“But why?”
“Why did I watch, or why did I come for you?” Baldr asked.
“Both.”
“You were beautiful, and I couldn’t get you out of my mind.”
“And?”
“But that is not what had me come for you. It was when I found out that Melqart was not going to answer your prayers. Swords would come and mow everyone down. I could not let you perish.”
“Dear Baldr, although I am thankful for your help, I don’t know you.”
He bowed and looked at his feet.
“But I’d like to get to know you.” I smiled at him and felt destiny’s tug anew, the beauty of what it could be. And right then, that was all we could ask for, a chance to prove that something beautiful could exist between us, if given a chance.
“We will not be able to stay here, though. This battle means that we must leave Asgard, go into exile.”
I understood the relationship between him and his parents would be strained after this. I could only hope that his father wouldn’t feel compelled to find him. The All-Father might not see it now, but Baldr was not a coward or a fool. He wasn’t a child who needed to find his way. Time would pass, and he’d learn all that he needed to know, but right now, we needed to figure this out.
“Where shall we go?” I asked.
“Simple. Back to Carthage. We have a town to save from the Roman invasion.”
I nodded. Although the children were safe, there were still others who needed help.
“You think I’m going to be able to shift there, too?”
He lifted me up and placed my arm around his neck. We trudged back across the river.
“I think we’ll find out. We’ll survive this together, and all we have to do is remember we are stronger together than apart. I need you to survive there, and you will need me, as well. Your dragon is connected to me, for when you drink from me, there appears to be a connection formed.”
“We will have to go slowly, Baldr.” I wasn’t talking about our current journey, but that of the heart.
“I promise to go slowly, but you are going to love me.” He whispered it like it was an embrace, and I felt every syllable of his determination and unwavering affection and smiled at his answer.
“Yes, I find nothing more attractive than a man who has wit, and who knows how to use a blade.”
“Keep talking, and you are going to pierce this heart.”
Feeling stronger, I threaded my arm around his. Conflict would be coming after us. We’d face threats on every side—a war against the pantheons and their faithful servants.
In the end, we’d either drown in the blood of consequence or thrive in pure freedom. Together we would defeat the darkness rising. Cleanse away the pantheon’s chafe.
Or sacrifice everything trying.
Only time would tell.
He’d be my god, and I’d be his Dragon Queen.
Want to know how Baldr and Nanna met? Check out Marked by the Gods to learn how it all began. Download you FREE copy at https://BookHip.com/LQPNVA
*This is not the end*
Letter to my Readers
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for journeying with me in this new series!
In crafting this story, tons of research was done to ensure that the representations of the ancient religion were indeed correct, as the society of Carthage was quite different from the world we currently know.
Carthage, the modern-day Tunisia, was an independent city, while much of the Mediterranean was under the thumb of Rome. But of course, much of that changed with the rise of Hannibal the Great and his assault against the Roman Empire.
This story is set after Hannibal’s defeat from the Second Punic War. The Romans responded with a crushing wave of soldiers, as Carthage overflowed with wealth, and with Hannibal’s rise, it was surely also becoming too powerful. With Carthage’s loss of the Second Punic War the Roman Empire’s rule over the western Mediterranean was established.
Hannibal, once retired, attempted to rectify things, especially the huge tax that Carthage would have to pay to Rome. However, this did not go as he planned and he committed suicide, by poisoning, in 184 B.C.
By 146 B.C., Rome had brought Carthage to heel, and Carthage then went completely under Roman rule.
As a theologian, this story was highly influenced by all of those hours in seminary, and specifically much from the biblical account of Molk sacrificing done by believers in the Phoenician gods.
Sacrifice by fire was indeed something that occurred in the ancient world, whereby the human sacrifice could be that of children or adults. This practice of human sacrifice, as well as animal sacrificing, can be found throughout the ancient religions, and was even something that was done in the Norse religion.
The story of Nanna and Baldr is strongly influenced by my love of the biblical story of David, and his lusting after Bathsheba. However, please know that this is not a biblical account. There is no record that Hannibal had a daughter, but my desire to have a story set in the ancient world fueled my imagination, as well.
Again, thanks for joining me on this grand adventure, where we meet the gods, and the origins of the dragons!
If you enjoyed the Baldr and Nanna story, please drop me a line and let me know, as your voice is important on if a series continues. Moreover, I hope you will continue the series with the next story in the series, as well as my other books where the dragons are active, and the Norse gods reign (and are sometimes jerks).
Love and light always,
Tina Glasneck
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author, TINA GLASNECK, enjoys creating tales combining 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. She
