Page 99 of A Curse Carved in Bone
“And your alliance with Snorri? Are you equally shocked bythat?” Steinunn’s voice was full of venom, and Harald was silent.
“Sweet Steinunn, I know this pains you,” he finally said. “I know that seeing Snorri thrive is a knife to your heart but have faith that the fate he deserves will soon be delivered upon him.”
“You’re saying this is a ruse?”
“Of course it’s a ruse.” Harald’s voice was soothing. “For me, but for Snorri as well. Freya sent most of his warriors to Helheim, so he has no choice but to accept the pretense that we are now friends, united by our common enemy, the Hel-child. Nothing would please me more than to slaughter him in his bed for the harm he has done to those I love, but that would be oil on the flames of the conflict between Nordeland and Skaland. More war, more violence, and more families torn asunder. I don’t want that any more than you do, so I have set aside my own hurts and work to establish a lasting peace between our nations before I give Snorri his due.”
“I do not know how much longer I can endure this.” Steinunn was crying now. “Every moment spent in his presence makes me sick. I want it to be over.”
Harald sighed. “I know you do. But I also know that you have the strength to press through this trial for the sake of protecting others who might be forced to endure the same pain you did if we immediately turn to violence. Skaland and Nordeland both need to heal after the horror that Freya has inflicted, so we must turn to guile.”
More voices approached, and Harald and Steinunn fell silent until they passed. Then Harald said, “Allow me to escort you to your bed, Steinunn. You must rest, because I need you, as I always have. Please do not allow your faith in me to falter.”
“I will stand strong,” Steinunn whispered. “You have never failed me, my king. Not ever.”
They departed, and I released my grip on my brother’s arm. “She doesn’t know,” I whispered. “She has no idea that he’s a child of Loki and playing both parts.”
It felt like it took an eternity for the revelers above to drink themselves into sleep, but finally, in what must have been the hours just before dawn, the great hall fell silent.
Geir took hold of my waist and lifted me, my feet finding his shoulders as I reached for the lip of the opening and then heaved myself out. Nervous sweat added to the dampness of my palms, and the second I stood straight, both my knees cracked, the noise deafening.
I grabbed Geir’s wrist as he jumped up, gagging as skin gave way beneath my palm so that I was gripping tendon and bone. But it seemed to cause him no grief, and my brother climbed out, whispering to his warriors to hold their ground unless they heard trouble. Then we both put on the cloaks we’d brought, lifting the hoods. Hiding our identities, but not the stink we’d picked up in our passage through the drains.
Geir linked arms with me, both of us walking with the swaying gait of people deep in their cups and looking for a bed. The hall was quiet but for the distant sounds of people coupling, and Geir whispered, “You know where her room is?”
I nodded, leading him toward the stairs. Unlike most great halls, Grindill was built with a great deal of stone, and the building was massive. Heading up the stairs as though I belonged, I started down the hallway, passing the door that had once led to my own chamber. But before we reached Steinunn’s chambers, the door at the far end of the hallway opened.
Reacting without thought, I pulled Geir toward me, my back againstthe wall. Geir put his hands on my waist, hood falling against mine, and if I hadn’t been half dead from fear of being discovered, I would have died of mortification at having to pretend like this with my own brother. That his face was rotting mere inches from mine did not help the situation.
Twin footfalls approached, and I heard Ylva say, “More jarls will arrive by tomorrow, my lord. All blame the Firehand and the Hel-child for the loss of so many warriors, and they desire the pleasure of seeing at least one of them punished in such appropriate fashion.”
My teeth clenched, fury rising in my chest at how swiftly Ylva switched sides to save her own skin.
Then Snorri’s voice said, “We will make their travels worth their time. You must keep a tighter rein on Leif. He’s tried to enter the prison, but I don’t want him near Bjorn.”
“He’s angry and hurt by his brother’s betrayal, but he wants answers. He’s not satisfied by the explanations he’s been given.” Ylva hesitated, then added, “I’ll keep them apart.”
“Do so.”
Their footsteps neared us, and paused, and Snorri’s voice snarled, “Find another place to fuck, you fools!”
“It’s raining, my lord,” Geir mumbled, and I cringed, certain the strange tenor of his voice would be noticed.
“Go stand in it for the rest of the night,” Snorri’s voice said. “Perhaps it will wash away the stink, since you clearly don’t wash your own arse.”
Then the footsteps carried on, heading down the hall and descending the steps, their conversation too low for me to hear.
“It was Snorri,” Geir whispered to me. “That wasSnorri.”
I shook my head. “It was Harald. But perhaps you now understand his mastery of deception.”
Catching hold of my brother’s arm, I dragged him down the hall to Steinunn’s room, praying to every god that she’d retained the same location upon her return. Opening the door, I eased into the dark room, walking on silent feet. Geir followed, closing the door behindus.
All I could see were shadows, but I crept across the room toward the bed. I waited for my eyes to adjust, searching the furs for a form, but they were empty. I reached down to touch the bed to confirm my eyes weren’t deceivingme.
Definitely empty. But also very warm.
Realizing my mistake, I whirled in time to see the door open, a slim shape outlined by the lamps in the hall. I lunged, but Steinunn was too quick for me to catch.
