Page 95 of A Curse Carved in Bone
Brown eyes jumped from me to the undead surrounding me, many of them individuals he knew well. “Hel-child,” Ragnar whispered. “What have you done?”
“United Skaland. These warriors fight for their families and another chance at Valhalla. Tell me what has happened?” Kneeling next to him, I asked, “Did Harald attack you?” And because I could not help myself, “Where is Bjorn? Is he alive?”
“Grindill,” Ragnar said between his teeth. “He’s alive but injured. I escaped because of him.”
My stomach clenched, fear making me want to vomit. “Harald has him?”
Ragnar shook his head, breathing shallow and rapid, not long for this world. “Snorri.”
“Snorri’s dead,” I snapped. “I watched him breathe his last.”
“All say he is alive. Snorri made an alliance with Harald, united by a common enemy.” Blood oozed out of his lips. “You.”
I cursed, seeing to the heart of Harald’s plan because there was no doubt in my mind that he played both roles. “It is not Snorri, but the trickster wearing his face.”
“Perhaps so, but all believe that after you cursed Skaland’s warriors that you attempted to do the same to Nordeland’s fleet, only quick thinking allowing Harald and Snorri to work together to slay you,” Ragnar whispered. “Word has spread that a celebration of the alliance is planned. Steinunn will sing the song of what you did. Bjorn will be executed. The blood eagle for your traitorous lover.”
The world spun around me, terror strangling me, but I managed to say, “When?”
“Soon.” More bloody foam to Ragnar’s lips, but he managed to say, “Ylva lives. Leif as well. Save them. Redeem yourself. Save…”
The final word never came, Ragnar’s chest falling still.
“I look forward to seeing you in Odin’s hall when the time comes, brother,” Geir murmured, and I saw that he’d pressed his own sword hilt into Ragnar’s hand. “Have a cup waiting for me.”
I sat back on my heels in the bloody sand. “Soon…” I couldn’t finish my sentence. Couldn’t repeat what Ragnar had said, for Bjorn would be executed in the worst way imaginable.
“Are you certain that Snorri was dead, sister?” Geir asked. “Because child of Loki or not, Harald cannot be two men in one room at the same time.”
“He doesn’t have to be.” I got to my feet. “He has Ylva, who ruled with as much power and influence as Snorri ever did. What’s more, the people love and trust her, so there will be no doubt in anyone’s mindthat Snorri is alive and well. And with threats to Leif’s life, Ylva will do as Harald says. Fuck!” I kicked the sand.
“Little has changed,” Geir said. “We can reach Grindill swiftly, and we know the fortress. It will be easy to take it from Harald.”
“Who do you think will be defending the walls of Grindill?” I demanded. “It won’t just be Nordelanders. It will be our people we must fight. Friends. Families. And given that Harald has made me the common enemy of all, they’ll fight with everything they have to defend against me. Gods.” I buried my face in my hands. “He is so clever. So painfully, cruelly clever, and what advantage we might have had is lost. It is uncertain if Guthrum has rejoined him, but Skade will certainly ensure he knows that I’m free. That I have an army. That I’m coming.”
“What of the other Unfated in his service?” Geir asked. “You say that Tora knows the truth of his shape-shifting but her loyalty to him is forced by magic or oaths. Perhaps both. Guthrum may or may not know, depending on how much his bird witnessed. What of the others?”
“If I had to guess, it would be that Skade knows everything,” I said. “But I do not think anyone else does because the secret would inevitably get out. Necessity would demand that he keep the information as close as possible.”
“Who among his cabal do you believe most likely to turn on him if they learn he is a child of Loki?”
“I don’t know.” I considered what I had learned during my time with them. “Harald has not used his magic to hurt them. It’s possible some might see his magic as an asset, given it has allowed them to thrive under his rule.”
“Then our only choice is to turn our own people against him, because everyone has suffered from Harald’s raids over the years of his rule. Snorri forming an alliance with him won’t have erased that,” Geir said. “We need to find a way to reveal to them the truth.”
Except that it would be the word of the Hel-child and her army of draug against Harald, Snorri, and Ylva. No one would believeus.
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to think through my desperation.
“Freya,” Geir murmured. “Show caution.”
My eyes snapped open, and I tensed at the sight of Skoll and Hati approaching.
The wolves hadn’t gone back with Skade.
Skoll moved next to me and licked my hand, while Hati sat on his haunches with his tongue hanging out, panting from their exertions.
Stroking my hand over Skoll’s fur, I noted that the painted runes that typically stained their fur were faded. “He controls you too, doesn’t he,” I said softly. “You were never meant to be pets.”
