Page 112 of A Curse Carved in Bone
“You’ll not catch him.” Skade’s smirk grew. “He’s far too clever for that.”
“Freya will catch him.” I moved toward her but she raised her bow, glowing arrow leveled at my chest. “He can wear whatever face he likes—Skoll and Hati still know the stench of arsehole when it hits their noses.”
Skade lifted one shoulder. “Your woman does better thinking when you are not around, I’ll grant her that. But Freya is not clever enough to outwit him.”
Through the smoke, I caught sight of a shadow crawling down the side of the building. Inhuman and strange, yet familiar to me. Lifting my axe, I took another step closer, keeping Skade’s attention on me. Tora caught sight of the shadow but said nothing.
“Why are you loyal to him, Skade?” I asked. “Tora has been forced, and the rest of us duped, but you support him of your own free will.”
“Because I am his trueborn child.” She bared her teeth. “I am his daughter and the heir to all that he has built. I suffered his favoritism of you because I knew the truth. Knew it was but a ploy to take control of Skaland so that he might be king of all the north.”
“You are not his child. You cannot be.”
Gyda’s voice filled my ears, and I turned my head to see the smith behindme.
“I remember when you were born, Skade,” she said. “Perhaps Harald of Hrafnheim was your father, but he fled his father’s fists while you were still in your mother’s belly. Which means the creature you serveshares no blood with you. He killed your Harald, girl. Took his face and his life, and then tricked you the same as the rest of us.”
“Lies!” Skade shrieked. “My mother told me Harald was my father before she abandoned me, and he told me that she spoke true. He claimed me as his trueborn heir!”
“Steinunn’s magic can only show the truth, and I know your mother was pregnant when my friend fled Hrafnheim and the creature who came back was not him,” Gyda answered. “The man you claim as father is dead, and you serve an imposter. You have been deceived.”
“No!” Skade lifted her bow, arrow trained on Gyda’s heart.
But Geir was faster.
With a draug’s preternatural speed, he hurled himself off the side of the building and slammed into Skade, twisting her head as she fell.
The snap of her neck was as loud as thunder.
“For my mother,” Geir hissed, looking into her eyes as the light in them dimmed. “I hope Nidhogg consumes your soul.”
Silence fell, broken only by the crackle of flames as Grindill was consumed aroundus.
“Tora, where is Harald?” I demanded. “Can you tell me?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know, Bjorn. Truly.”
A string of curses tore from my lips. “Geir, where is Freya?”
“I was looking for her when I came upon you.” Geir rose to his feet. “She raced in to rescue you.”
“Have the wolves found Harald?”
Geir shook his head.
“Keep hunting. Have the draug track down all the Nameless they can and kill them. You’ll know them by the brands on their tongues. They are bound to his will. I’m going to find Freya.” I broke into a run, weaving my way to the gates only to collide with Guthrum.
“I’m sorry.” My friend’s face was wet with tears. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe you.”
As though any of that mattered now.
Grabbing his shoulders, I forced him to meet my stare. “Freya is missing. I need Kaja’s help to find her.”
“Where is he?” I demanded, only to gag as Bjorn’s face melted, only to re-form as Harald’s.
“Burned alive in Grindill, I expect.” Harald took up a large rock in one hand.
No. No nono.
