens now?”“I further your education,” he told her, peeling himself away from the back wall and advancing towards her like a predator.“Did you volunteer, or did he insist?”“Be quiet, Mimi, and get down on your knees.” That was when he took out his cock. “Open your mouth, wide.”She tried to remember her first time. Sanctioned by King Gregory and done to save her sister. Some of the women had gossiped about this sort of thing, comparing experiences with lovers, husbands and demanding palace guards. Maybe she should touch him first, as