Why would he help Agnar, if he were happy with Heimdall? And, why wait all these years to give his support to Agnar now?None of it made sense! She rallied her thoughts and feelings to calmly ask, ‘Why would I want to kill youif, as you say, King Olaf, my uncle, supports you?’
‘He does support me,’ replied Agnar, placing his hands in his lap. He didn’t reach for any more food or drink and she couldn’t blame him for it.
‘Surely, not until recently, or you would have come sooner,’ she laughed, but the amusement died in her throat when she saw the seriousness of his expression. ‘Why would he support you? The Rus are a threat to all of us!’
‘A threat?’ he chuckled bitterly, but gave a strange nod of agreement. ‘Sven is the only one threatened by them and only then because of their connection with me. Your uncle, values trade with the east and would prefer a fairer agreement than the one currently provided.’
‘But…’ her mind struggled to accept his words ‘…why has he never spoken of it? I know I haven’t seen him for many years. But we are family, he could have sent word to me about his grievances.’
‘He sent several messengers to Heimdall about it, but was always ignored. Did Heimdall not tell you?’ Agnar’s question was said with a knowing look that made her anger flare.
She scowled at him, but answered politely, ‘Unfortunately not. I suppose I will have to take your word for it.’
‘The very presence of his men under my command is proof enough that I speak the truth.’
She tried her best to ignore the smugness of his tone. ‘My uncle approved of my match to Heimdall. I am simply…surprised that he would change his mind.’
‘Things have changed… For one, I am now a grown man. Your uncle realises that what suited both of you then is no longer of benefit to him now.’ His jaw flexed as if even acknowledging the truth of it irritated him. ‘He supported me in challenging Sven and becoming King of Thrudheim. He wishes no further interference from Sven in the running of this important and strategic kingdom.’
‘Sven does not rule Thrudheim.’
‘But he told you to marry Heimdall and Heimdall has always agreed to his demands.’
She stiffened because that much had been true. King Sven had been the one to tell her that she could not rule alone and had even suggested Heimdall as a potential match, explaining that she would need a warrior husband, or her kingdom would fall under attack from the petty Kings or the Rus—who threatened him daily. ‘I married Heimdall because I was vulnerable.’
‘Being a young and unmarried woman wasn’t what made you vulnerable. Back then, you had enough support from the petty Kings to remain secure in your position. Sven manipulated you into thinking otherwise and then over time took all of your forces from you.Nowyou are vulnerable.’
She didn’t like how true that sounded, but she couldn’t argue it. The forces of Thrudheimhaddiminished over the years. Raiding and mining was dangerous work and had stolen the lives of many of Thrudheim’s young men. ‘You are King Sven’s half-brother. Surely it would have benefited him more to have a close relative like yourself as ruler of Thrudheim rather than a warrior with no connection like Heimdall.’
To her surprise, he shook his head. ‘No, it would not. It would distance you further from him. I am his half-brother. If I married you and we had children, he could not marry them or take you as his bride. He wanted you to remain under his thumb, while also providing a possible match for him or his sons in the future. Heimdall was the perfect choice—he paid him well to court and support you. He feared that he would be surrounded by powerful Rus families on both sides of the sea if you married me.’
Raw embarrassment and pain flashed through her. How dare he comment on her life as if he knew everything! And, yet, describing Heimdall’s deliberate ‘seduction’ of her felt brutally close to the truth.
But she still had her pride and refused to admit her past mistakes to someone who was so blinded by his own lust for power. ‘You know nothing of my marriage. It is clear you hate Heimdall and King Sven. I would be a fool to trust you, especially with the life of my child at stake. You say you will claim her as your heir. But I do not believe it. No normal man would willingly give up his name, his legacy, for another man’s child, especially his enemy’s!’
‘Perhaps I am not normal,’ he admitted with an amused smile that made her want to scream. ‘But marrying you and ruling Thrudheimhas always been my goal… I have never thought to have another.’
She stared at him, trying to distinguish between the lies and the truth. Unable to be certain of either, with a sniff she said, ‘If King Olaf believes you are Thrudheim’s future, then there is little I can do about it—he was my last hope for Astra’s safety…from both you and Sven! I suspect war will be the only rotten fruit of your scheming with my uncle. But I will have to accept it for now.’ She pushed away her trencher, her appetite all gone.
‘It was inevitable,’ he replied. ‘Are you done eating?’
She swallowed a sudden knot in her throat.
Did he want to bed her now?
‘Yes, I have instructed a bard to tell the story of Thrudheim—I thought it best you learn some of our history. Let me call him forward.’ She lifted her hand to get the bard’s attention, but with lightning speed Agnar grabbed her wrist and lowered it back on to the table.
‘Not tonight. Another time, perhaps,’ he said and his hand flexed around her wrist, almost as if he didn’t want to let her go. It was as rough and as calloused as his face, but warm, so hot it sent a wave of goosebumps up her arm.
‘This will be a poor feast without entertainment.’
She was trying her best not to seem too obvious in her delaying tactics, but Agnar merely shrugged. ‘My men will entertain themselves.’ His fingers shifted, a subtle touch that was almost a caress.
I will not be your entertainment!
Twisting her wrist, she broke his hold easily. ‘I would rather not witness such revelry. I will retire for the night, but do enjoy drinking with your men.’ Loudly so that all could hear her indignant fury, she said, ‘If any harm comes to my daughter, Iwillkill you. This I vow before all my people and the gods!’
She rose from her seat, but to her dismay Agnar followed her, until they stood side by side.
