Chapter 14 #2
“I had a vision,” she said, stroking the dark hair and glimmering feathers which stretched across his chest. “There will be Dokkálfar and a band of raiders, with a black raven and blood red stripe on the sail of their stealthy ships.” She sat up, a flash of terror blazing in her amber eyes.
“I saw a warrior with a scarred face, clad in black leather and a black fox fur cloak, He wields a deadly Dokkálfar sword—imbued with the essence of a black snake.” úlvhild gripped Haldor’s hand and clutched it to her breast. “He has been sent by the Frankish Count of Soissons who serves King Lothaire.” She tossed wiry black locks away from her frantic face.
“The Count wants to seize le Chateau Blanc. This past spring, Soissons attacked the chateau, killed Elfi’s brother Dag, and stole Dag’s Ljósálfar sword.
On the summer solstice, Soissons attacked again and abducted Elfi’s father Thorfinn.
The Frankish count tried to force Elfi to submit to his demand for her hand in marriage—in exchange for her father’s life.
But Elfi is a warrior, so rather than surrender, she sent for Jarl Rikard.
And the duke asked King Harald to send a Danish jarl to marry the Heiress of étretat.
Harald sent Njord—the Jarl of Ribe known as the Wolf of the Nordic Seas.
And now, we must sail to ísland at once.
Because Njord must reclaim Brokk’s Dwarven sword.
And marry Elfi before the Snake Warrior and the Dokkálfar attack.
” She ran a loving finger along Haldor’s bearded cheek.
“They want to prevent Njord from fulfilling the prophecy. And abduct Elfi for the Frankish count before she can marry Njord.”
Haldor digested the disquieting information. “So you need me to summon the birds as we battle the Dokkálfar. Like I did alongside Sk?rde when we reclaimed Jarl Rikard’s fortress in the Battle of Fécamp.”
“I do indeed. But we also need Skjold. For I saw in the vision that he will shield the Ljósálfar while I destroy the shadow cloaks of the Dokkálfar with my new magic.” úlvhild slipped out of bed, her wild black hair falling to her narrow waist. “Granted to me by the Sun Goddess Sól.” Graceful as a swan, she floated across the floor and selected a quartz crystal from the shelf, which she set upon the table.
With impish delight, she flashed Haldor a dazzling smile and cast a brilliant beam of sunlight with a flick of her fingers toward the clear gem.
To his astonishment, it sparkled like a radiant star.
“Sólrún,” she whispered, golden eyes aglow in the firelight.
“The secret rune magic of the sun and the stars.”
She scampered back to the bed and pounced on him like a cat, straddling him with her long legs as she leaned down to swallow his lips into her own. “More magic to share with you through the seierfjáer which binds us as one.”
“A sizzle of power rippled up my spine.” His senses reeled at the touch of her full, luscious lips, his body responding with immediate ardor. But before they made love again, he wanted to share his news with her.
He showed úlvhild the ouroboros ring which shimmered on his smallest finger.
“I have new magic as well. Or rather, the power to summon magic. Of a frostdragon.” He grinned as her eyes widened in wonder.
“You’ll hear the tale tonight, when Skjold describes his vision.
He saw a young woman trapped on a ship. I saved her life with that Dwarven spear,” he said, nodding to ísfálkr, which hung on a hook near the door.
“In return, she gifted me this ring to summon her when needed. She is half Ljósálfar—indeed, she healed me from a Dokkálfar wound—and half jótunn, with the ability to shift into a frostdragon.” He rotated the ring so that the runes etched in the dragon’s scales shimmered with violet fire.
“I can summon her for the battle in ísland. Skadi projects a plume of frostfire flame. And can soar high into the sky on enormous silver wings.”
He pulled úlvhild down against his chest, wrapping his arms behind her back and kissing the top of her sweet head.
“We’ll ensure that Njord reclaims Brokk’s sword.
And marries Elfi before the battle begins.
With your sólrún magic, Skjold’s Dwarven shield, and my ability to summon Skadi, we’re certain to prevail in ísland. ”
úlvhild ran a hesitant finger over the glimmering ring. “Skadi? You call her by name and wear her ring?”
“Jealous?” Haldor teased her with a taunting smile.
“Of course I am.” Intense lovelight burned in her desperate golden gaze.
He pulled her into his arms again, cradling her protectively over his pounding heart. “There is no need, my love. There can be no one for me but you.” Haldor kissed her wild black hair. “Skadi is soulbound with Skjold. Just as I am with you.”
When úlvhild raised her head and gazed into his eyes, Haldor sensed a profound sorrow in her.
“You must beware the Snake Warrior,” she whispered, brushing soft lips against his.
“I saw him raise his Dokkálfar blade to strike you down. Promise me you will not underestimate him. For he intends to kill both you and Skjold.”
“I promise. But no more talk of prophesies and battles,” he said, rolling her over onto the pile of furs. “Our last coupling was urgent and quick. But this time… I want to make it last.”