A The Mark Of A Stallion Novel:CLAIMING THE VIRGIN'S BLOOD (Published)

Chapter 4

"I will be your tour guide, blue eyes," Sandro said. He hadn't realeased her hand yet. He was now fondling on her little fingers as they walked through the museum.

Nang lingunin niya si Mia ay pangiti-ngiti lang ito sa likuran nila. Inis na pinandilatan niya ang kaibigan.

The warmth of his hands and fingers slowly traversed through her skin. The tingling effects made her slightly delirious. "Ang kamay ko, Mr. Montreal," hindi nakatiis na wika niya.

He gently released her hand but eyes were still on her. From her face, his scrutinizing eyes landed on her neck down to her breasts and lingered on the perky tips as if assessing how much pleasure her delicious body could offer to his lustful desires.

Sanay na siya sa mga ganitong hagod ng tingin ng mga lalaki pero walang epekto ang mga iyon sa kanya. But his was different, his intent gaze brought small shivers of sensation along her spine and she knew what caused it. The thought of him liking her brought extreme excitement to her pride as a woman. Not all women were given the luck of being liked by this extra-ordinary man beside her.

"We have heard of your newest collection, Mr. Montreal. Can we see it?" sabi niya upang ibaling sa ibang bagay ang pansin ng lalaki.

"Just call me Sandro, Yvonne." The tone of his voice was encouraging a sort of familiarization. "Archeological items are on the second floor," he continued.

They treaded the marbled stairs. His hands slightly touched her elbows. Juice colored! Binitawan nga ang kamay niya pero heto at nakahawak naman sa siko niya. Bakit kaya gustong-gusto nito na hinahawakan siya?

When she turned her head, she saw Mia. Halatang binigyan talaga silang dalawa ni Sandro ng pagkakataon upang magkasarilinan. Ang kunsintidora niyang kaibigan. She glared at her again. She answered back with a meaningful smile.

"Do you like ancient treasures?" his eyes sparkled as they focused to hers again. Umaakyat sila sa hagdan pero sa mukha niya nakatingin ang lalaki.

She nodded her head as she turned her eyes away from him. Nakakatunaw ang kanyang mga titig. "Of course. Who would not? They are the beautiful things of the past. They can never be made the same way again. That's why they are called treasures."

The second floor contained all archeological items while the third floor according to Sandro housed all scientific and cultural items. Restaurants and offices were on the first floor.

Her other classmates were already on the second floor. Ang buong palapag ay punong-puno ng mga artifact at antique collection mula sa mga sinaunang panahon at sibilisasyon katulad ng Mesopotamia, India, Egypt, China, Europa at Africa. May kanya-kanyang display case ang bawat lugar o bansa na pinaggalingan ng mga koleksyon. Naroon din syempre ang ipinagmamalaking Viking collections ng museum.

"These are the tools and weapons used by the Vikings during the seventeenth up to eleventh centuries." Sabay turo ni Sandro sa mga items na nasa loob ng malaking display case na yari sa glass. Maayos na nakahanay doon ang iba't ibang gamit at sandata na ginamit ng mga sinaunang piratang dagat, ang mga Norsemen o mas kilalang Vikings. Bawat isa ay may label, nakasulat kung ano ang pangalan o tawag gayundin ang approximate date kung kelan ginawa o natagpuan iyon. Nakasulat din ang pangalan ng sikat na Viking na dating nagmay-ari ng ilan sa mga naroon.

There were also small replicas of dragon ships or long ships and runestones. Ang maliit na replica ng reconstructed Viking ship na Skuldelev 2 ay pinangalan din niyang Sea Stallion. May maliit na replica rin ng Jelling stones at Lingsberg runestone.

She noticed a bronze key on the display. Katulad na katulad iyon ng pendant ng suot niyang necklace. It was a key owned by a Viking housewife. Base sa tradisyon ng mga Viking, ang asawang babae ay binibigyan ng asawa ng susi sa lahat ng taguan o lalagyan ng kanyang kayamanan. It symbolized her power over the house of her husband. It was always hung from her clothes. Ang asawang lalaki lang ang may karapatang mag-alis nito. At ginagawa lang iyon sa oras ng kanilang diborsyo o paghihiwalay.

Dumako sila sa kinaroroonan ng Viking drinking horn. Nakabukod ito sa karamihan. Wala ito sa loob ng malaking case display. It was kept inside a rectangular vitrine made up of thick glass perched on a stylish stand. Eleganteng nakapatong ang horn sa kulay pulang tela kung kaya lalong tumingkad ang kulay nitong pilak. Ang repleksyon ng ilaw sa buong palapag ay nagpatingkad din sa iba't ibang gemstones na nakapalamuti rito.

"Wow! The famous Viking drinking horse," napapalatak si Mia.

"Yeah! It was owned by Rangvald, the chieftain of the Berserkers, the most ferocious Viking tribe. Sa pangalan ng tribe nila nakuha yung English word na 'berserk'. Sila 'yung mga Viking na kumakain ng isang uri ng hallucinogenic mushroom para ma-hyper kapag nakikipaglaban, yung amanita muscaria."

Manghang napatingin sa kanya si Sandro. "How did you know all of these?"

"I should because I am a History major," she proudly replied. "And I love Viking culture that's why I read a lot about their civilization."

"You're wonderful, blue eyes," His brown eyes narrowed and turned darker as they searched her flushed cheeks.

"But this one was made up of silver," she continued ignoring his flaming stares. "Bakit yari sa silver? Because Vikings that time were fascinated with silver rather than gold. It's metal, maybe because this one was intentionally made for something special aside from being a drinking object. See the gemstones? Vikings used to drink from the real horn of cows especially during their skal ceremony where they were believed to be drinking human blood. But that was only a myth. Some historians say they didn't really drink human blood nor wore horned helmet during their conquests nor they were filthy and unkempt individuals."

"Blue eyes, you're such a gem. I think I will hire you to work here as tour guide," Sandro butted in.

Para namang lalo pa siyang ginanahan sa pagsasalita. "The era know as Viking age lasted for more than 300 years, the late eight century up to the late eleventh centuries. But they started their conquests around late seventh centuries. Their history was closely linked to their role as masters of the sea. That's why they were called as 'Viking" from the Scandinavian term 'vikingr' which means 'pirate'. They were feared as fierce and merciless pirates. However, they were also known as farmers, poets, lawmakers and great artists."

"My God! You're not only beautiful, Yvonne. You are also intelligent. The qualities I am looking for a..."

Suddenly there was a gun shot. When they turned their heads, they saw that there was a commotion on the second floor. Nagkakagulo ang mga estudyante, guro at iba pang mga bisita. Ang iba ay tumatakbo sa iba't ibang direksyon. Ang iba naman ay nagsisiksikan sa sulok. Sa entrance ay tatlong kalalakihan ang nakatayo, may nakasukbong na telang itim sa ulo pero may butas sa bandang mata at ilong, pare-parehong armado.

"Holdap ito. Walang masasaktan kung hindi kayo manlalaban," sigaw ng tila pinakalider ng grupo.

*Ano kaya ang idudulot ng holdapang ito sa Montreal Museum? Magkaroon kaya ito ng koneksyon sa buhay at pag-ibig ng ating mga bida? Abangan bukas he he Your votes and comments, pls. tnx

-Ara-