"You always have been in my eyes." Cupping his cheek, Ruby smiles. "And your mother's. I've never known anyone to love anyone the way she loved you."

Ruby had always been fond of Aslaug; there'd just been something about her that was good and the way she'd entrusted her most favoured son with someone like her had always meant the world to her. "I don't think your worshippers are ready to see someone like me on the battlefield. But perhaps I could just show you one day."

She nods. "The world." Ruby had travelled further than any of the Vikings had ever dreamed of, knew places they'd never imagined and she wanted to show it all to Ivar. "Especially with my ability to make us an army."