Page 7 of Bats Out of Hell (Vikings Rock #1)

H aakon stared up at his Valkyrie. He’d had good fortune. She was incredibly beautiful. But then he was a prince—it was no wonder he was being escorted to Valhalla by the most beautiful of all the Great Hall’s guides.

Hair the color of chestnuts curled around the hood of her dark, ethereal cloak. Her skin was flawless, and so pale and delicate. Her lips reminded him of a spring rosebud and her eyes, so green, as green as a lush meadow on the warmest of spring days.

The thud of his heart increased when she rested her gentle hand on his cold, aching flesh. He wanted her to touch him all over. Heal him. Rid him of the pain in his head and the agony of cold in his fingers and toes.

Heat flowed from her to him and he waited for his soul to lift from his mortal body. Any second now, he would float upward, with her, and they’d gallop on great, white horses into the next realm. He’d be happy and content, joyful, knowing feasts and virgins awaited.

He’d clang mead mugs and shout sk?l with Orm and Astrid if they were there, his mother too. It would indeed be a great day.

But nothing happened. He lay there, on the hard sand, waiting for her to clasp his hand and take him. Behind her was the brilliant light of the sky, the storm long gone. A distant memory now that he was dead.

She looked up at his face again.

Her eyes widened, panic filled them. She let out a strangled gasp and suddenly was gone.

He blinked, breathed in, but air wasn’t flowing properly into his lungs.

As sand flicked against his face, Haakon pushed forward to sitting. It felt like there was a tight band around his chest. Suddenly, instead of traveling to Valhalla, he was gasping for breath and coughing. He spat salt water. It also poured from his nose. His entire body hurt as he managed to drag in ribbons of air and re-inflate his lungs.

His temple throbbed and he tried to think what had done the damage. Then it came back to him. The boat being torn apart, his leap overboard and then the huge fractured hull the waves had thrown at him.

Finally breathing more normally, he groaned and rubbed his head. Where on Earth was he?

He looked around for signs of life. The Valkyrie had gone. Clearly, him being alive had spooked her and she’d made off without him. He hoped when his time did come, it would be her again, that she was the one destined to be his beautiful guide. If that were the case, there was no reason for him to fear death.

A wave reached his feet then fizzed on the sand as it retreated. He clambered to standing and scrutinized the horizon for signs of the battered boat and his crew.

“Astrid!” he bellowed, turning to the hooked point of the beach. “Orm! Where the fuck are you?”

Nothing. He pressed his hands on his thighs, stooped, and coughed some more, spitting out salt and sand.

Then he straightened and looked around properly. He appeared to be on the beach he’d spotted from the boat. The horseshoe shape of the cove was familiar, as was the rise of the pine forest from a small collection of caves.

“Astrid!” he shouted again, looking to his right. Surely, he hadn’t been the only one to make it ashore. “Orm!” Fate wouldn’t have been so cruel…would it?

And then he spotted it, movement in the distance against the waves.

He broke into a run, pounding along the wet sand and breathing heavily.

“Astrid!” he called again. It was her. He was sure of it. Gunner too—they were staggering together from the curling waves.

“Thanks be to Odin,” he said breathlessly. “She’s alive.”

He raced to her, relief swamping him.

“Brother!” she shouted into the wind when she saw him. “You made it.”

He reached her and cupped her face. A streak of blood ran from a mauve bruise beneath her right eye. “Are you well?”

“Nothing a good fire and feed won’t cure.” She laughed then turned to Gunner. “Did you see Orm out there?”

“No, only you.” Gunner pushed his wet hair back from his face. His bare chest glistened with seawater. “We really bloody angered the gods for that to happen.”

“Or pleased them and that is why we still walk and talk,” Astrid said with a huff as she pulled out her rune stones, checking they were safely in the small, leather pouch she kept on her belt.

“Yet now we are stranded in a strange land and with no boat.” Gunner spat into the sea. “And no boat builder.”

“That is a truth.” Haakon placed his hands on his hips and studied the forest. “We must be in Lothlend, though which part, I do not know.” He paused and sighed. “I hope they speak the language of my father’s thrall, Joseph—he taught me much of it.”

“‘May God forgive you of all your sins!’” Astrid twittered in a mocking voice in the language of their slave, Joseph. “‘And have mercy on you heathen children.’”

Gunner chuckled. “I know not what you say, but it sounds ridiculous.”

“It is,” Astrid said with a dismissive wave. “These people only have one god, you know, for everything. Can you imagine how busy he must be day and night? How little feasting he does or how often he has time to bed virgins?”

