He folded his arms across his chest, still conflicted about whether to allow his desires to rule him so soon. It was obvious Skadi hated him and would need time to accept him—likewise he needed time to forgive her. ‘My mother’s people, those who were still loyal to her and my father. There are many that disagree with Sven’s…methods.’
‘Enemies of Sven! He suspected you would betray him.’ Anger flooded her expression and she snapped, ‘You will bring war and death on Thrudheim with this madness!’
Agnar’s own anger began to rise, although it wasn’t just directed at her, but at Heimdall and Sven as well. He tried his best to dampen it, to regain control.
‘War was inevitable. You were simply too blind to see it! For too long you have been safely imprisoned here on your island. I had thought you would have realised your mistakes by now. That you would beg for my forgiveness and accept my help. But I see you are too spoiled and stubborn to even admit you were wrong. You are nothing more than a puppet queen, blinded by pride and a young maiden’s lust!’
Skadi stiffened, but raised her chin regardless, her tone as haughty as ever. ‘Let me see thisarmyof yours! Sven may have enemies, but I doubt they are significant in number.’
‘Gladly! But first…’ Agnar deliberately took his time trailing his gaze down her luscious body, a heady poison of desire and triumph intoxicating him in her presence ‘…you may wish to get dressed first. Your men might think I have already taken you when they see the blood.’
Skadi glanced down at the stains of blood on her tunic and legs. She gave a guttural snort of derision, declaring loudly, ‘I have bled more during my monthlies!’ Then she looked up at him with a haughty tilt of her nose, impressive considering she was wearing so little. ‘You think too highly of yourself,young buck! Remember, I am not some innocent maiden easily shocked or frightened by men. I have already been a wife, mother and widow. I have ten more years of experience than you in all matters…including Sven.’
‘Young buck?’ he asked, incredulous at her words, if not her sharp tongue, which was as arrogant and quick-witted as he remembered. ‘No one has ever called me that before. I hope you are not worried about our difference in age… I may have been a child when I last saw you, but I can assure you that I am now a fully grown man in all ways.’
She gasped and colour flooded her cheeks…A blush!
It was the first hint that he affected her emotionally, in more ways than anger and fear.
He stepped closer, pulled by some invisible thread, and it took all of his willpower not to reach out and touch her parted lips. ‘You might have chosen me then…if I’d been thisyoung buck,instead of a boy… You might have preferred me.’
‘I doubt that!’ she snapped, but she could not meet his eyes. She continued with a pout, ‘I grow tired of your looks and welcome parting from you, even if only for a short time. Perhaps when Sven arrives you will leave me again…’ Bravely, she raised her chin and spat her last words with venom, ‘This time for much longer!’
After her parting barb, she strode away, her hips and hair swinging, her daughter and servant hurrying after her with equal haughty confidence. A female war band, proudly dismissive of him and his men—as if they were no more than unwanted guests.
Agnar watched her leave until she was out of sight, unable to look away from the riddle of her. He knew he wasn’t the most attractive of men with his scars—but had that blush indicated a desire for him? He had hoped for affection in time, and gratitude from saving her from Sven. The latter had proven impossible quickly… But might her love for Heimdall be gone? Would she accept him as her husband? Grant him access to her bed? Or, was he reading too much into a simple blush?
‘Agnar, shall we remove the barricade?’ asked Vali, looking at him curiously, and he realised his men were staring at him expectantly.
Bristling with embarrassment at being caught day-dreaming like a love-addled youth, he snapped, ‘No, we need to wait for the signal from the approaching ships—I have said this already. Three short blasts followed by one long one.’
Vali nodded, looking more than a little sheepish as he pointed out quietly, ‘Yes, it’s…been sounded already.’
Chapter Six
Skadi sat with Brenna and Astra in the King’s chamber preparing for Nattmal—it was Agnar’s chamber now, she supposed, but it still didn’t feel real. Her husband of nearly twenty years was dead and she was re-married to his murderer two weeks later.
It seemed the Norns of fate enjoyed making her their fool.
She had not seen Agnar since dawn. He had been busy positioning his men all over the battlements. Her guards had been removed and she’d not seen or heard of Oddmund since the hall had been opened. She presumed he was waiting for things to settle before he approached her for instruction.
Skadi wasn’t entirely certain what she was going to do. Servants occasionally hurried in and out like bees, giving news and progress reports to their Queen.
‘Howmany ships?’ asked Skadi sharply, when the tavern owner whispered an account that surprised her. The tavern owner, Bodil, repeated the answer nervously, probably fearing the Queen’s ill temper was directed towards her. ‘Twenty, my Queen…so far.’
Skadi felt as if she’d swallowed a rock and she croaked, ‘How many men came over the wall?’
‘The first attackers were only a small band of warriors, perhaps thirty men led by Agnar—I mean King Agnar…’ She swallowed as Skadi snorted in disgust at his title. ‘And…over two hundred men arrived after the second horn was sounded. However, the longships sailing in are also surprisingly well manned. Perhaps, they left some ships behind on the other side of the mountain? Or, they were able to pack all of their number into the twenty ships… It is possible.’
Skadi shook her head. The number was far greater than she could have imagined and, in fact, more than the number of men used to defend Thrudheim. Heimdall had taken half of the men with him raiding—when and how those men would be returned to her, she wasn’t sure. Most were young without families or fortune—it was why they had chosen to go raiding. But it also meant a lack of loyalty to Thrudheim…Would they never return?
However, that was not her most pressing concern. ‘But…how? How does he have so many men? I do not understand it!’ She gave Bodil a firm look. ‘Find out where they have come from. Who are their chieftains? Why did they join with Agnar? What do they hope to gain? And, most importantly, can they be bought? Find out all you can.’
Bodil nodded and dipped respectfully. ‘Yes, Your Highness. My tavern butterflies are working the men as we speak. I suspect to learn more after the feast tonight…they will be merry from drink by then.’
‘Thank you.’ Skadi nodded, comforted by her words. Bodil’s women were all pretty and intelligent. They could wrestle secrets from men while removing their boots…as well as other items of clothing.
She turned to Brenna and asked quietly, ‘Anything from Gudrun?’
