Page 21 of Bats Out of Hell (Vikings Rock #1)

“I am worried about Astrid,” Kenna said as she peeled the shell off a cooked egg. “It has been many days since we saw her and the storms have been coming one after another like a row of biting ants marching over the skies.”

Haakon studied the frown line on his wife’s brow. He hated to see her worried about anything. But this was one thing she didn’t need to fret about. “Astrid can take care of herself.”

“But this is a strange land.”

“That is true.” He sipped warm ale and glanced at their log basket. He’d have to restock later. “But it is a land that is not as harsh as where she grew up. That was very far north of here. And last winter, she took a coming-of-age walk and survived. More than that, she thrived, reported on her return that she’d enjoyed the solitude and had eaten well.”

“‘A coming-of-age walk’?” Kenna salted her egg then bit into it.

“ Ja , straight after Yule, she headed for the mountains with only what she could carry in order to test her adult skills. And that winter…” He sighed. “The weather was truly Thor’s plaything and he hammered and blew and brought down the snow so deep, it would cover the tallest man.”

Her eyes widened. “I have never seen snow that deep. However did she survive?”

“With ancient knowledge and the guidance of the gods. And snow that deep, it is the way of the true north.

“Tell me more about the true north.”

“The snow, it gathers on the mountains until it is so heavy, it falls down in one big blanket that pulls the trees from their roots with its force. It moves rocks, it carves new gullies, and the roar…” He shook his head. “It is as if the Ragnarok is upon us.”

“Aye, Ragnarok, you have told me of this. When the great serpent spits its venom over everything, the wolves eat the sun and the moon, and then the earth and the gods battle with the fire giants and are defeated.”

Haakon nodded, pleased that she remembered his saga.

“And if this is your story of how the world ends, Haakon, how do you tell it started?”

He leaned back in his chair, the new woolen cushion soft on his lower back. Their sex had been intense the night before, but he had a nice sense of satisfaction that had spread through his bones. “The great god Odin and his brothers created it.”

“With what?”

“From the body of Ymir. From his blood, they made all the sea and the lakes. They used his flesh to create the earth we stand on. And his hair, they made the trees and all their leaves and branches.” He leaned forward, enjoying her widening eyes. “And from his bones, the mountains were shaped. They made rocks and pebbles from his teeth and jaws.”

“That is…quite the saga,” she said.

“‘Saga’?” He nodded slowly. For him, it was more than a saga, it was a truth. Yet his wife knew not of it and now he was supposed to understand her belief and believe less of his. He was trying, but it was hard to let go of a lifetime of certainty in his gods and let a new one in. Luckily, Kenna understood his swinging between, as he learned her way and the ways of his new people.

“So how do you think it was made?” he asked. “What does the church say?”

She frowned a little and looked at the cross he’d made her. She’d set it on the table beside the bed.

“Kenna?”

“It was made in six days by God Himself. He spoke aloud to bring order to the chaos that was the sun, the stars, and the moon and brought all living things into existence.”

Haakon tipped his head, intrigued to hear a new saga.

She waved her hand in the air, warming to her story. “The fact that He created it so quickly proves His almighty power. And He named everything, the deer, the bee, the river, and the shells. It is all His will.”

“And people? He made people too?”

“Of course. In the Garden of Eden.”

“‘The Garden of Eden’?”

“Aye.” She smiled. “And He created Adam in the form of Himself and Eve from Adam’s rib.”

“Ah, the way Ymir’s body parts created things. So did Adam’s rib.”

“A little like that, I suppose.” She smiled. “Eden is a beautiful garden that is fruitful and bathed in sunshine all year round. The streams flow pure and the moss is the softest bed you could ever imagine.”

“I should like to go to this place.” Haakon sat forward, excited at the thought of this garden. “And meet Adam and Eve.”

She laughed softly and brushed the eggshells into a wastebasket. “You cannot go there now, or meet Adam and Eve.”

“Why not? We can build a bigger boat if necessary. I am capable of many days riding and walking.”

“But they are not here now. Not anywhere.”

“How do you know?”

“It is the teachings of the Bible.” She stood and came to him, sat on his lap, and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating the one fruit he told them not to. They sinned and in turn created evil in all people.”

“But what fruit was it?” This was a very strange story, but he was happy to listen to all the details now that she was in his arms. “How can fruit be so bad?”

“It was an apple on the tree of knowledge, good and evil. And the serpent told them—”

“Ah, there is a serpent in your story too.”

She smiled. “The serpent told them to eat it, for why should they not have knowledge too? And it was Eve who took it, ate it. She gave some to Adam.”

“And then what happened?” He stroked his hand down her slender back, enjoying the fact that he knew how it felt to touch her naked body now.

“God was angry. They had disobeyed Him when He’d given them everything. He sent them out of the Garden of Eden with their hearts full of shame and regret and we have been paying the price ever since.”

