He’s no godsdamn hero.
But, he taught this boy the importance of a clean fucking space to work and to respect your woman.
“And who the fuck was that whore in your damn lap? You have afucking wife and a young child!” Sigvid gestures around the room. “Where the fuck are they while you fondle topless women?”
“Not everyone has your marriage, Sigvid.” Calder bites back.
The air grows colder. Icicles creep across every piece of furniture in the chamber, surprising Sigvid, who is unaccustomed to Calder’sseidrresonating with his emotions.
When the King of Treland doesn’t remark, his Drengr withdraws his pipe and lights the bowl. With a deep inhale, he finally breaks the silence. “My life is none of your concern. Trust me, I am dedicated toyourvision, Lord Commander.” He sneers.
“Oh sure, you are clearly following my orders after five fucking winters,” Sigvid snarks back, pushing back the berserker red, threatening his vision.
I will not hesitate to drag his ass back to Salt. I could give a shit if his mother is the fucking Queen of Skalor. There is a reason his father, Avard, stole him back to Treland when he was a lad.
Pipe smoke billows around Calder when the doors open, and a young boy enters, bearing a letter.
“My Jarl.” He tosses the note on the bed before leaving without so much as a bow of respect.
Calder scans the words once before dropping the parchment on the floor.
“Anything else, my Lord?” He is now a head taller than Sigvid since he last saw him in Treland. Without waiting for a response, Calder sweeps to the door, leaving Sigvid alone.
Without a care, the King of Treland stuffs the discarded note into his pocket.
He stomps toward their lodgings without a sense of direction. He relies on Avina’s wedding ring, infused withseidr, to always locate her whereabouts.
Once away from the longhouse, he senses his Drengr converge from the shadows. Only then does Sigvid unfold the mysterious letter.
“C,
We anticipate returning home next week. The boy is enjoying his time with Grandpa ‘M.’ Your mother departed earlier this morning. She intends to meet the Beast King before he leaves.
I expect your attitude on our previous subject to change.
You know what we need to accomplish. This is bigger than you.
Sincerely,
Your loving wife”
What the fuck does that mean?
The next day feels very similar to the last. Calder flirts with women in town while downing bottles of mead. He drunkenly wrestles with several other young men in the mud before taking a dip in the icy Bay of Souls.
Avina and Sigvid are horrified, recalling the level-headed boy during the War for Treland.
To think that was only five winters ago.
Something has changed. But what?
Two days in Kaldrgataness turns to fucking five.
Five fucking days in this oppressed country.
After waking up before sunrise and promising his little Queen that they would leave for Treland the following day, he sheathes his blackwood-handled axes, now bearing his infamous runes along the handles, and storms toward the longhouse.
As he approaches the dock, an uneasiness creeps along his neck. Unlike the previous several days, no other person or creature lurks nearby.
