Chapter Twelve

     Candy woke to Dolph gently shaking her shoulder.  As she rubbed
the sleep from her eyes and tried to remember the night before, he spoke to
her in a soft, yet stern, voice.
     "Do you wish to eat before your punishment is carried out?"
     The day before, the good and the bad, came back in a rush.  Candy
sat up in the bed, pushed her blonde mane behind her shoulders and glared
at the man who in the last 24 hours had become her nemesis.  Dolph raised
a hand as if to ward off her expected outburst.
     "There is no psychology in Viking punishment, Star.  When you
deliberately defy me, you are punished.  I offered you the choice of time
because I felt that you had had a difficult day and might not be strong
enough to bear it last night.  You have had a good night's rest," he smiled
knowingly and Candy wanted to kill him on the spot, "and I feel you are
capable of enduring it now.  Since I know not how you react to pain, I do
not wish to have you eat if it will be wasting the food."
     Candy threw the cover off and stood, relishing Dolph's audible
intake of breath at the sight of her naked body.  She started to dress in her
black jumpsuit, but Dolph pulled it from her hands and instead gave her the
red skirt and white peasant blouse that he had brought from the ship.  She
narrowed her eyes at him, but his crossed arms and the firm set of his jaw
warned her that arguing would be fruitless.  Mumbling to herself about
'dressing for the Neanderthal' Candy pulled on her clothes with all the grace
of an angry woman, yanking the neckline of the blouse this way and that
until it laid across her shoulders in a way that was almost acceptable to her. 
As she reached for her boots, Dolph stepped in front of her.
     "You will not need those.  Since you are not a Viking and will
doubtless not take your punishment with the proper attitude, I think I might
fare better if you are barefoot."
     His hand closed around her upper arm as he said with an
authoritarian tone, "Come with me."  Candy tried to pull away, she could
lead herself to the guillotine, but Dolph held fast, giving her a stern look. 
Realizing the futility of fighting with a man the size of Mt. Everest, Candy
muttered, "Fine, be that way!" and stopped struggling.
     Dolph led Star to a spot in the center of camp which had been
cleared of all debris.  A circle had been formed by a hundred or so Viking
warriors.  They stood talking amongst themselves, obviously waiting for
something, most of them in full battle armor and carrying their weapons. 
This was a Viking 'punishment circle'.  Any disciplinary action necessary
was carried out in this way so that all who wished could view Viking justice. 
It gave the person who had committed the error the opportunity to partially
atone for his mistake by taking his punishment well.  Viking justice was
heavily based on pride, honor and atonement.
     Candy graced several of the men milling about with a contemptuous
look, which most greeted with a smile, then she said to Dolph, "most people
read the newspaper before they go to work.  Trust you to come up with
something more interesting."
     Dolph allowed one corner of his mouth to rise slightly, then his face
became the warrior's mask as he released Star and stepped to the center of
the punishment circle where Kirk stood, his upper body bare.  Dolph's deep
voice projected easily to the back of the ranks of Vikings as he pronounced
judgement.
     "Kirk Roarkeson failed in his duties to his commander.  He is
sentenced to five lashes.  Star disobeyed a warrior.  They will receive their
punishment at the hand of their commander."
     Dolph held out his hand and Felix stepped forward and placed the
handle of a wicked-looking whip in his palm.  Dolph uncoiled the lash, then
snapped it, startling Candy into jumping and biting her tongue.  Kirk turned
his back to Dolph and two men stepped to either side of the young Viking. 
He straightened his shoulders and took a deep breath, pride evident in his
stance.  Their brotherhood obvious, Dolph did the same, gritting his teeth
and flexing his hand on the finely tooled leather handle of the whip.
     Not sure whether she wanted to run to Kirk's rescue, which she
didn't think the boy would appreciate, or quietly make her escape, which
she doubted she could manage, Candy stood spellbound.  Nothing in her
life could have prepared her for the drama that was unfolding before her. 
She had come from a world that considered not giving convicts a television
set to be inhumane punishment.  Now she watched as a man prepared to
snap a whip across the back of a boy.  And the kid stood his ground ready
to take it!  This was too much!
     As soon as Candy tried to take a step toward Dolph, she found that
there were two men guarding her, waiting for just such a move.  They took
a firm hold on each of her arms, and one of them looked down at her and
shook his head.  She could do nothing but watch.
     Dolph pulled his arm back and let the lash fly.  Kirk jumped as it
struck, but held his ground.  The loud 'crack' echoed through the air as a
red welt appeared on Kirk's back.  The lash returned quickly to do its
damage, raising five neat welts down the boy's back, yet never breaking the
skin.
