Epilogue

Hott watched his little Valkyrie nurse his son. Biorn made tiny suckling sounds that were music to his ears. Hrolf played with Kis-kis, Petal, and Porky in front of the hearth in their hut. Valerie smiled over at him, and he felt his heart melt. He knew she was his Valhalla gift from Odin and from now on everything would be fine. He had slain the giant he had set out to defeat.

At a small sound at the door, Hott rose. He wandered outside and saw Ulfr staring up at the stars. Hott went to his brother. The two men, so different and yet so much alike stood companionably together for a quiet moment.

“Thank you for saving my life,” Hott said.

Ulfr glanced over at him and shrugged as if it were nothing. “You are my brother.”

“Your own little Valkyrie waits for you,” Hott said. “You need only let her in.”

“But she will not be Valerie,” Ulfr said sadly.

Hott faced his brother. He put his hands on his shoulders. “No, she will not. But she will be your own.”

“Perhaps there is no woman here for me,” Ulfr stated. “None of the others in the village interest me. I feel so lonely. Why is there no one here that I can feel close to?”

“Then go to where your woman could be,” Hott said.

Ulfr looked at him in confusion. Hott took him by the arm, and the two men moved off. It took some time, but when Hott was finished he had explained to his brother everything there was about his meeting with Valerie. Then he and his brother clasped hands.

“Take care of your little Valkyrie,” Ulfr said. His voice was thick with emotion.

Hott nodded. He could see the longing in Ulfr’s eyes. His brother needed more in his life. He would give a prayer to Odin he found it. It was sad to watch his brother’s back disappear into the darkness.

Hott walked back into the hut. Valerie had laid the babe in the cradle he had made and Hrolf was tucked into his own bed in his own room. The animals were curled up together on the foot of their furs.

“Where did Ulfr go?” Valerie asked and yawned.

“To find his own little Valkyrie,” Hott said thoughtfully.

Valerie looked at him with concern. “Into the mist?”

“Perhaps that’s where all destinys lay, in the mist.”

“Why?” Valerie asked curiously.

“Sometimes you can see through it. Other times it is so thick you don’t know where you are going. Sometimes it rolls and billows in anger. Other times it lies still like a blanket of security, covering everything, hiding any who need a shield. It is eerie and breathtaking. But most of all it is mysterious, as is life. A turn in any indecisive direction can lead to happiness or folly.”

Valerie snuggled up to Hott under the furs on the pallet. Her head rested on his shoulder. “I hope he finds what he is looking for,” she said quietly.

“He will. He is my brother.”

Hott lowered his head to kiss her. When her lips met his in their familiar dance he sighed. He could hear the snoring of the animals, the deep breathing of his babe, and the slight rustle in the next room of his eldest son. And Hott could feel the heat of Valerie’s sex calling to him. Her hand slid up and down his cock so sensuously it was not long before he lay over her. As his penis slid inside her warmth, he heard her whisper she loved him more than anything in the world. He grinned and told her he felt the same. He took her at his leisure, loving her. When they finished he rolled to his side taking her with him, cuddling her.

Hott’s eyes began to close in his exhaustion. The day had been overlong, and he was feeling his weariness. He pulled Valerie closer to his chest. He kissed her forehead and closed his eyes. Then to his utter surprise he heard Hrolf call suddenly from his room.

  “Mommy, I need a drink of water.”