Gabrain saw the slight figure of Tara O'Cahan running forward to meet a huge Dane. Her blade flashed and the Viking tumbled to the deck with a slash a...ross his throat. He had to take his eyes from her as Vikings began to assault the foredeck on which he stood and he found himself having to fend them off. Only a few handguns had been manufactured so far, but Gabrain had one of these. He now drew the pistol and fired a number of shots rapidly, bringing down the two closest Danes, but more swarmed. She knocked quietly on his door hoping he wouldn’t be inside. “Come in.” Gracie’s heart thudded and she let herself in and closed the door behind her. He sat upon his bed wearing jeans and a thin gray shirt. The shirt outlined his muscular chest and the jeans hugged his body. “Michael – “ She began but didn’t know what to say to him. She felt juvenile, silly and aroused. He was too good looking and it irritated her. “Gracie, come and sit down. You obviously have something to say or you wouldn’t. "CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT I WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE?"No, of course I could not sleep. I was crying half the night feeling the humiliation stronger all the time and the deep insult. How could I face the world in the morning?I heard noises outside my door. Mother was sitting on the floor across from my door. It looked as if she intended to spend the night there. Eventually I fell asleep.In the morning the first thing I felt was hunger. I had not eaten since the previous morning. But then it hit me. Miss Francine was too fond of dominating any gathering, and Diana wanted to be in charge tonight. After all, whose parchment was it anyway? Hers! And, more than that, she didn't want Francine wittering on to the rest of her friends about her newly acquired yen to be a slave. Diana was ashamed of Francine at certain times - like now, for instance!Meanwhile the slaver ship had landed and a party been despatched to pick up the latest batch of carefully selected female slaves. An hour later, as the.