Chapter Forty-One: Varg

At dawn in the Boneback Mountains, Varg crawls with the Bloodsworn to a ridgeline. Below, a waterfall feeds a misted pool in a shadowed valley. Scouts spot a massive, antlered troll escorting chained thralls, guarded by human warriors and long-armed skraelings. The procession vanishes into trees, heightening the company’s tension.

Three days after discovering corpses in trees, Varg remains torn about asking Skalk to conduct an akáll, unsettled by having seen Skalk conjure flame. As the sun brightens the valley, Edel’s scouts and captains coordinate positions. Glornir disperses teams; Svik takes command of a small strike group with Varg, Torvik, Einar Half-Troll, Jökul Hammer-Hand, Halja, and Vali, shadowing a worn path toward the falls.

The group tracks the trail to a trampled glade before a wide, torch-lit cavern mouth in a cliff. Emaciated thralls in iron collars lead ponies and rubble carts from within, dumping stone into a growing heap under the watch of spear-armed warriors and skraelings. The troll is likely inside. A rising thrum in Varg’s blood and a sense of gathering power press upon him.

Svik calmly prepares his gear and beard for battle, urging the others to ready shields and helms. Jökul hefts his hammer; Einar his bearded axe. Varg arms himself, fighting the urge to flee and the voice arguing self-preservation over oaths. Svik reminds them of Bloodsworn bonds; Varg and Torvik, not yet sworn, are warned to survive if they can.

As the team positions within the trees above the glade, the pressure mounts. Then Glornir steps into the sunlight to trigger the engagement. At Svik’s growled order, the strike group advances from cover toward the muddy clearing and the cavern, Varg mastering his fear and following into the impending fight.