between his thumb and forefinger. “Say your words to me, Cailin Drusus.” His voice was soft, his tone caressing, his manhood beginning to stir once again. “Say your words to me, lambkin. I will be a good husband to you, I swear by all the gods, both yours and mine.”
“When—and where—you are Gaius, I then—and there—am Gaia,” Cailin told him. How odd, she thought. I waited all my life for the right man to say those words to, but never did I think to say them, stark naked, in a bed space in a Dobunni village to a Saxon. Still, Cailin decided she was fortunate. She sensed that Wulf Ironfist was an honorable and a good man. She needed his protection, for without her family she had no one. Ceara and Maeve did the best they could for her, but they had gone away, and she had found herself at the mercy of Berikos and his vicious Catuvellauni wife. It would not happen again. Then she heard the Saxon’s voice, strong and sure, and she looked into his blue eyes.
“I, Wulf Ironfist, son of Orm, take you, Cailin Drusus, for my wife. I will provide for you, and protect you. This I swear by the great god Woden, and by the god Thor, my patron.”
“I will be a good wife to you,” Cailin promised him.
“I know,” he told her. Then he chuckled. “I wonder what your grandfather, and that witch Brigit, will think of this turn of events?”
“He will ask payment of you for me, I am certain. Give him nothing!” Cailin said. “He deserves nothing.”
“That for which we pay nothing is worth nothing, lambkin,” Wulf told her. “I value you above all women. I will give him a fair price of which you need not be ashamed.”
“You are too good,” she said. “How can I repay you for your kindness to me? You might have had a night’s sport, and then sent me away. If you had, however, I know I ought not have been shamed, for it is the Dobunni way, but I would have been shamed in my heart nevertheless.”
A slow, mischievous grin lit his strong, handsome features. “I know just how you may begin your repayment, lambkin,” he said, and he brought her hand to his manroot, which was again in a state of eager readiness. “I intend to exact full payment, lambkin, not just this night, but in the nights to come.”
Her young face took on a seductive look he had not seen before. “It is fair, my husband,” she agreed. “You will hear no complaint from me in this matter. My family always taught me to repay my debts.” Then she pulled his face back to hers, her lips ready and eager for his kisses.
Chapter 5
Berikos looked at his guest. “You slept well?” he asked. “You have reconsidered our conversation of yesterday?”
“Your granddaughter is a charming companion,” Wulf Ironfist replied, and gulped down a draught of brown ale. “I am honored to have had her first-night rights, Berikos. You have made it plain how much you desire my aid, but I, in turn, still believe your idea is doomed to failure. You cannot turn back time. No one ever has, my friend.”
“I will meet your price,” Berikos said desperately.
“Land?” The Saxon raised an eyebrow questioningly.
Berikos nodded bleakly.
“You would make a bad neighbor, feeling as you do,” Wulf told the old man. “I would never really be able to trust you … unless.…”
“Unless what?” Berikos pounced upon the small thread of hope.
“Assign me a portion of land for security now. When I have trained your men, I will exchange it with another Celt living on the Saxon shore,” Wulf Ironfist said. “I will have my land, and the land you give me will belong to another of your race. Perhaps not of your own tribe, but you Celts can work that out amongst you.”
Berikos nodded. “Aye, we can, and when the day comes when we drive your people back to the Rhineland, you cannot complain to me, can you? I will have kept my part of our bargain. Good! I agree!”
“Not quite so quickly, my friend,” Wulf Ironfist said. “I want one other thing of you. I think you are most apt to keep your bargain with me if we are related by blood. Your granddaughter pleases me. I need a wife. Her mixed blood disturbs you, but it does not disturb me. I will pay you a fair bride price for her if you