Page 41 of Mastered By the Viking King

They hurled themselves at Njal, and were both scooped up in his embrace as he stood, holding them against his bare chest. “Boys, you must meet your new queen.”

“Does that mean she is our new mother?”

“Aye, Knud, it does.”

“A new mother.” Frode, the younger of the two boys, stared at Tove for a few seconds then popped his thumb in his mouth, sucking furiously.

Njal looked at him and chuckled. “She is beautiful, aye?”

“Aye,” Knud said, wriggling.

Njal set him down though kept hold of Frode.

Knud walked up to Tove and nodded. “Can you hunt?”

“Not very well,” she said.

“Can you cook?”

“When there is food to cook.”

“Do you know sagas?”

She smiled. “Aye, many. Do you like sagas?”

Frode pulled his thumb from his mouth. “I do.” He resumed sucking.

“Perhaps we should sit on the bed, and I will tell you one.”

“I’d like that,” Knud said. He slipped his hand into hers. “I wished for a new mother who could tell sagas and cook. Father is an excellent hunter. He will always ensure there is food for our table.”

“He is excellent at many things.” Tove caught her husband’s gaze.

He smiled.

A lovely sense of belonging enveloped her, and she held out her hands for Frode.

He slipped into her embrace happily, his small arm winding around her shoulder.

“To the bed,” she said. “I will tell you a story of giants and gods.”

“Giants andgods?” Knud scampered to the bed and climbed upon it. “I am scared of giants because I am a boy of only five summers. But Father tells me when I am a warrior nothing will frighten me.”

“Your father is right.” She settled next to Knud with Frode on her lap.

“I will return.” Njal held his hand up and strode from the room.

“And I will ensure water is hot in the bath,” Wanda said. “It is Saturday. The boys bathe on a Saturday.”

“Thank you, Wanda.” Tove smiled. “Right, where were we, boys?”

“The giants and the gods,” Knud said, snuggling close.

“Ah, yes, now this is a saga about Mjolnir. You know what Mjolnir is?”

“Aye, it is Thor’s magic hammer,” Knud said with a nod.

“It is. And did you know that once, many summers and winters ago, it was stolen by one of the giants?”

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