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Ten winters after the ting -

“ My Prince, wake up!”

Startling awake, Talvi sat up. He shied away from the large hand grabbing his shoulder, getting himself tangled in the sheets and almost falling out of his bed.

“What’s going on?” Talvi yelped, even as he realized that the person towering over him was nobody else than Arngrim.

“We’re under attack!” his bodyguard and mentor barked.

Shaking his head to rid himself of the sleep still clinging to him and his lingering confusion, Talvi peeked at the window. Behind Arngrim’s broad back, the red glow of fires could be seen. A cold shiver ran down his spine.

“Have the ?sir found us? Where are mother and ?iti ?”

Something like sorrow crossed over Arngrim’s face, fueling Talvi’s unease.

“Not the ?sir . But I can’t find your mothers. Nobody must know of their absence, your Highness. Your presence is needed on the battlements.”

Talvi was already on his feet, summoning his leather armor with a wave of his hand. This couldn’t be. He had shared his nattmal with his mothers only a few hours ago before heading to bed. They were the queens, the most powerful sorceresses, and mighty warriors, both. They couldn’t have just vanished .

“Lead the way and please tell me Perhonen is with us.”

By the stars, he hoped Perhonen was with them.

A flicker of a smile crossed over Arngrim’s bearded face.

“Don’t worry, your Highness, the old hag is holding the first line of defense.”

Releasing a long breath, Talvi grabbed for his sword. He slipped on his boots, almost toppling over as his armor still attached itself.

“Hurry up,” Arngrim grumbled. His mentor’s habitual impatience calmed Talvi’s nerves to some extent. This he could handle.

They rushed through the corridors of the citadel, deserted and eerily quiet in the depth of night. But as they neared the battlements, the raging of the fight far below could be heard.

“They’re already within the harbor wall, landing their longboats and swarming into the lower town,” Arngrim wheezed. “You must call the defenders into the citadel. Close the gates and keep the raiders from sacking the castle and the higher town.”

Stepping out on the battlements, Talvi found them unmanned. Only a few archers lingered indecisively, staring worriedly down at the city. Talvi’s breath caught in his throat as he followed their gazes. The fjord was glimmering with hundreds of lights, the torches of warriors manning dozens, maybe hundreds of longboats. What in Hel’s name was going on?

“The raiders are already in the town below, my Prince,” Arngrim repeated. “We have to—”

An earthy smell tickled Talvi’s nose, compelling him to tune out Arngrim’s rambling. It was Perhonen’s seier. He could feel her power raging somewhere down in the labyrinth of the harbor town. But there was something else, the scent of snow and metal.

“Get down!”

Grabbing Arngrim by the shoulder, Talvi pulled him to the ground in a graceless tangle of limbs. Only a second later, the citadel shook under the impact of a magical onslaught. Sharp splinters rained down on them from where a huge block of ice had smashed into the wall.

“Fuck!” Arngrim yelled, bringing up his round shield.

Talvi hastily covered them with a protective globe. The magic felt sloppy, almost slipping from his grasp, but it served its purpose.

“What in the Nine Worlds?” Arngrim spluttered.

“Frost magic,” Talvi breathed. “It’s the Jotnar. ”

“Oh, Hel .”

Running through the streets of the lower town, Talvi cut down any raiders who stood in his way with a swing of his sword or a blast of magic. Arngrim followed on his heels, cursing up a storm.

Burning arrows rained down on them, and Talvi managed to ready his defenses at the last second. The projectiles clattered harmlessly to the ground around them, and Talvi extinguished their fire with awave of his hand. A growl behind him had him turning in mid-run, only to see Arngrim taking out a Jotunn warrior charging towards them from an alleyway.

“I wanted you to show your face up on the battlements. To encourage our warriors. You weren’t supposed to risk your royal neck by rushing into the heart of battle!”

“We’ll be as safe as we can be when we find Perhonen.”

Arngrim snorted. “This is about finding Perhonen, then?”

