“I haven’t fucked the skald,” I say, keeping my eyes down.
“Excuse me?”
“I haven’t fucked the skald,” I repeat.
He leaps from the chair, too fast for me to react, and grabs my chin, forcing my eyes to his. I sob as my body shakes, my face mushed by his iron grip. He hisses in my face.
“Nobody gives a fuck what you do with your cunny.”
I just cry. I couldn’t stop the tears if I wanted to. Everything has fallen apart. Everything is over. If I could only have one more chance, I wouldn’t?—
His eyes change, from fury to pity in an instant. He lets me go, pushing my head away as he turns in lament.
“Stupid girl. I’ve known Njord since he was a runt shitting his pants.”
“Forgive me, lord.”
“Njord was a man of honor. A loyal man. Njord would die for me. He was mine.”
I lay my forehead on the floor.
“Show mercy…”
“Stand, you pitiful woman,” he snorts.
I do as ordered, drying my nose on my blue robe.
“I thought you would be loyal,” he says.
“I am, my jarl.”
“You swore an oath!”
“It was?—”
“I raised your status in public. Thor’s thunder, look how you repay me!”
“I was… I was doing what I thought was right.”
Sigurd sits again. He looks more sad than angry at this point. Maybe I will survive the day. Maybe I won’t be hanged or drowned in public. Sacrificed.
“Thought was right? Njord a rapist? How stupid can you be?”
“I just wanted to help Eid?—”
“Eidunn, I know. And now you can help Njord’s bride-to-be,” he says sarcastically. “The one who wailed when he died in front of her. The one who had to watch as blood flooded out of his neck.”
I try to choke a sob, but fail miserably. Sigurd continues.
“Kilda, you are a Volva. You can be valuable to Opdal. So, I give you privileges. I had no idea you would use them to get one of my best men killed.”
“It was not my intention.”
“What did you think was going to happen?”
“I didn’t… I… I don’t know.”
“No, you don’t. But a man is dead.”