     Dolph handed the whip back to Felix, who had stood by his side the
whole time, then walked to stand in front of Kirk.  He placed his hands on
his young brother's shoulders, careful not to touch any of the welts, and
pulled him against his chest.  Again, he spoke to the crowd.
     "Kirk has taken his lashes like a true Viking.  I am proud to have
him in my command, and as my brother."
     The Vikings cheered, some raising their swords or their shields into
the air in a salute.  At this point Candy was certain that they were all crazy. 
And yet, she couldn't help admiring the Vikings.  They admitted their
failure, took their punishment, and it was done.  Could she do the same?
     Kirk stepped to the side of the clearing.  The two men holding
Candy started to pull her, but she resisted, saying, "I can walk by myself." 
They released her, watching warily to see what this strange Earth woman
would do.
     Candy walked to stand before Dolph.  As she looked into his eyes,
she saw concern mixing with determination.  She turned and walked to the
place that Kirk had stood to take his lashes.  Taking a deep breath, she was
starting to lower her blouse when she felt Dolph's hands on her shoulders. 
Looking over her shoulder, she was a bit incensed to see that he was smiling
at her.  She also heard several chuckles from the crowd.  Dolph spoke in a
soft voice.
     "I would never scar such a beautiful body, Star.  And I would never
expect a woman to take the punishment of a warrior.  But I am proud that
you would submit to it."
     She turned to face him.  Felix had come up behind him and was
placing something on the ground.  Dolph sat, reaching up and pulling Star
over his lap before she had time to figure out what he had in mind, let alone
react.  As the cool morning breeze brushed over her bare backside, Candy
realized that Dolph had thrown up her skirt.  She screamed as his palm
came into sharp contact with her tender skin, the 'smack' almost as loud as
the whip had been.  Stinging pain brought tears to her eyes as her posterior
was assaulted again and again.
     After striking Star five times, Dolph lowered her skirt and stood,
pulling her to her feet.  He placed his arm around her waist to steady her,
but she pulled away from him.  She looked at him with eyes full of liquid
blue fire.  Stepping forward, she slapped his chest in embarrassed
frustration.
     "How could you?!"
     Dolph smiled as several warriors roared with laughter.  Good-
natured comments of, "She's a handful" and "You've got yourself a fine
woman, Dolph" resounded in the air as the crowd broke up and the Vikings
headed off to their duties.  The show was over.
     Candy headed toward the tent, not wanting to see or speak to
anyone.  However, when someone yelled, "Commander, a message from
Vierig," she quickly forgot her anger.  She returned to Dolph's side as the
man who had spoken handed him a small black box with strange markings
drawn on the side.  As Dolph examined the box, Candy knew something
was wrong.   His body stiffened and, after a grimace of pain fleeted across
his features, he carefully schooled his face to reveal nothing of his feelings.
     "What is it, Dolph?"
     Candy tried to give him her support with the soft empathy of her
voice.  His answering tone was hard, all warrior.
     "It claims to be Silky's coffin."
     As Candy exclaimed, "Oh, no!" Dolph opened the box and looked
inside.  Candy caught only a glimpse of bloody tan fur before the box
slammed shut again.  As her eyes and throat filled with tears, she placed her
hand on Dolph's arm, trying to comfort him.  The muscles in his arm were
flexing, the tension building and pumping till his arm resembled the Rocky
Mountains.  He looked at the man that had handed him the box and asked
in a quiet voice, "How was this message delivered?"
     The man was a full-fledged Viking warrior, no camp-tender, yet the
look in his commander's eyes made him stiffen and swallow hard.
     "It was discovered by the guard near where you found your lady last
evening, Commander, just outside the perimeter of our camp."
     He held up a piece of parchment.
     "This was covering the box."
     Dolph took the parchment and, nodding sharply to the man, said,
"Return to your duties."  The warrior walked away quickly, happy to no
longer be the center of his commander's attention.
     Dolph read the letter, keeping the sorrow from his face.  He could
not let his men see how much the death of his little pet had hurt him, would
not risk his pain being related back to his enemy.  He unconsciously rubbed
the tiny black box with his thumb as Vierig's words ate at his gut.

     "Dolph,
               I found this bit of fluff lying about when I visited your camp
     this evening.  My, what a brave fight he put up.  It was almost a
     shame to end his worthless little life.  With such a small voice, it
     wasn't even much fun to silence him.  But, never fear, old friend, I
     made sure that Odin heard his cries before I killed him.
               While I was in your camp, I sampled your most beautiful
     lady, Star.  With her full cooperation, I assure you.  She has lips
     that were surely designed by the gods to make a man mad.  I will
     enjoy my conquest of her almost as much as I will savor piercing
     your coward's heart with my sword.      Almost.
          Till we meet on the battlefield, old friend.
                                   Vierig"
     
     Dolph handed the box and letter to Star.  His words were as
sepulchral as his face.
