Grunting, they managed to lead their horses and ponies up the winding path, but it was a difficult climb and about halfway up Astra began to complain about the tiredness of her legs. They paused by a battered pine tree, its exposed roots making it look very precarious on the edge of the cliffside. Every year it teetered further over the edge, but somehow it still clung on—not unlike Skadi’s rule over the years, she thought miserably.
‘Should we stop?’ asked Brenna, who was leading her own horse behind them.
Skadi shook her head. ‘No, go on. We will need someone to go on ahead and prepare the lodge for tonight.’
Brenna nodded and continued onwards. Vali and Oddmund also asked if they were well, Oddmund even insisting he stay with them. But Agnar was now climbing the mountain path at the rear of their party and he yelled at the line of horses to continue.
Skadi had to admit she’d been glad when Agnar seemed happy to allow some distance between them. Perhaps he realised she needed time to accept what she had done.
‘Is there a problem?’ he asked as he came to stand beside them.
‘Have you rested long enough?’ Skadi asked Astra meaningfully, a firm edge to her tone that made Astra grumble.
‘Fine…but my legs still hurt!’ She stomped forward and Skadi couldn’t help but smile at her child’s antics.
‘Would you like to ride on my shoulders, Princess?’ asked Agnar casually and her daughter spun on her heels and stared back at him with wide excited eyes.
‘Can I?’
Agnar nodded, handing the reins of his horse to Vali who with a smile continued up the mountain path with Oddmund, while a very excited Astra came running back down to meet with him, her sore legs apparently forgotten.
Skadi rolled her eyes. ‘I doubt Agnar will be able to carry you for long, Astra.’
‘Why not?’ asked Agnar, looking slightly offended by her lack of confidence in his strength.
Skadi laughed. ‘She’s heavier than she looks…believe me.’
Agnar frowned, but still lowered himself to his knees and allowed Astra to climb across his shoulders. He gripped Astra’s ankles and began to wheeze heavily as if the strain of the child on his neck was making it difficult for him to breathe. ‘Hold on to my hair like they’re reins,’ he gasped. Astra gave her mother an uncertain look, but did as he asked.
With a speed and strength that shocked Skadi enough to make her stumble a few steps towards them, Agnar rose from the ground, easily picking up Astra, who squealed with delight as she bounced on his shoulders.
Skadi shook her head with a chuckle and fell into step beside him, her horse following on a loose lead behind them.
‘It won’t be so easy by the time we reach the top of the path,’ she warned, calling up to Astra, ‘When Agnar’s had enough of being your horse, you’ll have to come down and walk again.’
Astra grinned down at Skadi. ‘Yes, Moma!’ She was obviously delighted with her ride and with a twinge of sadness she realised that Heimdall had never carried their daughter like this. Skadi had loved being carried on her father’s shoulders when she was younger and she was glad that Astra could now experience it.
Agnar turned towards her with an unexpectedly charismatic and sensual smile. ‘One good thing about you having a younger husband is that I have the stamina to match… I imagine I could be ridden up and down this mountain with ease,’ he teased.
Surely, he was talking about carrying her daughter…and not…
She tried to ignore the heated blush that crept up her face and neck, remembering how satisfying hisstaminahad been the previous night. She looked away and was sure his smile widened, but she couldn’t be sure as her gaze was fixed resolutely on the path ahead.
The climb was pleasant, the weather holding off from another downpour like the one the night before.
* * *
As they arrived at the hunting lodge, Agnar finally allowed Astra to climb down from his shoulders. One of the servants hurried over and took the reins of her horse, leading it towards the stable. Astra, more than happy now that she was on flat ground, said, ‘I’m hungry. Do you think Nattmal will be long?’
Skadi looked up at the sky with its ominous clouds. ‘Hopefully not. Why don’t you go in and find Brenna? I will follow in a short while. I wish to speak with Agnar for a moment.’
Astra, who seemed to have forgotten her upset from the previous night, nodded and eagerly ran into the lodge.
‘What do you wish to speak with me about?’ Agnar peeled his tunic from his body and flapped it a little to get some air to his skin. She imagined it had been harder work than he’d ever admit to carry her ten-year-old daughter up the side of the mountain. As he flicked the fabric, she caught glimpses of thick muscles and dark hair, her mouth dried immediately and wicked thoughts bubbled to the surface of her mind.
Odin’s teeth! She wanted him again!
Something about his desire to care and look after her child did strange things to her body. Urges she thought she’d grown out of long ago came flooding to the surface, made somehow worse by the knowledge that she could easily find her release with Agnar.
