He immediately brought his shield to the front of his head and upper body. ‘Think very carefully before letting that arrow fly—you could hurt yourself!’ he said calmly and the man with the rotten teeth laughed nastily.
Brenna’s hand trembled a little, but with a glare she spat back, ‘Andyoushould think very carefully before coming another step closer! I might not hit your heart, but there are plenty ofotherparts I may strike—especially at this range!’ For emphasis she pulled the string of the bow tighter.
Skadi positioned herself further back, so that she was closer to her daughter and Brenna. There was no point trying to get them out now. She had to pray that the rest of her warriors would arrive in time to save them.
‘Put down your weapons and beg for mercy!’ snarled Rotten Teeth with a wicked smile and Skadi’s back stiffened. He seemed familiar. Perhaps he was one of the group of men she’d banished from Thrudheim for stealing from the mines… It made sense that such a wretch would return with Agnar.
‘I am the Queen of Thrudheim and I kneel for no man!’ she replied, keeping her tone heavy and calm. She lunged forward and smacked his sword with a mighty blow that made him stumble back a few steps with a curse. But she dared not risk following him to take advantage of her blow, in case it put Astra in danger from the redhead.
She kept her gaze sweeping between them and her voice steady. ‘When my warriors arrive, which they will…youwill be the ones begging for mercy. Now, either come and fight or accept defeat. I grow tired of your cowardice!’
The redhead sighed, unbothered by her goading, but Rotten Teeth spat on the ground and began to walk forward.
‘No,’ snapped the redhead. ‘Agnar’s orders…wewait.’
Rotten Teeth paused and glared at him, before lifting his bleeding arm. ‘The bitch cut my armandshe killed Gro!’
The redhead shrugged before repeating, ‘We wait. Besides…you cut her, too. I cannot wait for Agnar to see that!’ The redhead’s eyes twinkled with amusement and Rotten Teeth made a bad-tempered huffing sound.
Agnar probably wants to kill me himself.
Skadi’s thundering heart slowed, and she took another step back, wondering if it would be worth trying to kill them and escape out of one of the shuttered windows.
The redhead seemed less keen on fighting, but he was also closer to Brenna and Astra. If she attacked and killed Rotten Teeth, she might be able to charge the redhead in time, or Brenna might wound him with her arrow… Still, it was a terrible risk.
Warmth trickled down her leg and the pain that had been muffled by shock lanced through her. She glanced down to realise that Rotten Teeth had managed to slice her thigh—that must have been what the redhead was referring to. It wasn’t a deep wound; the brute had merely been lucky enough to catch her in a low sweeping strike. In her armour it wouldn’t have even pierced her skin.
Heavy boots beat down the hall towards them and Skadi’s heart began to thunder once again, preparing for a fight. She took another step back, as a group of men entered led by a scarred, half-naked giant with long dark hair and piercing green eyes.
Agnar!
His sword was stained with blood and it dripped on to the stone floor in thick crimson drops, reminding her of the last time she’d seen him. Except the man who entered was no longer a child.
Agnar was now a fully grown man, handsome but with ugly scars all over his face, arms and bare chest. A wolfskin was draped over his head and shoulders. The beast’s muzzle snarled over his head with glass eyes that matched its owner’s in colour. She read the runes that were branded on his chest and shivered—HagalazandNauthiz,wrath and endurance, promises of vengeance burned on his skin by his own hand.
She swallowed down the cloying fear that had gathered in her throat. He took one look at her with those narrowed serpent eyes and she knew immediately that she was in danger.
He hates me…
Chapter Three
Pure fury pierced Agnar like lightning, burning its way down through his body, from his head to his toes.
Blood had been spilt,herblood.
Things had not gone according to plan and that always irritated him. But the flash of scarlet had caused his heart to beat wildly in his chest and he had to adjust his sword grip to stop himself lashing out.
Queen Skadi was wounded and looked more like a wild animal trapped in a corner than the serenely beautiful woman he remembered. He would need to tread carefully.
Curse Gro and Beske!They had refused to follow orders more than once already. Too keen to seek treasure and mayhem rather than obeying their commander.
It had taken longer than he would have liked to breach and seal the Great Hall. But he’d had to do it, to ensure his plan succeeded. He couldn’t allow time for Thrudheim’s army to reach them before he’d captured Queen Skadi.
All of it would be for nothing if he didn’t force the Queen of Thrudheim into an agreement immediately. Not only the struggles of the last few days, but also the long years he’d fought for this one chance and his mother…his poor mother…had given everything, including her own life, for today.
Surprise and speed were his only advantage. As predicted, Skadi had prepared for a frontal attack from the sea. His plan to travel with a small war band across the mountain had worked. They’d breached the wall swiftly, climbing it without alerting the rest of the town, at least until they had reached the Great Hall.
Even now, there was only a handful of men from the nearby turrets clamouring at the door. But they were shouting and beating their shields, alerting others. Reinforcements would soon arrive and he would be outnumbered when they eventually broke through.
