The Berserker Saga, Volume 1

Chapter 4-1

4

When I woke from what Daegan would call a wee nap, the dark haired warrior had gone. I raised my head slowly, blinking at my surroundings. The past few…hours? Days? Had overwhelmed me and I hadn’t had time to take everything in.

If I wasn’t lying on a bed of furs, I’d believe it was all a dream.

The pelt-covered dais stood in the middle of the room, which was really a large cavern, hewn from rock. Along with the fireplace, iron braziers stood like sentinels around the room providing extra light and heat. Whoever designed the room found a way for air to flow freely, because the room wasn’t stuffy, even with the fire.

The bed still smelled of s*x, a sweet musk clinging to the furs. My body was rested but sticky, covered in the warrior’s spendings.

They’d spread their slick c*m over my skin as they’d told me why they’d taken me for a slave.

“We’re warriors, mercenaries,” Samuel explained. “We’ve fought for many rulers, and now that the Red King rules in peace, we’ve retreated here. This whole mountain is our home.”

“We wanted a woman.” Daegan said with a grin.

Samuel nodded. “We consulted a witch who would be right for us. She told us about you, a woman with the mark of the wolf.” He traced a light finger over my face, edging close to my scar. My hair fell to cover the mark and he withdrew. “It was you, Brenna. We searched and searched, and finally tracked you. Your stepfather would take money. We tempted his greed and took you.”

I tried not to look upset. They’d used a witch to find me? Why?

They’d looked for me? Searched for me? I couldn’t believe it.

“So you see, Brenna, you were chosen.”

No one had ever wanted me, much lest sought me out.

“We want ye, wee one,” Daegan said. “We knew when we found ye, ye would be our own.”

Samuel nodded. “You will learn our ways, and become ours. You will never want for anything as long as you obey us.”

“It’s a hard life, but it isnae so bad.” Daegan stroked my breast before raising hopeful eyes to mine.

They acted like they were afraid I wouldn’t accept them. But they’d given me no choice. Their happiness meant my survival.

After our talk, Samuel left and Daegan gave me more food and water, treating me like a pampered pet, before he fell asleep beside me. I’d lain awake thinking on everything they’d told me, eventually succumbing to my own exhaustion.

Now I was awake in the empty chamber. The fire burned low but it was still warm enough to get out of bed and explore. I pulled a pelt around my shoulders, though there was no reason to be modest.

The cavern’s open entrance led to a hall, and I wondered if I dare try to leave, naked and barefoot and with no idea what lay beyond the door. I walked the line of braziers, checking the walls of the chamber for cracks, escape on my mind.

I felt rather than heard someone behind me. A tingle went up my spine, a buzzing sensation that raised the hair on the back of my neck. I wasn’t alone.

I whirled, but it was only Samuel rising from the pelt dais as if from slumber. I must not have noticed his large form on the dais, sleeping covered in furs.

The big warrior sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing a hand over his face.

“The wolf sleeps,” he muttered. “It’s been years since I’ve known such rest.”

I stared at him.

“Come here, Brenna.”

The blond leader seemed sterner than Daegan, but he’d told me not to be afraid of him. I forced myself to meet his gaze and take unflinching steps to the dais until I stood before him. If my hands gripped the pelt around my shoulders a little harder, perhaps he wouldn’t notice.

The corner of his lips curled up as I stopped an arm’s length away from him.

“Did you sleep well?”

I nodded.

His hand came out to touch my face, eventually tipping it to the side. I shut my eyes, willing myself not to cry. I still hated anyone examining my scars.

He covered my neck with his big hand, fingers resting over my pulse.

“It’s not so bad,” he said. “Just a scar. I have many.”

I stared at him. It was hideous. He didn’t need to tell me.

He sighed.

“I wish I could talk to you.”

My hand traced down the large muscles of his chest. One finger found a knotted scar.

He gave a small grin. “That was an arrow in battle. Didn’t feel it at the time but collapsed afterwards. Took me three days to get back on my feet.”

I stroked the marred flesh. He took his hand away from my neck, caught my hand and kissed it.

“So you see, Brenna, the scars are not marks of shame. They are marks of honor. What we survived.”

I smoothed my hair over my neck, thinking on what he said.

He rose and bade me stay in the room. “It is not safe for you to venture out, little love. Do you understand?”

I nodded, and he left only to return with food. I was glad I hadn’t tested this rule.

The smell of roast meat filled the room and my stomach growled. I reached for a wheaten cake and Samuel tutted.

“I wish to feed you, as Daegan did.”

That had been humiliating; I blushed. My brow furrowed. Pouting, I reached for the cake again.

“Now, now, little love. Submit to my will. If you’re naughty you’ll be punished.” He didn’t sound angry, but satisfied. He settled me on his great lap and brought each morsel of food to my mouth. I ate, bite after bite often interrupted with a kiss. His lips played over mine. It wasn’t unpleasant, just annoying. I was a grown woman. I could feed myself.

When he was distracted I took some food and offered it to him.

His grin stretched across his face and his muscled chest shook with a laugh. “Stubborn are we? Well that’s good. We need a woman with spirit.”

I fed him as he’d fed me, like a little babe. He tolerated it, even enjoyed it, if only because he thought it was funny.

