“Here.”
A lump of cheese lands on the bed, followed by a thick slab of dried meat that slaps onto my chest. No one has ever thrown breakfast at me before. I giggle then sigh as I lie back down.
“Thanks,” I say, closing my eyes.
“Get up.”
“I feel like shit.”
“Nothing good has come from lying about like spilled porridge.”
“I just need rest.”
“What are you, a coal-biter?”
I raise myself again, a smile of disbelief on my face.
“Excuse me? What the fuck?”
A coal-biter—one who sits by the fire with nothing to do. Idle. I laugh.
“Many heroes in the stories start as coal-biters,” I say.
“Oh, I know that, Kilda. I’m a skald, remember?”
“I remember,” I say as I rip some dried meat with my teeth and chew.
“And I used to be a coal-biter,” he says with a wink.
“I guess not all of them become heroes,” I tease.
“And I guess not all Volvas get out of bed.”
I giggle at our banter. This man. Loves a joke. I point the meat at him.
“You remember Ylvin.”
“Fair point,” he laughs with me. “Nevertheless, get out of bed or I will pull you out.”
My eyes widen at his threat.
“You wouldn’t!”
It seems he would, because he steps into my house uninvited and lifts my body in his iron arms.
I squeal as I squirm.
“You beastly troll!” I shout.
“You bring out the best in me.”
He places me down carefully, feet first so I can recover some of my honor.
“Okay, I’m up,” I say, grabbing the cheese and taking a bite.
“Good. Smile, it’s a good day. Birds sing outside. Eidunn is safe and you survived the storm that followed.”
I almost choke on the cheese. I have to tell him. But now? I just can’t. He’s happy. I need to find the right moment. My stomach drops as I decide to keep him unknowing.
