For all of his skepticism, Bragi had no doubt that this was true. If his apple maid put any of her own effort into finding his home person, even if only so she could gloat about it, she would undoubtedly be successful. While he had a great chance of winning the other challenge, this was one where she had the distinct advantage. But Bragi didn't mind. He also had no doubt that if she was rewarded for her efforts, he'd be rewarded too. For that reason, Bragi hoped that she was. “You just wait until I've had some time to prepare” Bragi said, “You might be surprised what I can and can't handle.”
Bragi grinned and took a bite out of the wedge he had left. She wouldn't tell him her name, but he was there anyway. She told him she wanted to never settle down, and then convinced him that she was the only way he could. She cut apples with the fury of an assassin, but shared them with unannounced visitors. The tree goddess made other mysterious goddesses seem solved. “You know, I keep learning that,” Bragi said.
When she laughed, Bragi laughed with her. “You already do,” he told her, “You just need a ship and willing followers.” If he got into plays, Bragi would have to consider including vikings. In the meantime, he'd take her rowing one of these days. Make her viking status completely assured. He'd never make the mistake about the desserts again, but the promise she offered was unexpected and almost too sweet for Bragi to handle. Somehow he got the impression that she wasn't just talking about dessert. “Good” he said. That made two of them.
Over the course of their friendship, Bragi would assess and reassess the smiles like the one she'd just given them. He would search them for clues to the goddess's walled up heart with more tenacity than he had ever applied to any search. The only one that came close was a certain quest for an orchard. At that moment, however, Bragi did not search for anything in her smile. He only basked in it, and somehow caught a glimpse of what he was looking for anyway. “I did,” he said. He still was. The smile that came with that confession seemed to last throughout the entire afternoon he spent with her, among the apples and beneath the leaves. Bragi had found her home. Now it was time for her to find his.