Page 110 of Shared By the Vikings

“I have come to see your bride.” Ursula frowned. “Put some clothes on.”

“It is my house, why should I?” He poured hot water over leaves and into a mug.

“Good luck with this one, Princess Ingrid,” Ursula said, shaking her head and giving an indulgent smile.

Ingrid resisted the urge to watch her gorgeous naked husband-to-be as he sat and sipped his infusion.

“I will see you all before your journey.” Ursula turned and walked to the door. “And I will send prayers to the gods to thank them for your safe travel.”

As the door closed, Raud emerged, also naked. He yawned and stretched his hands over his head, gripped a low beam and elongated his body.

A very deep, primitive longing sparked inside Ingrid. He was so beautiful, as was Erik. She wanted them... both. At the same time.

How could that work?

“It’s gone. It’s gone.” The door swung open and bashed against the wooden wall.

Erik jumped up, spilling his tea. “Can’t a man have peace when he gets from his bed?” He frowned at Tali. “What’s gone?”

Ingrid’s longing for sex transformed into a sour sinking feeling. There was only one thing Tali could be talking about in such a way.

The treasure.

“The barrel, our loot, it’s gone.”

“What?” Erik slung his clay mug to the corner of the room. It smashed, liquid sprayed up the wall. “It can’t have.”

“It was well hidden,” Tali said. “And I don’t know anyone who would dare step on your boat without permission, Jarl Erik.”

“Well, someone did dare.” Erik was already pulling on his pants, as was Raud. “And I will find out who.”

“Who could it be?” Ingrid asked, her shock turning to anger. “It is ours.”

“It is ours, and we will get it back.” Erik reached for his sword. He gestured to Raud. “Come.”

The three men marched from the house, Ingrid was quick to follow.

As they entered the main square of the village a crowd formed around them. Erik stood on a wooden platform, sword held out in front of him. “Someone has taken something of mine,” he roared.

Silence descended.

“And I want it back.” He swung his sword around the crowd, the end seeming to point, just for a moment, at every single person.

“What has happened?” Gunnvar ran into the square, his tunic unbuttoned and his hair wild. There were black streaks down his cheeks and chin.

“Our treasure from foreign lands has gone,” Tali said.

“Stolen,” Raud added, a tendon in his cheek twitching, the way it always did when he was very angry or frustrated.

Tali and Raud stood either side of Erik, weapons raised. The early sun glinted off their swords.

“What?” Gunnvar’s mouth dropped open.

“It’s true,” Erik said, his voice low and dangerous.

“Gods, why do you do this?” Gunnvar raised his hands to the sky and closed his eyes. “Why, oh, why? You have ripped the fruits of our raid from us. Our efforts over Aegir’s raging sea were in vain.”

Ingrid clasped her hands together. There was no predicting what her men might do. That treasure was their future, in this life and the next.

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