“Once they are in position,” Baldr said, and she nodded. “You know there are easier ways of doing this.”
“Yes, but they will desecrate Melqart’s temple. I cannot allow that to happen. The chief magistrates refused to help. It is up to me.”
Now was not the time to tell her that Melqart sat and watched all of this play out like a performance for his enjoyment, or that the god she’d requested help from was plotting against her.
Instead, he waited for the foe to come closer.
They neared. “I am here shall you need me,” Baldr said.
Heat rushed him, and something fluttered within. Rome was a big enemy to fight against. He searched only for those red paludaments, capes of the commanders, which might tell him who held rank, not just the mere soldier who was taking orders. No, he wanted to chop off the invasion as close to the head as he could.
He remembered the conversation of the raven and the Valkyrie, and how their story had loosened this berserker just beneath the surface.
The closer they came, the more the shouts of a thousand voices rang in his head, his skin warmed, and he screamed, his voice echoing off of the stones.
The mighty warrior god within began to rise, and the air fluttered around them, the shifting sands forming into a funnel. They stopped approaching as the power of light poured throughout his body.
The soldiers moved to strike with their spears and swords.
Power was a strong, intoxicating drug. Unlike ever before, Baldr’s blade burned them. It leapt at their skin, their screams a serenade to his soul. Fury mixed with pure hate, and the sword changed from a red and orange to blue. In a frenzy, and with the quickness of his blade, they fell.
Just as he fought back, so did she. Her agile body moved with speed and a quickness he’d never witnessed. She was so much more than just the daughter of Hannibal, but she would be the queen of his heart and rule forever.
And he would be the knight and wild berserker god to help her whenever needed.
“You mustn’t worry about the children for they are safe now,” Baldr assured her. “And will remain so. Come.”
“What of my men? They are honorable men who do not deserve to die at the hands of the Romans.”
“They, too, will find safety.”
He saw the hesitation turn into momentary relief.
As the next wave approached, Baldr opened the portal. It was time to head to safety, for now.
He’d found his home, and now he just had to convince her to fall in love with him…how was a god to do that?
Continue the journey with the Baldr and Nanna in A Dragon’s Awakening: Origins|Book Two.
www.TinaGlasneck.com
Letter to my Reader
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for journeying with me in this new prequel series!
Although most sources regard Baldr as being a patient god, there is also some evidence that he was a god of war, too. Taking this knowledge, and considering that his father is Odin, also known for battle, as well as his brother, Thor, I thought that it made sense that Baldr, too, would have some of those traits.
The great thing about the Norse gods is that their mythology evolved. Although most connect the Norse gods to the Vikings, there is evidence that they were indeed worshipped by the Germanic tribes, variations of them even as far back as the first century. Odin was called Wodan and Thor was called Donar.
If you’d like to do some digging, you can read some of the accounts from Tacitus, a Roman historian, who wrote Germania, which provides details as to the society, culture, and religion of the Germanic tribes.
Off topic, but Tacitus believed the Germanic tribes to sing to Hercules and invoke him before battle. I think this was Thor though, and not Hercules, as the Roman religion was very much inspired by Greek mythology, whereby they one to one integrated the Greek pantheon into their own.
I look forward to seeing more and diving into how this series will develop, but also how the characters and their story arcs continue to morph and change. Much of my world and works are inspired by mythology, as I weave the histories of these characters into my world building.
Thanks for joining me on this journey!
Love and light always,
Tina Glasneck
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author, TINA GLASNECK, enjoys creating tales combinin the fantastical with historical elements, mythology, and time-travel. A theologian by training, and forever a student by choice, she’s living the dream by using all that she has learned during her humanities and history courses, and through her extensive trips abroad. Most of all, she is enjoying bringing history to life.
Also by Tina Glasneck
Want want from the Dragons? Check out the other stories in the series:
A Dragon’s Destiny
A Dragon’s Desire
A Dragon’s Heart
A Dragon’s Witch
Want more dragonology? Check out The Dragons Series: Origins
A Dragon’s Rising
A Dragon’s Awakening
Want more of Lady Hel? Check out the Hell Chronicles!
Hell for the Holidays
Hellish
Hellbent
Helltown
Hellbound
Hellraiser
Find more books by Tina Glasneck by visiting her website!
A Dragon's Rising (The Dragon Series: Origins Book 1) Page 7
