Chapter 31 Bjorn
I turned my back on the sea of dead, not ready to come to terms with what I’d done.
With what I’d forced Freya todo.
To protect my people, I’d used the love of my life as a weapon and condemned countless souls that deserved Valhalla instead to Helheim, all because of the man before me. All because he cared more for his destiny than for anything else.
“You did this,” I screamed at Snorri. “You brought this upon all of us with your endless pursuit of a crown. Every dead warrior should be piled at the foot of your endless fucking ambition!”
Snorri pushed his way out from under my boot and crawled up past the tide line of the small island, dragging seaweed with him. I followed, knocking him down when he tried to get to his feet. On his hands and knees, he passed through the few scraggly trees that eked out an existence on this bar of mud and sand in the middle of the strait, but there was no escape for him.
Once we were well away from Freya, I slammed my boot into his ribs, flipping him over. Then I rested my boot on his chest and leaned. “You may have achieved the destiny you dreamed of, but it will be short-lived.”
“Why?” Snorri demanded, tears flooding down his face. “Why have you turned on your family? On your clan? What lies has Harald filled your ears with to cause you to do this?”
“It is you who lies, Snorri!” I screamed. “Who continues to lie. You tried to kill my mother for not doing your bidding. I saw you with my own fucking eyes!”
“I did no such thing!” Snorri grabbed at his hair, wrenching at it in despair. “I found your mother’s cabin burned. I found her body but not yours, and I hunted for who had taken you. Went to war with Harald to get you back, only to discover now that your loyalty is to him. You are his weapon against me. I do not know what sorcery he has wielded to cause you to believe it was me who harmed your mother, but I vow on all that I hold dear, it was not me! I grieved her death more than you can know.”
“Lies!” I leaned my weight down, my heel grinding into the mail across his chest. “Not killing you years ago is a mistake I intend to remedy.”
“Bjorn, no!”
Freya had run up the beach and through the trees. “Stop!”
“Stay out of this, Freya!” Already, I’d hurt her enough with what I’d done. This would be all me, and no blame would fall down on her. “Go back to the beach.”
She caught hold of my arm. “Bjorn, don’t do this. Please!”
It was the oath that made her plead for his life, and my rage burned hotter.
Tora approached, and out of desperation I said, “Restrain Freya. Keep her out of this.”
“Bjorn, no!” She dragged on my arm, but Tora caught hold of her wrists and knocked her to the ground.
“Stop!” Freya struggled, but Tora was stronger and heavier, easily holding her wrists to the ground. I hated having her restrained, but soon she’d be free.
I could only pray that it would be worthit.
“Whatever Harald has told you is a lie,” Snorri pleaded, then groaned in pain as I kicked him in the ribs. “I loved your mother. Loved you. Still love you, despite all of this, for I know it is nothing but Nordelander trickery!”
I called my axe, ready to end this. Ready to silence him for good.
But my mother’s voice stilled my hand. “No more lies, Snorri. The truth is out. Bjorn, let him go.”
Reluctantly, I lifted my foot, but I kept my axe burning as Snorri forced himself to his knees.
“Saga?” he whispered. “How…How is this possible? I saw your body.”
Saga’s mouth twisted with scorn. “I do not know what hapless soul you burned to give evidence to your lies, but it was not me. I escaped the flames with my son and fled to my only true friend. And during all the long years since, Harald has fought to give me the vengeance I deserved.”
Snorri stared at her with bewildered eyes. “Saga…you know it was not me. You…”
“Stop!” Saga barked the word, her hands balling into fists. “I know what I saw with my own eyes. Bjorn knows who he saw with his own eyes.”
“Bjorn!” Freya begged, but Tora pushed her face into the mud to silence her.
“It is time for you to die for your crimes, Snorri,” Saga said. “Time for me to have justice for all that I have suffered.”
Snorri stared at her in horror. “This is not the fate you foresaw for me.”
Her head tilted, green eyes glittering and cruel in a way I’d never before seen. “I said that the one who controlled the shield maiden’s fate would unite Skaland. And it has come to pass, Snorri. For you have united the clans with Freya’s name and made yourself king. But my words never said anything about how long you would keep your crown. Bjorn, challenge him.”