Page 117 of Shared By the Vikings

“That’s because she is our business.” Tali appeared on Ingrid’s other side. His shoulder brushed hers. “All of ours.”

“Is she here? Is she here? Is it true?” A thick growling voice boomed through the crowd accompanied by heavy footsteps on the wooden pier planks.

There were murmurs as people parted. It sounded as though a troll was descending upon them.

It was then Ingrid spotted Bjorn Har. Her heart sank. He was still in Ravndal. Had he been waiting for her, hoping she’d return?

“You are here, my beautiful maiden.” Bjorn’s ruddy face was alight with glee. Spittle sat in the corners of his mouth and his tunic had ridden up, exposing a fat pale slash of flesh between that and his belt.

Nausea welled in Ingrid’s belly. She couldn’t stand to see this man, let alone be touched by him. As for marriage, she’d truly rather die.

“Come here, come here, my love.” Bjorn bypassed the king and reached for her.

She braced herself, waiting for his beefy hands to grip her arms, her waist, or worse.

But he didn’t.

Four large swords dropped down in front of her, only a hairs-breadth from her chest and even closer to Bjorn’s throat. They clinked briefly then shielded her from the man rushing at her.

Bjorn came to an abrupt halt, his eyes wide. “What is...?”

The king’s warriors stepped forward with a clunk, surrounding their king, swords aimed at Erik, Raud, Tali, and Gunnvar.

“Explain yourselves,” the king shouted. “What is the meaning of this? Coming onto my pier and drawing swords.”

“Princess Ingrid will not be marrying this man,” Erik said.

“And if he touches her, his cock will be sliced off and stuffed in his mouth,” Gunnvar added.

Bjorn’s chin wobbled; he took a step back.

“Why? Because you want her?” the king demanded.

“Ja,” Erik said. “I do, in this life and the next.”

“And so do I,” Raud said. “We have always been destined to be together.”

“Two husbands?” The king frowned at Ingrid. “You know of this plan?”

“Of course I do, Father.” She pointed at the king’s warriors. “Please call your men off.”

“You call yours off.” The king folded his arms and twitched his right eyebrow.

In that moment, Ingrid saw her father, not the king, not the disciplinarian, or the ruler of this land, but the man who’d told her stories of the gods late at night, provided for her, taught her how to make a bow and arrow.

“You want me to ask my men to drop their weapons?” she asked, also twitching her eyebrows.

He appeared to be trying to hold in a smile. “I’d like the ones that intend to take your hand in marriage to,ja.”

She nodded at Raud, then Erik, Tali, and Gunnvar. “We can work this out with words, not iron.”

“I’d prefer it if we all dropped swords at the same time,” Erik said.

“That can be done.” The king nodded at his men. “Stand down.”

After a second of hesitation, they put their swords away.

Erik did the same, Raud, Tali, and Gunnvar following suit.

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