Two Viking Romances

Two short stories published as a Penguin 60s edition, taken from ‘Seven Viking Romances'.

Is it just me, or are do all Viking stories consist of confusing family trees, abductions of princesses, wanton hand to hand combat, banishment, interfering gods, rescue of princesses, men who are fighting each other becoming blood brothers, outlandish coincidences, giants, and every time a hero finds a remote house where he is offered board for the night there is an attractive but naive daughter who gives herself willingly after some bizarre metaphor 'I want to temper my warrior'; 'I'd like to water my colt at your well-spring; 'He told her he wanted to put a ring on his stump'? ? But then, those are the ingredients of a good Viking Story, so why fix something that isn't broken.

Easy, quick reads, these two short stories were clever and amusing.