Doctor Abbott

Untitled Part 32

The walk back to the beach was grueling. Ben kept pace with a bundle of furs for his wife and the queen, as well as toting Jocelyn a portion of the way.

Lúta and Genevieve carried a large basket of gifts and refreshments from the lodge between the two of them. They made it to the beach to find Mâvis and the guards already packing newly traded supplies into the boats.

Mâvis immediately dropped what he was doing and strolled over to his wife for a kiss and then to help her into the boat. Lúta nearly hissed at him when he went to offer her a hand. Ben plucked Jocelyn off the ground and plopped her in the boat next to her mother before offering the women a few of the furs. Mâvis took the rest of the bundle and pointed towards the oars, "You can row this time, I will take care of my daughter."

"Yes, sir." Ben exited the boat to help the warriors shove off the beach and then hopped back in to take his seat. This time taking to the task with much more ease than last time. Despite the rough seas he found the trip somewhat enjoyable. Getting lost in thought only to be drawn out of his reflections a few times by Lúta staring at him bashfully. She finally leaned on Genevieve's arm and dozed off.

The evening they speant together was fresh in his mind the entire trip. He paced the night with the thoughts of his wife squirming to free herself from his grip and then giving in to him not once but twice. He couldn't wait to make it home and give their renewed lust for each other another go around.

The sun was nearly up by the time they made shore and Ben's abs and arms were burning from the work. The beach was unusually quiet and he could tell by the guards careful scanning of the beach and woods that something wasn't right.

They all pulled their weapons out as Mâvis flew to the front of the boat with his axe in hand. He yelled to Ben, "Go with the women. This will not end well." No sooner had Mâvis finished his last word than a guard in front of him collapsed with an arrow through his neck.

The king crouched and readied his axe before taking off in the direction the arrow had come from. Ben scrambled across the boat and hurried to cover the women behind a barricade or supplies and furs. He readied a crossbow and watched over the edge of the boat at the massive battle that broke out on a beach that was completely empty just moments ago. Bodies already littlering the sand as Mâvis and his guards made quick work of the intruders.

Then Ben noticed the boat next to him on fire and the boat on the other side of that one as well. Before he could even blink a warrior was standing over him looking down with a crossbow of his own in hand. It was Olsen. King Freyr's son. Ben growled out, "I saved your life! You will let us go, burn another boat."

The creature paused for a moment realizing who Ben was and retracted his weapon if only for a moment. Olsen looked around for a second and then ushered them out of the boat. "Get out, go if you want to live. I am setting this one on fire."

Ben snatched Jocelyn and handed her to Genevieve as soon as she was out of the boat then he and Lúta followed, clinging to the hull of it as Olsen sent a lit arrow into the supplies they had been crouched behind only a moment ago. The teenager made a jump to the next boat to light that one on fire and Ben shot his leg and sent the boy over the other side. Ben immediately dove under the boat with the crossbow loaded already for another shot and took out the boy's other leg.

He made quick work of tying the kid up and tossing him back into the boat he was just standing on. Then waived Lúta and Genevieve to follow him. Passing nearly unnoticed around the fighting until a couple warriors realized who they were and tried cornering the women. Genevieve had Jocelyn tight to her chest as she screamed out, "No!" and tried to make off in reverse direction.