Chapter Eighteen

     Dolph quickly turned to face the tent door, none too gently pushing
Star behind him.  Vierig stood in the doorway, sword in hand.  Measuring
the space between them, Dolph knew he could not draw his sword before
Vierig would be upon him.  If he tried, Star might be hurt.  He doubted
Vierig would have much of a care as to what happened to her now that he
had accomplished his goal of capturing his most hated foe.  Dolph's gut
clenched as he realized that Star may have now become expendable to
Vierig.  His eyes never leaving Vierig's, Dolph slid his arm between himself
and Star and shoved her back away from him.  Then he pulled himself to
his full height and glared at his old friend.  His voice sliced the air, vibrating
with anger and scorn.
     "And will it be you that ends it?  Vierig, the Merciless, who makes
war on women and children because he fears meeting a man," he gave
Vierig a scathing up-and-down look, "aye, a whole man, on the battlefield."
     Candy had been none to happy with being unceremoniously shoved
away from Dolph.  She had realized that perhaps now was not the ideal
time to chastise him for that treatment.  However, as she listened to his
speech to Vierig, she thought her Viking lover desperately needed to be
apprized of the situation.  Obviously he was going off on his macho trip
without a clue about their predicament.  To that end, she took a step toward
him and tugged on the back of his jumpsuit.  In a quiet voice so Vierig
would not hear, she said, "Ah, Dolph, could I have a word with you?"
     Dolph heard Star's softly spoken request.  Resisting the urge to sigh
in frustration, he put his hand behind his back and motioned for her to back
away from him.  Even as he did it, his mind smiled with the certain
knowledge that Star would have her word with him, one way or another. 
Still, he was surprised at her next move.
     "Vierig," her sweet voice seemed to lesson the tension in the tent
somewhat, "may Dolph and I have a minute alone?"
     Candy peeked around Dolph's broad back to see the leader of the
enemy camp raise an eyebrow and tilt his head to the side, a comical
confused-man expression on his handsome face.
     Dolph's eyes never left Vierig's face but his stern words were
directed at the obstinate female that stood far too close to his back.
     "Star, be still!  You have no part in this, it is between two warriors."
     Someday, Candy would figure out how to control that temper of
hers.  Someday, she promised herself, but not today.
     She jabbed the tip of her finger into the center of Dolph's back.
     "Well, excuse me, but I think I have a big part in this.  Take a look
around us, Dolph.  This is a small tent.  If you two great warriors start
swinging those overgrown Ginzu knives around in here, I'm likely to sustain
big time injuries!" 
     In her anger, Candy forgot all about Vierig.  She stepped in front of
Dolph, completely ignoring his look of surprise mixed with anger.  
     "And while we're at it, I hate it when you tell me to shut up without
first hearing what it is I have to say.  I'm not an idiot, you know.  Believe or
not, I have intelligent thoughts," sarcasm tinged her voice, "sometimes
two..three a day.  If you'd pay a little attention once in a while, you might
learn something."
     Dolph listened to Star's tirade in total amazement.  He couldn't
believe the little fool was giving him a lecture now.  Other than a quick
glare into her face when she stepped in front of him, he kept his eyes on
Vierig, not trusting the cagey Viking not to use any distraction to his
benefit.  The thought flared in his mind that as soon as he removed Star
from the lethal clutches of Vierig, he just might kill her himself!
     Vierig spared a glance at the beautiful silver veil of hair that
cascaded down Candy's back.  Quickly raising his eyes to clash once again
with Dolph's green scowl, he felt the corners of his mouth lift in the slightest
of smiles.  He shook his head in masculine sympathy for his one-time
friend.  This beauty was a handful.
     Candy noticed none of this, being much too involved in venting her
spleen.  She did notice, however, that Dolph was not paying attention to
her.  She poked him in the chest.
     "Hey, I'm down here."
