Chapter Sixteen

     Candy awoke to find herself lying on a field-bed.  She might have
convinced herself that the whole nightmare with Vierig had been just that, a
dream of adventure gone bad, except that one side of her jaw was very sore
and there was no little wire cage full of curled-up Silky in the corner.  Other
than that, Vierig's tent was the same as Dolph's.  His closed war-chest sat in
one corner, his field-bed taking up most of the rest of the tent.
     Candy remembered reading a magazine article that had
hypothesized how the atmosphere in a house was heavily influenced by the
person or people who lived there.  Lying here in this tent that was physically
almost identical to Dolph's but felt so very different, so much more hostile,
she was now a believer in that theory.  This place scared her.
     "Okay, now you know you're being stupid.  This is just a tent, like
any other tent around here."
     "Not quite, Beauty.  This is my tent."
     Candy jumped as Vierig ducked through the tent door, letting the
heavy flap fall to the ground behind him.  The room suddenly seemed to
shrink as she realized that she was alone with Dolph's enemy.  Not just
alone, but lying on a bed, like a turkey waiting to be stuffed!  She started to
sit up but the pounding in her head made her think better of that move.  She
laid back against the pillows, giving the dark Viking a glare meant to melt
steel.
     Vierig noticed her wince of pain and gave an answering grimace. 
He had not meant to strike her so hard, but the stupid chit had made him
lose his temper.  'Not such a difficult task,' Vierig thought, smiling to
himself.  Placing his hands on his hips, he allowed his gaze to peruse the girl
from her glorious hair to her pretty little feet, with a short pause at her
breasts and the juncture of her lovely thighs.  By the gods, she was a prize a
man could be proud to possess!
     Since the first time he had seen her in Dolph's camp, he had been
unable to rid his mind of her image.  He compared the campwomen to her
and found them all lacking.  He heard her voice in his sleep.  The heights to
which she had taken him in his dreams were awe-inspiring.  He had never
envied another as much as he had Dolph.  He had vowed that he would
have the beautiful blonde wench, had plotted her delivery into his hands,
and could now bask in his triumph.
     Vierig raised an eyebrow in response to Candy's glare.
     "Are you angry with me, Beauty?"
     Candy's mouth dropped open and she shook her head in disbelief.
     "Good guess!"
     As he headed to the bed, he unfastened his armor and tossed it
toward the war-chest, paying no heed when the heavy black gear missed the
mark and fell to the floor.  He wore no shirt beneath the breast-plate. 
Candy's eyes widened as the wide expanse of coarse jet-black hair on his
chest was revealed.  Vierig's smile was predatory.  Wearing only black
leather pants and boots, he strode to the bed and sat beside her.  Like a
mongoose staring at a cobra, she narrowed her eyes and looked ready to
bolt at the slightest provocation.
     "Why do you fear me, Beauty?  I have no desire to hurt you."
     Pointing to the side of her face that he had struck, she gave him a
withering smile.
     "That hurt."
     Vierig surprised her with the richness of his laugh.
     "Aye, I suppose it did."
     Slowly, as though he were taming a wild filly, he brushed the back
of his hand over her sore jaw.  Since she was already pressed as far into the
pillows as she could get, Candy didn't have any choice but to let him fondle
her.  At least, that was what she told herself.  If she were to be honest with
herself, she would have to admit that she was terribly curious about this
man who had once been Dolph's friend and was now his most hated enemy. 
Was he some kind of an ogre who would turn on her if she let down her
guard even a little?  Or was he just a man who had let a violent, traumatic
incident warp the rest of his life?
     His hand was warm and surprisingly gentle.  He followed her
jawline down, sending shivers through her spine as he lightly caressed the
side of her neck.  Finally his palm came to rest on her shoulder.  As it
started to slide downward, Candy decided her period of bed rest was at an
end.  She sat up, glad that her head didn't spin quite as badly as it had a few
minutes ago.  That either meant she was healing quickly, or she was too
scared to feel the pain.  The eternal optimist, she voted for quick healing. 