“‘Paying the price’?”

“Aye.” She stroked her finger down his cheek as if still learning his face. “We suffer, we know pain, we have the torment of loss and grief. If Eve had never picked that apple—”

“You truly believe that you live a hard life because of Eve?”

“Aye.”

“But what about when there is a good harvest and the sun shines and new babes are born with life in their lungs? That is not hardship.”

“I agree. God is benevolent, He is merciful and kind, not like your Thor, who seems to be constantly angry and Odin, who is all-seeing through his ravens.”

“It is true my gods, or the gods of my people, for I am Christian now, are keen to make themselves known.”

“I am interested in your gods.” She brushed her lips over his. “And although you now worship the one true God, I enjoy your sagas about them.”

“You are also benevolent.”

“I have come to think of your gods differently. My mother helped me with that.”

“Your mother?” Haakon raised his eyebrows. “She barely says a word to me. What does she say to you?”

Kenna chuckled. “Things that should stay between a mother and daughter, but what I will tell you is…”

“What?” He pulled her nearer, enjoying her slight weight on his lap.

“It was she who opened my eyes to the fact that I was neglecting my wifely duties.”

“Ah, so I should thank her.” His heart squeezed at the memory of watching Kenna strip off her clothes that first time as she’d stood by the fire. She’d been exquisite. Every curve and slope, each hair and delicate tremble was imprinted on his memory.

She slanted her head and kissed him, her tongue probing for his.

He groaned and clasped her tighter. In his wildest dreams, in his most fevered hopes, he’d never dared imagine she’d be this responsive, this open for him.

“Haakon!” Gunner’s voice.

“Go away,” Haakon called. He kissed down his wife’s neck as he cradled the back of his head.

“King Haakon!” Orm’s voice this time, high and singsong, as if mocking.

“I said, get out of here !” Haakon bellowed.

“No,” Orm shouted. “We have work to do.”

“We’ll do it later.”

“The men are assembled, and there is a reprieve between storms,” Gunner said from behind the curtained doorway.

“The men?” Haakon ran his hand to Kenna’s breast and squeezed it over her gown. He didn’t want to go anywhere.

“The men, the villagers, they are ready with pikes and newly made shields awaiting your instruction,” Orm said, banging on the curtain so it punched inward. “So put your bride down, free up your hands from her breast, tell your cock to stop thinking of her pussy, and train yourself an army to be proud of.”

“Of all the…” Haakon frowned, frustration a coiled snake within him. “Bad timing.” His cock was at half-mast and getting naked had been at the forefront of his mind.

“Husband,” Kenna said. “It will be nightfall again soon enough and I will be waiting for you.”

“That pleases me,” he said. “But I need you with me. A queen must be able to defend herself.”

“I can—”

“It is true you have skills, but now, my adorable wife, you must learn Viking skills, for our enemies are many and one day soon, King Athol will ride up to our fort.”

“You are right.” She slipped from his lap and he felt the loss as much as if he’d had an arm chopped off. “I must hone my fighting skills.”

The determined glint in her eyes distracted him from the discomfort in his pants and he stood. How lucky he was to have a wife who was as eager to storm the battlefield as she was to jump into their bed.

*

A few minutes later, Haakon stood on the snowy earth outside the fort gates and surveyed the motley crew before him. They were farmers, hunters, a few fishermen along with the ironsmith, cobbler, and carpenter. Bryce was there, but still no Hamish, and a handful of strong, young women held their new shields defiantly, as if waiting to be sent away and argue the point about being allowed to fight.

“The storms have passed,” Haakon bellowed, walking up and down the quiet line. “Which means our lessons in combat will begin. I see some of you have crossbows. This is good and also essential to our shield wall.”

“What is a shield wall?” Noah asked from where he stood bent over his cane.

“It is a tactic that has proven itself over and over.” Haakon gestured to half the men and then pointed to the left. “You, that way. Ten crossbows too.”

There was a shuffle around.

“Now we need three rows with the crossbows at the back.”

Another shuffle.

“And now, everyone, hold up your shields so that they are overlapping, an impenetrable wall.”

A clack and clatter of wood.

“That’s it good.” Haakon clapped and pointed to his right. “Now imagine these men are King Athol and his tax-collector warriors. When we refuse to pay they will attack, but if we are in a shield wall…” He gestured to the solid mass of shields. “Their arrows cannot penetrate, and when they have fired and are reloading our men can fire arrows with the protection of the wall. Any survivors who rush at us will be blocked by our shields, but the beauty of it is our swords and daggers can still jab. We will take them out one by one yet all the time have the protection of our shields.”

“And if the shield wall breaks?” Bryce asked, hands on his hips. “If some of our men are killed?”

Haakon was irritated just by Bryce’s voice. It did things to his bile and blood.