     Dolph took a deep breath to quell the urge to strangle Star right here
and now.  Keeping his inner warrior's sense tuned to Vierig, he crossed his
arms over his broad chest and brought his eyes down to Star's face.  She
seemed temporarily placated by that.  She lowered her voice, which had
risen to a near shout.
     "Thank you."
     She cast a glance behind her at Vierig, then moved closer to Dolph. 
She lowered her voice to a near whisper, forcing Dolph to lean down a bit
to hear her.
     "Dolph, do you really think now is the time to pick on this guy?  I
mean, really Dolph, 'a whole man'?"  She tipped her head to the side,
censure clear in every plane of her lovely face.  "That was very rude.  Why
can't you guys talk about this.  You know, you both have a lot of unresolved
anger and hurt over that prisoner-of-war thing.  I think if you two would
just sit down, without weapons, and talk, you could probably be friends
again.  This is the perfect opportunity.  You just have to make the first
move."
     Candy moved to Dolph's side and, placing her hand on his elbow,
gave him a little push toward Vierig.  He didn't budge.  She tilted her head
and raised her eyes to his face to find him gazing down at her with a look
that clearly stated he thought she had lost her mind.  Candy stepped away
from him and threw her hands in the air in disgust.
     "Okay, fine, so kill each other, see if I care.  Just don't do it in this
tiny, enclosed space where you'll inevitably cut up the tent, the furniture,"
her voice was rising again, "and the little woman!  Is that so much to ask?"
     With an angry toss of her head and the back of her hand, Candy
sent her hair flying to its place behind her shoulders.  She stomped to the
bed and flouncing down, placed her elbows on her knees and her chin on
her fists.  From that position she treated the men to her sullen glare -
directed first at Dolph; then, just for good measure, at Vierig.
     The latter tossed back his head and uttered a loud shout of laughter. 
Lowering his eyes to once again clash with Dolph's, Vierig spoke with the
remnants of that laugh still coloring his voice.
     "If I thought you had many more years to live, Dolph, I would pity
you.  You would surely spend whatever time the gods allowed you chasing
that wench from one disaster to the next."
     His eyes hardened and the very air around him seemed to grow
thick with his hatred.
     "Once I have stopped the breath in your throat, old friend, I will use
your bitch till I am sated.  Perhaps I will even teach her some manners,
though I doubt her capable of learning much.  When I no longer have a use
for her, my men may take their turns inside her lovely body.  That should
silence her wicked tongue, along with the rest of her, for eternity."
     Candy gasped.  She had never seen such hostility in a person's face. 
To have it directed at her was one of the most terrifying feelings she had
ever experienced.  This man hated her.  And he wasn't just blowing smoke. 
He really intended to do all those awful things, she could see it written in his
eyes.  To her utter disgust, she started to shake, just a little, but she was
definitely shivering and it wasn't at all cold in that tent.  Beholding that
glaring visage words, for once, failed her.  All she wanted to do was get
closer to Dolph.
     She stood and stepped to Dolph's side.  Though he kept his eyes on
Vierig, who he knew was zeroing in on his prey, Dolph gently wrapped Star
in his arms.  He hoped she would forgive him some day.  Then Dolph did
the one thing Vierig would not expect.  Gauging his strength to avoid
excessive injury to his beloved, he flung Star toward the black-armored
warrior.
     Candy only had time to squeak a protest before she found herself
flat on her back on the ground, tossed there by a back-sweep of Vierig's
arm.  In the next instant the clang of sword against sword sounded above
her head.  Dolph yelled, "Star, run!"  Hearing the unmistakable whoosh of
air being cut inches from her head, Candy didn't need further
encouragement.  However, she had no intention of standing up.  That did
not seem prudent at this time.  Remembering the old war movies her father
had watched when she was a child, Candy rolled to her stomach and, using
her knees and elbows, began crawling for the tent door.
     She heard Vierig's voice, much too close for her liking.
     "Oh, no, Beauty, I am not finished with you."
