Page 15 of Shared By the Vikings

“Knock on the head turned you into a woman, huh?” Erik squatted down beside her. “Never known that happen to a boy before.”

“Explains a lot,” Gunnvar grunted.

Ingrid didn’t speak, instead she closed her eyes again and dropped her face. A tremor had started in her belly and was spreading outward. Her teeth clattered despite the pleasant sun above.

Erik cupped her chin in his hand and tipped her head up. “Look at me.”

She squeezed her eyes tighter shut.

“Look at me or you’ll be back in the ocean, woman.”

She opened her eyes, knowing she’d see anger in his.

And she was right. The dark depths glinted with fury from between his thick lashes.

“You tricked me. You boarded my longboat as a boy but beneath your clothes you have breasts and a cunny.”

“I’m sorry, Jarl Erik. I needed to get to England.”

“I don’t care what you needed. You brought bad fortune upon us. You angered Thor and Aegir with your deceit.”

“No, no, that’s not true.”

He pinched her chin harder. “I say it is. This is your fault. The storm blew us onto rocks because of your foolish deception. We have lost the rest of the flotilla. You will be punished. And you will be punished soundly.”

“No, please.” She tried to twist away but he held her firm.

“What is your real name?”

She swallowed, her throat tight. “Ingrid Baardsen.”

His mouth remained in a flat tight line. Would he recognize her surname and know she was the daughter of a king? That she was actually Princess Ingrid Baardsen?

“Jarl Erik. Her head is bleeding,” Tali said.

Erik remained silent as he stared at her.

Ingrid held his gaze even though her heart was galloping along. What was he going to do with her? Naked and weaponless, she was helpless if Erik decided this was her final day. No amount of skill as a shield maiden would save her.

Suddenly he stood and stepped away, his boots stamping over the sandy, flotsam-littered shoreline. “Clean her up if you want, Tali. I’m going to find firewood and set a trap. Soon enough it will be nightfall and my belly wishes for food.”

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