Contents
Chapter Twenty-Four: Orka
Overview
Orka, with Mord and Lif, doubles back on the river to mislead pursuers and hides their boat. She reveals Thorkel’s death and Breca’s abduction, and that she wounded Jarl Sigrún and her thrall. When the brothers seek swift vengeance on Guðvarr, Orka counsels patience and reluctantly agrees to teach them if they row her toward Darl to pursue Breca.
Summary
Before dawn, Orka guides Mord and Lif into reeds, retrieves a cached spear and sack, and they row hard upriver. They beach the boat and hide it among shrubs, watching mist burn off the river while Fellur lies behind them. Orka, blood-caked from last night’s fighting, offers food and keeps her focus on next steps.
As Lif tends Mord’s head wound, the brothers press for answers. Orka explains the blood is not hers and, without embellishment, reveals Thorkel is dead and Breca has been taken. She admits confronting Jarl Sigrún, cutting Sigrún’s face and likely gutting her Úlfhéðnar thrall.
Mord demands they return immediately to kill Guðvarr, but Orka refuses. She advises patience: wait until Fellur’s search ebbs and ordinary work resumes, then strike. Lif agrees, acknowledging they need better weapons craft, while Mord seethes for swift revenge.
The brothers ask Orka to teach them; she declines at first, focused solely on finding Breca. Lif argues that rowing will speed Orka’s pursuit. When Orka confirms Breca was taken by boat, she concedes: they will row her north and west toward Darl, and she will teach them what she can on the way.
Who Appears
- OrkaGrieving mother; evades pursuit, reveals Thorkel’s death and Breca’s abduction; advises delay; agrees to teach for passage to Darl.
- LifVirk’s younger son; tends Mord’s wound; seeks revenge on Guðvarr but accepts patience; bargains rowing for training.
- MordVirk’s elder son; injured and angry; demands swift vengeance on Guðvarr; reluctantly follows Orka’s counsel.
- Jarl SigrúnOff-page; recently wounded by Orka in her bedchamber; likely organizing the search from Fellur.
- GuðvarrTarget of Mord and Lif’s blood feud; Orka aims to avoid him now and strike later.
- ThorkelOrka’s partner; confirmed slain, deepening Orka’s resolve.
- BrecaOrka’s son; abducted by boat, driving Orka’s pursuit toward Darl.