Conquer My Heart

Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO

 “Why haven’t they surrendered?” Lyulf Thorguard gazed up at the torch-lit battlements of the stone keep, frustration burning in his chest. The smell of roasted venison and the sound of his men cavorting around their fires barely registered in the background.

“A woman leads them,” his friend and mentor, Olof, replied. “Need you know more?”

“What does she seek to gain? ‘Twill only cause her people more misery. ‘Tis only a matter of time before we starve them out.”

“She’s protecting her home, just as you would.” Olof grinned, displaying straight white teeth below his thick mane of red-gold hair. “I’d admire her strength if not for the futility of her actions.”

“I admire wisdom more,” Lyulf said. If Olof thought to inspire his pity, he was mistaken. He’d worked too long and too hard for this, serving William these past five years. These lands were awarded to him as spoils of war, and he was determined to have them. Since he left his homeland in Denmark he had had one desire—to own his own land and to be released from his uncles’ charity. No Saxon wench would stand in his way, and well Olof knew it. He just couldn’t resist the opportunity for a little well meant fatherly preachment.

Lyulf had suffered through many such speeches since his father’s death, when his mother had made Olof his keeper. At first Lyulf had resented his interference, but over time Olof had become more than his keeper. The wisdom behind those pale blue eyes and craggy sunburned features had guided him safely through many a battle, while he learned his knightly craft. Over time, throughout the laughter and hardships, Olof had become his friend.

“If it were your home, you’d fight to the death to keep it.”

Lyulf smiled broadly. “’Twill be mine, very soon. With the supply lines cut off and my men posted along the other side of the river, it won’t take long.”

“’Tis unfortunate our attempts at bribing the garrison have failed.”

“What garrison? ‘Tis plain the keep is functioning with few men. Most were sent to fight William at Hastings I’d wager. I‘ve not seen the guards on the battlements relieved since we came.”

“Yea, ‘tis true enough.” Olof chuckled, apparently not in the least bit frustrated by their situation. “There’s more sleeping going on up there than patrolling. If we stormed the gates ‘tis unlikely they’d hear us over their own snores.”

“We’ll wait. They’re no good to me dead. The more serfs I have to work the land, the more profitable this fief will be.”

A warrior of mammoth proportions trudged toward them out of the darkness. As he materialized out of the gloom, the circle of light cast from the smoking fire revealed two giggling females slung over his massive shoulders.

Olof’s laughter boomed in the still night air. “Sigvard has captured you two plump pigeons, I see.”

Lyulf shook his head ruefully. “Take them back to the village, Sigvard. There’ll be no whoring tonight.”

Sigvard’s dull features collapsed. “But they’re willing, my lord.”

Lyulf’s groin tightened at the sight of a half exposed voluptuous bottom. It had been a sen-night since he’d sated himself, and the temptation of two comely wenches ready for a tumble was sweet torture indeed. But he dared not become distracted from his goal.

“’Tis a thoughtful gesture,” he said, reining in his lust with some effort. “But I have work to do before I crawl betwixt a pair of plump Saxon thighs, willing or nay.”