“The nectar of the gods.” Njord licked his lips and stared into her eyes, a primal hunger on his bearded face as he positioned himself between her shaking thighs. He slid his hands under her hips, tilting her up to receive him, and plunged in deep, pummeling her with the same fury as the sea against the rocky shore. With a savage thrust, he sunk into the hilt, convulsing and filling her with his seed.
After a few moments, he laid down at her side, cradling her over his thundering heart. “I love you, Elfi.” His deep voice reverberated into her very bones. “I miss you already. May the gods guide you on your voyage to theÎle de Sein.” He stroked her long hair and kissed the top of her head. “And bring you safely back to me.”
Wrapped in his arms, aglow in his love, Elfi watched the wispy clouds float across the full moon. Snug in his sinewy embrace, she slept soundly until dawn.
When she awoke to the squawk of gulls and gannets and the mauve sky of first light, a rod of iron pressed urgently against her bottom, Njörd nuzzled the back of her neck, lifted one of her legs, and penetrated her from behind. “I love this position,” he murmured into her ear. “Because I can do this.” Lowering her raised leg to rest over his own, he caressed the little nub between her thighs with a long, skilled finger. As he pumped mercilessly into her, he firmly rubbed the sensitive bud. When waves of unbearable pleasure washed over her, she clenched him tight, the contractions of her climax extracting his seed.
“Mmm…” he hummed, the vibrations of his low voice rippling down her spine. “The best way to start the morning.” He inhaled deeply and hummed again. “With your scent on my mustache and your taste on my lips. I shall think of you all day long, with every breath I take.”
Elfi smiled, sighing in satisfaction. Her quivering legs were still weak from the intensity of their passion. “I love that position, too.” She stretched languidly in the bed. “I hate to get up, but Sifand Bodo will be here soon.” Rising to her feet, she fetched a fresh blue gown and chemise from the wooden trunk at the foot of the bed, which she quickly donned before picking the grey gown up off the floor, folding it, and tucking it into the satchel on her vanity table.
“Do you have everything packed?” Njörd pulled on his hose, breeches, and tunic, slipping huge feet into his deerskin leather boots.
“I do,” she said, securing Dag’s flute into a leather pouch which she wrapped within the grey gown inside the satchel. “Lugh said there would be shelter on the island, and plenty of fresh fish, so I’ll need myeldstål,to make fires for cooking.”She placed the firesteel tool into the leather belt at her waist. “I’m bringing my antler comb, mint leaves and a twig to clean my teeth, and two gowns for a change of clothing.” She patted the leather satchel. “It’s all in here.”
Just as Njörd belted his sword, three knocks sounded upon the hidden door. “I’m going back to my longhouse to speak with my men. And I need to find Áki.” He pulled her close and kissed her goodbye, his full lips lingering on hers. “I’ll be back soon. I’ll meet you in the Great Hall, and we’ll head to the waterfall cave.”
“That’s perfect.” Elfi lifted the tapestry and unlocked the wooden door.
Joy glinting in her big brown eyes, Sif smiled from the top stair. A grinning Bodo—holding a lit torch—stood at her side.
“I’ll grab a torch for us and be right back.” Sif dashed into the corridor and returned with a pine-tipped flame that she’d fetched from a wall sconce. Together, she and Elfi escorted theirÚlfhéðnarlovers to the bottom of the castle keep.
“See you in the Great Hall soon fordagmál.” Torch held high, Bodo disappeared with Njörd into the tunnel leading to the sacred grove.
Elfi bolted the heavy latch on the solid oak door at the base of the stairwell and, as Sif held the torch to light their way, climbedback up the steps to her private chambers.
Once they had both entered the room, Elfi closed and bolted the hidden door, lowered the tapestry, and hugged an exuberant Sif, who had just returned the torch to the wall sconce in the hull. “I’ll unlock the door to the antechamber,” she whispered, swiftly slipping across the room. “Your mother and myammawill be both be up very soon.” Her task complete, she settled onto the chair at the vanity table just as Oda appeared in the doorway.
“Everything ready for your voyage?” Concern crinkled the thin skin around heramma’sworried eyes.
Elfi nodded. “Sif is braiding my hair, and I’m meeting Njörd in the Great Hall. After we break our fast, he and I will head to the waterfall cave. When he returns to the castle, Jarl Rikard will ride to Reims to fetchfaðir. Oh,Amma, I’m positively thrilled!” She squeezed the gnarled hand which Oda had placed on her shoulder. “I’ll finally receive the white wolf weapons Lugh has crafted. Meet theGallizenaeand learn to wield my mother’s power on theÎle de Sein. And come back here for theHaustblótFestival—to celebratefaðir’s return and Dag’s burial withGaladirin the sacred grove.”
