Page 40 of The Magic of Vanaheim

Håkon tensed, but stayed by his side, although reluctantly.

“Walk with me, will you?” Talvi said and gently pulled Håkon away from the training ground.

“Of course,” Håkon said. “I’m sorry if I—”

“Shhh, don’t apologize, you have no reason to.”

Sending him a confused gaze, Håkon fell silent.

Talvi led his husband away from prying eyes, up a steep staircase and onto the ramparts. Fortunately, Perhonen and Astrid were nowhere to be seen.

The view across the fjord was breathtaking, as always. The citadel glowing in the sunlight, the fjord, and the deep forest cloaking the mountainsides were serene in their beauty. To his satisfaction, he felt Håkon’s breathing deepen and his shoulders relax.

“Do you like your kingdom?”

“The forest,” Håkon said with awe. “Vanaheim is so green.”

“Would you like to ride out with me to inspect the farmsteads at the borders? I could show you your realm.”

Håkon watched him from under his lashes.

“If you wish so.”

“I’m not mad at you,” Talvi said, following a hunch.

Håkon’s eyes widened, and Talvi could watch his mood flip in the blink of an eye. It was fascinating.

“But you should be!” Håkon cried indignantly. “You humiliated the captain of your guard in front of your warriors. These men are yourlið, the backbone of your regency! If you lose their loyalty, you’ll die!”

“There’re women among mylið, too,” Talvi said, too stunned to come up with a more compelling answer.

“Not the point,” Håkon grumbled.

Talvi laughed, delighted by his concern. “What’s the point, then?”

“Didn’t your mother teach you what it takes to rule? Or your uncle? You mustn’t give your warriors a reason to turn against you.”

“You don’t understand,” Talvi said, stepping close to Håkon. “I’m not like your father. My warriors are loyal to me, not to Arngrim or anyone else. I can afford to stand by you and I’ll keep you safe.”

Not for the first time, Håkon looked at him as if Talvi had lost his mind. His obvious confusion was endearing.

“Do you think theVanirwould’ve followed me blindly into battle that night when you tried to raid Saeborg if they thought me a useless fool?”

Averting his gaze, Håkon sighed. “You did well that night,” he conceded quietly, and Talvi wanted to preen at his words. How could a hardened warrior be so cute, so perfect? “But ruling a kingdom is a dangerous business, and those who are seemingly loyal to you can turn against you at any time.”

This was how Håkon had been brought up, Talvi realized, having no one to trust and expecting betrayal at any time.

“You will find we do things quite differently in Vanaheim,” Talvi promised.

twelve

Dreams

?åkon

During the day, he accompanied his husband on his duties in the citadel, listening to commoners’ petitions, dispensing justice, and training the warriors. And at night he slept in Talvinen’s bed, surrounded by his warmth.

Håkon waited for the inevitable change in Talvinen’s behavior, for him to finally become impatient and show his true colors. But to Håkon’s growing unease, nothing happened. Talvinen held him in his arms most nights, but he didn’t force himself on Håkon, and no matter what Håkon did or said, Talvinen didn’t lash out at him.