“Come,” Haakon said with a chuckle. “Let us light a fire and dry out before nightfall.” He pointed at the caves. “We’ll go over there. Maybe Orm and Egil will find us. Maybe the others too. The firelight will guide them.”

“I will first search the shore,” Gunner said, striding to the right. “And bring anything I find that is useful. Hopefully, I will find my tunic and cape.”

Haakon nodded then set off for the caves. Astrid strode alongside him, checking her dagger for signs of damage. “There is little snow here compared to home.”

“That is a good thing, is it not?”

“ Ja , it is. For us and for crops.” She looked up. “It is lighter too. At home, the sky would barely see the sun this time of year.”

He glanced at her. “These things make this a good place to settle and farm.” As they walked, the cogs of his mind worked. He’d left Drangar forever. He did need somewhere to call home. Somewhere with good soil, more temperate weather, bountiful seas. Some winter sunlight would be a bonus too.

Was this place it?

Was this cove and this forest his destiny?

They reached the first cave. It was shallow with a low roof. The next had roots creeping through cracks in the rock and there’d been a collapse. The final cave had the remnants of a fire.

Astrid stooped beside it and settled her hand over the charcoaled log half covered in sand. “This is still warm.” She frowned up at him.

“What?” He also stooped and felt it for himself. “You’re right.”

“Which means…” She waggled her eyebrows. “We’re not alone.”

“Someone has been here recently. Perhaps recently enough to see us land.” He checked for his dagger. Luckily it was still safely tucked into his belt. “And then run off to gather an army to attack us.”

Astrid laughed. “These people couldn’t gather an army if they tried. Look how easy they are to raid.”

“Maybe not, but we are few and there might be many of them.”

“They are likely in their churches, polishing their god’s treasures. They will not be interested in us.”

“I’m not so sure.” He reached for a convenient pile of kindling and stacked it over the ash. He’d get it lit so they could dry out and stay warm. “Our people have somewhat of a reputation for theft and mayhem. If I were them and warriors like us had just landed on our shores, even just a few of us, I’d be sharpening my sword and axe.”

Astrid was quiet as she sat on a log and held her hands to the unlit fire. “Come on, get this going.”

“I lost my flint.”

“Here’s a piece.” She plucked a sharp, shiny rock from the floor. “This land certainly is giving.”

“Another good omen.” He noticed a small scattering of hazelnuts near to where Astrid had plucked the flint. Someone had been eating around their fire.

“Let us see what else is in store.” She shook her bag of rune stones. “Here, you pick.”

He took three stones and handed them to her.

Then as Haakon got the flames started, she tossed them onto the floor in front of her. “Oh… Well, that is very interesting.”

“What do they say?” Haakon asked.

“I see so many things.” She looked up at him with wide eyes. “That for a woman with a cold heart I find hard to believe.”

“You do not have a cold heart.” He tended the flames and then carefully set a small log to catch.

“Ha, you are kind, dear brother, but I have been told so by many men.” She shrugged.

“I believe they were just scared of you. Maybe one day, you will meet your match and he will warm your heart.”

She rolled her eyes dismissively. “Whatever… Look, you see how your stones have fallen.”

“And?”

“They have all landed facing you.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means these stones are speaking to you with a very loud voice.”

“And what are they saying so loudly?” He removed his wet cape, sat, and held his hands to the flames.

“This is the symbol of Ingwaz…fertility.”

Haakon said nothing, waiting for his sister to go on.

“It means new beginnings, which we’ve just spoken about, but it’s positive, saying that there is new life, or in your case, your new life…here.”

“It is affirmative, that’s true.” He pointed. “What’s that one?”

“Ah, this is also a good stone to pull. It’s Othala, which is traditionally about inheritance—”

“Huh, I have inherited nothing. Ravn has taken everything from us.”

She waggled her finger. “But that is in the past. What this stone is telling you is you must let go of that and other outdated ideas and loyalties. This is about learning anew, being bold and brave and independent.”

Haakon nodded slowly. “Good, ja .”

“And this…” Astrid shifted on her seat as though excited. “Is the best one of all.”

“Go on.” He frowned and watched the glow of the flames dance on her pretty face.

“This is Odin’s rune. It means he is looking down on you right now.” She paused and glanced out at the shoreline as though seeing Odin himself. “And he is saying anything is possible and anything can happen. What you have done, and what you have become, has made you ready for this. Choose a direction and go for it. But…” She lowered her voice. “You have to commit to it. Stick with your decision.”

“Odin’s rune.” Haakon nodded slowly. “I am indeed honored and I will stick with my decision to settle here, to learn.” He pointed at the stone Othala and then Ingwaz. “And make a new life. And, sister, I am glad you are here too.”

