“We are bonded to it, and it lives within us.It protects us from danger with iron sharp jagged teeth and strong hooves that strike fire against rock when they rise from the waves.We do not merely destroy our enemies, we devour them.”
Despite her amusement, Brunhild’s skin chilled at his description.Were the tales she and her people scoffed at truthful?Was she trapped on an island filled with men who could turn into ravenous beasts at any moment?
“I am not your enemy but I will defy you and this alliance to my last breath.”
“You may deny it all you want.And I’ll abide by your wishes until you beg me to touch you.Meanwhile, we’ll share a bed and I’ll keep my distance.If you ever have need of me you may touch your wrist and utter the name of my beast, Tairneanaich.”
“I will never beg for that or call your name,” she hissed as she began arranging a long line of bolsters down the center of the mattress.“You’ll remain on your side of this,” she ordered when she finished.
Chapter Six
Thetollofthecarnyx jolted Tor awake, and he became aware that his wife's body had him trapped in the bed.He'd have to carefully extricated himself so he wouldn't wake her.
Despite her adamant words, Brunhild's hand was curled trustingly against his bare chest.She'd thrown one of her legs over the bolster she’d placed between them, and it was now wedged between his.
As much as he wanted to rub her hypocrisy in her face, now wasn’t the time.He eased from the bed, pulled on his trews and leather breastplate and picked up his sword.When he reached for his hauberk and it clattered to the floor, Brunhild groaned.
His gaze slid to the bed as he secured his weapon, and he found her eyes fixed on him.“Where are you going?”She mumbled.
“The call to battle woke me.One of the watchmen just sent out a distress call on the carnyx, and it means there’s been an attack somewhere on the island.”
She threw her legs over the side of the bed and stood.“I’m coming too.”
He shrugged because he was well aware of her skill in battle.She'd proven her reputation by besting more than half his men during training skirmishes and he wouldn’t turn down her help.
She shimmied into her clothes, holstering her skeggoxes across her back, and hoisting her bow and a quiver of arrows over her shoulder.She slid a dagger into the sheath she’d buckled around her thigh, and finally grabbed her curved sword.
“Let’s go.We can’t let them get away,” she said as she briskly turned toward the door.
He gave her a curt nod and finished outfitting his own arsenal.They made for the door together.
They ended up jostling shoulder to shoulder, and would have been stuck in the doorframe if Tor hadn’t stepped back and allowed her to precede him.
She threw him a smirk over her shoulder that made him shake his head in fondness and exasperation.
“Shall we see who has the highest body count at the end of the battle?”She challenged.
Tor knew he would unfailingly have the highest body count at the end of a battle, because it was always so.If he was able to lure his foes into the waves and channel his blood fury into the teeth and hooves of his each uisge form, he was known to rend them limb from limb.
“Are you challenging me or inviting me to wager, Fireheart?”
“A wager, of course,” she clarified with a smug smile and a mischievous gleam in her gaze.
“I accept your wager.I’ll choose my boon of you when the dust has settled.”
“So sure of your victory,” she chided, clicking her teeth.
“I have reason to be.I earned the title of Storm King because my enemies fear my wrath and battle fury."
She raised a brow, and he knew she thought he was boasting.
“As I have justly earned my title of Cut-Throat Maiden.Men and women from Iberia to Erin have cowered before my sword and my fleet, and I am confident my skills with a bow and ax would put yours to shame,” she said as they reached the bottom of the stairs.
She had many titles and he was beginning to realize she'd earned them all.Berserker’s Daughter.Scourge of the Seas.Blessed of Odin.
“I never claimed to be an expert in the field of archery or ax throwing, but with a sword in my hand I am invincible, and what I cannot cleave with my blade will fall before my hooves and teeth."
“Hmm, we shall see,” she infuriatingly replied.