Oda kissed Elfi’s cheek. “I am thrilled, too,elska.” She smiled as Vilde entered the room to escort her downstairs fordagmál. “We’ll see you soon in the Great Hall.” With a swish of skirts and a clinking of keys, the elderlychâtelaineofChâteau Blancswept out the door.
Sif finished the elaborate braids on Elfi’s waist-length hair. She gestured to the leather satchel on the bedside table. “I’ll place this comb inside your bag. Do you need anything else?”
“Just the necklace Njörd gave me,” she replied, reaching for the three tiers of glittering gems which had once belonged to a Persian princess. “Lugh and Úlvhild both said it exudedsjóvættirmagic. I want to wear it to theÎle de Sein. Perhaps they will know the source of its power. Will you please fasten it for me?” Elfi pulled her hair to one side so that Sif could secure the clasp behind her neck. She gazed at her reflection in the polished silver oval upon her vanity table, smoothing the turquoise, emerald, and lapis lazuli gems against the base of her throat. Adjusting thetrollkorstalisman suspended over the gathered bodice of her deep blue gown, Elfi rose to her feet. “I’m ready now. I have everything packed.” She slung the satchel over her shoulder and smiled at Sif. “Let’s go down to the Great Hall.”
****
Njörd and Bodo exited the tunnel through the cave in the sacred grove. As they strode through the forest, the early morning sunlight illuminating the dense trees, Njörd reflected how something was odd about hisÚlfhéðnarbrother. For more than a week now, as the pack trained and hunted each evening inla Forêt du Loup, Njörd had sensed a distinct change in Bodo. Although the innate bond which linked them was still there, it was weaker. And Bodo’s scent was off. Perhaps the enchanted ring which had cured his maimed foot was the reason for the difference. The hairs on the back of Njörd’s neck bristled with unease.
“WeÚlfhéðnarmust help Bjarke and Varg to defend the castle whileJarl Rikardis gone. Although the Count of Soissons is forced to deliver Lord Thorfinn to him in Reims, the threat remains of another attack from the Frankish king Lothaire.” Njörd eyed his lupine brother. His mentor. His father Brökk’s closest friend. Apprehension gnawed at his gut. Instinct told him Bodo was in danger. “Stay away from Áki. The last thing we need is fighting amongst our own men. We must stay focused on the Franks.”
“Understood. Just keep Áki away from Sif.” Challenge blazed in Bodo’s resolute gaze. “See you in the Great Hall.” Bodo doused his torch and headed toward the double entrance doors leading into the castle.
Njörd exited the forest and returned to his longhouse. With luck, he’d find Áki inside with thehersirs—the chieftains of Njörd’s Danish army from Ribe. Áki had been actively avoiding him ever since the wedding feast where he’d spat at Njörd and accused him of no longer being a Dane.
As he entered the smoke-filled longhouse, Njörd spotted the bearded blondwarlord at one end of the table with the tenhersirs,finishing theirdagmálof barley bread, baked cod, wild blackberries, andskyr. He sat down at the opposite end of the table to join them. Accepting a platter of food and a mug of ale from his thrall Hjordis, Njörd addressed his alert men. “Jarl Rikard rides to Reims this morning. Odin willing, he’ll return in a fortnight with Lord Thorfinn.” He wolfed down half of the herbed fish on his wooden plate, followed by a few hearty gulps of ale. ‘In the meantime, we continue our daily training with the knights ofChâteau Blanc.” Njörd held Áki’s fiery gaze, then made eye contact with each of the ten Danishhersirsseated at the table. “Your orders are to defend the castle and the village of Étretat, should the Franks launch another attack.” He tore off a chunk of barley bread, sopped up the buttery rich herbal sauce of the baked cod, and popped it into his mouth. Lifting his mug of ale in tribute to his loyal men, he announced with a grin, “We shall celebrate theHaustblótFall Harvest and feast upon Thorfinn’s return!”
Amidst hearty cheers of “Skál!”, thehersirsdrained their mugs of ale and arose from the table. They exited the longhouse, with some men returning to work on the ongoing repairs in the village, and others headed toward weapons training and drills in the castle courtyard.
Áki stood, prepared to leave with the men, but Njörd stepped in front of him, blocking his retreat. “Stay away from Elfi’s servant, Sif. And the stonecutter,Bodo le Boîteux.”
An ugly sneer stretched across Áki’s sullen face. “He’s notBodo le Boîteuxanymore, is he?” His guttural grunt was a taunting jeer. “Now that his limp is gone, I can challenge him to a fair fight. Man to man. Not man to cripple.”
Njörd commanded his Danish warlord with the steely voice of the Jarl of Ribe. “I need you to defend the castle. And I need Bodo for the voyage toÍsland. Stay away from Bodo and Sif. That is a direct order. Understood?”
