Chapter Fifty-One: Orka

Orka wakes bound across Trúr as captors haul her into the Grimholt. Thrown into a tower room, she, Mord, and Lif are strung to iron rings while Skapti (the white-haired chief), a bald torturer, and the Galdurman Skalk begin questioning. Orka claims to be a trader, but when the torturer moves to burn Lif, she reveals she is hunting Drekr for stealing her son and that Drekr moves Tainted children through the Grimholt.

Pressed by Skalk, Skapti admits Prince Hakon ordered the garrison to let Drekr store and move his “goods.” Orka hears a child’s cry from outside and strains at her bonds. Drengrs arrive led by Guðvarr, who immediately stabs Mord through the belly despite Skalk’s command to stop, gloating as Mord screams and Lif panics.

Mord’s bloodshed snaps something in Orka: her anger turns cold and focused, strength floods her, and she bites through her wrist-rope. She arms herself, kills Haga and the bald torturer, and wounds Skalk with a hurled axe before facing overwhelming numbers.

Suddenly giant ravens tear open the roof, fanning flames and sowing chaos, declaring “Favour for a favour.” Spert and Vesli swoop in, poisoning and slashing foes. Orka frees Lif, then charges, killing broken-nose and others, seizing a long-axe and carving her way down the tower’s stairs into the courtyard.

In the yard, warriors scatter—some attack, others flee to boats. Orka spots Skalk and Guðvarr at the jetty as more screams of a child drift from the buildings. Fueled by rage and the need to reach Breca, Orka charges into the fray, intent on cutting through anyone in her way.