Many gods and goddesses liked to travel across the Nine Worlds undetected. But a traveler’s cloak, a raider’s armor, and a quick spell shouldn’t have been enough to deceive Thori. But he’d allowed himself to be blinded. Njord hadn’t even changed his appearance. He still wore the same features Thori should have recognized immediately. He’d been such a fool.
“Focus on me. It’s going to be better soon.”
Njord sounded worried, and Thori felt the world around him slipping away. His eyelids grew heavy, and he could no longer find the strength to keep his eyes open. What did it matter now, anyway? Njord would have his revenge, and Thori wouldn’t be granted an honorable death in battle. He’d die a failure, a disgrace to his noble family.
“Stay with me.”
There was warmth, a soft, salty breeze, and the whispering of the waves.
“Stay with me.”
And Thori found himself unable to refuse, yet unable to obey.
fifteen
Shadows
Njord
“Stay with me.”
Thori’s eyes were barely open, and Njord could see the green swirls ofseiðrflaring in their depths. This shouldn’t be happening. Hadn’t he helped Thori through the turmoil the ritual had created?
“Hurry, girl. Fetch Skalmöld.”
Finally, Andora snapped out of her stupor and ran fast as a hare.
All color had drained from Thori’s face, and he was breathing shallowly. The sight made Njord’s chest feel too tight. He should’ve known that something like this could happen. After all, he knew only too well that even the power of a god wasn’t unlimited. Following a hunch, Njord crawled back into bed and placed Thori’s head in his lap. There was no resistance from his thrall, no sign that Thori was aware of what was happening around him. He was drifting, getting lost between the worlds.
Burying his hands in the soft strands of Thori’s hair, Njord let hisseiðrrun free. He dipped into the connection he’d alreadyestablished, the part of him that bound Thori’s thunder, and he curled it more securely around Thori’s very essence.
“Don’t you think you can slip away from me like this. Your fate is mine.”
Njord had seen the effects an excess ofseiðrcould have on a weakvala. A warrior’s body wasn’t meant to contain such raw power without consequences, and Thori was already weakened by his captivity, but still… Cursing quietly to himself, Njord cradled his thrall in comfortingseiðr, trying to alleviate the effects of the ritual. After all he’d done to protect Thori, he hadn’t expected such a drastic response. It felt almost as if someone—
Skalmöld entered the tent with Andora in tow. The priestess smirked whilst Andora dragged a large leather bag behind her.
“What is it?”
“Thori. Theseiðrof the ritual overwhelmed him.”
“Oh? Interesting.” Skalmöld didn’t seem bothered at all. Stepping closer, she regarded Thori with her keen gaze. “I thought you wanted to keep your thrall away from the ritual.”
Her accusatory tone irked Njord.
“I did. Still, it affected him.”
“How peculiar. He must be very susceptible to theseiðr.”
“It’s Svanhild’s doing, I bet you.”
Skalmöld sniffed.
“Not unlikely.”
“Do something about it!”
Perching on the edge of the bed, Skalmöld placed a hand on Thori’s brow. Njord could feel herseiðrreaching out, assessing Thori’s state, and he had to get a grip on himself to keep from pushing her away. Part of him clearly disliked theseiðror the touch of another person on Thori’s skin.
