Page 17 of Bats Out of Hell (Vikings Rock #1)

One Week Later

“S o tell me, Noah, who is this King Athol who claims he rules my land?” Haakon jabbed at his bare chest, his biceps bulging around his arm ring and his muscles flexing. “ My land!”

The Great House was overly warm, the central open hearth aglow with embers, and the air held the pleasing scent of onions, herbs, and smoke. Haakon had removed his tunic some time ago when his underarms had prickled with heat and he had settled down to establish facts with his new people.

His beautiful Kenna sat at his side holding a goblet of ale. The bandage had gone from her ankle and she wore a new blue, woolen gown her mother had made her. She also wore a boar fang necklace that matched his, something he’d sourced while she’d been recovering from her near-death experience in the river. She’d seemed pleased with it and that had pleased him. He only wanted to see her smile, for it made his heart warm.

“King Athol is from the Eastlands,” Noah said, wiping his warm brow, “and inherited the title from his father, King Harold.”

Haakon studied his new father by marriage. Their relationship was gaining trust, not least because Kenna had confirmed to Noah that Haakon had indeed cared for her when she had been at her most vulnerable and injured. “And is King Athol like his father?”

“No, his father was a quiet ruler. He liked peace and stability. He was also a very pious man, believing his crown had been given to him by God.”

“He thought God gave him his crown?”

“Aye, his destiny, I suppose,” Noah added.

“As you believe it is your destiny to be king here,” Kenna said, turning to Haakon. “Am I wrong?”

“No, you are not wrong. It is my destiny to be here with you.” He squeezed her small hand, enjoying the fact that she didn’t flinch anymore when he touched her. Not that he’d touched her much. Each night, he’d hoped she’d reach for him and be wet and willing, but so far, she’d huddled under the furs on their bed and turned her back to him.

“King Athol is not a quiet ruler,” Olaf said, joining the conversation. “He demands many cáin to fund his army and his boat building.”

“And each year, the price goes up.” Noah tutted and shook his head.

“You must pay him cáin , and what do you get in return?” Haakon asked. “When this is your land. Our land.”

“He claims the forest is his,” Kenna said. “The ocean too. Which means all the boars, rabbits, and pheasants, as well as the fish, belong to him. He charges us for hunting, foraging, and fishing.”

“When it is your own skill and weapon?” Haakon could feel his irritation rising, and not just because another man believed himself King of Tillicoulty.

“Aye.” Hamish nodded and glanced at Astrid, who was sitting away from the group carving arrowheads. “And when it is our ancestors who have lived and died here. If it is anyone’s land and sea, it is ours.” Hamish folded his arms and puffed up his chest.

“I agree.” Haakon stood and helped himself to more ale. He also glanced at Astrid, who had been silent throughout the entire meeting. “And because I agree, I… We…” He gestured to Gunner, Knud, Ivar, Egil, and Orm, who were sitting at a bench munching on bread and cold meat. “We will fight with you when he next visits. We will defeat him and claim our land back and knock his crown from his head.”

“We do not wish to fight?” Noah said tilting his chin. “That would end very badly.”

“How many men does he bring to collect his dues?” Haakon sat back down and directed the question at Kenna.

“He visits once a year, and not with an army.” She paused and rubbed her chin, something he’d noticed she did when thinking. “A handful. Ten, twenty at most.”

“And they are soldiers?”

“A mixture of soldiers, servants, sometimes family members, and of course a bursar.”

“And when is he next due?”

“In the early weeks of summer,” Olaf said. “He always visits when the weather is fine and before the midges start biting.”

“Good, that gives us plenty of time to ensure everyone is armed and trained.” He nodded at Orm. “Don’t you think?”

Orm shrugged and shoved pork into his mouth, chewing noisily. “ Ja , I guess. But unless we kill them all and dispose of the bodies, there’ll be more right behind looking for their king.”

Haakon thought for a moment. “If I kill the king, I want everyone to know, I won’t hide our victory.”

“And risk bloody revenge?” Kenna asked.

“Our neighbors might be pleased he is dead.” Haakon nodded. “ Ja ?”