     "Take these and return to my tent.  I will be there soon."
     With that, he turned and walked away from her.
     Tears running down her face, gripping the box and letter so tightly
that the page formed to the shape of the box, Candy ran to the tent.  Once
there, she quickly read the letter, immediately wishing she hadn't.  She
couldn't bring herself to open that horrible black box and look at the
mangled body of Dolph's poor little kitty.
     Candy sat on the bed with the coffin in her lap.  She nearly sprang
up off of the bed when she felt the pain in her very tender backside.  That
was the last straw in a day that had been an emotional roller-coaster ride. 
And it wasn't even half over yet!  Candy dropped her head into her hands
and cried.
     That was how Dolph found Star.  He stepped silently into the tent,
sat beside her and, taking the coffin from her shaking fingers, gathered her
into his arms and held her to him.  Her sobs conspired with the gruesome
treasure he held in his hand to break his heart.  Sitting the box on the bed,
he pulled Star onto his lap, holding her tightly against his chest so she would
know that she was safe.  He held her thus until her deep sobs ceased.
     Once Candy was over her own emotional cleansing, she became
aware of the broad, muscular chest beneath her cheek.  It was rising and
falling irregularly.  Like a vise squeezing her heart, the realization that
Dolph was crying hit her.  Instinctively she knew that trying to console him
with words would only offend his pride, so she wrapped her arms around
his neck and pulled his head down to rest on her shoulder.  The fact that he
gave no resistance told her that he wanted comforting, even if only in the
manner that he would allow.  He spoke in a choked voice, his words
muffled by her shoulder.
     "This is foolish.  Silky was just an animal.  A nuisance.  But he was
a good friend, a valiant warrior in his own way.  He did not deserve such a
vile death."  His voice dropped to a whisper.  "I shall miss him."
     He raised his head and Star looked up into his face.  There were
trails down his cheeks and neck where his tears had run once released from
the prison of his eyes.  He took a deep breath, regaining control, and smiled
a sad little smile of remembrance.
     "He gave me a great deal of trouble during our time together.  Once,
I got a little too involved in drinking and wenching and I forgot to feed him
on time.  He disappeared for two days.  I thought him lost to me until I tried
to put his earring into my pocket.  He came out of nowhere and landed on
my hand, dug in with all four feet and sunk his teeth into my flesh as far as
he could."
     Star laughed, the sound lifting some of the pain from Dolph's heart
so that he could release a small chuckle.
     "I'll bet you never forgot to feed him after that!"
     "Nay, I value my skin too much."
     His face grew solemn again.
     "I will burn the box, as is befitting a warrior."
     Dolph sat Star back on the bed and reached for the coffin.
     "Dolph, will you wait till I change.  I just don't feel like this is the
proper thing to wear for a funeral.  I mean, I know he was just a cat, but he
was your friend and..."
     Unable to put into words exactly how she felt, Star shrugged and let
her voice trail off.
     Dolph's face lit slightly with a humor-the-little-woman grin and he
nodded.  Star opened the war-chest where her clothes were stored along
with Dolph's.  As soon as the lid lifted, the tent was filled with the most
eerie wail.  Jumping back, Star stared at the trunk as if it had bitten her. 
With a shout of, "That's Silky!", Dolph flew up off the bed and began
pulling things from the chest and throwing them to the floor.  As he lifted
the bag that contained Vierig's silver, the wailing changed pitch, from the
angry yowl of being ignored to a high-pitched shriek of fear.  Carefully,
Dolph pulled the drawstring that held the bag closed.  The crying ceased
abruptly.  With a deep frown, Dolph peered into the depths of the small
pouch.  Seeing nothing, he shook his head with bemusement and tipped the
bag, emptying the contents into his hand.  The silver pieces spilled over
onto the bed as a sleek tan body fell to his palm.  Silky looked up, spied
who held him, and promptly sank his teeth into Dolph's hand.
     Laughing with pure delight, Dolph yelled, "Ow!  You rotten little
beast!"  Silky jumped to the bed, shook himself as if he had been defiled,
then proceeded to jump to the floor.  He walked sedately to his cage, which
had remained on the floor next to the war-chest through this whole ordeal,
stuck his head inside to examine his food dish, then glared back and forth
between the two humans.
     Dolph graced Star with a smile she would never forget, one which
she felt transfer itself to her face.  Seeming to think as one, they moved
toward each other and met in the middle of the tent in a joy-filled embrace. 
Star raised her face as Dolph lifted her into his arms.  Their kiss was deep,
warm, soft.  Something more than it had ever been before.  The passion
that fired their minds and bodies was that of pure love untinged by lust. 
The captive and the captor became one, imprisoned in each other's heart.