Page 39 of The Magic of Vanaheim

Håkon didn’t deign him with an answer. Shaking with exhaustion, he struggled to pick up his remaining shield. Arngrim’s pile was still untouched.

“Enough,” Talvi hissed, ready to intervene, but a firm grip on his arm held him back.

“Let him.”

Furious, Talvi turned to face the person who had dared to stop him. He was surprised when he met Gudrun’s purple gaze. She gave him a reassuring smile and let go of his arm.

“You must trust him, your highness. He can handle this.”

“But—” Talvi wanted to argue, but he was distracted by a flurry of motion.

Håkon dodged Arngrim’s next blow elegantly and dealt a shallow cut to Arngrim’s hand.

Yelping in surprise and pain, Arngrim barely managed to hold on to his weapon, but it was too late, anyway. Håkon surged forward, his shield crashing into Arngrim’s, knocking it backward, straight into Arngrim’s face. Losing his balance, Arngrim toppled over in a graceless heap of limbs.Isbani’sblade rested against his throat in the blink of an eye.

“You were saying?” Håkon prompted. His breathing, which had been labored only seconds ago, had suddenly returned to normal.

“FilthyJotunnbastard—”

“Arngrim!” Talvi roared. “One more word and I’ll relieve you of your duties.”

“But he is—”

“He’s my husband and you’ll treat him with respect. Now yield.”

Glaring daggers at Håkon, Arngrim hesitated.

“Arngrim,” Talvi said warningly, at the end of his patience with his friend.

“I yield,” Arngrim gritted out.

Talvi hated to see the shock and hurt on Arngrim’s face, but he wouldn’t let him torment Håkon because of his silly prejudices. Håkon, however, regarded Talvi with a look of wide-eyed surprise.

“You fought well,” Talvi offered, not sure if his compliments would be welcome.

He needn’t have worried. A faint blush painted Håkon’s features, and he averted his gaze almost shyly. To see his mighty warrior bashful like that at a few words of appreciation made Talvi adore him even more. He wanted to shower Håkon in praise until he blushed, stuttered, and moaned. He wanted Håkon to believe him.

“Thank you, my lord,” Håkon mumbled.

Taking the blade away from Arngrim’s throat, Håkon took a step back. Arngrim scrambled to his feet.

“What was that about, Bloodaxe?” Arngrim snarled as he picked up his ax and shield.

“Deception,” Håkon retorted calmly, a small smile tugging at his lips. “I thought your warriors would appreciate a lesson in the art of cunning, since all you’ve shown them is brute force.”

Talvi’s heart clenched at Håkon’s words. How insecure, how exposed must his husband feel if he didn’t dare to show his real strength in a duel, instead deciding to make theVanirguess at his power.

Arngrim was about to retort angrily, but Talvi interrupted him. “The training is over. I want to have words with my husband.”

“But—”

“You’re dismissed.”

Arngrim looked as if he wanted to argue further, but instead gritted his teeth and all but fled the training field.

Sighing, Talvi turned to his warriors. He’d have to talk to Arngrim soon, but he knew from experience that it would be better to let the dwarf cool his temper before that. Besides, Håkon was his priority right now.

“You’realldismissed,” Talvi growled at his lingering warriors and grasped Håkon’s hand when his husband tried to steal away, too. “Not you.”