“I wouldn’t say that,” he responds.
“It’s so stupid. Just a steaming pile of shit.”
“Be honest. It wasn’t that bad.”
“You’re such a fucking simpleton,” I whisper, keeping my tone venomous.
“You know,” he says. “Your insults are starting to get boring.”
“I’m not here to entertain you.”
“Where did you even learn to speak like that? Your mother? Your father?”
What the fuck did he just say? It takes all my energy not to charge into him. To do as much damage as possible before he holds me down or knocks me out or whatever.
“What the fuck did you just say?” I hiss.
“Where did you even learn to speak like that?”
“You don’t speak about my mother!” Tears well up in my eyes. “And, and… My father is just like you. A useless bastard who lies around on his ass all day.”
“Wow, Kilda, try to relax.”
“Fuck you!”
I slam myself on the ground, turning my back. Ari snorts.
“One day, you will insult the wrong man—or woman for that matter—and pay a steep price. Not everyone is as tolera?—”
I turn quickly, the dark hiding my vicious smile.
“Oh, he threatens with violence. So impressive.”
“No, I just?—”
“I’d bet you couldn’t use a sword or axe to kill a sleeping sheep.”
“Easy money for me then.”
“Vidar told me you weren’t shit. Puny, he said.”
“Vidar is bigger in size, but that’s about it. Not enough to win a duel or a battle.”
Ari’s tone is souring. Gone is the levity his voice carried when he thought he was winning our battle of wills. The bastard skald is jealous of Vidar! He feels threatened by a real man!
“What the fuck would you know about it?” I say.
“More than you.”
“More than a woman? Oh wow. Big warrior Ari, taking over the world.”
“You know, you sound pretty fucking stupid yourself,” he says. But I don’t mind his insult. I have finally found a chink in his armor. Cruel satisfaction washes over me.
“Who’s swearing now?” I say victoriously. “Vidar said he would not want you next to him in battle.”
“And I wouldn’t want him next to me at a table or campfire, let alone in battle.”
“So why do you suck up to his father so much? Why stay in Opdal?”
