S.T. Bende - Viking Academy: Viking Vow

Viking Vow

Viking Academy: Book Three

Copyright 2019, S.T. Bende

Edited by: CREATING ink

Cover Art by: Alerim

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.

This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage system without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

First publication: 2019, S.T. Bende

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Saga Sknstad knows three things to be true: (1) Shes trapped a thousand years in her past; (2) Shes in love with the heir to the unconventional Valkyris clan; and (3) A vitriolic Viking is hunting her new family... and he wont back down until hes claimed their entire world.

With their enemies closing in, Saga and Erik undertake the near-impossible task of raising an army strong enough to defeat their fearsome foes. If they fail, it will mean the fall of Valkyris, the death of their clansmen, and an era of unimaginable darkness. With her new world on the line, Saga will do anything to protect the home shes come to love... even if it costs her the life she never could have imagined.

Let the battle begin.

M ORNINGS IN VALKYRIS WERE never dull. Between the warriors pre-dawn workouts, the dragon riders training runs, the prophets meditations, and whatever the shieldmaidens did in their ber-secure compound on the north of the island, things were rarely calm. But in the month that had passed since the attack on Valkyris East, things had grown even crazier than usual.

Because God forbid Vikings rest. Ever.

These days, when I traded the warmth of my third-floor academy suite for the significantly less comfortable outbuildings, I found even more madness than usual. Blacksmiths scurried to their stations, intent on crafting new swords before breakfast. Woodworkers carried sections of newly built longboats from their shop to the beach. And every able-bodied Viking was either running laps around the training field or perfecting their technique with a sword, axe or bow. War was coming... and we would be ready.

Though we were well into April, a thick layer of snow still covered the ground. My boots sunk into the icy terrain as I trudged toward Outbuilding Twohome of my daily morning training sessions with Erik. As heir to the Valkyris chiefdom, Erik took our tribes security very seriously. For the last few months, wed been putting in two-a-day workouts with swords, sticks, and spears. We were determined to end Clan Bjorns reign of terror for good.

There you are. Erik looked up as I stomped the snow off my boots and stepped into Outbuilding Two. I was starting to worry.

I removed my cloak and hung it by the door. I bumped into Katrin on my way downstairs. She had a question about the action plan, and I lost track of time.

Erik pulled a stick from the rack on the wall. He weighed it in one hand before trading it for another, shorter model. Everything okay?

Its fine. Were just finalizing the logistics for the conversion teams. Sticks today?

Ja. I want you to start working with two.

At the same time? I was barely competent with one. Last week Id hit my head so hard, my dizziness had lasted more than an hour.

Youll be fine. Just extend your arm farther when you spin behind your back. Erik leaned the stick against the wall and removed his tunic. He preferred to train shirtless, a lifestyle choice I had zero problem with.

I mean, just look at him.

My eyes slid from Eriks broad shoulders down the firm lines of his chest before settling on eight distinct abdominal muscles. Shirtless Erik was a sight to behold. If we werent fighting to avoid the destruction of our entire world, Id lock the door, throw him to the ground, and

Saga?

Mmm?

You going to be able to focus or do I need to put my shirt back on?

I reluctantly lifted my gaze from Eriks perfect abs. Amusement danced in his sky-blue eyes, sending a wave of heat from my neck all the way to my ears.

I can focus, I muttered.

Erik chuckled, crossing the training room in long strides and pulling me against his naked chest. Those abs pressed against my torso as he leaned low to brush his lips against mine. Forgive me, min kjre. I didnt say good morning.

I slid my arms around Eriks neck and wrapped my fingers through his shoulder-length, blond hair. Morning.

All thoughts of training were wiped from my mind as I lost myself in Eriks kiss. He had a way of making me forget everything elseeven the vitriolic Viking clan hell-bent on seeking our demise. But all too quickly Erik pulled away, stepping back to retrieve a handful of sticks that were nearly as tall as I was. I tried not to whine as he pushed two at me.

I took the weapons with a sigh. Let me guess. Train now, make out later?

Something like that. Erik tossed one of his sticks into the air and caught it with his other hand. I followed him to the center of the room, transferring my own weapons so I mirrored his hold.

So, how do I do this exactly? And more importantly, why? I spun the stick in my left hand. Cant I just keep working with my dominant hand?

You could, Erik said. But youll be twice as effective this way. You can take out multiple threats at once, defend yourself from both sides simultaneously, and...

And? My breath caught as Erik stepped closer. My eyes were level with his pecs, and it took a tremendous amount of self-control to not stare at his perfect chest.

God, hes gorgeous.

And... Erik leaned down to murmur in my ear. You look unspeakably beautiful doing it. So, lets get started.

When he put it like that...

First thing well do is work on your weaker hand. Erik dropped one of his sticks on the ground and demonstrated a simple twirl. One hundred rotations, clockwise in front.