Howling Winds and Yule Fathers
Back in the day, the Norsemen believed in a one-eyed god who ruled over all the others; he was the All-Father, the Yule Father, the God of death and ecstasy. He rode the skies on his eight-legged horse in a wild hunt.
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* * * *
Hank entered the cabin. His hands were shaking, and his legs whined a protest for each step.
“Did you manage?”
He startled. “Jesus, Dad! I’ve had enough of a scare already.”
“Sorry.” Demetrius twisted his mouth as if he was shrugging with his lips and kept on stroking Smokey who lounged on his lap.
“What are you doing here? These are Steel’s quarters.”
“The sofa in the galley is uncomfortable, I needed to rest my bones a bit, and you were both busy elsewhere.”
The usual annoyance at Demetrius’s selfishness rose inside.
