Contents
Chapter Fifty-Three: Varg
Overview
Varg leads the Bloodsworn on Skalk’s trail, following smoke and screams to a ravaged riverside hold. Amid heaps of dead, they find Orka Skullsplitter guarding rescued children.
Orka tells Glornir that his brother is dead and her son Breca was taken, linking their quests and setting shared stakes.
Summary
Varg runs ahead of the Bloodsworn through pinewoods, pushing through lingering injuries from Rotta’s chamber and reflecting on accepting his wolf-blooded nature and trust within the warband. Edel scouts point the way, and Varg’s keen senses mark him as a natural scout, though grief for Torvik lingers.
The Bloodsworn smell smoke and blood and hear a distant scream. Glornir orders readiness as they advance along a forest track beside the Bonebacks. They emerge into a valley where a timber-walled hold clings to a cliff. A hall and tower burn, and silence hangs beyond the crackle of flames.
Inside the open gates, bodies litter the courtyard, piled thickest on the hall steps. There sits a gore-soaked woman with a long-axe—Orka Skullsplitter—flanked by hostile vaesen and surrounded by unharmed children. The scene quells the Bloodsworn’s advance as they take in the carnage and the protective circle around the children.
Glornir recognizes Orka. She tells him, in grief, that “he’s not here,” then confirms Glornir’s brother is dead and that her son has been taken. Glornir embraces Orka, their shared losses binding the Bloodsworn’s hunt for Skalk and the stolen children to Orka’s quest to recover Breca.
Who Appears
- VargBloodsworn warrior and newly accepted wolf-blood; scouts ahead, senses smoke and blood, and helps lead the approach.
- Orka SkullsplitterGore-soaked warrior guarding rescued children; confirms Agnar’s death and that her son Breca was taken.
- GlornirBloodsworn jarl; commands the approach, recognizes Orka, learns his brother is dead, and embraces Orka.
- EdelScout leading the vanguard with wolfhounds; coordinates the approach and identifies the site.
- RøkiaBloodsworn shield-maiden and scout; detects smoke, advances into the hold with Varg.
- EinarBloodsworn warrior; runs with the main force during the approach.
- JökulBloodsworn smith; readies for battle, advancing with the warband.
- SvikBloodsworn rider near Glornir during the advance on the burning hold.
- SulichBloodsworn rider accompanying Glornir during the approach.
- TennúrSmall vaesen at Orka’s side, crunching human teeth; watches the Bloodsworn warily.
- Rescued childrenA group gathered around Orka, unharmed amid the carnage; central to the stakes.