Page 2 of Her World In His Hands

“Go, and never return,” his words, laced with venom reverberated powerfully in the still air.

The man’s face changed to one of fear. The fellow clearly understood the threat Njord posed. As a God in human form, he stood seven feet tall, his physique powerful. Gently he blew into the bully’s face and watched as the man tumbled away like thistledown.

A jolt ran through him. Glancing down he saw that Sassa had placed her hand upon his arm. “Enough,” she whispered. Her sea-green eyes widened with fear as she implored. Softening his gaze, he nodded. They stood side by side and watched narrow eyes until the man was safely out of sight.

Another featherlight touch brought him back to the present.

“Can I offer you something to eat?”

“Do you have enough to share?” he asked, aware of her lack of means.

She nodded and turned to pick up her stool. He reached for her basket and followed her inside the humble dwelling. Her small abode smelt of herbs and flowers. Directing him to a table where he could set the basket down, he did so, then seated himself upon a stool and watched as Sassa busied herself stirring a large black pot which hung over the fire. Moving to the table she took the bread from the basket and tore it in half. Setting aside one piece, she ripped the other into two chunks, placing one in front of him. Returning to the fire she collected two wooden bowls, from the mantle above, into which she ladled some of the contents from the pot into the bowls.

After she’d placed his portion before him, Njord lifted the bowl and took a breath of the fragrant stew.

“These smells delectable,” he said appreciatively. “What meat is this?”

“Rabbit and vegetables flavoured with my herbs.” The simple fare tasted as good as any meal he’d eaten before, he who supped regularly at the tables of the Gods.

She sat staring at him.

“Is something amiss? he asked.

“Um, you promised to tell me your name.”

“Njord.” He waited for the dawning in her eyes, but she simply nodded and turned her attention back to her meal.

His ego felt bruised; had she not heard of him, the great God Njord? He who was one of the principal gods of the Vanir tribe of deities! An honorary member of the Aesir gods, having been sent to them during the Aesir-Vanir War along with his son, Freyr, and his daughter, Freya.

He commanded the wind, seafarers, coasts and inland waters. God of fertility, fishing and wealth with the power to evoke storms with the ability to calm waters and quell fires. Able to grow to any size he chose, or shrink as small as he wished. Extremely wealthy and prosperous, he could grant wealth in the form of land and coin to those who invoked his aid. A venerated Norse god, he was insulted she did not react to his name and remained silent with shock.

“What do you do hereabouts?” she asked moments later.

“Why don’t you use your gift and see what that tells you?” he suggested, intrigued to see her reaction on discovering he was a God.

“Have you eaten your fill?” she asked politely.

“I have, thank you. It was delicious.”

She acknowledged his comment with a nod and a shy smile. A small dimple appeared in her cheek. He couldn’t resist and reached out to touch her face, but instead she intercepted his hand and held it between her own. In an instant her expression took on a faraway look, her clear eyes grew cloudy.

Abruptly she let go of his hand and flew to her feet, her eyes wide.

“Stay away from the giantess!”she cried.

This was strange and not what he was expecting. “Did you not see that I am a God?”

Looking puzzled she wrinkled her forehead. “You’d already told me that.”

“No, no I haven’t,” he replied.

“Your said name is Njord.”

“Yes,” he agreed.

“Well then, Njord is God of the ocean, wealth and fertility, your symbol is a gold coin.” she stated matter-of-factly.

“This knowledge does not disconcert you?” he asked surprised.

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