Page 37 of The Magic of Vanaheim

“I don’t know.” Gudrun’s pick was practical enough, but they were certainly fit for a king. Håkon wasn’t sure if he’d feel comfortable wearing them.

“The color of the raven suits you. And your husband wouldn’t have sent the clothes if he didn’t want you to wear them.”

“Unless it’s a test.”

Blinking as if she hadn’t thought of it this way before, Gudrun started going through the chest again.

“It’s not. These are all equal quality. Expensive. Bergelmir knows why he wants to plunder this place.”

Håkon sighed.

“Well, then. Is there a belt?”

“Only a belt with a scabbard. Look at this!”

Gudrun had drawn the sword, andIsbanishone in the sunlight. Håkon hadn’t been able to look at it properly yesterday, but now he admired the beauty of the weapon. A master smith had decorated the blade with runes and an elaborate pattern of golden inlays, the twisted coils of folded steel like snakes winding in the iron.

“What a treasure. We aren’t allowed to take this, I guess.” Gudrun set the blade down with a mournful expression.

“It’s mine.”

“What?”

“It’s my wedding gift. And Talvinen left it here. So I figure he won’t be cross if I wear it.”

Eyes lighting up with excitement, Gudrun grinned at him.

“Let’s go find your husband, then.”

eleven

The Duel

?alvi

AburntJotunnwarship, almost broken in half by one of Talvi’s spells, blocked the entrance to the harbor. Workers from the shipyard were already disassembling the wreck, salvaging the precious wooden planks.

Talvi smiled to himself. The lands of theJötnarwere a cold place, almost entirely covered with treacherous bogs and endless tundra. Wood was a valuable commodity for the frost giants and building warships was expensive. Talvi doubted that Bergelmir’s fleet would recover soon from their failed raids, and to make things worse for theJotunnking, his best warrior was now Talvi’s. And he wasn’t planning to give Håkon back.

Watching the activities from the battlements, Talvi found Perhonen and Astrid, the master boatbuilder, engrossed in conversation.

“If you help us to retrieve the keel, I might be able to not only use the planks for repair, but to rebuild the whole ship. It’s a beautiful thing,” Astrid said.

Perhonen nodded. “I can get it into your dock. But preferably at night. The moon is full in a few days.”

“That would be wonderful!” Astrid spotted Talvi first. “Greetings, my lord. Oh, there comes Prince Håkon.”

Spinning around, Talvi stared in the direction Astrid pointed. Håkon walked over the open field, Gudrun in tow. Wearing the clothes Talvi had brought for him, andIsbanihanging at his side, he looked every inch the prince he claimed not to be.

“He’s even more handsome than they say; you got really lucky,” Astrid said, her gaze never leaving Håkon. “Um—my lord,” she added hastily.

“Really lucky,” Talvi echoed. He couldn’t agree more.

“You better go rescue your man before he has a chance to clash with Arngrim,” Perhonen said. Behind her disinterested façade, Talvi could sense her immense amusement.

Indeed, Arngrim was exercising with the guards down on the open stretch of land between the battlements and the fjord. And Håkon, no doubt looking for Talvi, headed straight for him.

“Let me know if you need my help with the salvaging of the ship,” Talvi said, already on his way down.