Page 59 of A Curse Carved in Bone
Anxiety pooled like poison in my stomach; for all this was my strategy, the thought of a battle on the strait terrified me. To face not only the threat of arrows and blades and fists, but also the threat of falling overboard or the ship sinking. The idea of being lost at sea, clinging to shattered boards with no chance of rescue, made my skin crawl. Though in truth, with the chain mail I wore to protect me from arrows and blades, I’d likely just sink beneath the waves and drown.
“How do you fight at sea?” I asked Harald, for though our plan was to avoid battle at all costs, it could still come toit.
“Depends on the goal.” He scratched Skoll’s neck, but the wolf moved to put his big head in my lap. Since the night of my kidnapping, the wolves stuck close to me at all times. “Typically, the desire is to capture as many vessels as possible, so we’d board the enemy ships and fight to kill all on board or at least get them in the water. Taking Skalander ships gives me the advantage in the future. But in this case, I think we’ll try to sink the vessels with fire and lightning, and then let the sea do much of the work for us. With any luck, once they suffer enough losses they’ll retreat.”
“With luck, there will be almost no fighting at all,” I said quietly. “Once Kaja shows me where Snorri is, I’ll call Hel’s magic.”
“Snorri must know that he is our goal, because he surely understands your desire to be rid of the oath you swore,” Harald said after glancing to ensure that Steinunn was distracted by conversation with Skade. “What’s more, Snorri is no fool. He’ll ensure he’s surrounded by his fleet.”
“If we have to fight to get close to them, I’ll call Hlin’s magic to protect our ship.” I spoke with confidence despite remembering how difficult it had been to protect everyone when we attacked Grindill. How one stumble had pulled my protection away from my comrades and cost them their lives. “They won’t be able to board and we’ll need only to maneuver close enough for me to see him.”
“Is it necessary to see him? Or only be in proximity?”
“You’ve witnessed what happens when I unleash Hel’s magic without focus. Everyone in proximity is taken by the roots. I need Snorri in my sights so that I can ensure he’s the only one Hel takes.”
“I suggest Bjorn stay close to you.” Harald kept a careful eye on Steinunn to ensure she wasn’t listening. “If you find yourself unable to fight through the bonds of your oaths, he will be the only one you can warn that you aren’t in control.”
Bjorn was also the only one who could do anything about it, but I kept those words in my chest as Harald continued.
“If your plan falls apart, we’ll have the option to retreat and take you out of the battle,” Harald said. “My warriors and Unfated will fight them until they retreat.”
In a bloody battle that would turn the strait red.
“I have faith in you, Freya,” Harald said. “We both desire to spare lives. Let us win with clever strategy rather than bloodletting.”
Harald’s voice was filled with confidence, but my skin crawled with the certainty that no matter what we did, how we fought, many would die. The drakkar fell into silence as we carried on downstream, the only sound the strike of oars against water as the Nameless rowed to aid our speed.
I drifted into sleep with my head resting on the side of the vessel, woken by the scent of the sea, the cries of gulls, and the roar of waves washing onto Nordeland’s coast. My heart clenched as we rounded a river bend and the merciless gray of the Northern Strait was revealed. On it floated vessels of every size. I’d known Nordeland was prepared, but it was still shocking how large a force Harald had rallied so swiftly. How the nation must constantly be ready to be called to arms.
Our drakkar landed as we reached the mouth of the river, and Harald leaped out and started toward a group of men and women who waited in a camp that had been formed. Tora and Skade went with him, but Bjorn remained at my side as we climbed out.
“The Nordelander jarls,” he said. “All have bent the knee and sworn loyalty to Harald.”
“So many,” I breathed, for there were at least a dozen of them, alllistening to Harald’s urgent explanation of what was to come. Then all eyes shifted to me, and I knew my role in the battle had finally been explained.
I wondered if Harald had revealed my limitations. Wondered if he had told them there was the chance Snorri would be able to compel me to turn on them and kill them all. Given the confidence on their faces, I thought not.
Wings fluttered above me, and I smiled as I recognized Kaja. She descended to land on my raised forearm, talons digging into the leather of my bracer. Guthrum approached from down the beach and lifted a hand in greeting.
Harald gave a few final instructions to the jarls, many moving to vessels drawn up on the beach. He spotted Guthrum and strode swiftly so as to reach us at the same time as his spy.
“Snorri has set sail,” Guthrum said. “All the jarls of Skaland who could reach Grindill in time are with him. They believe they sail to rescue Freya. Snorri has convinced them that you have kidnapped her and Bjorn both, and that you will use her to make yourself king of Skaland. The idea of it has them in a frenzy and they come for blood.”
“My old friend always had a way with words,” Harald muttered under his breath. “How long until they reach our coast?”
“By tonight with these winds.” Guthrum tilted his head to meet Kaja’s yellow gaze. “Snorri sails in his drakkar beneath his black and green banner.”
“What about Ylva?” Bjorn demanded.
Guthrum tilted his head, in silent conversation with his familiar. “Kaja said she remained in Skaland with a heavy guard.”
“Not that heavy given he’ll need his best for the battle,” Bjorn said. “Send a vessel around the main fleet and take Ylva, Father. We might never have another opportunity like this to free Freya.”
One of Guthrum’s eyebrows rose askance, but he did not press for an explanation as Harald looked to me. “Do you wish this?”
“Yes,” I said. “But Ylva is not to be harmed unless we have no choice.”
Unless my plan fails.
