Page 18 of The Viking’s Captive

Alrek offered him these departing words: “Methinks yer One-God sent you to me as a miracle.”

The loathsome lout a miracle? …

Miracle of miracles, Alrek finally seemed to have mastered the rudiments of archery.

Oh, Tyra wasn’t deluding herself. The boy could scarce lift the heavy bow, and everyone ducked when he did, but at least he’d hit the target. Off center, of course, but after two dozen tries, having hit it at all was a real accomplishment.

“Good job, Alrek,” she complimented him with a pat on the shoulder.

The boy’s face fair glowed with pride. You’d think she’d just laid a treasure chest at his feet … or granted his most fervent wish … a family, of all things … something he told everyone who chanced to cross his path.

She and her men were camped for the evening along the North Sea shore; tomorrow they would head north up through the fjords to her father’s holdings. While their evening meal was being prepared—a freshly killed red deer roasting on an open spit—they were exercising in a clearing with sword and lance and bow, as was their daily practice.

“Betcha yer thinkin’ it was a miracle … that I hit the target,” Alrek said. He and Tyra were picking up arrows that lay about in the grass.

“I wouldn’t exactly call it a miracle,” she replied with a laugh. “Hard work always pays off in the end. Haven’t I told you that afore, Alrek? You always want results immediately, but you must learn patience. Someday you are sure to be a good Viking warrior. Give it time.”

Alrek tilted his head and considered her words. “Nay,” he concluded. “It was a miracle. Jest like Lord Adam is a miracle fer me, too.”

“LordAdam? Your personal miracle? Did he tell you that?”

“Not precisely,” he admitted, “but I jest know his prayers will shoot up in the sky to his One-God who is gonna find me and me brother and sisters a family. A miracle, to my mind.”

Alrek’s logic boggled the mind and did not bear questioning, lest he translate her inquiries into license to fantasize even more. Tyra started to walk away toward the target, where she hoped to find at least some of the arrows that had gone astray.

“By the by, are you gonna be in Lord Adam’s harem?”

Tyra halted in her tracks and peered back over her shoulder. “Are you referring to Adam the Healer? He has a harem?”

“Well, he does not have one yet, but he is putting one together. Leastways, that is what Rashid said. Rashid thinks you would make a glorious first addition.”

“Alrek! Do not dare repeat that tale anywhere! Dost hear me?”

He nodded reluctantly.

“I am not now, nor will I ever be, interested in being a member of any man’s harem. Is that clear?”

He nodded again. “I did not mean offense.”

“I know you didn’t, but you can be sure I will give Lord Adam an earful on this topic. A harem! Indeed!”

A short time later, she was bent over picking up the remainder of the arrows when she heard a whistling whirr—a sound she recognized too well. It was too late to move away. Almost at the same moment as she heard the sound, she felt a sharp pain in her right buttock.

She stood quickly and spun on her heel. Peering over her shoulder, she saw her worst fears realized. There was an arrow protruding from her behind. Then she raised her narrowed eyes to pierce the culprit on the other side of the field.

Alrek at least had the grace to turn gray and mutter, “Uh-oh!”

As she began stomping toward the inept rascal, she shouted, “Now would be the time to pray for a miracle, Alrek. Pray that I fall over dead afore I get my hands around your scrawny neck.”

Alrek, smart boy that he was at heart, ran for his life.

Some things always come back to bite you in the arse …

“I thought you would have come up with an escape plan by now,” Rashid complained to Adam.

They were sitting next to each other, tied to adjoining tent poles. Their legs were free, but their hands were bound behind their backs. There were several burly Vikings sitting before the nearby campfire, tending a deer that was being roasted for dinner. Every couple of minutes the guardsmen looked their way, just to make sure they hadn’t mysteriously disappeared.

“What? You think I’m a magician, too?”