Page 42 of My Fair Viking

Warrior by trade and dress.

Wanted the man,

Clobbered the man,

Carried off the man,

Heeded no ban,

Off she ran,

Took him to her clan,

Because the lady had a plan.

Now, some say she needed his talent,

That a miracle in him the gods sent.

That very well may be true,

But on this idea you should chew:

Exactly which talent of the knave

Did the fair maid crave?

And, further, this advice I confide:

Best that Eve should watch her backside

When Adam is untied…

Or better yet, at her bedside."

Tykir and Alinor declared it the best poem Bolthor had ever created.

"It even rhymed this time," Alinor cooed.

"And it was long, too," Tykir added, as if that were an asset for a good saga.

Rashid was practically in a swoon and swore that he and the skald would make celestial music by combining Bolthor's poetic talents with his own mental stash of proverbs.

Tyra had walked up just as Bolthor began to speak. She was looking rather red, so Adam assumed she had overheard the saga. And, yes, her lips were kiss-swollen. Adam closed his eyes and wished he were back in Northumbria where being a hermit was sounding better by the minute.

Chapter Eight

The next morning, King Thorvald awakened for a short time and was able to swallow a bit of thin gruel. Adam started his day in a really good mood.

To mark the occasion, he pinched Tyra's right buttock on the way out of the bedchamber, which caused her to squeal, just like a woman, which she probably hated. Then he winked at her, just to remind her of their bargain, which might very well go in his favor if her father continued to improve. The wink caused her to blush, just like a woman, which she probably also hated.

He was whistling when he entered the great hall. Rashid motioned him over to a table where hesirs were sitting down to break their fast before beginning the day's work.

"There are already people lining up for your services," Rashid told him.

He nodded. "I will see a few of them this morn, but not too many. I am still not sure how I feel about returning to medicine. Do you understand?"

"I do," Rashid said. "Slowly at first. One patient at a time. One day at a time."