Chapter Six

     When Dolph returned to the room, Candy could tell by the look in
his eyes that he was in a fine temper.  He practically stormed through the
door, the force of his anger making the room seem smaller.  His arms were
full and he tossed his burden onto the bed in disgust.  Candy had just
stepped out of the bathroom, where, with a little experimenting, she had
managed to use the facilities.  She gave him a questioning look as he strode
past her to the closet.  He pointed to the bed.
     "Find something there that pleases you and get dressed.  We must
hurry!"
     Candy stood dumbstruck, staring blankly at the clothes on the bed
as she tried to make sense of this latest turn of events.  Rummaging in his
closet, Dolph assumed that she would obey his order.  When he stepped out
of the closet and saw that she was still standing there, his temper threatened,
putting great force behind his words.
     "Why are you not doing as I said, woman?  Move!"
     Candy straightened, anger flaming into her eyes like quicksilver. 
She had figured out a way to tie the sheet so that it would stay up and she
could have her hands free.  She now placed them on her hips, as she took a
step toward the Viking.
     "Don't you give me orders!  I am not your servant, you know.  I
don't intend to do a thing until you tell me what's going on!"
     She realized rather suddenly that he was naked, having taken off his
jumpsuit inside the closet.  His state of dress, or undress, didn't seem to
bother him in the least.  He tossed his hair, narrowing his eyes and flaring
his nostrils in a very threatening gesture.  Candy tossed her own hair behind
her shoulders and glared right back at him.  The moment of silent battle
between wills seemed to last an eternity.  Ending the senseless glare match,
Dolph raised his eyes and hands to the ceiling in a gesture of supplication.
     "By the gods, why did I have to choose such a disagreeable wench?"
     Candy was indignant.
     "I am not disagreeable!  I merely want to know what is going on
around me.  Is that so much to ask?"
     Dolph exhaled a sigh, and gave one sharp nod of his leonine head.
     "Very well.  If I explain while I dress, will you dress also?"
     That seemed reasonable enough.  Candy nodded, her anger still hot,
but under control.  Dolph snorted as he began digging in the chest of
drawers for his battle clothing.  Candy couldn't help admiring the lovely
view of his naked back.  Although there were several scars scattered across
the muscular surface, they didn't mar him.  Rather, they added to his
attractiveness by illustrating what an experienced fighter he was.  All of him
spoke of strength and determination.
     "Though I do appreciate your interest, now is not the time."
     His words startled Candy, who had been caught staring quite openly
at his taut buttocks.  Blushing profusely at his smug smile, she took a
sudden interest in the clothes on the bed.  The pile consisted of:  Two
jumpsuits like the ones Dolph wore, one red, the other black.  A transparent
white peasant blouse.  A full skirt of some shimmery red material.  A long,
hooded cape of indeterminate black fur.  And a pair of black knee-high
boots with silver designs down the front.
     Finding no undergarments, Candy assumed that Viking women
didn't wear them.  'Figures,' she thought to herself, 'less to get in the way.' 
As she selected the black jumpsuit, Dolph explained the change in plans.
     "The other side has hired Vikings to fight their war.  A battle that
would have lasted a few days at most, and cost few Viking lives, has now
become a dangerous endeavor that may last months."  He sounded sad. 
"And cost many good Viking warriors their lives."  His voice turned brisk. 
"I cannot leave you and Silky in this small room for that long," a slight grin
flashed across his lips, disappearing as quickly as it had appeared, "one of
you would surely cause some mischief.  But the ship must stay in orbit in
case one of my men is hurt badly enough to need its Med unit.  Dammit!"
     The explosive curse made Candy jump and drop the boot she had
been about to pull on.  From her position sitting on the side of the bed, she
turned to look at Dolph, thinking she might give him a piece of her mind for
scaring her.  The sight that greeted her stilled her breath, making it
impossible for any words to escape her lips.
     The first thing that caught her eye was the broadsword that hung at
his hip.  It seemed so out of place on this spaceship.  But taking in the rest
of his attire transported Candy back in time and made the ship seem out of
place.  Before her stood a true Viking warrior.
     He wore an intricately carved silver helmet that held his hair in place
behind his shoulders.  With its nose protector, the helmet framed his
beautiful green eyes, glowing now with the beginnings of blood lust.  Silver
snakes encircled his massive upper arms, making the bulges there even
more obvious.  From wrist to mid-arm he wore carved black leather braces,
laced to form to his arms.  His chest and abdomen were covered in silver
armor, perfectly molded to his powerful body.  A carved dragon with ruby
eyes glared at the enemy from the center of his chest.  A black suede
loincloth peeked from beneath the armor, a loop of leather holding his
sword attached to the side of the skimpy garment.  His boots came to just
above the knee.  Made of panels of silver, they resembled the scales of a
snake.
