Chapter Fifteen
The next morning, she woke up later than usual, the exhaustion and sleeping draught from the night before having knocked her out.
Groggily, she turned on to her side, slightly disorientated to find herself in the King’s chamber. It took her a moment to remember where she was and why. Then she noticed Agnar fully dressed on a nearby stool, sharpening his blade on a whetstone, and she bolted upright with a startled gasp.
His eyes lifted from the shiny blade to her face and he asked mildly, ‘Are you well?’
‘Of course,’ she snapped, squinting up at the smoke hole and realising the sun was higher than she had expected.
‘You were sleeping like the dead.’ He glanced pointedly over at her bone cup and spoon on a nearby table, which she’d used to mix her sleeping draught.
‘Did you think I’d poisoned myself? Sorry to disappoint you, but I would never leave my daughter willingly.’
‘True. But for a moment, I wondered…’ he admitted and she scowled at his lack of concern. ‘But then I heard you snoring like a drunk and knew you were fine.’
Horrified, Skadi threw aside the covers and got out of bed with an outraged shriek. ‘I do not snore!’
‘If you say so…’ Agnar gave a wicked smile that caused flames to rush up the sides of her neck. He stood up and left without further comment.
So much for him finding her attractive…although, had he really been concerned about her?
Confused, she stomped behind the screen and dressed in her training clothes, a thick blue-wool tunic over a linen one, with matching soft woollen trousers and brown fur-lined boots.
She didn’t bother with a cloak, as her training would keep her warm, and she belted her practice sword around her waist and strode out into the pleasant autumn day.
She doubted there would be many dry and sunny days left—when winter came to the island it was always swift and brutal.
* * *
She’d agreed to meet Astra at the training yard with Brenna, so after eating a quick breakfast she made her way there, knowing Astra would have already started without her.
The training area was a fenced-off square, a few hundred feet from the hall.
The ground had been flattened and covered with a layer of sand.
The armoury building was also within the square and when she walked through the gate, she nodded at many of her warriors, who were training within. She suspected they were bored.
Many of them were locked in combat with one or two others, using wooden swords and shields, while others practised archery with straw targets or wrestled bare-chested. They were accustomed to her presence and knew not to stop training just because she’d entered the yard.
Agnar’s men still lined the battlements and took turns taking the watch.
She wondered if she should speak with Agnar about re-introducing her men into their defences.
There was no way of knowing how long Olaf’s men would remain with them and it would be unwise of Agnar to not use the local warriors, especially as bored young men often left to seek new adventures and very rarely returned.
That had been the problem with Heimdall—he’d insisted on going raiding every summer with Sven. But his travels had put a strain on her own defences, as the young men always left with him and often settled in new lands or died in battle.
In contrast, Agnar seemed keen to learn about the island and, if it hadn’t been him, she might have been impressed to have a husband so willing to ensure the survival and prosperity of Thrudheim… Except that had always been her domain in the past and she was unwilling to give it up.
It took a moment to spot Astra and Brenna among the warriors. Usually, Brenna embroidered or knitted while Astra practised her sword swings. But today, the basket of crafts was left ignored on the floor, and Brenna stood anxiously wringing her hands.
It didn’t take long for Skadi to realise why. Astra was wearing her usual helm and similar clothing to Skadi’s training outfit, but she usually practised her sword swings and shield blocks on the large fighting post.
Today, she faced Agnar and he looked like a giant against her daughter.
Skadi broke out into a run.
‘What are you doing?’ she demanded, only slightly relieved to see that Agnar was no longer carrying a steel blade, but a wooden sword and shield.
However, he still had a weapon strapped to his belt, the throwing axe he carried around with him everywhere he went.
Its presence made her nervous, despite the blade head remaining firmly in its leather holder.
Brenna’s shoulders visibly dropped with relief when she arrived. ‘He insisted!’ she declared, although there was anxiety and apology written in worried lines all over her face.
