Shield-Maiden: Under the Thunder Moon (The Road to Valhalla Book 3) by Melanie Karsak

Author:Melanie Karsak [Karsak, Melanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Clockpunk Press
Published: 2020-08-13T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

“I know this place,” I whispered to Hofund.

“How?”

“I’ve seen it in my dreams.”

“This place?”

I nodded.

A black-robed priest and two warriors approached us.

“Is that him?” Kára whispered.

“No,” Eric replied.

“Welcome to Hreinnby, Prince Hofund,” the priest told Hofund. He was a small man with a large nose, thin black hair, and runes painted on his brow.

“Thank you, sir,” Hofund replied.

The priest motioned to the other two men who turned and headed toward the hall. He then turned back to Hofund. “I trust your journey here was without incident.”

“It was, may Thor be praised.”

At that, the gothi smiled, revealing a mouth full of broken teeth. “A true son of Grund invokes the name of the thunder lord. It is well done, prince.”

Hofund inclined his head to the man.

I glanced at Eric. He was frowning, looking more annoyed than unnerved. I suddenly wished we’d brought more men. Yet, Asta was here somewhere. If I knew Asta, she wouldn’t let anything happen to Leif. But did I know my aunt? The aunt I knew had betrayed the family for the sake of her lover. For years, Asta had been hiding a secret. Aside from my certainty that Asta loved Leif, perhaps I didn’t really know my aunt at all.

We waited for a time.

Finally, a man emerged from the hall. He was wearing a deer pelt on his head and a talisman of bones around his neck. He motioned to the priest.

“Is that him?” Kára whispered.

Trygve One-Hammer shushed her.

I forced myself not to grin.

“Come, the jarl will see you,” the gothi said, motioning for us to follow him.

We dismounted, leaving our horses with Jarl Mjord’s men, then followed the priest into the great hall. The front of the hall was decorated with the skulls of reindeer, just like in my dream. Why did I keep seeing this place? What did this strange, remote village have to do with me? War would come here. When? How? Over something Asta started? That didn’t seem possible.

We climbed the steps to the hall. When we reached the top, I paused and looked over the village. Why this place?

Turning, I followed the others inside. The hall was very dark. A fire crackled at the center. The logs within shifted, sending embers floating upward. There was a thick smell of burning herbs in the air, like we used in the temple. Its smoke filled the place. A figure sat on the dais, a man robed in black. He had long silver-and-black hair which he’d pulled back in a long braid. On his head, he wore a crown made of horns. His eyes were lined with kohl.

“So, the Prince of Grund has come to Hreinnby,” he said.

“Jarl Mjord,” Hofund replied, inclining his head to the man.

“I thought King Gudmund had forgotten we existed, here in the mountains under the shadow of the Bone Tree.”

“Regrettably, it is easy to underappreciate those who keep peace. It is those who beat the drum of war who get the most attention,” Hofund said genteelly.

The man’s thin lips spread in a smile, but I didn’t feel any warmth from the expression.

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