     Dolph's yell of "Star, roll!" brought an immediate reaction from
Candy as she did as she was told, trusting Dolph.  She felt a searing pain
across her back, but kept rolling until she hit the tent wall. Once there, she
turned to face the combatants, trying her best to ignore the moisture pooling
on the ground at her side.  She was pretty sure Vierig had sliced her back,
but now didn't seem the best time to give it too much thought. 
     With her back against the side of the tent, Candy watched in awe
and fear as the two Viking warriors fought.  The clang of metal on metal,
the grunt of men straining their muscles and skills trying desperately to end
each other's lives, these were the sounds that met her ears.  She could smell
sweat, blood and damp earth.  She could feel the vibrations beneath her
body as their feet hit the ground.  And the hatred in the air was a palpable
force, a force that no human could hope to stop.  Only the death of one of
the combatants, Candy realized with a tightening in her throat, would end
what had begun so long ago with Vierig's mutilation at the hands of the
enemy.  She could only hope and pray that Dolph would win this pivotal
battle.
     Knowing that Star was nearby, Dolph would not allow his senses to
leave so the demon berserker could enter his mind.  Still, he was a great
warrior without the madness.  He matched Vierig parry for parry, their
great bodies straining equally.  Then fate reared its head.  As Dolph stepped
back to avoid the thrust of his enemy's sword his heel hit Vierig's bed.  He
shifted his balance to stop the fall, but not soon enough.  He fell full-length
across the field-bed, his sword knocked from his hand as it hit Vierig's war-
chest.  Even as Dolph rolled to attempt a retrieval, his opponent raised his
sword for what would surely have been a killing blow...If Vierig's leg had
not collapsed beneath him, his own dagger protruding from the thigh.
     With a roar of fury, Vierig sprang to his feet and turned to see
Candy kneeling a few feet from him, looking smugly pleased with herself. 
Shifting his sword to his left hand, he pulled the dagger from its seat with
his right and tossed it into the air.  Catching it by the blade, he prepared to
throw the razor-sharp knife and put an end to the bothersome interference
of Dolph's little bitch once and for all.
     The smile that tilted Vierig's lips at the thought of Candy's death
froze on his face as Dolph's sword pierced his back.  He dropped the
dagger and grabbed his chest, his hand barely covering the gaping wound
there.  His sword fell from numb fingers.  He tried to take a step but his
injured leg betrayed him, sending him to his knees.  All present realized that
the battle was at an end.
     Gasping for breath that would not come, Vierig turned to Dolph and
extended his hand as though reaching for something.  With the
understanding of a fellow warrior, Dolph took his old friend's sword by the
blade and placed the hilt in his outstretched hand.  As blood trickled from
his lips, Vierig smiled and raised his sword to the sky.  His voice was barely
a whisper.
     "To Odin!"
     Dolph raised his own sword, dripping with the blood of the man he
now used it to salute, above his head and echoed Vierig's words.
     "To Odin," Dolph lowered his eyes to meet Vierig's dulling gaze,
"Valhalla awaits you...Brother."
     With the last of his life's force Vierig roared his defiant battle cry,
then pitched forward onto the ground.
     It took Candy a minute to grasp all that had just happened.  She had
realized that Vierig had Dolph in a bad position, maybe even a lethal one. 
Then she remembered Vierig's dagger in her pocket.  With no thought for
any danger to herself, only Dolph's impending death or dismemberment,
Candy forced her aching body up onto her knees.  She decided she didn't
want to stand up, not with swords still in action.  She took a couple of knee-
steps forward and, with all her might, jabbed the knife into Vierig's
muscular thigh.
     She had anticipated his falling.  She was quickly moving away when
he seemed to levitate to his feet, howling like a wounded bear.  Candy was
amazed.  She certainly hadn't expected the man to be able to regain his feet
so quickly.  But then when had these Vikings ever done what she expected? 
And then the crazy guy ripped the dagger out of his leg like it was nothing! 
Candy made a mental note to herself to find out what these Vikings were
fed as they were growing up.  Iron filings, maybe?