“And if they are not?” Noah asked.

“Then it is the perfect way to let them know who the new king is and expand our territories.”

“We don’t need more land—we have enough. We just need to stop paying to use what is ours,” Kenna said.

“I understand that, wife, but if we expand, it could be us collecting cáin .” As soon as he’d said it, he knew it had been a mistake.

Her eyebrows pulled low and her eyes flashed. “And so you would make yourself as immoral and hated as King Athol? Charging for services that are not yours to give?”

“I think it’s a great idea,” Astrid suddenly said. “The more gold, silver, and treasure we can gather, the better. I will fight, I will kill, and I will collect our dues.”

“Why?” Olaf asked. “Why would you want so much?”

“To take to Valhalla, of course.” She frowned at Olaf. “I, for one, wish to be rich in the afterlife. I wish to be rich and pampered and surrounded by luxury.”

Olaf crossed himself. “There is no need for material possessions in heaven, or I suspect in Valhalla.”

“Do not speak of Valhalla, old man.” Astrid stood, sprinkles of wood shavings dropping from her pants to the floor. “You know nothing about it, and you will never go there, for only brave, strong warriors are permitted entry. You… You will rot in the ground with the worms and slugs when you die, nothing more than that. This is something I can assure you.”

“ Astrid !” Haakon snapped.

Orm laughed and Gunnar joined in now that he was picking up the new language and could piece together what Astrid had said.

“I speak the truth, brother.” Astrid pointed at Haakon, her eyes flashing dangerously. Her temper was flaring like a torch to a pyre; her cheeks were pink and her fists clenched. “And you…Haakon…you will also rot in the ground, the great All Father will see to it, and when you stand at the gates of Valhalla and claim you are a great warrior, the gods will turn you away, the wolves that guard the mighty gates will chase you away. For they are ashamed of you also and then—”

“ Astrid !” Haakon stood and slammed down his drink. His chest puffed up in frustration that she’d dared to speak this way to him. “Enough!”

It didn’t put her off her tirade. “The gods have served you well, protected you, guided you with the runes, and still, you forsake them for a god who has never taken a step into battle with you, and for what?” She pointed at Kenna and wrinkled her nose. “A mere woman. A foreign woman who poked you on the beach? It is the most dishonorable thing you could have done to them.” She flicked her loose hair over her shoulders, the orange of the flames dancing in the red strands. “Father would cringe if he found out and Ravn…he would laugh and say this is why he got to be King of Drangar. Because you are not worthy.”

“Watch your mouth, sister of mine!” Haakon roared. “You insult me and the queen.”

She slammed her hands onto her hips. “Do I look as if I fucking care?” She threw a withering look at Kenna and then around the group of village men, her attention settling on Hamish. “You are all underdogs, failures, and I cannot stay here, in a place where my gods are ignored, worse than that, treated as though they are nothing more than fleas on wool.”

“That is not how it is,” Orm said, standing. “And you know it. We love our gods and—”

“Oh, it is like that and it’s what I see. When did you last ask me for a rune stone reading, Orm? Or any of you? Gunnar, Ivar, Knud…it is as though you forget your gods and the paths they have planned for you. Egil is usually a man to give many offerings, yet he has given none for days, have you?”

Before Egil could answer, she grabbed her bow and arrow and stormed past the open hearth. “I am leaving this wicked place. Do not come searching for me. Consider me dead.” She opened the door, letting in a stiff wind, then left the building, not shutting it behind her.

“Astrid,” Kenna called.

But she was gone.

Ivar got up and closed the door.

Haakon reckoned he, Egil, and Knud only understood half of what she’d said, but it had been enough to know she was very unhappy.

“Where will she go?” Hamish asked with a frown.

“I do not care.” Haakon waved his arm in the air. “She wanted a new life, new lands, yet she cannot adjust to new ways. She is a fool with a closed mind.” He sat heavily, frustration coursing through him.

“Husband,” Kenna said, reaching out and resting her small hand on his forearm. “Should you go to your sister? She does seem very upset.”