She was in the process of swinging her feet over the side of the bed when
Vierig's hands on her shoulders stopped her.
     "Where do you think you're going?"
     Candy met his ebony eyes with blue fire.
     "Away from you."
     He chuckled.
     "I don't think you're ready to be up and about just yet.  You might
fall and injure yourself."
     "Excuse me.  The only thing that's attacked me around here is sitting
on this bed.  It's only logical that I would want to get away from it, don't
you think?"
     She pushed at his hands but he held fast.  His eyes darkened from
their usual deep brown to the shade of black that Candy remembered from
Dolph's camp.  Giving her a little shake that made her stomach think about
mutiny, his voice held an edge of steel.
     "I said stay!"
     For once swallowing the smart remark that came to her lips, Candy
narrowed her eyes and scooted up the bed to a sitting position.  Vierig
nodded his approval.  As though it were the most natural thing in the world,
he reached for the front of Candy's jumpsuit.  She slapped his hand away. 
In a blur of motion, he grabbed the offending hand and twisted just enough
to let her know he meant business.
     "Ow!"
     "I warned you never to strike me, Beauty."
     "If you stay out of my reach, and quit trying to feel me up, I won't
be so tempted to smack you!"
     With a snort of disgust, he released her and stood.  Did the little fool
have no sense?  He knew he must put some distance between himself and
the defiant woman or he would surely start breaking bones!  Turning back
to her, he snapped, "Did Dolph teach you nothing?  What purpose do you
think you serve in this camp, Beauty, how do you earn your food and
lodging?"
     He could see that his pause for effect was ineffective in her
continued glare.  Obviously, he would have to educate her.
     "You are my woman now, as you were Dolph's.  Your duty is to see
to my needs.  If you fight me..."
     The threat was very clear.  She knew she was supposed to bow
down and do his bidding, but he didn't have Kirk to hold over her now. 
She didn't bow to anyone!
     "Look, Vierig, I might have agreed to stay with you for a week, but
I never agreed to be your whore."
     His eyes were truly blazing now.  He looked as if he wanted to kill
her.  Throwing caution to the wind, Candy decided to take the chance she
might not get again.
     "You're just doing this to get back at Dolph for something he didn't
even do.  He had no control over the situation, Vierig.  He was a prisoner
just like you.  You're not going to prove what a great man you are by
abusing me, someone you see as his property, anymore than you proved it
by mutilating one of his men."
     Taking heart from the fact that he hadn't ripped off her head yet,
Candy reasoned that he might just want to hear what she had to say. 
Maybe she could appeal to the old Vierig, Dolph's friend.  Yeah, she might
even be able to get them back together.  Bolstered by that thought, Candy
was on a roll.
     "You must have been a nice guy once, or Dolph wouldn't have been
your friend.  You could be again, you know.  I mean, you seem to have
recovered from your wound just fine.  You're a good-looking guy, well
built, nice hair.  If you weren't so mean, I bet women would..."
     His angry roar shook the tent walls as Vierig launched himself at the
bed.  Candy had no chance to move, to get out of his way.  He landed with
his full weight on her, knocking all the air from her lungs and making her
wonder if she were going to pass out again.  Before she could recover, he
rose to his knees, straddling her, with his knees on her hands.  She was
helpless to do anything more than squirm beneath his weight.  Snarling, he
pulled her jumpsuit open to the waist.  As he gripped her breasts in his
calloused hands, squeezing hard, Candy screamed in spite of herself.
     "Women?"
     His voice was low, almost a whisper.
     "Women ran from me in horror.  What worthy woman wants a
warrior who cannot give her children?  And whores laughed," his voice
became more husky, "until I shut them up."
     His grip was not so punishing now.  He caressed her breasts almost
absent-mindedly as he examined his memories aloud.
     "Do I blame Dolph?  No, he was right not to talk.  I would have
done the same."
     His eyes met hers, the raw pain revealed in their depths sending
shivers down her spine.