     When Vierig threw the knife into the air, she figured he meant to
toss it aside out of her reach.  Surely he wouldn't actually use it on her. 
Would he?  The back of her neck suddenly tingled, her little voice
screaming that she was in trouble.  The look in his eyes confirmed her
suspicion.  When the vicious warrior's fingers closed around the blade,
Candy realized his intent.  She was gathering her muscles to make what she
knew would be a futile attempt to throw her body out of the path of the
deadly missile, when a blood-drenched silver blade-tip sprung from Vierig's
chest.
    Dolph's sword retreated as quickly as it had appeared, making her
wonder if she had imagined it.  One look into Vierig's eyes told her she
hadn't.  He was dying.  And for a fleeting second she would have sworn she
saw sadness, regret enter those cold, black eyes.  Then he was turning away
from her, back to Dolph.  She winced when she saw the bloody wound on
his back.  Tiny bubbles dotted the surface of the wound, giving testimony to
the fact that his lung had been punctured.
     Candy moved slightly so that she could see Dolph's face.  She saw
the anger drain away as the realization that Vierig was dying made its way
into his battle-fogged brain.  In its place was a strange mixture of emotions -
triumph, confusion, sorrow.  When he stood and handed Vierig his sword,
she thought he had lost his mind for sure.  What if Vierig decided he
wanted to greet Death with an honor guard?  But when he made no violent
move toward Dolph, Candy realized that this was one of those warrior
things.  And, though she questioned her mental stability, she understood. 
She knew from her many conversations with Dolph's warriors that these
men believed if they died with their swords in their hands, their great god
Odin would take them directly to Valhalla, their version of Heaven.  A
place teaming with the three B's that seemed to rule these men's - who was
she kidding, most men's - lives:  battles, booze and broads.  In their last
minutes together, Dolph had absolved Vierig, forgiving any animosity
between them, and saluted him as a fellow warrior, a brother.
     When Vierig fell forward, all Candy could do was stare.  She
realized with a sick feeling that she was waiting for him to get up; to make
some disgusting comment, raise his sword, and continue the fight with
Dolph.  But he just laid there, his body completely still.  Tears welled in her
eyes but she didn't notice.  Shock held her immobile in it's grip.
     Like most people from twentieth century America, Candy had never
actually seen someone die.  The closest she had ever come to death was
when she was eight years old and her grandmother had died.  But that had
just been words - 'Grandmother has passed away, Candy' - from her
mother.  Candy had cried for hours.  She had known Gram was gone, that
she would never see her again.  Death had seemed like a plane that quietly
took your loved one away and never brought them back.
     Now the reality of death was staring her in the face.  Blood soaked
the ground beneath Vierig's body, seeping out as if from some underground
spring.  It smelled like rusty steel.  For just a second after Vierig fell
forward, the air in the tent seemed warmer, then a chill descended.  Candy
knew it must have been her imagination.  Lord knew she had a very active
one.  Still, she chose to believe that the fierce, hot essence that had been
Vierig had left his body and headed for whatever death held for him.
     She had no more time for thought as Dolph pulled her into his
strong arms.  She took a deep breath in an effort not to scream, then said
through gritted teeth, "Dolph, I love you, I really do, but if you don't take
your arm off my back, I won't be responsible for my actions!"
     In his haste to reassure himself that Star was alright, Dolph had
forgotten seeing Vierig's sword draw her blood.  Fear gripped his heart. 
Had he saved his love just to have her die in his arms?
     Gently, carefully, he turned her in his arms till her back was in his
view.  A wicked, but, thank the gods!, shallow slice ran from Star's shoulder
nearly to her waist.  Dolph's lips drew into a narrow frown.  A quick return
to camp would be necessary to leave Star's beautiful body unscarred;
however, there was still the retreat from the enemy camp to consider. 
Haste was never a warrior's first choice, it led to many a speedy demise.
     He wondered why no one had yet entered the tent to take him
prisoner.  He wasn't about to wait around for anyone to realize their folly. 