Talvi’s witty retort died on his tongue as they rounded another building, finally reaching the harbor and the scene of the most fierce battle. The open space between the harbor wall and the walls of the citadel, reaching even higher into the sky, was a horrible chaos. Overturned carriages and debris littered the square where ships were usually unloaded, and market stalls stood.

“Why are their fucking warships inside our harbor walls?” Talvi yelled. Anger, fear, and frustration had his heart beating frantically.

“The harbor chain is lowered,” Arngrim grunted, sinking his battle ax into the neck of a Jotunn raider foolish enough to attack them.

Talvi finished the raider off with a swift cut of his sword.

“Traitors in the citadel?”

Arngrim just raised an unimpressed eyebrow at him. He had grown up at the dwarven court in the realm of Nidavellir, expecting treason at every turn. In this respect, Arngrim resembled Uncle Njord a lot. But Talvi couldn’t believe it, despite seeing the evidence with his own eyes. They had always been safe here, the power and cunning of his mothers protecting the Vanir from their foes. How could it have come to this?

“We have to get back, gather our forces behind the gates of the citadel,” Arngrim said as he watched more and more Jotunn longboats spill into the harbor.

“What about the people in the lower town? We can’t just—”

Another blast of seier exploded over their heads. Talvi spotted Perhonen standing high on the harbor wall, overlooking the fjord, engaging what seemed like a whole army of Jotunn volur , mighty sorceresses, on the longboats in a battle of will.

There was no one in charge of Saeborg’s defenders, Talvi realized. Some warriors were still trying to fend off the raiders at the harbor, while others had already retreated behind the walls of the citadel, but there was nobody giving orders. His mothers had vanished, and his brother and uncle were both away on missions.

What was he supposed to do? It was Talvi’s duty to stop the Jotnar . But this raid had been planned, and someone from the inside had helped the Jotnar . Talvi didn’t even want to think about the amount of power and magic necessary to keep his mothers from joining the fight. He shuddered, faltering as he was overwhelmed by indecisiveness. It would’ve been wiser to fight the Jotnar from the relative safety of the citadel’s walls, but this would mean exposing the people in the lower town to the wrath of the frost giants. What would his mothers do? What would Uncle Njord do?

“Talvi.” Arngrim stepped in front of him, facing another Jotunn warrior who was storming toward them. “Talvi!”

What was the right choice? What was he supposed to do?

Time seemed to slow down as Talvi’s thoughts ran riot.

And then he spotted him .

Holding on to the neck of the majestic dragon head adorning his longboat’s bow, Prince Hakon guided his ship towards the mooring. Talvi stared at the warrior, mesmerized by his beauty: the silvery blond of his hair, the width of his shoulders, and the black leather armor clinging to his body.

A giddy excitement rushed through Talvi’s veins, and he knew he must be grinning like a lunatic. The frantic racing of his thoughts stopped, replaced by calm and clarity. He knew exactly what he must do.

Summoning the round shield of a fallen warrior into his open hand, Talvi strode forward. He killed the attacker with whom Arngrim was battling in passing, already gathering his seier .

“Shield wall!” Talvi roared over the soaring of the waves and the raging of the battle. He had already decided on the point where they must stand. The narrowing between the harbor wall and the citadel was the perfect place. “To me, Vanir ! Form a shield wall!” His voice, enhanced by magic, rang clearly over the battlefield, reaching even the last of defenders.

Arngrim was by his side in a heartbeat, but Talvi barely registered that his warriors were listening, forming a line of shields and swords right where he wanted them. His gaze was fixed on Hakon, who leaped gracefully down onto the quay even before his warship had properly moored. Their gazes met over the battlefield, and Talvi grinned at the Jotunn . He must’ve looked like a madman, but he didn’t care. All he wanted was to show Prince Hakon that the Vanir were worthy warriors, fit to forge allegiances with, and not some hapless peasants to be raided.