     "They tore off my pants while six of them held me.  They made
sure that Dolph had an unobstructed view.  Then their leader ordered them
all to silence so he could better enjoy my screams."
     His voice lost its hard edge for a heartbeat.  He looked away, to a
place that existed only in his mind.
     "Just before the hot blade found its mark, Dolph whispered,
'Brother'.  I held his eyes, not looking away even when the pain made his
image blur before me."
     The edge returned to his words.
     "I did not make a sound."
     The pain in her hands was intense, and breathing was in danger of
becoming just a memory, but Candy didn't want to stop him.  She wanted
to hear, to know why he had gone bad.  She gritted her teeth and decided
she could stand it a while longer.  Like she had a choice.
     "When our men broke in and freed us, I grabbed the first sword I
found and fought till the blood loss from several minor wounds claimed me
and I fell to the ground.
     His features looked as though they had been carved from granite,
his eyes ebony stones, his voice hard as diamonds.
     "That was when Dolph, my friend, came to me.  He stood over me,
defending our ground until the battle was over.  Then he knelt down beside
me.  When I opened my eyes, he realized that I had not reached Valhalla. 
His eyes were filled with pity!"
     He nearly spit the word.
     "And from that day forward, every time he looked at me I saw that
same wretched emotion, mixed with guilt, rotting in his eyes.  It was the
same with any warrior who knew of my loss."
     If possible, the muscles in his chest and arms tensed even more.  He
was like a statue carved from human suffering.
     "I showed the fools that I was stronger than all of them.  I became
'The Merciless', and found a way to inspire the respect of all.  I destroy
anything that stands in the way of my desires.  Anyone with any sense fears
my wrath.  Except Dolph."
     He smiled slightly and Candy caught a glimpse of the friendship he
had once felt for Dolph.
     "He disapproved of my actions, loudly & often.  We pounded on
each other until the inevitable clash of steel ended our association.  I called
it good riddance.  But Dolph was a good fighter."
     His voice dropped to an introspective whisper and Candy realized
that he had all but forgotten her presence.
     "And a good friend."
     He seemed to focus on the present once again as he looked into
Candy's eyes.  Shifting easily, he released her hands and gave her a little
more breathing space.  He brought one fingertip to his mouth, licked it, then
traced her nipple with the wet tip.  All the while, his eyes dared her to resist. 
He wanted an excuse to hurt her and Candy wasn't feeling stupid enough to
give him one.  He chuckled as her nipple responded, hardening to a nub
beneath his finger.
     "I will have you, Beauty, it is foolish to resist.  No woman denies
me.  I will take you gently," he grinned, reminding Candy that he was truly
a handsome man, "as gently as my lust will allow, or, if you choose to fight
me," the smile turned hard and Candy felt her throat tighten as he continued
in a hard voice, "I will use your body in ways that you can barely imagine. 
Very painful ways.  It is your choice."
     He stood and stepped back from the bed so quickly that Candy
thought she was imagining things.  Was this some kind of temporary
reprieve, or was it a trick?
     "All this talking has given me a powerful thirst, Beauty.  I will give
you some time to prepare yourself."
     He gave her a look of steel.
     "When I return, I will have you."
     With that, he turned and left the tent as quietly as he had entered it.
     Pulling her jumpsuit closed, Candy tried to control her breathing. 
She didn't know which she was more - angry, relieved he was gone, or
terrified that he would get back before she figured a way out of this.
     She took a deep, calming breath.
     "I'm mad, mad as hell!"
     Hearing her own voice was reassuring.  It got her mind away from
the fear and back to the problem at hand - how to get out of here. 
Dejectedly, Candy reminded herself of her promise.
     "I said I would stay in this horrible place for a week.  Didn't I?"
     Candy sat up, ignoring her aching jaw and head.  Raising her fist
with the index finger extended, her face lit with an I-just-had-a-great-idea
look as she exclaimed, "Wait a minute!"
