Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 5

His dark eyes glittered dangerously in the sunlight as he glared at the two men.
    "What by the name of the gods is going on?" His voice fit with his appearance making Alex shudder involuntarily as he spoke.
    "Harald found this Pict last night, out on the moor Father, but rather than dispatch him as he should, he decided to bring him home." Gunnar's voice was scathing.
    "Harald?" The older man inclined his head and raised his eyebrows at his other son.
    "I didn't feel I had any other choice," Harald explained briefly. "He was unarmed, and only young. I couldn't kill him."
    "He's our enemy," Gunnar hissed angrily. "He deserves death; it is what they would do to any of ours if caught."
    "Your brother is right." The older man's tone softened as he addressed Harald, shaking his head slightly. "What did you expect bringing him here?"
    "I don't know what I expected; I just knew I couldn't kill him." Harald's tone was apologetic but when his eyes met his father's there was a gentle pleading in his gaze.
    "Some Norseman you are, you stay here on the farm, you won't raid, you won't fight." Gunnar shook his head in disgust. "You should have been a woman, not the heir to Jarl Siguard Olafsson. Fuoflogi! " Gunnar spat in Harald's direction.
    "Gunnar," his father barked. "You go too far. Your brother does not shun women. He had a wife, he has children." Gunnar held his father's angry gaze, refusing to back down.
    "So you're saying what? That because he had children he's now allowed to become argr ? That such actions are not shameful?"
    "Leave it, Father," Harald said wearily. "I'm used to the insult."
    From his position on the cold ground Alex watched the argument between the brothers, his own precarious fate temporarily forgotten, until Gunnar's murderous gaze swung back towards him.
    "So we kill him?" he asked coldly, a cruel smile playing on his lips. When neither replied, he transferred his gaze to his brother and held out the short sword hilt first. "Well Harald, you brought him here."
    "I won't." Harald crossed his arms, ignoring the offered weapon.
    "Then I will." Gunnar took a step toward Alex who had started to fight urgently with the bindings on his wrists as he tried to shuffle backwards, his unprotected legs scraping across the rough ground.
    "Stop!" The single word from the older man was quietly spoken but the tone demanded instant obedience in response. Even Alex ceased trying to move away. "There is another option."
    "What?" Disbelief was written over Gunnar's face, and hope over Harald's, as they spoke the word at the same time. Alex held his breath; surely any fate had to be better than death.
    "Take him as a thrall," Siguard suggested baldly. "You'll have to ensure his obedience, and take his life if he won't agree or tries to run."
    "It will never work. If he doesn't murder us he'll run back to his people and betray us." Gunnar argued.
    "It could work," Harald said carefully, his expression changing as he looked towards Alex, as though asking an unspoken question.
    "Just let me go. You've got this all wrong. I am no danger to you, whoever you all are." Alex pleaded. "Just tell me how to get home and I'll go, I won't trouble you again." In his mind Alex added, 'well aside from calling the police and having the lot of you mad men arrested for kidnapping and torture.'
    "Choose," Siguard commanded.
    "I would save him," Harald confirmed, his voice gentle, his eyes still fixed on Alex. "I will take him as a thrall."
    "Not just any thrall, my son," Siguard added as he looked between his sons. "You will not only be solely responsible for his actions, but you will have a duty to see to his safety. Keep him close."
    "Close?" Harald's tone was uncertain as he looked towards his father.
    "A body thrall, yes," his father confirmed with a nod.
    Alex frowned as he noted a slight smile cross the older man's face as he spoke, wondering what the hell a body thrall was.
    "Choose, Pict. Either become Harald's body thrall," Gunnar twisted the word to make it sound as though this option was somehow shameful, dirty, before adding with obvious pleasure. "Or die."
    Trapped, Alex looked at Harald briefly, then turned to Siguard, ignoring Gunnar completely "I've no bloody idea what a body thrall is, but I guess if you won't let me go and the only other option is death, then it's no real choice. I don't want to die."
    ****
    Without saying a word, Harald cut the leather thong that bound Alex's ankles, but left his hands tied, before pulling