Lord of the Runes by Sabrina Jarema

didn’t need another scare. He made his voice pleasant as he reached her side. “Aren’t you afraid the trolls will come and steal you away in the night? They do that, you know. They take the most beautiful women to their caves and make them cook for them for all eternity. But then, from what I’ve heard, if they did that to you, they’d send you back once they tasted your cooking. So I doubt you have much to fear.”
    She ducked her head and he winced at his tactlessness. He had hurt her feelings. But then she looked up at him and, just for an instant, she smiled.
    His mind stopped working. Her smile was a gift, so beautiful and rare, he stood witless, his thoughts slain by its power over him. As he stared into her eyes he was lost; every weapon he held shattered in his hands. He had no shield against this, nor blade, nor ship to escape in.
    He didn’t want to escape. This had been coming. He’d known it since he first saw her. Now it struck him like one of Thor’s bolts, tearing him open, naked and exposed in the storm raging in his soul.
    She covered her mouth with her hand, as though she regretted the smile, and looked away, back into the night. “The spirits in the woods have never harmed me. Perhaps it’s because I don’t fear them. I’ve found that what I see in the day poses a far greater threat than anything I can imagine in the dark.”
    He needed to touch her, to know that this was real. But when he lifted his hand, she shied away from him. What could have made her this way? If he asked, it might drive her back into the horror lurking in her mind. He wouldn’t risk reopening that wound.
    â€œForgive me,” he said. “I’ve been too forward. Is there someone else you favor? I don’t want to step where I’m not welcome.”
    She shook her head. “Where would I find a man who would want me for my strength? For who I must be? They want me because I’m the sister of a jarl. To bear children, to run a household, for the dowry I bring. I’m not meant for that. I’ve chosen to be a shieldmaiden instead.”
    â€œI’ve sailed with several of them, and they love as does any other woman. Even they sometimes marry.”
    â€œIf a man is brave enough.”
    â€œI think it would be well worth the risk.” If he didn’t part from her now, he wouldn’t be able to resist her. “It’s cold out here. You still need your bath.”
    â€œYes, and you still need to read the runes. Estrid has been bragging all day that you chose to read for her first.”
    Only so he could get rid of her the soonest. “So I did.”
    â€œBesides, you’re the one standing out here in the snow, with wet hair.”
    He laughed. “Sometime I’ll tell you of the days I’ve spent on the North Sea, with waves washing over the sides of the longship. The water froze our hair solid. I think I can survive this threat.”
    The corners of her mouth tilted up. “You got what you deserved if you sailed in the cold time of year. I’ve been on the North Sea, but in the summer. We sailed one year to Hedeby in the land of the Danes and had to skirt it into the Kattegat. We were in one of our knörrs , our merchant ships, so we just lumbered along. Still, it was wonderful to be out there on the seas. I loved it. But to be in a sleek, powerful longship, slicing through the waters . . .” She fell silent, looking up at the stars.
    If Thor had come and brained him with his hammer, he wouldn’t have been more shield-struck. A woman of her strength and beauty, wielding a sword and loving the sea? He needed to find his wits wherever he’d left them and go inside before he did something he shouldn’t.
    â€œAs you said, we both have other things we need to do.”
    She nodded. “Good night, then.”
    He watched her go to the sauna and close the door. By the gods, he needed to take care.