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Miriam was learning a very different type of dancing under the eunuch’s watchful gaze. It involved sensual movements and rippling the belly in a way which was supposed to delight and entice. As was customary with her, she closed her eyes and thought of Ketil.In some ways he was her lodestone, the talisman she used to get her through the tough times.Not that she was suffering hardship. She had enough to eat and drink, though was becoming fed up with the sweetmeats which had been such an unexpected treat in the beginning.Oh, for the hours of boredom when she indulged herself by reading under a tree, having escaped the confines of the palace.Dreading the day when she would have to endure the attentions of the Masked King, she counted on her fingers and realised this whole torrid situation had taken place in just over a week. It was hard to believe.Miriam had to admit it hadn’t been all bad spending time among the mercenaries. The fate she had dreaded on leaving the Great Hall had no
Miriam was back where she belonged – in Ketil’s arms – though it had been a close-run thing after Sassa’s indiscretion. Fortunately, her sister started to scream shortly after that, and the guard who stuck his head round the door assumed it was just the madwoman venting.Sigurd was not so charitable, if the way he was glaring was anything to go by. She herself had been dismayed in the beginning, as the fact that the two of them apparently knew each other raised more questions about his past.That had all been explained away as they made their way beyond the palace gates, sneaking past the outer wall and taking the path leading to the mountains. It was quite a trek but she didn’t care, even though her footwear did not exist, because Ketil insisted on carrying her once they left the building. Amazingly, the rescue went ahead without a hitch. Even Daphne was silent, fondling stroking Ruth’s hand, as Magnus escorted them to safety.Sigurd was scouting ahead, the safest place for him, whil
Ketil was amazed yet again by Miriam’s selflessness. He hadn’t even spared a thought for the jester and yet, here she was, wondering if he had survived the attack. Though she didn’t spell it out, her fear for him was very real. It was one more indication of why she would make a good queen, yet she needed someone to temper that kind heart.Unpalatable decisions were sometimes required of a leader. He knew that at first hand and, having been groomed to become Jarl from birth, it was something intrinsic to his nature, even now, when there was scant chance of that in his homeland.Resolving to make it his personal mission to find out about the jester, Alaric, when he was in a position to do so, he rose early while Miriam was still sleeping and went to wash in a nearby pool.Sigurd joined him without a word, which was unusual for him. He had to find a way to break through that wall of ice.“Say something,” he urged, before submerging himself once more.“She is changed.”“No more than you.
Miriam knew some of what was coming when Sassa opened up to her, having overheard more than she should near the pool. In her admittedly limited experience of men, she had learned one thing: go with your heart. She reflected that it explained a lot about Sigurd’s outlook on life, his behaviour towards women. While the role of matchmaker was new to her, she had to try for the sake of peace within the group. If this new tension wasn’t resolved, and swiftly, how would they ever defeat the Masked King? When the opportunity came to speak separately to the red-bearded giant she seized it, though all she said was she hoped he wouldn’t judge Sassa too harshly for the fate which had befallen her. “What about you, Princess?” he had surprised her by asking. “Do you hate Ketil for being a part of separating you from your family and your old way of life?” “No, Sigurd,” she replied. “I was unhappy there.” “And now?” he pressed. Unused to such concern from a man to whom she wasn’t close, Miriam
It was so easy to mortify his lady, even when he assumed she would take his comments in good part. Astrid would have, but she had been raised in the Viking way where modesty was usually mocked and men and women alike were comfortable with their nakedness. Though, he had to admit, his half-sister and Sigurd would need some time to adjust to their new relationship. Were it not for her unfortunate past he might have bedded her already, but the easy jokes had not returned and his face was serious more often than not, which added up to only one thing: they hadn’t yet consummated their love. With Miriam, he had simply assumed it would never happen. Loving her from afar as he did was enough, until she fell into his lap because he could not allow anyone else to buy her. He had been so angry; he still was. Rumours abounded about the Masked King, claiming he dined regularly on human flesh and tore apart the women unlucky enough to find favour in his eyes. Had he spread those himself or was some
Alerted by a sudden noise to his left, he realised he’d ventured forth without a weapon. Not good. No doubt Magnus would rib him about it later. He seemed to be the one poking fun these days. Unless it was the man himself making a point.Ketil heard a sigh, followed by the sound of something being plucked from the earth. A toadstool would be his guess. So it must be a woman, but he didn’t detect Miriam’s signature rosewater scent. She must have bathed in it so often it lingered and usually alerted him to her proximity.Rising from the grass, he remained concealed behind the bole of the oak tree itself just in case his instincts were as awry as his memory – how could he have forgotten to bring a blade? Whoever it was began to hum a lullaby he seemed to recognise from his time at the palace. That ruled Daphne out. She had a deep voice and he could not really imagine her even holding a baby, let alone singing to it.Astrid had not been there while he was fulfilling his guard duties, so t
The army amassed by Ketil, though not vast, was at least skilled judging by the practice sessions. She was no expert, of course, but Daphne said the men seemed more than competent. Quite how she knew that was open to question, but it was what Miriam wanted to hear, so she gave little thought to how easily the mercenaries had been overcome when taken by surprise. Their leader had seemed to be able to come and go as he pleased, though even he had been careless enough to leave himself unprotected a time or two.She had some thinking to do regarding the Norseman. Had she given herself to him initially to avoid being sent away? It was hard to say. Normally, she was not that bold or cynical, but circumstances dictated everyone’s behaviour, didn’t they? Daphne was a prime example of that, though still impossible to fathom. Irrespective of that, Miriam felt bound to him now. Yet, if it came to a choice between him and her people she did not know how she would make it. The kingdom needed a man
The waiting was the worst part. At least, she thought it was initially. Countless women must have stayed behind wondering if their husbands, brothers and sons – in some cases, their fathers – would return unscathed from a battle. Miriam had never experienced such a thing and it was setting her teeth on edge. No, her sister was doing that all by herself.For some reason she had suggested a dancing competition. Sassa was willing but not Ruth.“Let us show Jenna how it’s done. How else will she persuade someone of higher rank to wed her?”Tactful, as usual, that was Daphne.“They are very happy together. And Orm is not related to Ketil and Magnus. Can you not see they love each other?”“What a naïve girl you are, sister dear. Why don’t you wear the green costume, if Ruth isn’t participating? It matches your eyes.”In order to keep the peace, Miriam went along with it, though it was a pain to be wrapped up in the many separate veils. She quite liked the one covering her face. Sassa had to