Ari stops and turns to me, staring me dead in the eyes as he whispers.
“I am sure. You do not seem so sure.”
“I’m afraid.”
“As you should be. You have already made enemies.”
“I only spoke to Vidar.”
“Ah yes, most honorable Vidar.”
He continues toward the longhouse. I follow.
“Won’t they kill you?” I ask, not caring to lower my voice.
He stops again, shaking his head in disbelief.
“There are laws, Kilda. They can’t just murder me.”
“But—”
“If everything goes to plan, Eidunn will be left alone. She may be a pariah for a while, but she will be left alone. Folk will have their eye on her and Njord, and Vidar too.”
I open my mouth to speak, but he’s already gone.
The doors to the hall are wide open. Ari walks in, his back straight and head held high. I walk in behind him, not as proud. I feel so small. This has escalated beyond anything I could have imagined. Why did I drag him into this? What if I get him killed?
“People of Opdal,” he announces, loud and proud. “Hear my words.”
Men and women pause their eating and turn to him.
Sigurd gives me a confused glance. I look away, ashamed of my betrayal. Maybe I should have asked him about this earlier today, when it was just us two. Everything has changed since then.
The skald walks to the warriors’ table. Vidar sits at its head. His face is cold, expressionless. He doesn’t even look at me. Dozens of eyes dart between me and the skald, but I ignore them. I can’t rip my eyes away from Ari as he clears his throat.
Ari begins. What have I done?
Some men of honor, live with fame
Their fate and glory are one and same
They battle waves, they bathe in blood
Their name is never dragged in mud
Everyone in the hall has stopped eating, stopped drinking. Some people hush others who won’t keep quiet. Everyone wants to know what is happening. What is coming. Only Vidar and his men, who Ari is standing over, keep eating and drinking, pretending Ari isn’t even there. But he is. He really is.
But other men, they live in shadows
In mud and shit is where they wallow
They beat on women, they make them bleed
But among men, fall on their knees
The room gasps at the words, but before the sound dies, Ari surprises everyone. Lightning fast, before I can blink, he grabs Njord’s knife and slams its blade into the table. Right in front of Njord.
Everyone understands the intention. They know who Ari is speaking of. The hall breaks into whispers. Some laugh, others pound their palms on the table. Some women look at Njord, their faces twisted with distaste.