Shifting Star to his shoulder like a bag of grain, Dolph prepared to stand. 
He should have known that wouldn't fly.  An outraged "Hey!" preceded a
knee to his solar plexus.  Dolph smacked Star on her rump and whispered
toward her head, "Be still!"
     Candy could feel the blood rushing to her head, and she didn't think
it was entirely the fault of her position.  This man was unbelievable!  She
decided, against her better judgement, to try logic.  It had never worked
before, not with this barbarian, but there was always a first time.
     "Dolph," she kept her voice low to placate him, "don't you think if a
thundering horde were going to come running in here because they heard a
little noise, they might have noticed you and Vierig howling like wounded
bulls and come to check it out?  And don't you think it might make more
sense for you to take the lead, ready to do battle with your trusty sword if
any dragons cross our path, while I slink along three paces behind you like a
proper woman."
     An unwilling smile raised the corners of Dolph's mouth.  Though
the scorn in Star's voice spoke more clearly of her opinion of him than her
opinion of the situation, he had to admit - to himself at least - she did have a
point.  He gently lowered her to the ground, wondering how quickly he
would regret that action.
     Candy blinked, letting her head get used to right-side-up for a
minute.  Then she looked up at Dolph, frustration furrowing her brow.
     "I probably shouldn't ask, but why did you do that?"
     Dolph smiled down at his lady.  He reached out and brushed a lock
of silver from where it had fallen over her right eyebrow.  Star started to
pull away, but as soon as his flesh touched hers she leaned into his caress.
     "I feared that loss of blood might have dulled your senses, making it
difficult for you to walk."
     His smile widened, warning Candy that she was about to be
annoyed.
     "But I see from your quick response to my effrontery that you have
not been overly affected."
     Candy tilted her head to one side to cast a squint-eyed questioning
glare on the big man.  Her tone was somewhere between accusing and
worried.
     "And just how much blood have I lost, anyway?"
     She twisted her head to try to get a look at her back, but it was
useless.  Besides, Dolph's finger under her chin brought her attention
quickly back to his face.
     "It's not that bad, love, but we must return quickly to camp so that it
won't scar.  You must follow closely behind me and keep very quiet.  Do
whatever I tell you immediately, do you understand?"
     He had grown serious, almost fierce, as he spoke.  Candy decided
now was not the time to make the witty, liberated woman response that had
come to her mind.  Still, it just wasn't her way to lay down without a little
fight.
     "Okay, but this is not setting any kind of precedent, Viking!  Other
than in extreme situations, I don't do 'Me-Tarzan, You-Jane.'  Understood?"
     Dolph's nostrils flared, but this was not the time to correct Star, not
when she was still in danger from someone other than himself.  He frowned
down at her in an effort to make her aware of his displeasure.  She just
arched an eyebrow as if to say, 'Yeah, so!'  Dolph closed his eyes for the
briefest of seconds to let pass the urge to strangle the woman he loved. 
When he opened them, the no-nonsense warrior shone once again in their
depths.
     Candy leaned down to retrieve Vierig's dagger from the floor of the
tent.  As she started to put it back into her pocket, Dolph's fingers closed
around her wrist and he pulled the dagger from her grasp.  He asked in an
incredulous tone, "What do yo think you're doing?"
     Candy glowered at him and reached for the dagger, but he held it
above his shoulder out of her reach.
     "I thought I'd take that along so I could protect myself if I have to."
     "You need no weapons.  I will protect you."
     "Of course, how foolish of me.  The great, omnipotent, invincible,
impossible-to-wound, impervious..."
     Dolph cut in on her tirade with a dramatic, world-weary sigh.
     "Is this going somewhere?"
     Candy pulled herself to her full five-foot-four-inch height and glared
into his face.
     "Yes, this is going somewhere, you brute, and if I like taking the
scenic route, you can just wait for me!"
     She was working herself into a good Scottish temper at this point
and she really didn't care who heard her.
