Page 29 of Ravager
I took another sip and shook my head. “Nothing you could say would shock me.”
My eyes sparked dangerously, just for a second. When I looked closer, he was back to his roguish ways. “Is that so?”
I cleared my throat. “So, tell me, why were you exiled?”
He leaned back in his chair and folded his big hands on the table. “Because he fears me. The King of Norway would rather his subjects stay in their own country. Oh, he ordered us to claim these lands at first—first for Møre, then for Bergen—but then, he grew soft. And where does that get us? How can we achieve greatness if we die at home in our beds? We can’t. And so the king has turned his back on the gods. I wouldn’t be surprised if I one day returned home to see them all worshipping Jesus.”
“The king just doesn’t want to see his people die in needless battle,” Arvid interjected, picking at his teeth with a thin stick, “although I am inclined to agree with Rolf here. There is no such thing as needless battle.”
“Damn right,” Rolf said, slamming back his drink. “And that is why you left the country, isn’t it, Arvid?”
“It is,” he conceded politely.
I looked to Erik, who had been silent this whole conversation. I thought perhaps things would be awkward between us after what had happened during the night and the lewd events of the morning. But since Rolf had left me with Erik’s semen still in my throat, the two of us hadn’t had a single moment to ourselves. I was ushered back to my chambers at Erik’s insistence, and I hadn’t seen anyone until Knut took me upstairs for dinner.
Now, he was stoic and on edge, watching everything and everyone. Everyone except me, that was. I felt rejected and alone, even with him sitting beside me, and I cursed myself for having feelings for the man.
What was the use anyway? We had sex, and now, he was done with me. The fire, the short burst of playfulness, was out, and he was back to his handsome yet glacial self. Even Rolf was asking for my company, as if he too knew Erik didn’t want me anymore. It hurt more than it should have, and I busied myself with more drink. The spread of food was more than I had ever eaten in my whole entire life, yet my appetite was almost entirely gone.
It wasn’t just Erik who was being frustrating, but Rolf. I couldn’t figure out what he wanted from me and why. One minute, the man oozed confidence and greed; the next, he was batting angelic eyes at me. When he asked for my presence after dinner, I felt vulgar for assuming it was for his own pleasure, yet I couldn’t fathom why he’d want my company otherwise. He was the type of man who could just take me anywhere he wanted and not wait for a specific time.
I shifted in my seat, wishing the numbing effects of the wine would work quicker. It wasn’t that I didn’t think Rolf was extremely beautiful in a rather wild way or that I didn’t fantasize about seeing him in his raw form. But I was scared, nonetheless, and for once in the short time I’d been with the Vikings, I felt Erik wasn’t on my side.
I was abandoned.
After dinner, Rolf said some parting words to me and stalked off down the hall, his black hair flowing over broad shoulders. I looked sympathetically at him, knowing he was working himself into a corner. I didn't think he could take another village like this one and become a duke, but it wasn’t my place to say anything.
Erik and I were left in an uncomfortable silence as we finished our drinks. I kept glancing at his face, hoping for some kind of recognition or explanation for his cold demeanor, but I decided to keep my pride and not ask him if he was mad at me.
When Erik got up suddenly and slammed his glass on the table, I knew it was time to leave. We made our way towards Rolf’s door, Erik walking a few feet ahead of me the whole time. As we approached, I couldn’t help but ask, “What's going to happen?”
His eyes turned dark as he looked down at his feet. “You’ll have to ask the future Duke of Normandy.”
He knocked on the door, and it swung open quickly, revealing a drunk and satisfied Rolf. He seemed pleased I was brought here but said nothing else.
Erik took a deep breath before walking inside, and I followed, feeling tense and on edge. Rolf’s new chambers were lavish and luxurious, fit for a wealthy baron, which is what I supposed he now was. There were silk rugs, gold-plated furnishings, and ornate tapestries adorning the walls. In the center of the room was a large, four-poster bed adorned with velvet curtains.
“Quite impressive,” Rolf said to me with a sly smile. I smiled back shyly, unsure of how to respond. “Oh, to be a baron in France,” he continued. “But only a foolish baron would let himself be captured by barbarians like us. He’s certainly not very wealthy if he doesn't even have the thumbs to pleasure himself with.”
“You cut off another one?” Erik asked, his tone filled with indignation. I could tell he was struggling to hide his anger.
Rolf nodded with a cruel smile, his teeth impossibly white. “He wouldn’t stop crying in his cell like a little baby. I’m shocked Cherine hasn’t been bothered by it.”
Having been in the room next door to the baron, I was, in fact, bothered by it—so much so that when the baron’s screaming became too much, I began to stick hay in my ears, hoping to block the sound.
It hadn’t, and the mere mention of the event brought a sickened scowl to my face.
Rolf noticed, raising his black brows. He came over to me, his step asserting his power while his eyes remained soft and inquisitive. “I suppose it can’t bear well for you to hear about the treatment of your fellow countrymen, can it?”
I straightened and looked blankly at him, not willing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me meek and vulnerable. “What is it you wanted to see me about?”
He studied me for a second before looking to Erik. “Erik, go close the door, please. You can stay…this time.”
I saw the strange wave of relief in Erik’s dusky eyes and wasn’t surprised to feel the same way myself. Being alone with Rolf would have been too much.
“Now,” Rolf said slowly, looking between us both. “I’ll tell you what I want, and you both will give it to me. Understood?”
Erik’s jaw tensed, but he nodded just the same. I was terrified, and when I looked to Erik for support, I didn’t find anything but his hard expression. Perhaps I had underestimated him as well. I held my hands up to my chest and began to wring them together.