Tears of Amber

Chapter 7 Plunder

         Raum and his men followed her horse tracks until they disappeared at the edge of a stream.  They followed the length of the stream until it reached the sea.  Where had she gone?  He could think of only one place, her uncle's.

         Stupid cow.  He had hoped she would turn out to be a meek woman, willing to do as she was told and live.  Dylla was no such woman.  She fought and killed two of his men.  She would pay for that embarrassment on their wedding night.  

        Oh yes, he still wanted her for marriage.  He bold personality could be beaten out of her, because there was no denying she was a rare beauty.  Once she bent herself to his will she would be a fun tumble.  

        He set off for his ships.  They must leave immediately to try and catch her before she reached her Uncle's estate.  She didn't know her uncle had past, and she'd be driven right into the arms of Randver.

Randver. He spit at the ground.  So he would face the man that exposed him after all.  Raum laughed out loud.  Good he never backed down from a fight.  Randver would be a worthy opponent.  He would never match Raum's trickery,  and preparation before battle.  He would formulate his plan the entire time he sailed.

        Raum was deep in thought as they loaded the ships with supplies for the journey.  He pushed the men hard, but promised them riches and women.  They rowed from the shores of this forsaken land towards the shores of his future home.  He stood on the deck of his long ship and thought of Dylla.  He smiled with cruel thoughts of ways to scare her into submission.  He prayed that no Viking beat him to her virgin bed.  He alone wanted the pleasure of ripping her flesh.  Her tears would be a sweet vision of satisfaction for all the trouble she caused.  She would bare him sons, and serve him.

        He filled his entire sea voyage with thoughts of Dylla and how to plunder Randver to get to her.  They glimpsed a ship at one point, but were never able to gain on it, and lost it on the horizon.  When they reached the shores of his new land, they left only enough men to protect the ships, and made their way inland.  They fed all their appetites on the long journey to Randver's estate.  They also stole the necessary supplies to carry out his trickery on Randver.

        The fortified turrets told Raum Randver was more than prepared for his arrival.  So Randver had guessed that Raum was coming.  The didn't bother Raum one bit.  His trickery couldn't be predicted.

        They camped out in the woods miles from Randver's keep for two weeks and sent men daily to get close and figure out the routines and habits of the estate.  Raum's plan of attack was coming together nicely.  Soon, Dylla, soon.  Under his watchful power would she fall.