Page 88 of Alien Viking's Plunder

“But still different enough to make it interesting, my wife.”

They flew on for a while. Josie enjoyed the fresh sea air and the flowery scents from the crooked, windswept trees and bushes around them.

Bragr steered the shortship out over the waves to a small island with a single building on it. It was a low, wooden house with a flat roof, built on round rocks and surrounded by low fir-like bushes and heather.

“It smells incredible,” Josie said when she got out of the shortship. “From the ocean and these plants.”

“The mountain is fine once in a while,” Bragr said. “But this is my favorite place in all of Hjalmarheim.”

They went inside and found the hut’s larder stocked to the brim with all kinds of food, both fresh and smoked and dried. The main room had a giant window pane facing the ocean. The panoramic view was breathtaking.

“I didn’t know you guys could make glass like that,” Josie said, astounded. “In your estate, there’s only panes as small as my hand.”

“I don’t think this glass was made on Gardr,” Bragr said, embracing her from behind. “I think it came from elsewhere.”

“Oh. It was plundered.”

“Some of the best things in Hjalmarheim are plunder,” he said into her hair. “So you can’t really blame us for the practice.”

“I won’t blame you for what’s happened until now,” Josie said. “But at some point, you and I have to talk about that particular tradition.”

“At some point,” he agreed. “There is much to say about our raids. Now, neither of us took part in the wedding feast. So I imagine you’re hungry.”

“Your imagination is correct,” Josie said. “Let’s cook together.”

Bragr got a big tray out of the larder and pulled off the cloth covering it. “I think everything has been prepared. Ah yes. All it needs is some fire.”

He lit an iron stove where the firewood had already been arranged.

“Your people have prepared the hut well,” Josie said. “Someone must have been here today and left all this.”

“That’s one good thing about being earl,” Bragr said airily. “I can tell people to do things.”

Josie looked at the tray. There were bowls of cut vegetables and meats and herbs, all just needing to be mixed or grilled. “But you didn’t tell someone to make this.Youprepared it all.”

He frowned. “How could you possibly know that?”

“I can see from the way these vegetables have been cut. With care, but without patience. Same with these steaks. You might as well have carved your name into them.”

He shrugged. “Well, I didn’t want anyone else involved with this. I enjoy cooking for you. Andwithyou. I came here early this morning and made the hut ready.”

She turned around and embraced him tightly. “You’re a hopeless romantic, and I love you.”

“Hopeless? Oh no. I’m hopeful. Let me show you.” He led her past a door. “Can you guess what I’m hoping for?”

It was a bedroom with a fireplace and a low bed covered in furs and skins. The fire was built and ready to light. It was a bright room because half the ceiling was glass, like the panoramic window.

“You’re hoping to see the stars tonight,” Josie said, hard tingles shooting down her front, because this room would be perfect for a wedding night.

“No, that’s not it.”

“You’re hoping to get some really good sleep.”

He groaned. “Stop it.”

“What? You’re hoping to look up and see vettir outside?”

Bragr grabbed her butt outside the dress. “One more try, and then I’ll show you.”

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