     "Even if you are a pretty good warrior..." Dolph raised an eyebrow
as if insulted.  Candy sighed.  "...okay, a great warrior, I still might have
occasion to protect myself.  You can't be everywhere at once, you know,
and I might get into a situation when you are otherwise occupied.  I just
thought that dagger might come in handy."
     Dolph waved in the direction of Vierig's prone body.
     "As it did with Vierig?  You could have been killed, you little fool! 
You should never have interfered."
     As he realized that she could indeed have been killed, Dolph's voice
raised with his emotions.  He grabbed Star by the shoulders and gently
shook her, mindful of her injury.
     "You are never to put yourself in danger, do you hear me, never!"
     Candy threw her arms into the air in front of Dolph's face to make
him release her.  She took a step back from him so that she could yell into
his face.
     "Put myself in danger?  The most danger I've ever put myself in was
driving to Las Vegas in the middle of the night.  You're the one who
brought me to Tatooine South and expected me to sit and stay until you had
some time for me.  Just because I decided to explore my surroundings, you
talk like I walked up to Vierig and asked him for a tour of his camp.  At
least he might have given me one himself, instead of turning me over to his
little brother, and then beating the poor kid because he couldn't handle me. 
I am not a shrinking violet, Dolph.  I have a healthy curiosity and if I have
to live in this weird world of yours, I'm going to explore and have fun, with
or without you.  I'm not going to sit around and wait for you to come to my
rescue for the rest of my life, Dolph, I'd get bored out of my mind.  I can
take care of myself."
     As Star took a breath, Dolph opened his mouth to speak, but she
wasn't done yet.  She poked her finger into his chest to punctuate her next
statement.
     "And by the way, I guess it would be too much to ask that you thank
me for saving your life.  Oh, I'm sure you had the whole situation under
control.  You didn't need the distraction I provided by sticking said dagger
into Vierig's leg.  But I would love to hear your explanation for how you
could've beaten Vierig lying flat on your back, unarmed, with his sword
headed for your chest.  It seems to me you needed my interference, Viking,
and you're just too damned proud to admit it!  Now give me that stupid
dagger!"
     They stood so close together that Candy could feel Dolph's hot
breath on her face.  His eyes were shards of emerald-green ice; hers,
sapphire-blue fire.  Their faces flushed with the same hue of anger.
     Those of his warriors who heard it swore that Dolph's shout of 'No!'
loosened the hold of several stars on the sky; and when Star's scream of
'You stubborn ass!" followed, the unlucky celestial bodies were knocked
from the heavens.  It was at this point that those of Vierig's men who were
not too 'sotted to do so started to stir in response to all the noise, and Felix
felt it necessary to intrude on the lover's quarrel.  In telling the story later, he
would shamelessly admit he would rather have taken on ten men with
nothing but a dagger than stepped into that tent.  But, being the brave
warrior, and loyal friend, that he was, Felix gently pushed the flap aside and
eased his face through the opening.
     "Dolph."
     Dolph grabbed Star by the shoulders and pushed her behind him, at
the same time bringing his sword to bear on the as yet unknown intruder. 
His warrior's instincts quickly identified Felix, and he lowered his sword and
gave his friend what he thought was a welcoming smile.
     What Felix saw was anything but welcoming.  It looked more like
the snarl of an angry animal.  Felix had seen Star trip over Vierig's body as
Dolph put himself between her and the unknown danger.  After a bit of
flailing, she regained her balance, and Felix wondered if Dolph realized
what peril he faced from his back.  But, he thought with a smile, this was
one battle his friend would have to fight alone.
     Candy had recognized Felix's voice, and even if she hadn't, she
didn't figure Vierig's men would be calling Dolph by his name.  Therefore,
she decided Dolph had used the opportunity to manhandle her.  After all,
he had been losing the argument.
     Once she was sure she wasn't going to take a header onto the field-
bed, she turned back toward Dolph, carefully stepping over Vierig, and
slapped that great Viking warrior soundly between the shoulder blades. 
