Heimdall, even in the glory of his youth, with his charming smiles and flexing muscles, would have paled in comparison to Agnar on his knees. No man had stolen her breath like he’d done in that moment. His long dark hair fluttering in the breeze, those vivid green eyes filled with strength and promise, the scarred hand clenched above his heart and his vow—Odin’s teeth! His vow—she’d almost felt faint staring at him.
Thankfully, she’d had a little time afterwards to compose herself. Astra pointed out all the farms and landmarks along the way. With endless patience he listened to Astra babble about‘Hilda’s sheep farm’or‘the ancient hanging tree’where murderers were punished.
She’d tried to stop Astra from explaining the long tale of Dagni’s pig thief. ‘I do not think Agnar needs to know that tale,’ she said firmly, leaning forward in her saddle to try to catch her daughter’s eye.
But Agnar didn’t seem to mind, and even encouraged her. ‘No, tell me, Astra. Who was the pig thief and how did they steal the prize sow from a locked barn? They must have had a lot of cunning.’
Astra was thrilled by his interest. ‘Dagni couldn’t understand it either! She’d locked the pig up before the midsummer feast and then it disappeared! She suspected her closest neighbour, because he’d always been jealous of her pig. But when she demanded to see his barn, no pig was to be seen! And, when she came home, the pig was back!’
‘Had the thief returned it, fearing they would be discovered?’ asked Agnar thoughtfully and Skadi almost ruined it by laughing.
‘That’s what Dagni thought! And she wanted her neighbour punished, claiming that its return was proof that they were the original thief! But the neighbour argued that the only thief was Dagni, because a bag of his apples were missing, and he claimed Dagni had made a fine mess of his stores while searching for her pig! Neighbour was ready to hang neighbour and the entire island was in chaos, about to wage war upon one another!’
Agnar looked at Skadi with wide, concerned eyes and she sighed. ‘It wasn’t that bad…’
‘What did your mother do?’ Agnar asked, ignoring Skadi’s comment and seemingly enthralled by the tale.
‘Well…First,she asked to see the store with the missing apples.Thenshe walked over to Dagni’s hall to see the barn where the pig lived…’ Astra began to giggle.
‘And what did she find?’ asked Agnar, leaning forward in his saddle to hear her better.
Astra snorted. ‘The pig had dug out a hole beneath the back wall of her barn and had even covered its escape by moving its trough to cover it! Dagni hadn’t thought to check if the pig had escaped by itself… Pigs are surprisingly clever!’
Agnar reeled back with a loud, ‘Ahhh! And that is why the pig returned…after eating the neighbour’s apples, I’d wager!’
‘That’s what Mother said!’ laughed Astra merrily.
‘Now tell me, how did your mother appease both neighbours? After all, Dagni had accused her neighbour falsely and her animal had stolen their apples.’
‘Dagni had to give her neighbour the next batch of piglets from the sow as an apology and in payment for the stolen apples.’
‘A harsh punishment,’ said Agnar with mock horror, but there was a twinkle in his eyes when he looked at her.
Skadi interjected quickly, ‘It was more that she had not checked all possibilities before accusing her neighbour. We are a close community; such behaviour is not acceptable.’
‘A wise decision,’ Agnar said with a smile that made her heart race.
‘There’s the crafters’ village!’ declared Astra excitedly.
Sure enough, the crafters’ village came into view as they crested one of the gently rolling hills of the flatlands. The settlement was a series of barns and workshops encircling one large hall. No defences or walls, only farmland surrounded it. If it had been any other village, she would have been afraid for the inhabitants, but thankfully, J?rd, the goddess of mother nature, had created the perfect defences of sea and cliff to protect them.
The warriors they’d sent on ahead were already pitching tents and helping prepare for their stay. As they approached, the crafters came out of their workshops to greet their Queen, with nervous glances towards Agnar. Skadi tried her best to smile broadly to reassure them all was well—her sudden marriage would be a shock to them.
‘There are so many women and children,’ said Agnar with a frown. ‘Where are the men?’
Skadi nodded, ‘The mines and raiding have taken many men from us over the years. Some of the women felt vulnerable in Thrudheim. We have many traders and merchants visiting our shores, not to mention warriors.’
Agnar appeared thoughtful for a moment, before saying, ‘You gave the widows this land and the workshops so that they can support and feed themselves?’
Skadi chuckled. ‘I think it works well. Have you not seen the beautiful things they make? I merely help them achieve their goals without interference. Of course, the silver mine is where the majority of our wealth comes from. But these crafters have an equal part to play in our prosperity. Thrudheim crafts are well respected and sought after along the northern trading routes, they do very well indeed.’
With surprising speed Agnar dropped down from his horse and then turned towards her with a raised hand, silently offering to help her dismount. She didn’t need his assistance, but quite liked that he had offered. She hadn’t even thought to wait for him to do so before, had always hopped down by herself as she normally did.
Heimdall hadn’t done anything like that since before they were married. She had thought it was because they were equal. But Agnar’s offer of help seemed somehow more respectful, as though he wanted to protect and care for her…because he valued her as his wife and as his Queen.
She rested her palms on the tops of his shoulders, the silk of his hair brushing against her fingers and making them curl into the wool of his tunic. He reached for her waist, and she dropped down into his embrace, trusting him with her weight.
He held her aloft for a moment, before letting her slide down the length of him, her breasts lightly brushing against his chest in an intimate touch that caused her heart to race. The rasp of their clothing was the only sound between them, and she bit her lip, hoping for more…a touch, a kiss…