It was the first time Kenna had instigated a touch between them and instantly, all thoughts of Astrid and her scorn flew from his mind. All he could think of was Kenna’s warm fingers, the pressure of her palm, the concern in her eyes. “No,” he managed. “I do not need to go to her.”

“Are you sure?”

“ Ja , she has a temper worse than a bear woken midwinter by a swarm of bees. It is best she calm down before anyone speaks to her.”

Hamish stood and threw a thick log onto the hearth. Hot flakes of ash flew upward. “She has a tongue as sharp as a dagger.”

“That is true.” Haakon dragged his attention from his wife’s hand. “And a wildness no man has yet to tame.”

“‘Tame’?” Hamish drew down his eyebrows and studied Haakon. “Why would she need taming?”

Orm chuckled. “What man could live a life full of hot sparks? Marriage to my sister would be a battle every day about something and she’s a sure aim with her sword and a wily huntress with her bow. One wrong word in the day, one bedding that didn’t find her writhing in ecstasy, and her husband would likely get his balls chopped off and hung up for Odin’s ravens to feast upon.”

Hamish sat back down with a jolt. He was still frowning as he tapped his fingers together in a fast, fractious rhythm.

Haakon wished he knew what was going on in his brother-by-marriage’s head. Was he scared of Astrid? He should be; she’d made it clear she hated all the Lothlenders. Or did he desire her? If so, that was a sure path to his downfall. Astrid would never bed a non-believer. And if Hamish tried… It would be quite the mess for Haakon to fix.

He supped his ale and turned to Kenna. She’d lifted her hand and Bryce was pouring her another drink.

“Thank you,” she said, smiling up at him.

Haakon’s stomach tightened. He didn’t like Bryce one bit and liked it even less when the man found excuses to be near Kenna.

“Would you like some fish, Your Grace?” Bryce said, biting on his bottom lip as though holding in a laugh.

Kenna did laugh. “Don’t call me that.”

“Why shouldn’t he?” Haakon snapped. “For you are queen.”

“It’s just…” Bryce straightened and shrugged. “Not many men grew up with their queen the way I did. We used to run through the forest chasing rabbits, collect clams from dawn till dusk, carve gifts for each other and sometimes, on the warmest days, frolic naked in the waves of Eliah Bay.”

Haakon felt the pressure in his head double and it had already been high after Astrid’s outburst. “What?”

Bryce chuckled, clearly knowing he’d irked Haakon.

“We only did that once,” Kenna said quickly. “In the waves, and we were young, so young. My father scolded us, said the current would take us out to sea.”

“Was it only once?” Bryce said, knocking back a gulp of ale. “Or was it many times over many summers?”

“Only once when we were so young.” Kenna scowled at him. “Please, fill up my father’s and Olaf’s goblets.”

Bryce raised his eyebrows. “Of course, Your Grace.” He settled his attention on Haakon for a moment then turned away.

Haakon’s instincts told him that look had been a challenge. That Bryce was covering up a deep hate for his king, which surmounted to treason, and Haakon should challenge him on it.

But not today. Not when his beautiful wife was just beginning to soften around the edges. A battle to the death with her childhood friend would definitely set him back a few steps when Bryce was left bloody and lifeless outside the fort wall.

“He needs to be careful,” Haakon said, more to himself than Kenna.

She heard him. “Bryce?”

“Aye, he disrespects you.”

“It’s just his way.” She shrugged to make light of it. “We’ve jested many times over the years.”

“He needs to learn everything is different now.” Haakon banged his chest. “I am here and you are mine.”

“As if I could forget that?” She raised her eyebrows at him and lifted her chin. “Every moment of every day from dawn till dusk.” She paused. “You are there.”

“As it should be.”

She turned away and he studied her delicate but proud profile. The surge of jealousy he had whenever Bryce was in sight was real and intoxicating. He wanted Kenna to himself. He wanted to bed her, to be as one with her. Perhaps when… if …that happened, he’d be less irritated by the boy she’d known in childhood who now looked at her as though he wanted to lick her all over.

Licking Kenna all over was his job!