“As am I. The gods mapped out our fate together and I’m not complaining.” She paused. “I wish for Orm to join us…do you think he will?” Her mouth downturned and a frown line etched across her brow.

Haakon rubbed his chin and looked out to sea. “He is a strong swimmer, and determined too. If there was a way for him to survive, he will have.”

Suddenly, a small pebble landed near his feet.

“What the fuck?” Haakon looked upward.

Another landed, and another. Sharp, little clicks. Round, little stones.

Astrid jumped up, her dagger at the ready.

Haakon did the same, instantly ready to fight an army if necessary.

The stones kept coming, until they were raining down the way the hail had earlier.

“Show yourself,” Astrid said, peering at the top of the cave entrance. “Let us see your face.” She’d spoken in the local language.

It was clear, like Haakon, she was expecting angry Lothlenders to attack.

There was a sudden scramble, more stones, mud, grass, and roots too. Then two wet, leather boots came into view, then sodden breeches, a belt buckle, a dagger Haakon recognized, and finally, the base of a sopping-wet torso.

“Orm!” Astrid said, yanking the right leg that was dangling in the cave entrance.

“Argh!” Orm suddenly appeared, falling through the air then landing, luckily, on a pile of weed and sand.

“In the name of all the gods, what are you doing?” Haakon said, shaking his head and laughing with relief that his brother was alive.

“I wanted to surprise you.” Orm sat and adjusted his dripping wolf cape. “You know, surprise you that I was alive.”

“You did that.” Haakon re-sheathed his dagger.

“And nearly got yourself killed in the process.” Astrid waggled her dagger at him before putting it away. “I was about to stab you in your cock.”

“I am glad you didn’t.” Orm grinned. “I saw the god Njord, Njord himself, beneath the waves.” He shook his head, sending a spray of sand into the air. “I thought today was my day and I had taken my last breath, and then suddenly from the dark depths came this great, wise face. His watery eyes stared into mine and his whalebone crown glinted silver. Across his chest was a great bow and arrow made from fish guts and shells.”

“Did he speak?” Astrid asked, sitting and collecting her rune stones, her attention firmly on Orm. “Did he say anything?”

Orm tapped the side of his head. “He didn’t need to speak with his mouth. He was talking to my head, straight into it.”

“Saying what?” Haakon asked, wishing his Valkyrie had spoken to him. Just one word would have sufficed.

“He told me to reach for the light,” Orm said. “To swim, to fight for breath, and then fight for the shore. He told me today wasn’t my last day, that I had to follow my destiny and not alter it by drowning right there, beneath the waves.” He pointed out to sea. “Those monster waves. The great serpent is lashing them up with his restless, slithering body.”

“I am glad you didn’t die, brother.” Haakon squeezed his shoulder. “Because this is a new start for us. The rune stones have also spoken, and I have a feeling this land will be bountiful in many ways.”

“Look,” Astrid said, nodding to the right. “There is Gunner coming toward us, and it looks like Egil, Ivar, and Knud are with him.”

“The gods have been good to us,” Haakon said. “We will show our thanks as soon as we can. We have not lost one soul in a storm that felt like the start of Ragnarok.”

“I was expecting to see the great serpent rise from the ocean at any moment.” Orm shuddered. “And pierce me with its fangs.”

“Jarl Haakon,” Gunner called as he held up his hand. In the other, he held what looked like a wet tunic and cloak. “We end the day as a complete crew.”

“For which I am thankful.” Haakon slapped Egil on the back, then did the same to Ivar and Knud. “I had a good boat but even better men. Thanks be to Odin.”

“It was wild out there,” Egil said, swiping his sandy palms together. His hair was still dripping. “But here…now…there is even some blue sky over there.”

“Soon, it will be dark,” Astrid said, adjusting the log on the fire then adding another piece of driftwood.

“ Ja , we will rest here overnight, dry out, and tomorrow explore this new place,” Haakon said.

“We will hope for treasures to steal.” Knud laughed and rubbed his hands together over the fire. “And women. I could take two right now.” He laughed harder and thrust his hips back and forth. “One straight after the other.”

Haakon said nothing. He’d have to choose his words wisely with his men. For he had no intention of raiding and pillaging. This was his new home. This was land he wanted to claim and then settle upon.

It would be more helpful to be friendly with the locals rather than murder them. He wanted to learn about their way of farming, their crops. Maybe even ask them about their one god too.

“Here.” Ivar dropped a pile of glossy, green seaweed beside the fire. “Our food for tonight.”