The crack sounded unnaturally loud in the quiet tent.
     If the situation had not called for haste and silence, Felix would
have laughed out loud at the look on his friend's face.  As his lady made her
displeasure with him known in her ever gentle manner, Dolph closed his
eyes and slowly shook his head.  He looked at Felix with a comical, almost
pleading expression.  Then his eyebrow slowly arched, his lips rising to
match, and he shrugged his shoulders.
     "Dolph, Vierig's men stir.  We had best be off."
     A mumbled, "If you ask me, which nobody ever does, you're
already off.  Way off!"  told them that Star's temper was simmering down.
     Dolph spoke to his second-in-command in a quiet, authoritative
voice.
     "I'll take the lead.  Keep Star between us.  We follow the original
plan."
     Felix gave one crisp nod of his head.  After a quick glance outside
to see that all was clear, he held the flap open so Dolph and Star could pass. 
As she walked past him, Star gave Felix a slight smile and whispered, "Hi,
Felix."  He responded with a smile, "Hello, Star."
     Star was immediately surprised by the fact that Dolph was walking
right through the middle of the enemy camp as if he owned it.  Had he
forgotten where he was?  She was about to ask about 'the plan' when three
obviously drunken Vikings came staggering toward them.  Before she knew
what was happening, Felix had come up behind her and slipped his hands
around to cup her breasts.  Before she could emit more than a squeak of
protest, Dolph was kissing her, manhandling her buttocks and pulling her
tight against his hard crotch.  Candy was so outraged, not to mention
confused, that she just went with her instincts and brought up her knee. 
Dolph side-stepped and laughed, which brought an answering chuckle from
one of the warriors passing by.
     "Need any help with that wench?  She looks to be a bit feisty."
     Dolph laughed again, a lewd, drunken laugh and grabbed his crotch. 
His words were slightly slurred.
     "I've the cure for her spirit right here.  Come on, wench, you need a
good ride to calm you."
     Crazy as it was, Candy thought she understood Dolph's plan now. 
He was relying on the theory of 'hide in plain sight'.  It seemed to be
working.  The three enemy warriors staggered off, mumbling obscene
comments and suggestions for how Dolph should handle her.
     As soon as they were gone, Felix took his position on her flank. 
Walking as though she were a little perturbed, which, in fact, she was,
Candy looked up at Dolph.
     "You could have filled me in on the plan beforehand, you know. 
And you," she turned on Felix, "was that really necessary?"
     Felix grinned impishly.
     "Probably not."
     She felt Dolph's strong arm wrap possessively around her shoulders,
drawing her attention back to his slightly scratchy square jaw, and
beautifully formed lips.
     "You'll have to forgive him, Star," he gave Felix a frown that held
little malice, "he is a Viking, unable to resist the opportunity to fondle a
woman."  Dolph shrugged and smiled down at her.  "It's a genetic thing. 
One which, should he ever give in to it again where you are concerned," he
glared at his friend over her head, a not altogether jesting look, "will surely
cost him his life."
     Felix smiled and shrugged.
     The rest of the plan went picture perfect.  Garth the Strong and
Ulrich started a fire near the horses which caused a lot of snorting and
rearing and made most of the camp that could still walk come to their
rescue.  Victor and Rain were waiting at the east edge of Vierig's camp to
cover their backs as they left, although there was really no need.  They all
regrouped at the pond.  By that time, Candy was dog tired.  She didn't think
she could walk another step and she told Dolph so.  He just smiled with that
indulgent look that made her want to slap him and lifted her into his arms
like a baby.  She was going to protest, she really was, but she fell asleep
before she could think of the right words.
     As Dolph looked down at the beautiful woman sleeping so
innocently in his arms, her small hand resting on his chest, he knew that he
had a decision to make.  His chest clenched, even as he pulled Star closer to
the heart she surely owned.  Deep in that heart, he felt a fissure beginning
to form, for he knew what he must do.