Agnar’s eyes locked with hers and he shrugged. ‘I am teaching her how to protect herself against a bigger opponent.’
Skadi’s jaw tightened and she was about to yell at him when Astra declared cheerfully, ‘Look Moma!’ and she stepped forward, her shield raised high, and Skadi’s heart stopped.
Agnar gave Skadi what she assumed was meant to be a reassuring smile, then he swept his sword down to smack Astra’s shield with a force that Skadi was far from comfortable with.
To her surprise, Astra shifted out of the way at the last moment and struck down with her sword point against Agnar’s boot.
‘Ouch!’ Agnar grumbled, hopping up and down with far more energy than seemed realistic for the light blow he’d suffered.
‘Sorry!’ giggled Astra, without a speck of regret, and Skadi forced herself to smile.
‘Well done, Astra. That is an interesting technique. I had thought to move on to counter-attacks when you were confident with holds and swings.’ She gave a meaningful glare at Agnar, hoping he would understand that she’d intended Astra to be confident with the basics, before she moved on to complicated defensive manoeuvres.
However, Agnar seemed oblivious to the importance of her process, because he said dismissively, ‘What is the point of her knowing all the thrusts and strikes when she doesn’t have the power to use them? Much better to teach her wit and cunning, so that she can disarm her opponent quickly.’
Skadi frowned. ‘At her age, I do not want her fighting an opponent. We are learning the basics with the sword and shield. We will move on to more complicated things when she is strong enough to handle them.’
Agnar shook his head, oblivious to her growing temper. ‘She will be dead in less than a heartbeat if she gets into a true fight. Those techniques are useless without strength and height. You saw how quickly I disarmed her before.’
Astra stared up at him with wide eyes and Skadi saw the fear whisper across her face as she no doubt remembered the way Agnar had easily held her aloft. But to Skadi’s surprise and considerable pride, Astra’s chin rose and she declared, ‘I like Agnar teaching me his wolf-cub tricks!’
‘Wolf-cub tricks?’ she asked, with a raised brow as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Astra nodded eagerly. ‘Agnar used to live like a wolf cub in the wild with his mother. They travelled all the way to Aldeigja alone and most of the way by land, too! Avoiding wild beasts, cut-throats, thieves, and slavers! And he wasn’t much older than I am now!’
Skadi blinked, her stomach twisting. Was it true? Or, was it simply a man boasting to a naive child? ‘I thought Sven took you and your mother back to the Rus?’ she asked, already dreading his answer by the way his eyes narrowed.
‘He offered a ship to take us, but only if my mother declared at court that I was illegitimate and had no true claim to either Thrudheim or Sven’s kingdom. She refused and we made our own way to the Rus alone.’
Skadi swallowed the bile in her throat.
How had they survived? It was many weeks to Aldeigja by boat—by land it would have taken many months. Had her rejection of him all those years ago set a terrible tragedy in motion?
A sudden and unwelcome thought came to her.
Where was she now? His mother had been the champion of his birthright…what had become of her? Surely she would have remained at his side when he sought to reclaim Thrudheim? Nausea threatened to overwhelm her as she asked quietly, ‘Is your mother still with her Rus family?’
Agnar’s jaw flexed. ‘No. Unfortunately, she died. Not long after we arrived in Aldeigja.’
‘I am sorry… I did not know…’
‘Would it have made any difference? Would you have chosen me instead?’
‘I…’ She couldn’t answer him.
A silent and painful acknowledgement passed between them. Skadi had not known about his mother, or the suffering they had endured to escape Sven’s clutches. But neither had she troubled herself to check or ask what had become of them. And, of course, she still would have married Heimdall.
Honestly, she was surprised he didn’t hate her more. And worryingly, she now couldn’t justify hating him either.
Astra glanced between them, before asking impatiently, ‘Please, Moma, let him train me. I promise to practise my swings as well.’
Skadi couldn’t speak; she merely nodded her agreement. She moved to stand beside Brenna, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her practice sword as she watched.
