Infinite 01 - Infinite Sacrifice

me, in dreary, coarse wool. We ride down near the shore, where the man driving our wagon stops to unload the goods and Thora has to go negotiate payment. I stand gazing out on the dark blue water to the different-sized ships bobbing at anchor. Past the warships and cargo ships, I see the pilings and stakes sticking up at the end of the long jetties, ever defending us from a water invasion.
    High-pitched horns sound, and all eyes go to the longest jetty, where a warship is approaching to unload. Men place long planks of wood across to walk off the ship onto the jetty. About ten men step off, each dragging two huge sacks of loot. The last four are struggling, carrying a man tied at his hands and feet with a sack over his head. I immediately feel sorry for this kidnapped individual. Everyone, except the thralls, cheer for the return of the warriors. Rolf, unfortunately, is one of the first off, and as soon as he sees Thora, he rushes over to pick her up in a suffocating embrace. She looks like it hurts her, and when he puts her down, he opens his sack, showing her all he plundered.
    I lose interest in this scene and focus on the four bringing the unhappy person up to Chieftain Toke’s house. A crowd gathers, curious to see what they brought back, and someone calls for Toke. He comes out, looking annoyed by this disturbance, and fixes his belt around his embroidered tunic.
    He says, “I was in the middle of enjoying my finest mistress.”
    A woman steps out beside him, closing the front of her silk gown. She has cascading blonde hair down to her ribs and glowing amber eyes.
    I whisper to Thora, “His wife looks like a goddess.”
    “Dalla’s no wife and certainly no goddess. Dalla’s the town’s mistress: a thrall that’s saved for man’s enjoyment.”
    “But she wears silk and jewels?” She looks like no thrall I’d seen.
    “Men give her gifts for her beauty.”
    “Chieftain,” a warrior with ice blue eyes says, “we’ve been to Iona and have brought back a gift for you.”
    They remove the linen sack, and the crowd gasps when they see the tall muscular person is in fact—a woman. She’s dressed in loose pants and long tunic that hides her femininity, but her face, with its small features, lack of beard, and long hair, is in fact female.
    The chieftain laughs. “And what am I to do with the she-man, Konr?”
    “It took six warriors to capture her alive. She fought like a berserker! Held us all off for more than an hour with only her shovel and axe. All we could do was take a large piece of linen, corner her, and wrap her up in it. But she still ripped right through, but not before Orm here tied her legs.”
    He points to a large and dirty warrior beside him. Orm nods, happy to be mentioned to the chief.
    The chieftain quiets and looks at the prisoner. “Well then, Orm shall win her. I have no use for her.”
    Orm’s face brightens as Konr says, “Chief, she’s a fighter. No man will tame her.”
    Orm jumps in. “I can tame this he-woman! Poke her until she gives way to her sex!” The warriors cheer him on as he grunts. “Just need to loosen her leg ropes a bit to get the job done.” He begins to untie his belt and lets out a reverberating belch.
    The warriors laugh, and the chieftain nods in approval, his slate eyes twinkling at such unexpected entertainment. Orm motions for the men to drop her, then grabs her tunic from behind and drags the strong girl on the ground. Straining with each pull, he tries to look every bit of the man he boasted about. He takes her into a small trading store. Once inside, he gives a snide smile to the warriors, then knocks the stick holding up the window, shutting it with a slam.
    The chieftain asks, “Tell me the status of the settlement on Iona?”
    Konr begins, “We have secured the—”
    A great crashing in the post interrupts the report as Orm runs out, holding his groin and bloody head. He comes out screaming toward the warriors as the she-man charges out after him. Her wrists are still tied, but she has the shop stick in her grasp, swinging it around dangerously. She chases after him, her muscular legs now free from ropes.
    Orm shrieks as he runs for cover. “She bucked like a wild mare! She’s out to kill me!”
    The warriors drop their sacks and raise up their swords. Her indigo eyes blaze with careless fury, and she grunts as she swings at anyone who challenges her. All villagers seek refuge in stores or houses as I find safety with Thora behind