Hakon focused on Talvi, a gaze under which he had seen many experienced warriors falter at the ting , back when the Jotnar still tolerated the Vanir there. But Talvi only raised a questioning eyebrow, hitting the side of his sword against his shield. The sound of steel against wood rang loud and clear over the battlefield, a magical warning. When Talvi hit the shield’s edge again, it was echoed by Arngrim and the other warriors getting into formation by their side.

“ Jotnar !” Hakon called.

It took only a single command to make his warriors gather around him. Talvi hadn’t fought many battles yet, but he was sure that not many leaders were able to command such natural authority. His mind was filled with the few occasions he had been lucky enough to meet Hakon in person before. The way he had seen him defeating famed warriors from all clans, even opponents nearly twice his size. Rumor had it he even fought the ?sir and lived to tell the tale.

I must make this man mine, no matter the costs.

The Jotunn warriors gathered at the pier, ready to charge. They should’ve done so earlier. If Hakon had arrived in time to coordinate the attack, the Jotnar might have already stormed the gates of the citadel. But their best warrior was late, and this mistake might cost them their victory.

Who slowed you down?

“Hùh!” Talvi shouted in rhythm with the clapping of swords against shields.

“Hùh!” His battle cry was picked up by the Vanr warriors. “Hùh!”

There was movement in the lines of the Jotnar . Not everyone was joining Prince Hakon; some raiders were lingering indecisively, seemingly waiting for orders from their chieftains, and others were even slinking back toward the ships.

“Not so united after all,” Arngrim growled. “Bergelmir’s court is a fucking viper’s nest.”

“Do you think King Bergelmir is behind this?”

“You bet. His bastard does nothing without his approval.”

Although he couldn’t really argue with his logic, Talvi didn’t like the way Arngrim talked about Hakon.

“He’d be Bergelmir’s heir if it weren’t for the ridiculous laws of the Jotnar ,” Talvi grumbled.

“Still not over this infatuation, I see.”

“Shut up.”

More magic was saturating the air, but Talvi could sense Perhonen keeping the enemy’s volur at bay. Good. And if this really was Bergelmir’s scheme, then Talvi would bet a warship filled to the brim with treasure that his favorite son was lurking somewhere in the background, ready to claim victory for himself.

He scanned the battlefield for a familiar silhouette. There!

Pulling at the endless source of power connecting the worlds, Talvi threw a deadly storm of icy spears at the Jotnar . The brunt of his wrath purposefully struck where he suspected Brogar was hiding, conveniently away from Hakon.

The effect was instantaneous. There was screaming and chaos breaking out among the Jotnar lines. Oh, it seemed like they had planned to deal with Perhonen, but hadn’t prepared to face another powerful sorcerer.

Hakon caught his gaze over the distance separating them. His face showed wide-eyed surprise, but he immediately flagged Talvi as the new threat.

How Talvi adored him.

“Charge!” Hakon roared. “Break their shieldwall!”

He was already running, his warriors on his heels.

“Hùh!” Talvi chanted, gathering power for another attack and keeping a close eye on Hakon. “Hùh!”

The Jotnar’s forces were only a heartbeat away from reaching them when Talvi threw another wave of freezing winds and knife-sharp crystal shards at them.

“Shield wall!” Arngrim yelled.

Talvi had only a second to register that his seier did considerably less damage this time. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise; Hakon and his sworn warriors used protective runes to shield themselves from magic, after all. Only the simple Jotunn warriors fell under Talvi’s spell.

With an audible thud, the shield wall closed, and Talvi braced himself.

The wave of Jotunn warriors crashed into the shield wall with enough force to nearly lift Talvi off his feet. He stood his ground, pushing back with all his might.

“Push!” he roared, enhancing their joint effort with a nudge of magic like Uncle Njord had taught him.

It gave them room to maneuver. The shield wall opened, blades cut into the ranks of the attackers, and blows were exchanged.

“Arrows!” Talvi commanded, even before they closed the shield wall again.

He didn’t see how their archers were lifted up behind them, but he heard their arrows whizz over the shield wall and the screams of the Jotnar .

“Push!”

