“He is your half-brother.”
“Aye,” Mirana said slowly. “He is my half-brother. But in their eyes, his blood is my blood and thus I am tainted with his wickedness. I am as evil as Einar is.”
“This is madness. How can Rorik be so blind?”
“Rorik isn’t blind, girl. Speak not of your master in such a way. Lord Rorik is a man who has suffered grievous pain, pain you cannot begin to imagine.”
Both women whirled about to see Hafter standing there, still and silent in the black night, a thick wool cloak about him, the wind whipping his dark golden hair about his head. He looked big and strong, his shoulders stiff with anger. Mirana took a step closer to Entti. She wished she had her knife.
“Aye, I know,” Mirana said, “but I was not a part of it.”
Hafter shrugged. “His family believe differently. You left them raging, Mirana.” Then he laughed suddenly. “I always believed Sira to be more beautiful than any goddess. With leeks dripping off her forehead, she looked quite human. Aye, a good dose of humility you gave her. She will hate you forever now.”
“Mirana could have stuck her knife in the girl’s gullet, Hafter. A leek or two atop her head is nothing.”
“Women see things differently. Sira is after your blood, Mirana. She was calling for your death when I left the longhouse.”
Mirana didn’t want to ask him but she did. “What of Rorik? Do you know what he will do?”
He shook his head. “He remains within, with his family. They are very angry.” He turned to Entti and he smiled, holding out his hand to her. “Now, I am here to fetch you. You will warm me tonight and I will take you until I am sated on your soft flesh.”
Before Entti could speak, Mirana lightly touched her forearm to hold her silent, and said, “Nay, Hafter. No man will touch Entti again unless she wishes it. This is her wish and I honor it.”
“I will give her pleasure this time, I swear it. I have a man’s needs and she must fill them. She will enjoy herself as she does. She must do as I wish.”
Entti straightened as stiff as one of the palisade posts. “Take yourself back to the longhouse and stick your head in your mead, Hafter. I will have naught to do with you. Did you not believe me yesterday? Do you wish me to unman you again with my knee?”
“You said you were sorry. You said you wouldn’t do that again.”
“Aye, I said I wouldn’t hurt you again if you kept your distance from me. I don’t want you. Go away.”
“Which of the men do you want?”
Mirana was fascinated at the sudden very jealous tone of his voice. She saw that Entti was about to laugh, and said quickly, “Entti doesn’t wish any man right now, Hafter. Surely you understand. She has been sorely unhappy. You are a man of sense and kindness, are you not?”
“Aye. Mayhap. Not in this instance. I want her, Mirana. Don’t interfere, it is not your right.”
“If you force her, Hafter, she will kill you or hurt you badly and then she will have to die and all because she was protecting her honor. Do you wish her to die because of your lust?”
Hafter had no real thoughts, only a burning need to bed Entti. He didn’t want another woman, only her. He stared at Mirana, the woman who was the wife of Lord Rorik, a woman who could possibly be dead soon by the hand of one of Rorik’s family. He said slowly, turning now to face Entti, “I don’t want you dead.”
“What do you want then, you boorish lout?”
“Speak not so meanly to me, Entti. I am a man and you are naught but a slave. It is I who am in the right. You will do as I bid you.”
Entti shook her head at him, so frustrated with his stubbornness she wanted to hit him. “You are more obtuse than the goat who must eat cow dung! I will not be your whore, Hafter. Understand me, for I grow tired of repeating it. I will not be your whore or any man’s whore. No more.”
He looked perplexed. “But no other man will have you. I’ve seen to that. I have told them that you are mine and they are to keep their distance. I am protecting you.”
Entti said to Mirana, “It is of no use to speak to him. All men are dull-witted goats when lust possesses them. He is no different from that man Erm who wanted to rape me.” She turned then and walked away, pulling the ragged square of wool more closely around her shoulders.
Hafter said, “Entti is wearing a rag. It isn’t right. I don’t like it.”
“Aye, you are right,” Mirana said. “I will see to it that both of us have better clothes to wear.”
“She’s leaving me and I am not done with her. Entti! Come back to me! I will give you a new cloak. Just come back here, now.”
He gave Mirana a distracted frown, then turned to run after Entti. Mirana didn’t think he would catch her.