Your death can…or mine,she thought grimly, not liking the deceitful prospect of either.
But, of course, Skadi didn’t say that, or even remind him that divorce was also a possibility.Why bother?A king was more likely to take another wife than divorce an old one…Would Agnar do that?She would definitely kill him then. ‘Let us welcome him with a meal and discuss what steps to take to ensure a peaceful future for all. Surely you realise Thrudheim cannot thrive in isolation and we need King Sven.’
Agnar began to climb down the ladder. ‘I will not break bread with him and he will not enter Thrudheim. I will speak with him at the gate, as I would any other aggressor who thinks to visit with a fleet.’
Skadi hurried down the ladder, half-afraid that he would leave without her. ‘He had the same number of ships with him when he stopped here on his way to raid the Saxons. It is hardly an act of aggression, simply a friend and neighbour checking to see that I am well. I will remind you that I did not open my gates or agree to marry you willingly! Of course, he will be concerned about Thrudheim, as am I!’
She’d had to use her longest and quickest strides to keep pace with him and she was startled when he stopped walking to face her. ‘You should not come with me.’
Crossing her arms, she said firmly, ‘Iwill! Do you think Sven will be appeased without seeing that I am safe and well?’
‘I do not care whether he is appeased or not.’
Fury swept through her like a wave of flames and she lifted her chin higher before declaring, ‘I will join you, or you will have to drag me away by force!’
With a roll of his eyes, he continued on and she was pleased when he didn’t argue with her further. She was even a little pleased with herself when she was able to match him step for step towards the huge gates.
Oddmund began to walk a few steps behind her and she was glad of his support, although she’d not seen him since the night of the attack and wondered if he’d been kept from her by Agnar and his men. She would not have been surprised if he had.
Agnar nodded to his men and they unbarred the smaller door set into the huge oak doors. He strode through seemingly unconcerned and she quickly followed with a small guard, all of whom were Agnar’s men, apart from Oddmund.
King Sven’s ship had rowed up to one of the jetties and a gangplank lowered on to the wooden boards with a bang. King Sven strode from his longship like a barrel on stick legs. He had dirty-blond hair that he lightened with lye, which was pulled back at the top into a short braid and shaven beneath. The gold crown encircling his head shone brightly in the light, as did his silk-trimmed tunic and fur-lined cloak that seemed to swamp his thin lower body.
She’d always found the Danish King a peculiarly shaped man, but she composed her features to greet him in her usual polite and friendly manner. It was strange to think that the wolf beside her was related to him—the only likeness between them was the intelligent green eyes of their father.
King Sven wasn’t known for his skills as a warrior, although he was a strong sailor and he was unmatched as a tactician. He’d won most of his battles from the safety of his war tent. He was followed by several burly warriors who, in contrast, looked as if they’d fought in many wars and lived to tell the tale.
‘Greetings, King Sven, I hope your raids were a success,’ she called out, hoping to slow the King who was striding towards them with a severe expression on his face.
Agnar and Sven looked at her as if she had decided to lift her skirts and dance in front of them. But it was King Sven who spoke first.
‘What is the meaning of this, Agnar?’
‘King Agnar,’ barked Vali, from the side.
Skadi had learned the redheaded warrior’s name from Brenna, who still held a deep and understandable dislike of Agnar’s second. Skadi didn’t like him, either, he was Agnar’s most obedient dog. She wondered how best to remove him as a threat…perhaps Bodil’s butterflies could help? Most men had a weakness…
She stared at King Sven as he approached. She had always known his weakness…greed.But she had been able to manage it in the past, had even used it to her advantage at times.
King Sven didn’t even blink at Agnar’s title, so their marriage had not come as a surprise.
A prick of awareness ran down her spine, although she wasn’t sure why. After Agnar’s attack on Heimdall, it was obvious that he would seek Thrudheim’s crown and the easiest way to do that would be through marrying her.
Still…why had Sven not come to her defence earlier?
King Sven’s top lip curled with disgust. ‘Marrying the man who killed your husband is unseemly of you, Skadi.’
Skadi clenched her fists.Was that all he had to say to her? A condemnation?
‘QueenSkadi,’ Agnar interrupted with a deadly expression that made King Sven grit his teeth.
It surprised her to hear Agnar defend her honour. But perhaps it was only to assert his authority as Thrudheim’s ruler? She had no idea what Agnar’s weakness was and that frightened her.
‘I had very little choice in the matter,’ Skadi said, all smiles gone. ‘Especially without my men or further aid. Oddmund tells me only one of Heimdall’s ships could return. Why is that?’
King Sven pointedly ignored her, his eyes fixed on Agnar, and she remembered how often he had spoken to Heimdall over her as well. She’d always thought it was because they were friends, but now she realised the truth of it. He had never respected her in the same way.
King Sven declared loudly, ‘Open your gates, or face retribution. It is clear Skadi has been forced into this alliance. Once I have spoken with the other petty Kings, they will join with me to take it back. Save yourself bloodshed now and surrender!’
