Page 86 of The Reluctant Viking

His face lit up with understanding. “So to be unlucky is to strike out?”

“Right!”

“I like that,” he said with a nod, “although I usually only hit home runs.”

When she made a tsk-ing sound of disgust at his conceit, he smiled widely, exposing the whitest, evenest teeth Ruby had ever seen outside an orthodontist’s office. Despite his devastating good looks, Ruby felt no attraction whatsoever toward him. She was deliberating over that sudden insight when Selik asked in a low, silky voice, “Did your husband really shave your legs?”

“Yes, he did,” Ruby answered, laughing at his bluntness.

“Mayhap I would enjoy doing that for you…seeing as how you have no husband to—”

“Mayhap you would like to have your balls cut off.”

Ruby and Selik both jumped at the voice behind them. It was Thork.

“Hardly.” Selik answered dryly, crossing his legs comically to cover his genitals in pretended horror.

“Then get the hell to your own tent where you belong.”

Ruby and Selik gaped at Thork, finding it hard to comprehend Thork’s anger over a casual conversation.

“Methinks the man is testy because he was unlucky tonight,” Selik bantered, glancing pointedly at Ruby, then inquired sweetly, “Didst thou perchance strike him out?”

Ruby bit her lip to stifle a giggle.

“Do not push me, Selik. You will not like the results.”

“Methinks you play the dog in the manger,” Selik said with a grin, apparently undaunted by Thork’s dire warnings. “If you do not want the wench, Thork, there are others who do.” Selik winked slyly at Ruby.

“Ruby is my responsibility, boy. Go find some dimwitted slut who knows not the difference between a man and a boy.”

Instead of taking umbrage at the insult, Selik hooted with glee at the expression on Thork’s face. “Smitten! Thor’s blood! Ne’er did I think to see the day! The maid has skewered you good and fine.”

After Selik left, Ruby and Thork continued to hear his fading laughter.

“So now you practice your wiles on boys.”

“I did not.”

“Best you be praying instead of flirting, wench,” he lashed out, reminding her of her dire circumstances.

Before Ruby fell asleep that night, she decided she liked Thork’s proprietary manner. It spoke of deeper feelings he would not admit.

When she awakened early the next day, she ate a cold meal and washed up in a stream, then went to the opening ceremonies for the Althing with Aud. Women didn’t participate, except as occasional witnesses, but they were permitted to watch. A massive, open-sided tent screened a low platform from the summer sun. Sigtrygg sat in the place of honor, along with twenty well-dressed jarls, including Dar. At least five hundred freemen of Northumbria, who had the right to vote, surrounded them on the ground.

“With the law shall the kingdom be built up, and with lawlessness wasted away,” a booming voice called out, officially declaring the opening of the Althing.

“That is the law speaker, Assen.” Aud pointed to an imposing figure who had moved to the head of the jarls. “He will read one-third of all the laws contained in the Danelaw legal codes from memory, then one-third next year and one-third the following year. Listen, he explains the Viking law and specific crimes and punishments.”

While some of the punishments were downright barbaric, such as chopping off a hand for thievery, or stoning a witch, or decapitating a traitor, most of the laws were based on a simple premise: an innocent man should not be unjustly accused, and the guilty should not be protected.

“Your case will not come before the Thing today,” Thork said, coming up to Ruby where she sat on a slight hill to the side of the platform. She and Aud had a perfect view of the proceedings under Vigi’s diligent guard.

Ruby breathed a sigh of relief at Thork’s words.

“There are so many disputes to hear, it may be two days afore they get to you.”

“Is that good or bad for me?”