Exasperated to the breaking edge, Thork pointed a censuring finger at Ruby and informed her without preamble, “You have now convinced Sigtrygg that you must be a spy from Ivar. His exact words were ‘Not only does Ivar wish to kill off all my men, now he sends this woman to ensure that we have no young to replace our dead.’ ”
“That’s ridiculous! All I—”
Thork raised a hand angrily to halt her speech and ordered through thinned lips, “In the future you will speak only when given permission to do so.”
We’ll see about that. But Ruby knew enough to remain silent for now.
“The mischievous Loki had to have sent you into my life as an enormous joke. He and all the other devils, Christian and Viking alike, are laughing heartily by now.”
“Who is Loki?”
“I told you not to speak unless given permission,” Thork snapped.
“What could you be thinking of, wench,” Olaf intervened quizzically, “to preach the killing of babes to our women?”
Ruby didn’t care what Thork ordered. She couldn’t remain silent at such horrendous accusations. “I never discussed the killing of children—in or out of the womb. I only talked about methods of preventing conception.”
Thork stood abruptly, overturning a goblet of ale. Her defiance of his command of silence incensed him. Nostrils flaring, he moved toward her. Ruby momentarily panicked and jumped behind Dar’s chair for protection. She cowered there for several seconds before becoming disgusted with herself. Straightening herself on wobbly knees, she said with as much dignity as she could muster, “Oh, go ahead and punish me, Thork. I can’t keep quiet when I’m falsely accused.”
“Falsely accused!” Thork sputtered, as Olaf reached out a hand and pulled him back to his chair. Meanwhile, Gyda refilled their cups of ale, probably hoping that would mellow them a bit. Gyda’s eyes registered with Ruby’s for a moment in sympathy.
“I refuse to hear your lame excuses. ‘Tis not at issue here, leastways. Sigtrygg bellows madder than a wounded bear and would have you punished to the death, whether you be kin to Hrolf or not.”
“Mayhap we women could go to him and explain how harmless the talks were,” Gyda offered placatingly.
“Yea, and wear a black eye like the good Byrnhil does,” Dar commented dryly.
“Get you from this company, Gyda,” Olaf roared like a wild bull at his wife’s breaking into men’s talk. “Where did you learn to act the man, interrupting in such an uncomely manner? Probably from this meddlesome lackwit.” He looked pointedly at Ruby, then back to Gyda. “In truth, I have been too lax with you, wife.”
Weeping loudly, Gyda fled the room with her apron thrown over her face. So, this is what her interference had brought to one of the few friends she’d made here! Ruby chastised herself.
“That was unnecessary and cruel,” Ruby chided Olaf, and before he could respond, she turned to Thork coldly, “What do you want me to do?”
Ruby saw the angry emotions warring inside him and knew he struggled to contain them. Finally he told her in a flat voice, “We travel to my grandfather’s home tomorrow. Gyda and her family accompany us—not for your company, but because my grandmother Aud requests it. There you will remain silent and biddable, causing no more trouble, until the Althing releases me from my responsibilty. Do you understand?”
Ruby nodded.
“Because, if you do not, you will be bound and gagged in his keep till you cannot move or speak.”
Thoroughly subdued, at least on the surface, Ruby went back to her chamber to contemplate the fine mess she’d made of things—once again. Lying on her pallet, staring at the ceiling, Ruby eventually fell asleep. She was surprised several hours later to look up and see Thork leaning against the door jamb, watching her curiously.
“What? What have I done now?” Ruby jumped up, alarmed.
“I thought I told you not to speak,” Thork said in a surprisingly soft voice, tinged with humor.
Ruby sniffed contemptuously and walked over to her small window. Dusk settled lazily over the clear sky. It would be a nice day tomorrow for traveling. Then she turned to study Thork’s blank face, unable to read his emotions, or know whether there was some new crime of which she was to be accused.