Page 11

A burnt Jotunn warship, 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 the Jotnar were 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 the Jotunn king, his best warrior was now Talvi’s. And he wasn’t planning to give Hakon 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 Hakon.”

Spinning around, Talvi stared in the direction Astrid pointed. Hakon walked over the open field, Gudrun in tow. Wearing the clothes Talvi had brought for him, and Isbani hanging 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 Hakon. “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 facade, 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 Hakon, 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.

“I can handle the ship. Why don’t you use the full moon to vanquish your husband’s bear spirit? He won’t belong here properly until you’ve cleansed the foul magic poisoning his veins.”

Talvi’s high spirits were displaced by anger and dread. How dared Perhonen press him on this matter?

“Hakon has only been here for a day, and you’re already talking about subjecting him to such an arduous ritual?” Talvi hissed.

“You can protect him,” Perhonen stated.

“Besides, I’d say it’s much more fun to perform the ritual with you instead of being sacrificed by someone like Svanhild,” Astrid quipped.

It was meant as a joke, Talvi knew, but the mention of the High Priestess only made him angrier.

“Svanhild has nothing to say in my realm,” he growled. “And Hakon and I will perform the ritual whenever we please.”

Without waiting for any further reply, he stormed off. By the stars, he wanted Hakon to feel at home in Vanaheim. At the very least, he should feel safe. But how could Hakon ever feel at home when Talvi’s warriors treated him with hostility, and even Perhonen wanted to use him as a conduit for a carnal ritual without his consent? It was at times like this that Talvi missed his family even more than usual. If only one of them had been here, they would have helped him handle the madness of ruling. If his mothers were here, he could even whisk Hakon away, so they could spend time together, just the two of them. They could ride into the mountains and visit Magnus’ Needle. Talvi loved the secluded tower that looked as if it had been built in the clouds.

When Talvi arrived at the training field, Hakon was already surrounded by warriors and talking to Arngrim.

“Don’t expect us to ever forget you’re just Bergelmir’s dirty spy,” Arngrim spat. Talvi knew his friend wasn’t fond of the Jotnar , but he couldn’t fathom why the usually jovial and funny Arngrim treated Hakon with outright hatred. Arngrim’s hazel eyes shone with a vicious fire Talvi hadn’t seen there before. “I can see right through you, the bastard son of an honorless king, never meant to rule, never meant to achieve anything worth a song. You’ll die nameless and forgotten.”

“Enough!” Talvi pushed himself between Arngrim and Hakon, making sure Arngrim had to retreat a few steps. He could feel Hakon behind him, his body as taut as a bowstring. “This is the royal consort you’re talking to. I won’t stand for this disrespect!”

Stunned into silence, the guards backed away, while Arngrim still glared at Hakon.

“Even the sharpest words of a skald don’t cut like a blade, don’t you agree, Arngrim Frekegar?” Hakon’s voice sounded icy. It sent a delighted shiver down Talvi’s spine. “So, do you want a duel, or are insults all you’re capable of?”

“No,” Talvi said resolutely. There was no way he would let Arngrim near Hakon if there was even the slightest risk of his husband getting hurt. But when he turned to drag Hakon back to the safety of the citadel, Hakon met him with a look of such hurt and confusion that Talvi suddenly found it hard to breathe. “Hakon?”

“My lord?” Another stab to Talvi’s heart. He didn’t want Hakon to call him lord, unless he was kneeling naked in their bedchamber, quivering with lust. He wanted to be Talvi for his husband. He wanted Hakon to call him Talvinen with this adorable little accent of his.

“You don’t have to fight to earn your place here. The place at my side is already yours.”

More confusion, but maybe a little less hurt.

“Do you want that duel? Or shall I kick Arngrim’s insolent arse for you?”

Arngrim snorted indignantly behind him, but Talvi couldn’t care less because Hakon’s lips parted in surprise and something like hope lit up his eyes.

“Let me have this fight,” Hakon said so quietly it was meant only for Talvi’s ears.

Talvi couldn’t resist stepping closer to him then, bringing his lips right to Hakon’s ear.

“It’s yours. And be sure that I won’t allow any of these fools to harm you.”

Hakon shuddered.

“What now?” Arngrim asked irritably, and a predatory grin lit up Hakon’s face.

“Let us fight. Are three shields enough for you?”

Talvi laughed.

Agitated magic was thrumming under Talvi’s fingertips. Standing at the edge of the training field, he watched the fight tensely.

Usually, Arngrim treated duels lightly. Talvi knew him to fight for the fun of it, neither to win nor to hurt. But today he fought with an almost obsessive fervor, swinging his ax at Hakon as if his life depended on it while Hakon stumbled under the relentless blows. Sweat stained Hakon’s fair hair dark where it stuck to his temples. Perhaps Talvi should have brought him a battle ax to fight with, for Hakon seemed to have difficulty wielding Isbani .

Talvi winced as Hakon’s second shield was shattered, ripped nearly in half by Arngrim’s blow.

“Ready to yield yet, frosty locks?” Arngrim sneered.

Hakon 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.

Hakon 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. Hakon 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’s blade rested against his throat in the blink of an eye.

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

“Filthy Jotunn bastard—”

“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 Hakon, 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 Hakon because of his silly prejudices. Hakon, 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 Hakon’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 Hakon in praise until he blushed, stuttered, and moaned. He wanted Hakon to believe him.

“Thank you, my lord,” Hakon mumbled.

Taking the blade away from Arngrim’s throat, Hakon 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,” Hakon 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 Hakon’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 the Vanir guess 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, Hakon was his priority right now.

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

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

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

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

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

Sending him a confused gaze, Hakon 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 Hakon’s breathing deepen and his shoulders relax.

“Do you like your kingdom?”

“The forest,” Hakon 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.”

Hakon watched him from under his lashes.

“If you wish so.”

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

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

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

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

“Not the point,” Hakon 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 Hakon. “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, Hakon looked at him as if Talvi had lost his mind. His obvious confusion was endearing.

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

Averting his gaze, Hakon 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 Hakon 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.