      Concentrating with all her might, she tried to remember exactly
what had transpired when Vierig had taken her from Kirk.  Had she ever
made that promise, or had Vierig just assumed she had?  The light went
back on behind Candy's eyes.  In his typical male fashion, Vierig had
decided that because he told her that was the way it was going to be, she
would just meekly accept her fate.
     Candy hit the bed with her palm, a triumphant smile splitting her
face.
     "Ha!  I never agreed to his stupid deal.  I'm outta here!"
     Even in her excitement to leave, Candy was no fool.  She realized
that it was easier said than done, leaving a Viking camp without the
knowledge of the Vikings.  But she had done it successfully once before,
when she snuck out of Dolph's camp to go in search of Silky.  She had
every confidence in her ability to do it again...maybe.
                      * * *
     For Dolph, time moved as slowly as an old warrior fighting the
ghosts of his past.  Holding his temper in check while he made the
necessary preparations to retrieve Star from Vierig's camp was difficult, to
put it mildly.  He wanted to charge into the camp, his sword raised, his war-
cry striking fear into the hearts of all who heard it.  But he knew he couldn't
allow his temper to rein at the price of harm to Star.  If they launched an
all-out attack on the camp, she might be hurt before he could reach her. 
Dolph's jaw clenched.  He felt that if Vierig ever thought he might be going
to lose his prize, he would kill her rather than let Dolph win.  No, Dolph
had to keep his head.
     To that end, he sent his best scouts to reconnoiter Vierig's camp. 
This would have to be a covert mission, one that none of the enemy knew
was taking place until it was successfully completed.  Military intelligence
was the key to such a mission. They had to know exactly where Star was
being kept, how many guards were watching over her, anything that related
to Star.  Still, sitting and waiting for such information to be gathered had
never been one of Dolph's strong points.
      Finally, night fell.  They had gleaned everything they could from
the scouts.  Final preparations for the rescue began.  Star's life would
depend on the stealth of Dolph and his men.  As he and his warriors sat
around the campfire, darkening their hair and faces with ash, Dolph could
see in the solemn expressions around him that his men knew this and,
having gotten to know his lady Star, welcomed the honor of being included
in her rescue.
     "There is barely enough sun left to light our way to Vierig's camp,
Dolph."
     Dolph turned to Ulrich and nodded.  The seasoned, grizzled warrior
had requested his inclusion in this mission.  A slight smile curved one
corner of Dolph's mouth as he wondered if Star would ever understand that
her bite had brought on Ulrich's respect.  Her strength and resilience, along
with her ever sunny smile and sweet words, at least for his men, had
endeared her to many of his warriors.  Choosing only five to go with him
had been difficult, as almost all had requested the honor.
     Felix, Garth the Strong, Victor, and Rain completed his squad. 
Dolph felt they were the best men he had.  Still, he wondered if there were
some detail he might have overlooked, some important bit of information he
hadn't found yet.  Shaking his head in anger, he cast the poisonous doubts
from his mind.  One of the first lessons Dolph had ever learned as a warrior
was that you must always believe in yourself, never let doubt weigh on your
mind or you would be doomed before you ever began.
     He stood, his black long-sleeved jump suit, black boots, and ash-
blackened hair blending into the cloak of the darkening sky.  Raising his
sword high above his head, Dolph saw that all of the warriors in the camp,
even those who were not to be involved in this raid, now stood with their
swords raised in salute.  With the absolute knowledge that they would
succeed in tonight's endeavor fueling his words, he yelled in defiance, 
"Odin, hear me.  Star is mine!  Tonight, she will be returned to me.  For the
glory of Odin, and Star, to battle!"
     A chorus of "To Star!" rent the air with such force, Dolph feared it
might be heard in the enemy camp.  The gods would surely hear and lead
their way.
     As the six warriors set out into the dark surrounding the camp,
Dolph, just to cover his bases, said a silent prayer to Jesus, the god of his
mother, to protect Star and keep her safe until he could free her from the
threat of Vierig's vengeance.