5
I woke sweating, my body suffused with heat. My hips begged shamelessly for the release I sought even in my dreams. Slipping to my feet, I found the water bucket and drank my fill, then splashed the cool liquid over my fevered skin before I even looked around for my warriors. Ragnvald and his pelt were gone, but as I stood there, Maddox came striding out of the forest carrying a string of fish.
He grew closer and stopped, regarded me. Then, in exaggerated motion, lifted his nose and sniffed the air. My cheeks grew hot when he turned his knowing smirk on me.
Instead of commenting, he went to the fire and spitted the fish.
Still clutching the bucket, I went to sit at the fire. If I was good, maybe he’d allow me to go and seek herbs today, and bathe in the stream to cool myself.
I he
