Chapter 24: Rude Awakening

Sun peeked through the curtains of the window, streaming across the naked bodies of Ragnar and Eve. The two had spent the entire night having fun, and it had exhausted the two of them to the bone.

Ragnar watched the sun rays hitting the beautifully freckled body of Eve, tracing his fingers across her smooth skin and gently kissing her large bosom.

Birds were chirping in the air, and Ragnar could hear the faint sound of the river from the manor. He felt at peace for the first time in his life. The quiet of a medieval life sure was appealing compared to his high stakes, high-risk life as a search and rescue operator.

Eve slowly poked one eye out, squinting under the rays of light that hit her face. Before bringing both palms to her face and hiding in embarrassment. "Ragnar, let me get up and change. You're tickling me again."

Ragnar heartily laughed, turning mockingly serious, "How could I look away from such an exquisite sight," as he continued to suckle on Eve's breasts.

Eve squealed as she swatted Ragnar on the shoulder playfully, "Ragnar! Please, before mother comes back."

Giselda chose that moment to walk in, "Ah yes, my dear daughter, please clean up before your beloved mother finds out." She replied as she looked on at her daughter wrapped in the naked embrace of the enormous warrior, Ragnar.

"Mother!" Eve replied in shock, covering herself under the covers.

Giselda nodded at the appropriately shaken Eve before turning to Ragnar, "And you, Ragnar, what do you have to say for such appalling behavior with the Baron's daughter? I could hear the two of you the entire night, and I'm not surprised if the entire manor doesn't know what the two of you have been up to."

Ragnar smirked at the mistress, who was approaching her mid-thirties. Her slightly graying blonde hair gave her a mature look that complimented her busty figure. "Well? The Baron has been captured by the Sigvald family under terms of betrayal."

A gasp of shock broke out from Giselda's visage as she tried to remain calm enough for Ragnar to continue explaining.

Ragnar then looked to the beautiful vixen by his side while outlining her jaw with a soft touch, "and Eve's fate over here is yet to be decided. I'd quickly pick a side if I were you, Giselda, mistress of the Baron." Ragnar stressed the last part.

He knew the women of the losing side weren't treated kindly very often. The fate of most was slavery or prostitution. Not very appealing for one of Giselda's stature.

One way for her to get out of the predicament was if a victor chose her as his woman, but the number of men who would willingly take on Giselda, a middle-aged lady and the fat Baron's mistress, to top it off would be slim to none.

Giselda froze in shock, the news too much for her to handle.

Eve glanced at the person she'd called her mother for most of her life before turning to Ragnar for hope, "Mother, it's okay. Ragnar and his men will take care of us. Won't you, Ragnar?"

She looked on, more telling Ragnar to do so than asking.

Ragnar glimpsed at her with eyebrow's raised, before swatting her behind. "Don't tell me what to do ever again, woman."

Eve coyly looked away, appropriately chastised. Ragnar continued, "I will promise no such thing. My father already has a wife he loves, my brother won't want a haggard woman touched by the Baron, and unfortunately, I have too many women to handle. Even if I didn't, my standards are too high for a woman like you," as he got up from beside Eve and walked towards his clothes strewn across the room.

Giselda slowly broke down in tears as she realized her fate would be one of lower standing regardless of what outcome she received. Her anguish slowly shifted to rage, her expression turning more and more cynical as the only explanation she could have for her situation was Ragnar's family.

She locked eyes on the naked hulking figure and looked around for any weapon she could reach. Noticing a small knife lying on the floor, she dragged herself over there and picked up the dull guard's blade.

Looking at her reflection on the metal surface, she steeled herself for what was about to come before she heard a soft noise right beside her. She quickly turned around to find an overpoweringly large figure covering her entire vision.

"What do you think you're doing?" Ragnar's hollow malevolent voice echoed throughout the room in question.

Giselda tried to use her dainty arms to bring down the weapon on her target, but Ragnar savagely chopped the knife out of Giselda'a hand and raised her by the scruff of her neck. "I tell you that I have standards, and you set out to kill me?"

Ragnar tutted in disapproval, "Shame on you, woman, this is all the doing of your partner, the Baron. Who left us out to die by not sending out his troops, and then once again betrayed us all by forgoing his religion and siding with the Christians."

He let go of the woman before picking up the knife and turning away to put on his clothes again. It was truly hard to be harsh to women, but Ragnar took it lightly on Giselda. If it had been anyone else that had found Giselda trying to kill them, then at the least, she'd lose her hand, and at worst, her life.

Eventually, he found himself fully clothed, back in his fur coat.

He snapped at the still naked Eve. "Now, you called me 'Almighty' when we made love yesterday night. I want to know why you know of such a moniker. When I'm the first one to return to this manor."

Eve looked on chastised and gulped, ready to answer the angry behemoth.

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