“Forgive me, Jarl Hakon,” said the one named Jarl Holger, “but I’m trying to understand. You’re asking us to risk the wrath of Ivar Ironheart to overthrow the Urkans—a feat never before accomplished in any Urkan colony, I might add—”
Jarl Hakon lifted placating hands, silencing the murmurs of agreement with Jarl Holger’s statement. “I ask you to stand up for what is right—”
“But the long winters,” said one of the jarls. “Our resources are already stretched so thin.”
“As are mine with the violence on my eastern borders!” exclaimed Jarl Hakon. “Yet still, I know in my heart—in the very marrow of my bones—that the timing is right. Too long have our people suffered. Too long have the innocents been slain on those pillars. This is our best chance since those bear-worshipping kuntas landed on our shores—”
While I admire his ambition, this man is a threat to your rule, Eisa,whispered Myrkur.You must speak…make these men understand who is truly in charge…
Silla tried to blink Myrkur’s suggestions away, and yet His claws sank into her. This time, their grip was firm. Unshakable. She jolted to her feet and stared fiercely into Jarl Hakon’s perplexed eyes until he got the message and sat. Anger burned low in Silla’s gut, growing and churning with each hammering beat of her heart. The words she and Lady Tala had practiced for so long suddenly seemed entirely too soft. She needed to make these menunderstand.
“The Urkans murdered my parents,” Silla began, in a voice of sharp edges. “They stole the throne. They’ve committed atrocities across this kingdom.” Her desire for vengeance grew hotter and higher. “Thiscannotstand. They must pay for what they have done.”
Silla looked around the table, meeting each jarl’s eye. Her blood sang with the righteousness of this moment. This was her birthright, and she would take it.
More, Eisa,purred Myrkur.Show them!
“Jarl Hakon has spoken highly of the honor each and every one of you holds,” she continued. “Does your honor not demand vengeance for the deaths of King Kjartan and Queen Svalla? Does your honor not demand King Ivar meet the same fate as my father? We must put him to a pillar, pry back his ribs, and drape his foul lungs from his body.”
At the perplexed looks that met her, her voice grew louder.
“And what about thechildthey put to the pillar in my place? Ifnot my parents, then surely that innocent girl, who had seen but four winters, deserves retribution?”
When her statement was followed by silence, Myrkur hissed with displeasure, sending a wave of blistering anger through her. Silla slammed a fist onto the table. The torchlight flickered black for a fraction of a moment, and Jarl Holger recoiled at whatever he saw in her face.
“We have waited long enough! Salvation will not fall into our laps—we mustseizeit for ourselves. Band together against our common enemy in a northern alliance. We will slaughter one of theirs for each life stolen. Blood for blood. Together, we will make them pay!”
As Silla’s words registered—as the jarls stared slack-jawed—panic rippled through the wall of incinerating rage. These were not her words. These wereHis.And yet they’d felt so good to speak. Had felt soright. Silla sealed her lips shut to prevent more from coming, but her temples throbbed with the need to spill blood—the need to hunt down her enemies and make them pay. She would make it slow…make them hurt as they’d hurt her parents…
Good, Eisa,whispered Myrkur, wings fluttering gently.You spoke well.His approval fulfilled every longing she’d ever had and she yearned for more, thought of every conceivable way she might get it…
A warm hand slid into hers, jolting her from her thoughts. Rey pulled her down into her chair, eyes steadily holding hers. She anchored herself in his gaze and in the warmth of his hand. Myrkur hissed, but slowly, gradually, those talons loosened by subtle degrees.
Hakon’s nervous laughter met her ears. “What Eisa means to say is that a northern alliance would solidify our friendship and strengthen us all. United against the Urkans, we would be unstoppable.”
Through the tension in her skull and the restless fire in her veins, Silla looked around the table, ready to meet the jarls’ eager gazes.They would come to her, one by one. Drop to their knees and pledge fealty. But they only looked at her with skepticism and doubt.
Myrkur snarled in disapproval, and the desire to spill their blood pushed forth once more. She would collect their jarldoms as her own. If they would not bow, then they wouldbreak.Silla tried to push to her feet, but Rey grabbed her hand and yanked her back down.
“You must understand, Your Highness,” said Jarl Holger, glancing apprehensively her way, “I think I speak for every man at this table when I say that a Volsik belongs on the throne. We long to push the Urkans from our kingdom and to restore Íseldur to what it once was. But to do so, we must be careful and clever. And the facts are that without Jarl Agnar, this alliance simply won’t work.”
Myrkur thrashed about in wrathful indignation, Silla’s heart churning madly in her chest.
She glared at Jarl Holger as he turned his gaze on Jarl Hakon. “Agnar controls the ports at Kunafjord, and he has many hundreds of warriors oathsworn to him. Without them, we will be no iron fist of resistance—we will be but an open hand.”
His statement hung heavily in the air, several jarls nodding in agreement.
Coward!bellowed Myrkur in her mind.Fool of a man! We will cut you down first!
Silla gripped Rey’s hand tighter, fighting against the urge to leap to her feet. Throw herself across the table, and squeeze the life from Jarl Holger. She desperately focused on Rey’s thumb rubbing circles on the back of her hand. The dark god thrashed deeper, seething.
“Then we need Jarl Agnar.” The words came from Rey, and Silla blinked in surprise.
“You have written and sent emissaries?” Holger asked Hakon.
“Aye.”
“Perhaps we might try with a more neutral party?”
