Page 91 of A Curse Carved in Bone
“Yes. Can you drink?”
He nodded and I propped him up more while he guzzled down several more mouthfuls of water. Then with a sigh, he passed out in my arms again.
“Fuck!” I shouted, knowing that it wasn’t fair for me to put demands on a man who stood on the brink of death, but Guthrum and Kaja were an asset I desperately needed. They could discover what Harald was up to and where Bjorn was, and it felt like every moment that he slept reduced the chances of me rescuing Bjorn alive.
I lowered Guthrum to the ground and tucked the sail cloth around him. Kaja hopped down on his chest, watching me with her uncanny eyes that saw more than any animal should.
Exhaustion weighed upon my heart as I made my way over to Geir.
“Any luck?”
“He roused for a bit.” I scuffed my shoe in the sand of the beach, my eyes on the drakkar that formed my tiny fleet. “I’m afraid, Geir. What if Ylva has already traded Bjorn for Leif? What if Harald has—”
“Don’t think it.” My brother rested a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Harald is clever. He won’t kill Bjorn out of hand if he thinks that you still live. He knows Bjorn can be used against you, so trust in that, if nothing else. I have warriors ranging up the coast who will listen for information, but hopefully with warmth and rest, this Guthrum will rouse enough to aid your cause.”
“I don’t think it will be so easy. He’s loyal to Harald, and even whenpresented with the truth, I am not certain he can be convinced to go against him. Guthrum has a…certain respect for monsters.” Rubbing my hands up and down my chilled arms, I turned to go back to the fire.
Only to freeze.
Because Guthrum was gone.
Snorri stood before me. But not my sire, because I’d watched Snorri die from injuries that I’d given him.
Harald.
“Mother!” Leif bolted forward to fling his arms around Ylva, whose face had blanched an awful shade of gray as she stared at the man masquerading as her husband.
“What possessed you to venture onto the strait? Father and I have been in a panic that you were lost at sea. That perhaps you’d been caught in the Hel-child’s curse,” Leif said. “The relief I felt when news came that your drakkar had been spotted…” He exhaled a shaky breath. “I’m so happy you are safe.”
“I’m fine,” she whispered. “Quite fine.”
“I told you she’d be fine,” Harald said in perfect mimicry of my father’s voice. “Njord himself wouldn’t dare get in your mother’s way. Though I see she has brought us a prize.”
Skade shoved me forward.
Leif’s head turned, seeing me for the first time. “Traitor!” Hereached for the sword belted at his waist, but Harald-as-Snorri caught hold of his arm.
“Your brother is my problem, Leif. His betrayal will be punished in due course.” He gave Leif a push toward the rear door. “Go now. Spread the word that the traitor has been caught.”
“Ragnar, go with—” Ylva’s shaky voice broke off as she scanned the stunned warriors in the room and found the man missing.
I cursed silently as Skade scowled, finally realizing that Ragnar had slipped away. I’d hoped he’d have a longer head start.
Leif hesitated, then obeyed, but as he walked past me, he spat in my face. “You are no brother of mine. You’re a traitor. A slave to the Hel-child’s will. The blood eagle is what you deserve.”
I flinched. There was no question that I deserved his ire, but it still cut like a knife.
“Leif, go,” Harald-as-Snorri said wearily. “You must stand in for me while I deal with this ugly matter.”
My brother stormed to the rear door, passing Tora as he left.
Her eyes widened in shock at the sight of me, but Harald-as-Snorri said, “Tora, if you’d make sure the rear door is secure. This is not a conversation I wish overheard.”
Tora obeyed without hesitation, but I didn’t miss the flicker of hatred in her eyes. It made me question whether I’d been oblivious for years that this tension sat between them or if the conflict was new. A question I might never get an answer to, but what I did know was that if there was a way to break the control Harald had on Tora, she’d be an ally. And a dangerous one at that.
Ylva was shaking. Lifting a finger to point at Harald, she cried, “You are not my husband, child of Loki! You are a trickster!”
Harald-as-Snorri sighed. “This is what I get for leaving loose ends.”
