Skadi was frowning at him and he realised his vague answer regarding his future plans had irritated her. ‘You have said that before—I was hoping for something more specific.’
‘I cannot be specific,’ he answered, glancing towards Oddmund. Skadi’s frown turned into a scowl and he had the feeling they’d taken a step back in their understanding of one another and this time it was his fault.
* * *
They arrived at the hunting lodge as the sky turned a pretty shade of purple bleeding into a sapphire blanket and sprinkled above with silver stars. A break in the forest showed the cliff drop to the side of the lodge, the sea and sky fading into moody shades of blue and black in the distance. They left their horses to be looked after by the men and were welcomed by a few of Skadi’s servants who had been sent ahead to prepare the lodge and evening meal.
Most of the men would be sleeping in the tents set up in the little clearing around the cabin—a campfire was already burning for them. The darkness of the forest was already creeping in around them and Skadi hurried Astra inside.
The smell of warm pine, ash and fur hit him as he stepped inside. It was a good-sized lodge, with enough space for four long tables and benches. The central fire burned brightly and there were a few wall torches among the thick tapestries of hunting scenes and displays of antlers.
Brenna greeted them with a horn of mead and a pleasant smile. ‘Your beds are ready and I’ve put in some warming stones under your blankets. The food will be ready shortly.’
‘Did you bring…?’ Astra glanced at Agnar with a blush, before whispering, ‘Freydis?’
Brenna grinned. ‘Yes, Freydis is in your bed already. She has some new clothes, too. Your mother made them.’
The little girl’s eyes lit up as she looked to Skadi. ‘When?’
‘While everyone was packing for this trip and you were busy fussing over those kittens.’
With a squeal of excitement Astra ran to the loft ladder, scurrying up it with incredible speed.
‘Her doll,’ Skadi explained to Agnar before thanking Brenna and taking a large sip of mead from her horn. ‘Ahh, I didn’t realise how thirsty I was.’ She then glanced up at the loft space, smiling at Astra who was already playing with her doll on her bed.
He followed her gaze to the platform above, which jutted out over half of the hall. It contained one large bed and two smaller beds either side of it. He presumed they would be sleeping there tonight, while the rest of the servants slept on bed rolls, or with the warriors out by the campfire.
It was a family home, he realised, quiet and snug in comparison to the hall’s large and luxurious chambers. Skadi’s eyes even softened as she looked around her, as if pleasant memories were warming her heart.
He sipped deeply from his own horn of mead. ‘Does anyone live here—when you’re not using it?’
‘No, it has always been used by my family. Although I often open it to guests. Traders and merchants, as well as visiting kings and chieftains who wish to hunt.’
An unwelcome anger rose within him. ‘Sven?’
She nodded. ‘Of course. He always liked to go hunting with Heimdall when he visited.’
‘Have you stayed here often?’ he asked, a swirl of jealousy whipping up a storm in his stomach. He realised then that he hated Heimdall and Sven for more than taking his birthright, he hated them for enjoying hunting lodges. And he hated Heimdall most of all, because he’d had a beautiful wife and daughter, while Agnar had spent years fighting for his survival.
He wondered if she noticed his seething, because she gave him a curious look before answering, ‘Many times. I prefer the fresh air and privacy.’ She moved to sit at a bench close to the fire.
He took a seat opposite her, mainly so that he could see her better. The golden light of the fire warmed the whiteness of her hair and the brightness of her eyes.
He sipped from his own horn and was about to ask her about their plans for visiting the silver mine the next day when she surprised him by saying, ‘My father loved this lodge. I spent most of my summers here, at least until I married.’
‘Why did you stop?’
‘Heimdall used to go raiding or on campaigns with Sven in the summer. I had to remain in the hall close to the harbour, in case of trouble.’
‘So…you never came with Heimdall?’
‘Very rarely.’
Agnar’s jealousy disappeared like a fog, allowing him to see clearly. What a fool Heimdall had been, to have everything and never value it. ‘But you came with your father?’ he asked curiously.
Skadi smiled and nodded. ‘All the time, I suppose…things were safer then. We were less bothered by the petty Kings. Straight after my father died, we began to be regularly attacked by raiding parties. My men and I were always able to defeat them, but sometimes they managed to steal from our harbour and the merchants became nervous.’
He snorted. ‘And it miraculously improved after your marriage to Heimdall, and alliance with Sven was agreed… How convenient!’
