Nearing the place where he had left his steed he found a figure back facing him sawing at the reins with a small curved knife. Leif quickened his pace but as he got closer he became aware that the figure was in fact a savage female, and she was trying to sabotage his horse. He stopped his approach within three meters of the woman and spoke to her loudly in the Norse tongue, What are you doing?.

The woman straightened and slowly turned to face him. She was a bit shorter than the young warrior and was dressed in an ankle long animal skin skirt that had been hemmed with tufts of rabbit fur. For a top she had a simple cloth shirt over which hung a loosely fit mail sleeveless shirt. She had long matted black hair and her icy blue glare bored holes through Leif. She did not understand his language but that mattered little, he was one of those who had slain her kin and she would fight him to her death.

Leif saw the fire in her eyes, the fearlessness in her untrained battle stance. They way she gripped the knife, her knuckles turning white. She was out matched in both gender and skill, but Leif did not intend to kill her -- just yet. The heat of battle, scent of blood and fire and the traces of adrenaline pulsing in his veins all combined with the sight of this ripe woman who was no more than a winter Leif's senior brought up within him a great urge to be satisfied.

He moved towards her with deliberate speed and defenselessness. He let his spear drop when he was within reach of her arm, and as he expected she braced herself and swung wildly for him. His now free hand shot up and caught her wrist while the other shook off the shield and quickly found her neck. He pressed her up against the tree his horse was tethered too and squeezed her wrist until the dropped the knife. The hand on her neck applied enough pressure to keep her aware of who was in control but not enough to steal her life.

Leif's eyes met hers at the same time their noses nearly made contact. She stared at him, fearless but defeated. She knew what was coming and she knew it was pointless to resist. There was no one left to save her, and her screams would only bring more of these monsters who would surely desire the same thing this one did. No she would take it silently and pray to her Gods that he would slit her throat when he was done. She simply stared into his eyes, and though they did not speak the same language the body has a way of communicating not restricted by the tongue and Leif knew her thoughts.

He smiled at her and released her hand, using his now free appendage to pull at her skirt. She gently touched his hand and pushed it to the side, using hers to carefully untie the waist strap and allow it to fall to the ground undamaged. She gave herself over to him.

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