“Show me your necklace,” Thori said.
Every eye in the room turned to him, and Njord’s hand moved to rest on his hip almost protectively.
“What are you talking about, thrall?” Hrothgar snarled.
“Your pendant,” Thori pressed, ignoring the confused looks from the council. “The red stone. Show it to me.”
“You’re not giving orders here, Asgardian bastard!”
“Hold your tongue,” Njord cut him off, voice deadly calm. “Do as he says.”
Hrothgar hesitated, but Skalmöld was done being patient. She grabbed the necklace and yanked it free from his neck. The chain snapped, sending the trinkets scattering across the table. A red gemstone sitting in a bronze plate covered in runes, and a smallfigurine, depicting a woman with flowing hair and outstretched arms. It looked like it was carved from bone, and its eyes were made from equally red stones.
“These runes resemble those in Njarðby,” Thori said. “And I’ve seen a similar figurine before.”
“Where?” Gylfa asked.
“In Svanhild’s tent.”
“What does he know aboutseiðr?” the giant growled. “We shouldn’t trust a son of Odin.”
“But he’s right.” Skalmöld inspected the amulet, touching it with pointed fingers. “I recognize the runes, too.”
“This reeks of Asgard’s foul influence!” The giant’s gaze fixed on Thori. “Maybe we should make Odinsson tell us what’s going on here! Maybe he even put an enchantment on poor Hrothgar!”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Eldur,” Gylfa said.
But the giant’s words had already sparked Thori’s anger. He ignored Njord’s protective arm slung around his waist and leaned forward.
“Are you implying that Svanhild and Sveinn are allies of Asgard?”
Eldur’s eyes narrowed dangerously, but Thori could sense his insecurity. For, whether he was Njord’s thrall or not, he was still Thori of the thunder, and the mountain giants feared him.
“Svanhild learned her trade in the Golden Fortress, didn’t she?”
How dare he?!
Furious sparks danced along Thori’s knuckles, and Eldur paled. Impossibly, it felt like the amber bracelet made it easier to tap into his thunder.
“Liar,” Thori snarled.
“Enough,” Njord said, pulling him back against his chest.
But Thori had no intention of backing down.
“Take it back!”
Thunder cracked, and lightning struck the tabletop directly in front of Eldur. Thori flinched in surprise. How had he done this?
“Thori!” Njord’s voice was sharp with authority, and he grabbed Thori’s wrist without hesitation, curling his fingers around the bracelet too.
More sparks came to life in Thori’s palm, dancing up Njord’s arm. For a breathless moment, Thori feared that he’d hurt him, but Njord didn’t even flinch.
“Calm, Thori,” he said against his neck.
“But he said—”
“It’s the truth,” Njord said, gentle now, and his grounding presence helped to settle Thori’s agitated thunder.
