His blade sang through the air, felling the nearestnøkkwith a clean strike that opened its chest from navel to shoulder. It died with barely a sound. The next managed a gurgling cry as Njord’s sword punched through its chest, emerging from its back in a spray of dark, viscous fluid. Despite the pain in his shoulder, Thori bashed in the head of another enemy, using his momentum to shove the lastnøkkof balance and right into Njord’s waiting blade.
Thori grinned.
“You reckless fool!”
Njord tore a silken sheet from the bed, pressing it against Thori’s bleeding shoulder, even as he continued to kill off the remaining attackers with his other hand.
Ridiculous sea witch.
Thori smiled despite the pain.
The lastnøkk, perhaps realizing its doom, tried to flee toward the windows. It never made it. Njord threw his blade with casual elegance. It found thenøkk’sspine, cutting through it with a wet sound.
Hel, watching Njord fight was almost worth the pain. For a dizzying moment, Thori was caught in the idea of traveling to Asgard at his side one day, not as his thrall but as…something else. He could imagine him training theeinherjar, and the image of Njord putting Asgard’s best warriors in their place had something weirdly appealing to it.
“It’s a bad idea to throw your weapon,” Thori said.
“It’s a worse idea to get clawed open by a fuckingnøkk!”
Njord’s voice was tight with anger, and Thori managed a nonchalant shrug.
“I’ll live.”
“Only because you were lucky enough to turn at the last second and it didn’t hit something vital.”
Fetching a pungent tincture from his chest, Njord applied it to Thori’s wounds like a particularly disgruntled healer. It stung, and Thori couldn’t suppress a hiss of pain.
“That was foolish of you,” Njord scolded. “I told you to stay behind me.”
“You needed help.” Thori watched Njord work and, against his will, was fascinated by the delicacy of his touch and the subtle play of muscles in his forearms. “I have to say, though, that you fight almost as well with the sword as you do with the ax.”
“Don’t try to distract me with pretty words. I didn’t need your help; I needed you safe!”
Thori blinked. “What?”
An angry flush painted Njord’s features, and he dabbed at Thori’s wounds a little rougher than necessary. He didn’t answer, looking as if he regretted every choice in his life that had led him to where he was now.
His behavior didn’t make sense. Njord couldn’t be genuinely worried for Thori, so maybe he was distressed by the possible loss of a valuable hostage?
Yes, that had to be it.
Absentmindedly, Thori touched the golden bracelet around his wrist. It was a stunning piece of jewelry, and unlike the collar, it was designed for a respected warrior. The gift could only be mockery, but it felt so…intimate.
Njord finished cleaning the wounds, and on a whim, Thori caught his hand in his. Fingers curling around Thori’s in return, Njord stared down at their joined hands.
“Thank you,” Thori mumbled, swaying closer.
“Thori—”
Heavy footsteps echoed from the main room, and Njord leapt up, throwing on a robe and striding toward the door. He opened it to reveal Gylfa along with several of her warriors.
“My lord?! The guards failed to report unusual activity, but Skalmöld told me to check on you.”
Her brisk steps faltered as she took in the carnage that was her chieftain’s sleeping chambers.
“We were attacked bynøkken,” Njord stated the obvious. “Double the guards and search every level of the fortress. If there are more of these creatures, I want them dealt with.”
“At once, my lord.”
