She rushed onwards, afraid that if she did not say it now, she never would. ‘I was afraid that if I told you I loved you, it would only make you leave—just like Heimdall. Which is stupid…but I cannot help my fears. So, I want you to know that no matter what happens, I do love you.’
His hand covered hers. ‘I won’t leave you. You are coming with me. That is why I built you theSea Queen.It’s your longship.’
Skadi stared at the magnificent dragon ship with greater understanding. ‘Mine?’
‘Yes. I thought you knew that. You are wearing your armour, which I have to say is as enticing as I imagined it would be.’
She swatted at his chest. ‘We are at war! I would wear my armour—even behind the gates.’ Another thought worried her. ‘What about Astra?’
‘She has Vali and Brenna to protect her. If the worst happens—which it won’t—she will be taken by them north to your uncle. I have arranged a ship to transport them from the old fishing harbour, if Thrudheim should fall, which it won’t—I won’t allow it. But you’re sailing with me. It will give a clear sign to the petty Kings that you are the true ruler of Thrudheim, and you will be the one to choose your future, not Sven.’
She nodded, tears gathering in her eyes. Taking her hand, he helped her board her ship. They raised the blue-and-white-wolf sail of Thrudheim high, it caught the breeze and helped the rowers take them out into the harbour swiftly. The beats of their war drums proclaiming fiercely her right to rule.
Agnar took out a chest from the cargo hold. ‘You forgot it this morning,’ he said and with a smile he took out the helm and crown from within. At the head of the ship, with the roaring she-wolf carved on the prow before them, Agnar placed the symbol of her royalty ceremoniously on her head.
Crowning her in front of their enemy.
As he turned to face Sven’s fleet, Skadi was surprised by the change in her husband’s expression. All earlier tenderness was gone, replaced by ruthless, Agnar Wolf Slayer as he prepared for war.
A startling transformation to watch, as Skadi had become accustomed to his smiles during their marriage. The man who fixed his gaze ahead now, raised his sword and shield to defend his Queen, was the same man who had charged into her bedchamber and threatened her without conscience.
It was thrilling to have such an incredible man fighting at her side. She unsheathed her own sword and gripped her shield tightly, preparing herself for boarding the first ship of their enemy.
The rest of Thrudheim’s ships sailed either side of them in an arrow formation, the Queen’s ship leading the charge. When she glanced behind her she saw the small figure of Astra at the end of the jetty. Brenna and Vali stood beside her. Her daughter held the ceremonial torch from the shrine high in the air and was dressed in a gown of blue and white, Agnar’s wolfskin draped across her shoulders and billowing behind her in the wind.
Skadi raised her sword in acknowledgement and pride, then turned to face their enemy.
* * *
The battle was surprisingly short lived. The beacons had signalled the petty Kings’ arrival to join against King Sven’s tyranny.
They had answered Agnar and Skadi’s call.
Later they would find out that King Erik had been so disgusted by Sven’s burning of his grain ships—especially after his wife had been so pleased by the gifts sent by Skadi—that he had rallied the petty Kings to fill their ships with warriors and grain and sail out immediately in retribution for the sufferings of Thrudheim.
Which was why Sven had tried to attack Thrudheim early, before the petty Kings reached him. But he’d not been quick enough.
Neither had he appreciated what the sight of Skadi and Astra preparing for war would have on some of his men. Three of his ships were filled with old Thrudheim warriors, the same young men who had left with Heimdall. Seeing the Queen and Princess prepared to fight for their island had cast doubts in their minds about Sven’s claims on their homeland.
In a matter of moments, they had torn down Sven’s banners from their ships and turned on Sven.
Unable to retreat, Sven’s ships were pushed during the battle towards the rocks and whirlpools of Thrudheim. As her grandmother had done before her, Skadi forced her enemy into the natural defences of her home. Several ships were sunk before their warriors could even raise their weapons or abandon their ships.
Sven flailed like a headless chicken, not realising his inevitable defeat until Skadi and Agnar boarded his ship.
His death was aptly quick and fitting, as his men cut him down and threw his body into the nearest whirlpool when he refused to surrender. Even in his last moments, he could not understand why they were so disloyal.
‘I am your King!’ he had screamed, ‘You must obey me!’
He did not realise the truth about power and birthright, but Skadi and Agnar did, and they watched him fall without pity.
‘He did not deserve his people,’ Skadi said and Agnar nodded in agreement.
Epilogue
Thrudheim—Yule, eight years later
The Yule feast was as lively as always, with dancing, laughter, music and singing filling the hall and spilling out into the snow-covered city and harbour below. Braziers were placed along the paths to help guide them to the celebrations. The midwinter chill didn’t bother the revellers walking to and from the hall, who still smiled despite their red noses and frost-covered lashes.
