“Well said,” shouts a man, to cheers from his table. I expected all the locals to oppose Ari, to hate us, but Vidar and his men aren’t loved by all.
Njord stands, raising his hands for silence. A tight smile crosses Vidar’s face as he observes his man, but he buries it quickly.
“Never,” says Njord. “Never has anyone spread such filth on my name.”
Many men cheer. The men around Vidar’s table pound it rhythmically. Ari is unmovable, filling the space. Vidar stays calm, watching Njord as he continues.
“I am not a poet,” he says, making several people chuckle. “But then, neither is this man.”
He points at Ari with his thumb. Men howl in laughter. The women, in their defense, seem less entertained. They heard Ari’s words.
“But,” says Njord over the crowd. “We are both men. Ari Skald, I challenge you to Holmgang.”
Gasps escape mouths all over the hall.
Ari squares his shoulders, folding his arms. No fear displayed, at all, in any way. How can he hope to stand in a duel against a seasoned warrior? A veteran of war?
“I accept!” His deep voice booms across the hall.
All heads turn to Sigurd. But I turn to leave. To get away. Maybe I should just run into the night. Disappear forever. Use the cloaking spell I haven’t mastered yet. I’m such a fool. A reckless, silly girl. The shittiest Volva. Sigurd’s voice rings through the room as I walk toward the exit.
“How will the victory be achieved? First blood or death?”
There is no pause. Njord’s voice rings out instantly.
“Death.”
A murmur fills the room as Ari answers.
“Death.”
Sigurd is silent, making me stop in my tracks. My chest falls into the bottomless pit of my stomach.
“It saddens me,” says Sigurd finally. “That one of these two men will die. Both are valued in Opdal.”
Tears run down my cheeks as Sigurd announces the time of Ari’s death. I can’t even bring myself to turn and look at him. I just want to escape.
“The Holmgang…” He pauses for what feels like an eternity. “…is at dawn. Tomorrow,” he shouts.
All the men cheer. They aren’t worried. They aren’t panicked. They are entertained.
It’s all over.
What have I done?
CHAPTER 51
My blue robe weighs heavy. A Volva’s dress. Today it feels like a mockery. What a disgrace. How wrong Ylvin had been! Considering me ready for such an honor. Pure shame almost made me wear my gray wool, but it would be too obvious.
The crowd is huge. Everyone in the valley is here. Free folk, thralls, men, women, everyone. Except one person…
Sunlight creeps over the peaks, allowing a pale blue to whisk away the white heavens of the summer night.
“Njord will slay him,” says one man with his back turned.
“Horseshit! The skald was so sure of himself,” replies his friend.
“Cocky, more like.”
