Page 19 of Hungry Like a Wolf
“Why?” Ravn tipped his head, studying his brother. They’d had a thrall growing up, Joseph, and Orm had never showed any interest in him after his initial curiosity.
“Because she is a princess.”
“Ah.” Ravn pointed at him. “My point exactly.”
“What do you mean?”
“A princess has a brain. She is clever—she knows that there is no point trying to escape. It would be a death wish for certain.” He touched her slender shoulder and the delicateness of her flesh and bones shot an arrow of protectiveness through him. “I am right, huh?”
She nodded. “Aye, I would not try to escape. I would not survive.”
He smiled. “See, take the chains off, Orm. She will be much more efficient in all the jobs you need her to do.”
Orm chewed on his bottom lip. He looked at Anna.
“Aye, take the hog tie off. She is not a horse.” Anna nudged him with her elbow.
“You think I should?” he asked her.
Anna glanced at Carmel.
Ravn again sensed a tenuous friendship, or at least respect between the two women.
“I think you should,” Anna said. “I think it would show you have compassion in your heart, a very fine quality.” She pressed her hand over her breast.
“Mmm.” Orm looked from her to Ravn and then to Carmel. “I suppose…”
“I suppose it is up to you. You are her master.” Ravn sat back and folded his arms. He didn’t like the words that had come from his lips, but he knew Orm would like them and it was a means to an end.
“Oh, do it.” He flung up his arms. “The shuffling is annoying me, anyway.” He dug into his pocket and found a key. Then he flung it to the floor beside Carmel and it buried itself in the straw.
Quickly, she found it and held it up.
“Here.” Ravn took it. “Let me.”
Her eyes were wide as he sank to his knees and pushed at the hem of her skirt. Within a few seconds, he’d released the locks on her ankles and removed the heavy iron cuffs.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
“A princess should not be hog-tied,” Ravn said, looking up into her green eyes. “But you must promise not to run away. That would make me look a fool for saying you wouldn’t.”
“I won’t.” Her bottom lips trembled slightly. “I know I would not make the journey home alone.”
He studied the slant of her nose and the tilt of her chin. Her mother, the Queen of the Westlands, would want her back. Men would be searching, an army on the way. Likely, there’d be a hefty reward for her safe return. A beautiful, important woman like this couldn’t just be held captive without repercussions.
“We should go and collect eggs,” Orm said suddenly jumping up. “Anna, come with me.”
“I have not been to my coop yet,” she said, standing and smoothing down her gown. “We should be in luck.”
Orm shoved his feet into his boots, without his socks, then tore of a hunk off bread. He bit into it and grinned as he chewed. “Stay here, thrall, and tidy my home.” He flicked his hand at the bed, spreading crumbs. “Make sure that is clean for me later when I am tired.”
She nodded and clasped her hands on her lap. She was still kneeling.
Anna and Orm slipped out, the sealskin that covered the wooden door falling into place and keeping out both the draft and any harsh light.
“Tell me,” Ravn said, his voice tense, though he tried not to let it sound that way. “Did my brother touch you last night?”
Chapter Six