“It inevitably will,” he said.

“And then what?” Anna, the carpenter’s daughter, asked. Her hair was tucked under a scarf and her pink cheeks rounded, like crab apples.

“That is when we fight. That is when…” Haakon raised his voice. “We destroy the enemy. The men who wish us to pay for what is rightfully ours, to use what God gave to us.” He banged his hand on his chest. “That will never happen again. Now that I am king, we will find justice, even if it means a fight.”

“And if King Athol disputes your claim to a crown…” Bryce stepped forward. “Then what?”

“I am expecting him to.” Haakon marched up to meet Bryce. “Which is why we are preparing.”

“And if he brings a large army? What if word has gotten out that we are to fight and he comes in the night and slays us all?”

“We will ensure our watchmen are alert and we sleep with our swords.” Haakon clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth. “It’s an easy solution.”

Bryce was quiet for a moment, his eye contact unwavering with Haakon’s. That also irritated Haakon.

“Husband.” Kenna was at his side, her hand on his arm. “Bryce is simply playing devil’s advocate. Pointing out all the worst scenarios.”

“He is a pessimist.”

“I am not,” Bryce said. “Because the worst has already happened.” He tipped his left eyebrow and looked between Haakon and Kenna. He kept his attention firmly on her.

“And that is?” Haakon growled.

“You married her.”

“And that is a problem for you?” Haakon stepped forward, so close to Bryce that their chests were touching.

“Aye, it is.” Bryce tipped his chin to look up at Haakon. “You can’t just march in and take another man’s woman.”

“I was never your woman, Bryce,” Kenna said calmly.

“You would have been, eventually.”

Haakon lowered his face and snarled. “The gods made Kenna my destiny, not yours. You need to accept that and get out of my way.”

“God s , see? You got her by trickery. You do not believe in the one true God.”

Anger was hot and red and flowing through Haakon’s veins. “As you could not learn all about my gods in a matter of weeks, I cannot learn all about yours, but I am learning and seeing the light.”

“He is,” Kenna said, seemingly trying to slot herself between him and Bryce. “Please, Bryce, step away.”

“ Ja , get out of my way,” Haakon snapped. “Before I am forced to challenge you to the death.”

“I would rather die than stay here and watch Kenna be raped by you, carry your heathen children, and—”

Haakon’s anger erupted and he shoved at Bryce, hard, and felt a keen sense of satisfaction when the other man reeled backward and staggered to stay upright.

“You want to know why Hamish is gone, Kenna?” Bryce said breathlessly as he straightened. “Because he feels the same as me. He can’t live here with you betrothed to this monster.”

“That is not why Hamish has left,” Kenna said, emotion making her voice thick. “It isn’t.”

“I will warn you to close your mouth,” Haakon said, his hand automatically going to the leather-wrapped handle of his sword. “Because I could strike you down with one slice of my weapon.”

“I would like to see you try.” Bryce raised his sword. “For do not underestimate me or my skills.”

“Please, no.” Kenna rushed between the two men, her hood falling and her hair whisking up in the wind. At that moment, a streak of sunlight burst through the clouds and landed where she stood.

Haakon’s breath caught in his throat. She was so beautiful, truly a Valkyrie, even if she didn’t know it yet. He’d do anything for her.

“Please, Haakon, my love. Please don’t hurt my friend.”

“It is I who will hurt him,” Bryce snarled behind her.

She spun to face Bryce. “This is how it is now. I am your queen and Haakon is your king and he is my husband, you must accept that.”

“How can I ever accept it?” Bryce’s eyes narrowed and his jaw tightened. “When I have loved you from the moment I could walk and talk.”

Kenna stilled, her shoulders pushed down and her hands balled into fists.

Out of the corner of his eye, Haakon could see Orm grinning and hopping from one foot to the other. He was enjoying the show.

“And I love you, Bryce,” Kenna said.

Haakon bristled and his legs throbbed with the need to spring into action—spring on Bryce and unleash his anger.

“But not as I ever would love a husband,” Kenna went on. “And if you accept that, you will marry another and be happy.”

Bryce tipped his chin and his eyes glistened.

Kenna turned to Haakon, her face aglow with emotion. “Please, let this go.” She stepped up to him and curled her hand over his, which was wrapped around his sword handle. “When the heart is hurt it is a burden to bear. Bryce is carrying that burden right now.”

“It is a burden, a burden you must bear.” Orm was beside Bryce. He slapped him on the shoulder and laughed. “Carry your burden.”

“Fuck off,” Bryce muttered as he shrugged.

“I will not hurt him,” Haakon said. “Because you have asked me not to and I will do anything for you, my viqueen.”

She smiled, and Haakon knew in that moment that not only was he in love with his wife, he was also wrapped around her little finger, just as had been predicted.