When we were done I snuggled into his body, and this seemed to make him happy too. He petted and played with my hair, relaxed and in no hurry.

I was beginning to understand what they meant by me soothing them. These were warriors used to going from battle to battle. It must be nice to come home to a woman they could treat like a little pet. I supposed buying their own pleasure slave was more convenient than leaving the mountain to seek out a prostitute.

I sighed, and Samuel pushed my hair away from my face.

“What are you thinking, little love? I wish I knew.”

For the first time in my life, I was glad I was mute, so I couldn’t be forced to tell him.

Instead, we kissed and then his hand delved between us, finding my slippery cunny. He stroked me until my eyes glazed and my mouth fell open. Then he burrowed under the pelts to put his mouth between my legs, licking me until I felt the familiar rush of pleasure, and then rising up over me, taking me his great body rocking over mine, dominating, claiming.

I lay sated for a time and he went to get water. Idly I wondered whether it was night or day.

Samuel came back and set me in his lap again.

“You were not a virgin,” he said in a matter-a-fact tone. “Did you have a lover?”

I shook my head, my hands smoothing my hair over my scars.

He frowned. “He abused you, didn’t he? Your father?”

Stepfather, I silently corrected and nodded. My eyes flicked down and I turned my head so my hair fell over my face. My blond master stroked the hair back gently.

“You could not cry out.”

I had fought, though. Would my sisters be able to fight as I had?

Samuel mistook my distress. “You're safe now. He will never touch you again.”

His words did nothing to reassure me. Even now my stepfather would be home telling them...what? That I’d died ? That men had come and taken me?

The twins were young, but the sister just younger than me, Fleur, would guess the truth: my stepfather had done away with me, one way or another. Would she be smart enough to hold her tongue, or would she speak up and be beaten? How soon would my stepfather start to prey on her and then the two younger ones?

“Hey.” My blond master cupped my chin. I blinked back tears, trying to refocus on him. I could not think about my old life, I had to focus on survival, and then escape.

“You’re all right now little love. I won’t let anything happen to you.” This last phrase came as a growl, and I hid my shiver at the reminder of the type of man who controlled my life.

“There is much for you to learn, but we will teach you. The witch chose well for us.”

His hand guided my face forward, and I submitted to his kisses, even as his mouth moved down my neck, pressing against the scar. These warriors were obsessed with the mark.

To distract him, I did something daring. I ducked my head and kissed the arrow mark on his chest. He sucked in a breath as I swirled my tongue around the raised weal.

“Oh, little love. You were made for us. We will be good to you, I swear.”

As he kissed me again, Daegan strode into the room. We broke apart to watch the dark haired warrior strip off his jerkin and boots. I noticed a little silver in his black beard, matching the silver wolf pelt he wore.

“How was the hunt?” Samuel asked.

Daegan shrugged, taking a swig of water and wiping his mouth. His eyes stayed fixed on me, glowing gold.

“Go to him, Brenna.” Samuel chuckled. “Give my brother a kiss.”

I crawled across the pelts, smiling in greeting. The dark haired man grinned and accepted my chaste touch of lips, then cupped my head in his hands and kissed me deeply.

When he was done he rested his forehead against mine for a moment. “Thank ye, lass.” His voice seemed to return to him, he and Samuel chatted about the hunt and other warriors for a few minutes, while Daegan ate some meat, offering bits to me. I accepted quietly, following my role, my ears alert for any clue for escape.

At last, Daegan reached down and tugged a lock of my hair. “Are ye enjoying yerself, Brenna?”

I hesitated, then nodded shyly.

“Ye are very beautiful.”

This time the compliment didn’t make me cringe. These men were warriors stuck in a mountain top camp. Of course they thought the only woman around for a hundred miles was the most beautiful thing they’d seen.

I smiled at him and raised up onto my knees, reaching for him. I set a hand on his chest, feeling his muscles flex under my palm as I kissed him. He tasted of wood and wild. I wanted more. I slanted my head, as Samuel had done, and fed on the corner of his mouth, begging for a slip of his tongue. He rewarded me, drinking deeply.

When we were done I burned all over. I barely heard Daegan comment. “She’s a quick learner.”

“Aye.”

“My wolf is calm,” Daegan remarked, still holding me.

“As is mine.”

“Better than seeking a priest to exorcise the demon,” Daegan said with a sly look at Samuel. “All the praying and sacrifice, and what you needed was a sweet maiden to lie with.”

Samuel growled, an unhappy sound. My body stiffened.

For a moment no one spoke. The room seemed colder.

Daegen’s hands soothed up and down my back, and the edge of his mouth quirked in a little smile.

“I’ve upset my warrior brother.” Daegan turned me to face the blond, who was staring at the stone walls, brooding. “It is your duty to make him feel better. Go to him, Brenna.”

My dark haired master set me on my feet and gave me a little push. The short walk took ages. I stared at the rigid line of Samuel’s shoulders.

But when I reached him and put a hand on his arm, he softened.

“Little love,” he sighed, drawing me between his thick, muscled legs. “So sweet and so pure.”

Even with him seated on the rock and me standing, he still was taller. I leaned in to kiss him, feeling his beard, softer than it looked, brush against my face.