Face splattered with bluish Jotunn blood, Arngrim grinned at him. Talvi flowed with the rhythm of battle, the pushing and countering, and the opening and closing of the shield wall.

He sensed a flash of movement over his shoulder and to his left. Screams and chaos erupted behind him. Had the Jotnar broken through? Another shadow came flying over the shield wall, immediately attacking from behind. Hakon.

“Take my place,” Talvi ordered a young shieldmaiden. She traded places with him without batting an eye.

Whirling around, Talvi faced Hakon. He couldn’t let him and the two Jotunn warriors with him break the shield wall after all.

“Get out of my way, boy,” Hakon growled.

Boy, really?

“You can join me if you ever decide to forsake your dishonorable king.” Talvi grinned at the incensed Jotunn . “I can give you everything you’ve ever wanted; glory, treasure, and recognition.”

Up close, Hakon looked even prettier than Talvi remembered him from the ting almost ten years ago. Prettier than he had imagined him in his most fanciful daydreams.

“Shut up,” Hakon hissed, already charging at Talvi.

Talvi stared at his opponent in awe for way too long. He brought his blade up just in time to parry Hakon’s first blow, the brute force making him stumble. He countered fast and hard, as his mothers had taught him.

Dancing around each other, they were trading blows, both seeking to exploit an opening in the other’s defense. Savoring every moment, Talvi drank in Hakon’s movements. Fast, precise, and deadly. This was so much fun. Talvi needed to get Hakon to practice with him.

“Consider it,” Talvi purred even as he barely evaded being gutted by a harsh blow. “Unlike King Bergelmir, I’d appreciate you.”

Hakon’s eyes widened, and Talvi imagined he sensed a bluish blush creeping over the Jotunn’s high cheekbones. Hakon answered him with a furious attack, ripping the shield from Talvi’s grasp.

“Yield, boy,” Hakon growled.

Summoning the shield back into his hand with a lazy gesture, Talvi grinned at him. Hakon’s irritation was just too cute.

“Maybe you should yield to me and fulfill the promise you made all those years ago,” Talvi teased.

“What. Are. You. Talking. About?!” Hakon emphasized each word with a harsh cut.

“The ting ,” Talvi said, countering Hakon’s attacks and forcing him to retreat.

Only a few more steps. If I can cut him off from his warriors—if I can trap him behind our shield wall—

“What about it?” Hakon’s steely blue eyes sparkled with anger.

“You promised me your hand in marriage.”

Jaw dropping in the cutest expression of surprise Talvi had ever seen, Hakon just stared at him. He’d even forgotten to keep fighting Talvi. Norns, he remembered their encounter at the ting ! Talvi’s heart sang with hope.

“So? What do you say?” Talvi pressed.

A mighty explosion shook the harbor, cries drifting up to them. Perhonen was kicking Jotunn asses big time.

“Hakon!” From the warriors who managed to overcome the shield wall, only one was still standing: a sturdy woman whose purple eyes glowed from underneath her helmet. “They’re retreating. We need to go!”

Hakon didn’t listen. Shaking himself out of his stupor, he threw himself at Talvi again.

“Hakon!”

Looking up, Talvi spotted the other Jotunn having almost fought her way through the shield wall. Hakon growled, and for a second Talvi thought he’d keep fighting. But then he turned and ran. Together, the two Jotnar managed to break the wall, but their success was short-lived. Talvi closed the gap immediately behind them.

He got a glimpse at the harbor— Jotunn warships on fire and warriors fleeing. Perhonen had outdone herself. The Vanir surrounding him cheered in victory.

But Talvi couldn’t rejoice with them. He could do nothing else but stare after Hakon. He couldn’t believe how close this had been. If Hakon had been a little more reckless, Talvi might have been able to trap him behind the shield wall.

But most importantly, Hakon remembered Talvi’s proposal! After all these years and in the midst of battle, he’d immediately known the night Talvi had been talking about!

Arngrim’s laughter pulled Talvi out of his thoughts.

“Well done, my Prince.”

Talvi grinned.