Chapter 61
My mind drifts, exhausted by the barrage of feelings throughout the day. The terror of losing my life, the regret of betraying Eidunn, betraying Ari, the relief of being spared by Sigurd and accepted by Vidar. Heavy weight.
A dreamless sleep follows.
Interrupted by hammering at my door. I groan.
“I’m busy,” I shout.
The door bursts open. I grab the knife I have kept next to my bed in case Eidunn decides to pay another visit. Eidunn does not stand in the doorway. It is not a woman. I should have known.
“Ari,” I say, stretching.
“Kilda,” he replies.
I haven’t even told him that Njord was innocent. That he has ended a man’s life for no reason. My fear of telling him has only been challenged by the fear for my life.
“The sun is up,” he says.
“I know.”
“But you are in bed.”
“I know.”
“Did you even eat yesterday?”
I raise myself on my arms, surprised by his question. I hadn’t even thought about it. My body has been so tense—it was the last thing on my mind.
“No, I—”
“Here.”
A lump of cheese lands on the bed, followed by a thick slab of dried meat that slaps onto my chest. No one has ever thrown breakfast at me before. I giggle then sigh as I lie back down.
“Thanks,” I say, closing my eyes.
“Get up.”
“I feel like shit.”
“Nothing good has come from lying about like spilled porridge.”
“I just need rest.”
“What are you, a coal-biter?”
I raise myself again, a smile of disbelief on my face.
“Excuse me? What the fuck?”
A coal-biter—one who sits by the fire with nothing to do. Idle. I laugh.
“Many heroes in the stories start as coal-biters,” I say.
“Oh, I know that, Kilda. I’m a skald, remember?”
“I remember,” I say as I rip some dried meat with my teeth and chew.
“And I used to be a coal-biter,” he says with a wink.
“I guess not all of them become heroes,” I tease.
“And I guess not all Volvas get out of bed.”
I giggle at our banter. This man. Loves a joke. I point the meat at him.
“You remember Ylvin.”
“Fair point,” he laughs with me. “Nevertheless, get out of bed or I will pull you out.”
My eyes widen at his threat.
“You wouldn’t!”
It seems he would, because he steps into my house uninvited and lifts my body in his iron arms.
I squeal as I squirm.
“You beastly troll!” I shout.
“You bring out the best in me.”
He places me down carefully, feet first so I can recover some of my honor.
“Okay, I’m up,” I say, grabbing the cheese and taking a bite.
“Good. Smile, it’s a good day. Birds sing outside. Eidunn is safe and you survived the storm that followed.”
I almost choke on the cheese. I have to tell him. But now? I just can’t. He’s happy. I need to find the right moment. My stomach drops as I decide to keep him unknowing.
“Thank you.”
“It’s nothing,” he says as he walks to the door. “Do something for yourself today. Practice your craft.”
“Practice?”
He turns, his expression unexpectedly serious.
“Practice. You have been blessed with powers, Kilda. It would be a shame to let them dry up like stale bread. Or rot, like Njord in the dirt.”
My entire body cringes at his choice of words.
“Tha… Thank you, Ari.”
“I see your heart, Kilda, but also your mind. It is a blade. It must be sharpened so it does not grow dull.”
He turns and leaves.