“Good. Now, tell me everything you know. About the hort. About your father’s plans. Help me understand what’s going on.”
So Thori did, trying to make sense of everything he’d learned. The hort of Nerthus that his father claimed theVanirhad stolen from Asgard. The realization that Nerthus and the Bog Mother must be the same deity or at least closely related, and that Odin must have thought that her treasure lay hidden somewhere beneath Nóatún.
“Father sent me here to steal the Bog Mother’s treasures,” Thori said miserably.
“From her sunken dwelling located beneath Nóatún,” Njord continued. “But if her resting place had been here all the time, I would’ve known. This is my domain.”
Thori lifted his head, meeting Njord’s fury-clouded gaze, but the rage wasn’t directed at him; that much he understood.
“No, you wouldn’t.”
Njord’s expression turned questioning, almost amused.
“Wouldn’t I? And here I assumed that as lord of storm and sea, as rightful ruler of this domain, I’d know what’s going on in my very own fortress. It was me who raised this island from the ocean, after all.”
Familiar insecurity made Thori’s chest tight. He looked away.
“Of course, you’re right. How foolish of me.”
Silence stretched between them, but then Njord cupped his jaw and coaxed him back to eye contact.
“Why do you think I wouldn’t know if the Bog Mother’s resting place lay under my fortress?”
“Huh?”
“Tell me your reasoning.”
“I—I haven’t thought this through.”
“But what were your thoughts?”
“It’s silly, really.”
“Thori, please.” Njord’s smile was all softness. “Share your thoughts with me.”
“Well, I—I mean, would you remember? There are so many gods and goddesses who came before us, and we often share traits with them, right?”
Njord nodded. “Yes. Powers and domains. Sometimes even similar names or even the ways we’re worshipped.”
“Sure. But do we really remember them? Did they walk the Nine Worlds when you did? Do you remember Nerthus, or the Bog Mother, if they’re really the same?”
Blinking, Njord considered his words.
“They vanished before I rose from the waves.”
“And when you were born from the sea, did Nóatún rise with you?”
“Obviously.”
“What if your domain was born from the ashes of Nerthus’ realm? A goddess living in a lake on an island, ruling over bog land and drowned men, she may not have been a sea goddess exactly…”
“But close enough,” Njord breathed, understanding dawning in his eyes. “Oh, Thori.”
And suddenly, Njord pulled him close, raining kisses all over Thori’s face and whispering praise.
“You solved the riddle, and you came to me. Told me. So clever. So loyal.”
The praise warmed Thori from the core, and he returned Njord’s kisses eagerly. He melted into Njord’s touch, allowing himself this moment of comfort.