Agnar was surprisingly patient with Astra, taking time to demonstrate twists and steps that would move her swiftly out of reach. He showed her the obvious ways a larger opponent might try to disarm or attack her and what she needed to do to thwart them.
They practised over and over until Astra began to do the movements instinctively as if they were dancing. Her daughter laughed and grinned with excitement and satisfaction at grasping the skills quickly.
When it came to demonstrating one defensive technique, Agnar stopped and asked Skadi to come and join him. ‘It will be easier to demonstrate if she can see what needs to be done.’
Skadi came to stand in front of him. Gently he took her shoulders and turned her around, so that her back was to his chest. ‘If someone comes at you from behind.’ He reached his arm around her waist and tugged her backwards.
She tried her best to ignore the heat of his thick arm against her stomach, or the way her bottom pressed into his groin, or even how well they seemed to fit against one another…
because her daughter and Brenna were watching them.
‘They will try to grab you here.’ He gently curved his arm around her, pressing his palm flat against her shoulder.
‘Or, here…’ His hand lifted to rest flat against the side of her throat—she swallowed nervously as waves of goosebumps ran down her neck.
His breath ruffled the baby hairs against her ear, and she had to hold her breath to stop herself from moaning. ‘Do you know how to escape me, Skadi?’
She moved slowly, not wanting to hurt him and so that she could explain it to Astra.
‘Foot to foot.’ She lightly pressed her boot against his.
‘Elbow to rib.’ She demonstrated again with her arm, deliberately dropping her arm as the elbow connected, and letting her body lean against his.
Her bottom pressed lightly against his groin and his sharp intake of breath was the only answer she needed.
‘Head to nose.’ She tapped her head back, Agnar arching away from her far more than necessary, so they didn’t make contact.
His hands immediately dropped from around her body and she stepped out of the stifling embrace, glancing curiously back at him. He looked stunned and uncomfortable, his eyes avoiding hers.
Agnar cleared his throat, reaching for his sword, where he’d left it on the ground. ‘Excellent. Now, while you practise your sword skills, I will go and prepare the horses for our journey.’
Skadi nodded and watched him leave, shaken by the ache within her.
She wanted him, enjoyed the feel of his body pressed against hers and longed to feel his lips against her throat.
Wicked thoughts spiralled in her mind and she had to take several deep breaths to calm herself.
If she allowed this passion to control her, she might as well sacrifice her daughter and kingdom now.
When he was gone, she turned to Astra and asked gently, ‘Are you comfortable around Agnar? I know it must be difficult, after what happened with your father.’
To her surprise Astra shook her head. ‘No, Agnar explained it to me. He told me you were meant to have married him many years ago, but couldn’t.
Then, when Father was badly hurt, he helped him enter Valhalla with his sword in hand.
He said he was sorry for that, but it’s what Father would have wanted…
Which it was, wasn’t it? Pappa always said Valhalla was the greatest honour any warrior could receive. ’
Skadi swallowed the knot in her throat, regret threatening to drown her. Could things have been different if she’d taken greater care to ensure Agnar and his mother had been better cared for? Could she have avoided all of this? ‘It is.’
Astra nodded sagely, ‘Then I am glad. Agnar scared me at first…especially that first night. But he got down on his knees today and swore with his hand on his heart that he would always protect us.’
Skadi glanced towards Brenna, who nodded. ‘He did…in front of all the men, too. He made them stop training to watch.’
Skadi’s gaze followed the dark shape of Agnar as he strode out of the training square and disappeared from view.
The men watched him as he passed and not with the animosity she would have expected.
There was a subtle shift in their attitude towards him—now they watched him with respectful curiosity.
He was her husband and the King of Thrudheim, only his death or hers would change that, and she was beginning to wonder if denying her fate was a pointless waste of her energy.
She was a queen. If her fate was to be with Agnar, then she would mould her future as she saw fit. At least, she understood him better now. He was justifiably resentful of the past, but he did desire her. For once, she could be the seducer and lead her own destiny.