After taking his sword from its sheath and replacing it with the sword of Thrudheim, he removed his mother’s ring and took the red woollen cord offered by the Gothi. Threading the cord through his mother’s ring, he pushed it on to her finger—annoyingly it fit perfectly.
Another ring was produced, this time a masculine version that looked as if it had been crafted to match his mother’s. Agnar offered it to Skadi and with a roll of her eyes at this ridiculous pretence of ceremony, she threaded it through the same red woollen cord and pushed it on to Agnar’s calloused finger.
The Gothi grabbed both their hands and pushed them together palm against palm. The two pieces of red woven cord dangled down between them. Chanting an ancient prayer, the Gothi began to wrap the wool around their pressed hands. ‘Agnar Bjornsson, you wed and honour the lady of this hall. You will share your wealth with her and shield her back. Faithfully, you will always honour her with your words and actions.’
She then looked to Skadi, who had heard these vows before and had not liked them the first time. ‘Skadi Friggsdottir, Queen of Thrudheim. You bow your crown and sword to your new King. You will obey his commands and share his bed. Faithfully, you will strive to give him happiness with your words and actions. Give me your oaths!’ the Gothi demanded.
With one last glare at her new husband, Skadi said between gritted teeth. ‘I give you my oath…that I willtry,Your Highness.’
Agnar’s head tilted and his eyes narrowed, but he answered clearly, ‘I give you my oath, that I will alsotry,my Queen.’
The Gothi looked between them, obviously wondering if these aggressive and subjective oaths were actually binding in the eyes of the gods. But she must have decided they were, because she banged her staff loudly on the floor and shouted, ‘The bond is woven. You are bound together in marriage!’
Their hands parted, Skadi’s palm burning as if she’d spilled hot oil on it for the second time that night. The cord snapped and the scarlet threads fell away in a clumsy tangle that she had to shake off.
Agnar walked away, appearing not to care about her reaction. After all it was only a symbolic ceremony—the threads no longer mattered once the words had been said. Grimly Skadi thought to herself that even the words didn’t matter. Once Heimdall had made his oath and become King, things had changed between them. She’d never regretted her choice, but she had never been particularly happy with it either. At least this marriage had begun honestly, in an odd sort of way.
‘I will send the signal now,’ Agnar said to a nearby man, who hurriedly pulled out a large metal horn from his pack, the type used in battles to signal charges and retreats. Agnar took it from the man, and with a deep breath pushed it against his lips and raised his head, bellowing out a deep and rich sound that carried up out of the smoke hole and into the dawn above.
Why had he done that? Was it a signal to the outside town that their marriage was complete?But why would the people care? They were waiting for the doors to open, and the release of their Queen.
Who was the signal for?
The distant sound of an answering horn filtered down from the mountain above, followed shortly by several fainter blasts. As if they were being made on the other side of the island, or out at sea.
Skadi shivered, despite the warmth of dawn shining down from the smoke hole above. Pink and amber clouds drifted across the sky and a raven swooped into the opening. It perched on one of the rafters, peering down at her curiously like one of Odin’s messengers, reminding her that the Norns had already woven her fate before she’d even taken her first breath.
She looked to her new husband.
Perhaps her fate would be to kill him, or…perhaps they were destined to be together?
She flinched at the thought.
Agnar lowered the horn and looked at her, a slight curl to his upper lip—the beast’s attempt at a smile. ‘My army is coming.’
Chapter Five
It was clear that Skadi had not expected him to have so many men and he was oddly proud to have surprised her. Endless years of fighting, joining campaigns and selling his sword had slowly built up his skills and reputation enough to lead a formidable army.
All of his focus and drive had been leading to this moment. The day when he would finally reclaim what had been stolen from him. He was covered in the scars of his ambition and the hundreds of men under his command were the symbol of his hard work and achievements. The Agnar who faced her now was completely different to the boy who had been dragged from her hall in a bloody disgrace.
Had she even wondered what had become of him?
He doubted it and that filled him with a dark rage. Years of suffering and struggle and she hadn’t even cared if he lived or died.
But he was here now and she would know. He would force her to look, and understand what she had done. Whether she wanted to or not. She would regret her choice!
Heimdall’s death had been the inevitable catalyst and it had set in motion all of his plans. Like an entire village going up in flames, because of a single neglected spark, and he was that forgotten flame.
‘Army?’ Skadi asked, looking strangely magnificent in his wolf pelt. There was no denying her beauty—it captured his senses like a dazzling snowstorm, obscuring all other sights and sounds in her blinding presence. His attraction was as single-minded as his ambition.
‘You thought so little of me?’ he asked with mocking disapproval, enjoying the irritation that flashed across her face. He moved to stand closer to her and she stared up at him with a defiantly clenched jaw. Now that they were officially married, he allowed his possessive nature free reign. Compelled by some magic, he reached out and stroked a finger down that imperious jaw, marvelling at its softness despite how tightly it was clenched. ‘Did you really think I would come for you with so little preparation?EverythingI have ever done is to be with you.’
It was strange that he could so passionately hate and desire her at the same time. But he did. The mere memory of her had caused him to raise an army—he was half-afraid of what else she could make him do.
Kill a child?The idea repulsed him, even though he had threatened it not that long ago out of desperation.
‘But…’ She shook her head, stepping away from his touch, making it clear she didn’t want him in return, and he felt a fool. ‘Who?’
