Read Online Ragnar the Murderer by Lily Byrne - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lily Byrne
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“Well done, Solmund, for keeping everyone working.”
Saehild returned to the other women, pleased to have distracted Bjarni successfully. Leofrun waited for her.
“ I was right,” Leofrun said smugly.
“ What?”
“ Steinar did need relaxing, he was far too tense.”
“ What do you mean?”
“ I just did it with him, behind that hut, against the wall.”
“ What! While the others were fighting?”
“ Yes. He’s certainly strong. I think I might come and live here like you do.” Leofrun said dreamily.
Saehild’s jaw dropped. Her friend used to be reserved and demure but it seemed the move to Hallfridby had brought out another side to her.
* * *
Meanwhile, at Aelfwyn’s home, preparations for her wedding had been escalated due to Saehild’s desertion. Her younger sisters were to be bridesmaids and their best dresses must be adorned with extra decoration. She had to visit the priest of the church with Eadbald, to discuss marriage. A wedding feast must be arranged, meaning extra food to be cooked and animals slaughtered. The flowers were to be picked at the last minute, but still needed to be tended to reach perfection at the correct time.
“ Your wedding gown will be the most beautiful dress you’ve ever seen,” said Cwenburg, sewing a line of pearls to the neckline. “You have always been the reliable and steadfast daughter, always there when needed. We shall make sure you have a wonderful day.”
Aelfwyn felt tears forming, partly because due to thoughts of Ragnar and partly because she had never been the favourite daughter before. Saehild had always been the shining jewel of the family, she had known it. The one her parents cherished the most and hoped the best for. Aelfwyn had been a distant second place, until now.
Outside in the village however, discontent grew.
“ All our women are with the Danes,” muttered Wilmund, a former suitor of Saehild.
“ They should be here doing their work and amusing us, not them,” grumbled another.
“ They are too clean, it’s not normal to wash every day and bathe every week. Real men don’t do that.”
“ We should go there and see what they are doing.”
“ They haven’t even been here for long, they come over here invading and taking our women.”
“ We should make them pay for this.”
The muttering and complaining carried on for the next few days, getting angrier and angrier.
Eahta
Meanwhile, the Danes were pairing up with the Anglisc girls. Leofrun worked her charm on Steinar even more, eating and sleeping with him, transforming from someone he barely spoke to into his constant companion. He arranged a place for her as the maid of lady Yngvild, as her last maid had left to marry.
All Saehild’s friends were able to take their pick from the mass of unmarried soldiers and craftsmen. Waves of Danes had invaded Angland for so many winters that the imbalance between the sexes- three men for every woman- still existed.
The greatest attraction proved to be the weekly bathing session. Every Saturday, groups of Danes from Hallfridby would bathe in the nearby lake. This seemed strange and exotic to the Anglisc, because they only bathed every few months, if that. The Danes treated it as a social occasion, going together with their friends and lovers.
Most people bathed when the sun was at its highest. The late spring water was still cool, but the Anglisc were surprised to find that the Danes still bathed regardless.
Of course the Danish men were more than happy to invite the Anglisc girls to bathe with them and this further strengthened the bonds between the groups.
Saehild always went with Bjarni of course, and after a few timid attempts at bathing, finally submerged herself, as the sun beat down from the first cloudless sky of spring.
“ See, it’s not so bad,” he teased, standing naked in front of her. His lightly tanned skin had the familiar rosy hue of the Danish colouring. He posed, showing off his
Saehild returned to the other women, pleased to have distracted Bjarni successfully. Leofrun waited for her.
“ I was right,” Leofrun said smugly.
“ What?”
“ Steinar did need relaxing, he was far too tense.”
“ What do you mean?”
“ I just did it with him, behind that hut, against the wall.”
“ What! While the others were fighting?”
“ Yes. He’s certainly strong. I think I might come and live here like you do.” Leofrun said dreamily.
Saehild’s jaw dropped. Her friend used to be reserved and demure but it seemed the move to Hallfridby had brought out another side to her.
* * *
Meanwhile, at Aelfwyn’s home, preparations for her wedding had been escalated due to Saehild’s desertion. Her younger sisters were to be bridesmaids and their best dresses must be adorned with extra decoration. She had to visit the priest of the church with Eadbald, to discuss marriage. A wedding feast must be arranged, meaning extra food to be cooked and animals slaughtered. The flowers were to be picked at the last minute, but still needed to be tended to reach perfection at the correct time.
“ Your wedding gown will be the most beautiful dress you’ve ever seen,” said Cwenburg, sewing a line of pearls to the neckline. “You have always been the reliable and steadfast daughter, always there when needed. We shall make sure you have a wonderful day.”
Aelfwyn felt tears forming, partly because due to thoughts of Ragnar and partly because she had never been the favourite daughter before. Saehild had always been the shining jewel of the family, she had known it. The one her parents cherished the most and hoped the best for. Aelfwyn had been a distant second place, until now.
Outside in the village however, discontent grew.
“ All our women are with the Danes,” muttered Wilmund, a former suitor of Saehild.
“ They should be here doing their work and amusing us, not them,” grumbled another.
“ They are too clean, it’s not normal to wash every day and bathe every week. Real men don’t do that.”
“ We should go there and see what they are doing.”
“ They haven’t even been here for long, they come over here invading and taking our women.”
“ We should make them pay for this.”
The muttering and complaining carried on for the next few days, getting angrier and angrier.
Eahta
Meanwhile, the Danes were pairing up with the Anglisc girls. Leofrun worked her charm on Steinar even more, eating and sleeping with him, transforming from someone he barely spoke to into his constant companion. He arranged a place for her as the maid of lady Yngvild, as her last maid had left to marry.
All Saehild’s friends were able to take their pick from the mass of unmarried soldiers and craftsmen. Waves of Danes had invaded Angland for so many winters that the imbalance between the sexes- three men for every woman- still existed.
The greatest attraction proved to be the weekly bathing session. Every Saturday, groups of Danes from Hallfridby would bathe in the nearby lake. This seemed strange and exotic to the Anglisc, because they only bathed every few months, if that. The Danes treated it as a social occasion, going together with their friends and lovers.
Most people bathed when the sun was at its highest. The late spring water was still cool, but the Anglisc were surprised to find that the Danes still bathed regardless.
Of course the Danish men were more than happy to invite the Anglisc girls to bathe with them and this further strengthened the bonds between the groups.
Saehild always went with Bjarni of course, and after a few timid attempts at bathing, finally submerged herself, as the sun beat down from the first cloudless sky of spring.
“ See, it’s not so bad,” he teased, standing naked in front of her. His lightly tanned skin had the familiar rosy hue of the Danish colouring. He posed, showing off his
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