     In an amazingly quick move, Dolph stepped forward and pulled her
off the bed and into his arms.  He hugged her tightly against him.
     "I do not want to endanger you, my lady, but I have no choice.  You
must come with me to the planet and stay in our camp."
     He held her at arm's length, looking deeply into her eyes.
     "By my life, I swear that no harm shall come to you!"
     He pulled her back against him in a fierce hug, then brusquely
released her and returned to the chest of drawers.  From the top drawer, he
pulled a small box made of silver mesh with a braided black leather handle. 
He sat it on top of the chest and opened the front panel.  Inside, Candy
could see a tiny pillow of black velvet, a small bowl and a tube, all of which
seemed attached to the box so that they didn't move.  Silky appeared at the
side of the box, rubbing the side of his face against the mesh and making
little meowy noises.  Dolph chuckled.
     "Yes, you also get to come along.  But you had better behave
yourself or I'll feed you to whatever predators might be found on this
planet.  If they would even bother with such a measly snack."
     Silky leaped into the box and settled himself on the pillow.  Dolph
closed the front panel and secured it.  He turned and held it out to Candy,
his face reflecting his concern.
     "I entrust him to you.  I may be in the battle for days at a time.  I
would have someone caring for him that appreciates his," he arched one
eyebrow, "unique personality."
     When she took the box from him, he caught her eyes in his crystal
green gaze.  His voice was deep and sincere.
     "I want my two most prized possessions together where I can
appreciate them after a long battle."
     He looked at Candy's feet, one booted, the other bare, and his
eyebrow went even higher.
     "An Earth custom?"
     Candy smiled and playfully slapped his chest, causing a loud clang. 
Carefully sitting Silky's home on the bed beside her, she retrieved her other
boot and put it on.  Dolph pulled a large leather sack from the closet and
shoved the rest of her clothes into it.  He walked to the bedroom door and
turned to her.
     "Can you think of anything else that you might need?"
     Candy gave a sarcastic "Ha!" as she stood and lifted Silky's little box
to cradle it against her body.
     "A few things.  Food, water, a nice, warm bed, some underwear,
maybe a book or two; you know, something to occupy my time while you're
out slaughtering thousands to make the world a safer place for democracy. 
Other than that, I'm fine."
     Dolph smiled wryly.  Had he expected a less complicated answer
from his Star?
     "I assure you, neither of you will starve or go thirsty.  I will be sure
that such needs are seen to."
     Dropping the bag, he took her face in his large hands and gazed
down at her, making her feel like a little girl, a very loved little girl.
     "As for your other requests, you will have no need for underwear. 
They would only get in my way."
     Candy grimaced, mumbling under her breath, "Have I got you
figured out or what!"  Dolph heard her and chuckled.  His voice was a deep
purr.
     "I will supply the warmth for your bed, my lady, and I shall
endeavor to get you exhausted enough when I am present that you shall
welcome the rest when I must leave you to 'slaughter thousands'.  And I'm
sure that Silky will supply a great deal of entertainment."
     Candy laughed softly.  Dolph dropped his hands to her shoulders
and gripped them tightly enough to cause her pain.  He meant to hurt her to
emphasize his next words, but her wince made him quickly ease up.  His
eyes blazed with inner fire as he spoke, his words hard and unyielding.
     "You must do as I say, when I say it.  I will always have your best
interests at heart.  You must trust me, Star, your very life may depend on it. 
Do you understand?"
     Candy searched his eyes, finding concern, and something else that
she couldn't quite define, glowing in those emerald depths.  She nodded,
wondering if she would regret it in the future.  He returned his hands to her
face.  As he caressed her skin with his rough fingers, he leaned down and
claimed her lips with his own.  This kiss was different, softer, speaking
more of love than lust, of protection than possession.  The hands that held
her face captive began to shake slightly.  Candy's knees were about to desert
her when, with a ragged sigh, he pulled away.  His voice was strained.
     "By the gods, I hope they have the tents up by the time we arrive. 
Come, Star."
     He grabbed the leather bag in one hand and, taking her hand in the
other, left the room and entered the same strangely painted hall that Candy
remembered.
     As they walked, they were joined by other Viking warriors.  They
all wore armor of one kind or another, and wore or carried weapons. 
Swords, double-edged axes, knives, all were in sight.  The Vikings jived
each other good-naturedly, bragging of achievements in prior battles,
anticipating the coming fray.  Candy was all but forgotten as Dolph joined
in the raucous bull-session.  As the crowd grew, the feel of battle lust began
to crackle in the air like static electricity.
     When they entered the large warehouse-like room that Candy
recognized as the first place she had ever been on Dolph's ship, Dolph
dropped her hand, drew his sword and raised it into the air.  An ear-
shattering war-cry rose to the roof as the Vikings roared in unison, "For the
glory of Odin, to the battle!"