“I might.” He didn’t turn his gaze away, wondering what sort of a test this was. Then he held out his palm, wanting to see the bronze figures more closely. When he studied them, he saw that the figures were of crouching naked men and women. The bronze carvings revealed six drilled holes upon the back of the male figure, and two dots on each side. He suspected that they were weighted in a certain way.
When he turned them over, he saw that the bronze female figure was grasping her ankles, spread apart to reveal her nude form.
What a scandal these dice would cause, if they were used in a gaming hell, Eric thought dryly. To the bald man, he said, “I will watch you play against another man and then wager in the next round.”
There was no doubt in his mind that it would not be a fair game, particularly given that this man wore several gold rings and a silver torque. By watching a round, he hoped to learn how the dice were weighted and the odds of each roll. He noticed that the female form tended to land on the side with three holes. But the Viking had a unique way of twisting his wrist, flipping the dice to roll a six. He won each time he wagered, and his pile of coins grew larger. At that point, Leif came forward and offered to play against the man.
“Sigarr clenches his fist before he rolls a six,” a female voice murmured from behind him. Katarina had slipped into the shadows, but he didn’t turn around.
“Does he?” Eric stepped away, and Katarina concealed herself behind one of the drying animal skins. “Why did you come to tell me this?”
“Because you will need an advantage to beat him.” In a low voice she added, “He keeps his left hand relaxed when he rolls a three.”
He moved in beside her and saw that she had pulled her cloak over her hair. “What would Leif say if he saw you hiding back here with me?”
She lowered her gaze. “I told him I was returning to my brother’s house for the night. I wanted him to accompany me, but he was too busy trying to beat Sigarr.”
Eric watched for a while and saw that she was right. “Why did you not tell him what you told me? Don’t you want him to win?”
“He does not win often. You likely won’t, either. But at least you’ll know what Sigarr’s habits are.”
His eyes narrowed in a questioning look. It struck him as unusual that she would seek him out to tell him this. “Are you trying to be rid of me so quickly?”
“I was only trying to help,” Katarina admitted softly.
He realized, then, that she had unspoken reasons for helping him. It was possible that she still had lingering feelings from the past and was trying to do him a kindness. Eric reached for her hand and squeezed it gently. “Thank you for telling me, Katarina.”
The moment he touched her hand, he grew more aware of this woman. Her slender body was enfolded in a cloak as if she wanted to hide from any bystanders. Although they had done nothing more than talk, he sensed that something was troubling her.
Her face grew flushed, and she pressed both hands to her cheeks. “You should go back. Valdr will be searching for you.”
“I will take you to your brother’s house, if you have no escort.” He wasn’t about to let her go alone.
“It’s all right. I can walk alone.” But the words belied her demeanor. Her gaze moved across the space, as if searching for an invisible threat.
“I am not about to let a woman go back on her own when drunken men are roaming about.”
She straightened a little. “I can defend myself, Thorgrim.” To prove her point, she rested her hand upon her blade.
“Can you?” Eric kept his tone calm, but he remained kneeling beside her. “But if I am with you, there is no need.”
“Leif will be angry if he sees you with me,” she pointed out.
“Then he should leave his game and escort you himself.” He had little sympathy for a man who would leave a woman unprotected.
Katarina let out a hesitant sigh as if she were still wary of Leif’s jealousy. “I suppose I could stay a little longer. I will watch your game instead.” She emerged from her hiding place and walked ahead of him. Eric remained behind her, resting his hand upon the hilt of the blade Hrafn had given him.
When they reached the fires, Leif’s gaze narrowed at the sight of Katarina. She moved to his side and spoke softly to him. His features relaxed, and he pulled her onto his lap. Although Leif had offered to marry Katarina, there was something about the man that made Eric question his intentions.
“Join us,” Sigarr ordered. “Now it is your turn.”
Eric debated whether or not to take part, but in the end decided that he had little to lose, having only one silver coin. They gave him another cup of ale, and he sat across from Sigarr.
“How much are we wagering?” he asked the man.
“Four pieces of silver for the first round. Then it will double with each roll of the dice.”
He didn’t have four pieces of silver, but he supposed he could conceal that. In gaming hells, it was common for card sharps to lure a player by allowing them to win the first few rounds. He suspected Sigarr might do the same. “All right.”
