Contents
Chapter Four: Varg
Overview
Varg challenges Einar Half-Troll to join the Bloodsworn and is swiftly beaten. After waking by the fjord, he removes his thrall collar but is captured by Leif Kolskeggson, who seeks brutal revenge. The Bloodsworn intervene, crush Leif’s party, and the grey-bearded leader declares Varg one of them, shifting Varg’s fate.
Summary
In Liga’s square, Varg refuses a shield and faces Einar Half-Troll to win a place with the Bloodsworn. He darts and strikes with street-fighter tactics, but Einar’s protection and power overwhelm him. Varg is pummeled senseless despite momentary successes and Einar’s warning to stay down.
Varg awakens at the fjord’s edge, battered but alive. He recovers his cloak, coin, cleaver, and key, unlocks his thrall collar, and kindles a small fire. Grief for his sister Frøya surges, yet he resolves to keep seeking a witch or galdurman anywhere, even across the seas, to avenge her.
His fire draws foes: Leif Kolskeggson and armed followers with hounds. They beat Varg down, reclaim his coin, and prepare to maim him as punishment for killing Leif’s father and others. Varg resists but is pinned and faces the threat of losing a hand.
The Bloodsworn appear: a grey-bearded, bald warrior orders Varg released; the silver-haired one-eyed woman unleashes wolfhounds; Svik cuts down a spearman; Einar smashes through the trees and scatters foes. Leif’s band collapses under the swift assault.
With Leif groaning and his people subdued, the grey-bearded leader stands over Varg and declares him Bloodsworn. The rescue ends Leif’s claim and binds Varg to the warband he sought to join, transforming his precarious quest into a new allegiance.
Who Appears
- VargThrall-turned-fighter; challenges Einar, is defeated, removes his collar, is captured by Leif, then rescued and claimed by the Bloodsworn.
- Einar Half-TrollBloodsworn champion who batters Varg in the trial and later smashes through Leif’s men during the rescue.
- Grey-bearded bald manBloodsworn leader who orders Leif to release Varg and declares Varg one of the Bloodsworn.
- SvikSlim, red-haired Bloodsworn who taunts Varg, then disables Leif’s spearman with swift, brutal skill.
- Silver-haired one-eyed womanVeteran Bloodsworn with two wolfhounds; watches the bout, then helps subdue Leif’s men.
- Leif KolskeggsonVarg’s pursuer seeking revenge for his father; captures and beats Varg before being routed by the Bloodsworn.
- OrlOld, collared houndsman in Leif’s band; tends the wounded and watches helplessly as the Bloodsworn overpower them.
- VolSeiðr-witch with the Bloodsworn; observes the challenge in the square but does not intervene.