“Yes,” Talvi confirmed, proud, draping an arm over Håkon’s shoulders in an easy embrace. Bloodaxe relaxed into the touch.
Njord liked what he saw; both young men ruffled from the fight and drenched in their enemies’ blood, and clearly incredibly smitten with each other. Talvi had certainly succeeded in ensnaring the man he’d dreamed about for so long.
“I’m no prince,” Håkon grumbled.
Njord laughed, clapping the younger man on the shoulder. In Jotunheim, Håkon was certainly treated as less than equal because of his status as the king’s illegitimate son. Laughable.
“You are a prince in the eyes of our laws. Welcome to the family.”
Håkon managed a stiff nod, although clearly surprised.
“Thank you.”
“What are you doing here?” Talvi asked, his voice laced with concern.
Njord’s mood dimmed.
“Taking revenge,” he said grimly. “But there’s no time to chatter. Myliðcamps down by the fjord. Svanhild is there, as is Sveinn. It was they who paid the raiders to kill you.”
Talvi stiffened, his fury palpable. “I’ll end them both.”
“You will,” Njord assured him. “But not yet. I didn’t infiltrate their camp for nothing; I’m still hoping to gain information on your mothers’ whereabouts.”
Talvi cursed under his breath.
“The priestesses. I knew it. We should’ve chased them out of the realm and razed their sacred places to the ground.”
“Not so fast,” Njord said, placing a hand on his nephew’s shoulder to steady him. “They aren’t all the same. But Svanhild is a rotten apple for sure.”
Njord sensed Håkon’s unease as theJotunnscanned the trees. The berserkers wouldn’t find them because of Njord’sseiðr, but Bloodaxe couldn’t know that.
“It would be best if you continued your journey,” Njord said. He wasn’t keen on endangering his nephew and his husband by bringing them into Svanhild’s camp. “Ride down the fjord to Liv’s hall. You’ll be safe there.”
Talvi frowned, suspicion flickering across his face.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
Njord considered lying, but he knew from experience that it was no use trying to deceive Talvi if his nephew didn’t wish to be deceived.
“Dammit, Talvi. Fine. Ride to the camp if you must. Come to my tent. But Sveinn and Svanhild must live for now.”
A smug smile tugged at Talvi’s lips; his cockiness irritating and endearing in equal measure. Njord rolled his eyes, though he couldn’t entirely suppress his smile.
“I’ve brought horses for you,” he said at last. “Fetch your warriors and meet me at Sveinn’s camp. Don’t delay.”
With that, Njord turned and vanished into the fog, trusting his nephew would find him. He had more work to do, and gods help him, Talvi was as stubborn as ever.
ten
Preparations
Thori
“Shipbreaker?”
He’d seen him in his sleep. Njord of Nóatún riding his dragon into battle. Two creatures of sea andseiðr, glorious and terrifying.
Thori woke with a start. For a moment, he didn’t know where he was, his back aching and his mouth dry like he’d swallowed a handful of sand. He lay on a large bed, enveloped in rich furs.
