Chapter Twenty-Nine: Elvar

Elvar follows Agnar, Uspa, Kráka, and Sighvat into the tavern’s back room, where Agnar excludes her until she declares her allegiance. Pressed to choose between her father’s offer and the Battle-Grim, Elvar commits to Agnar, citing hard-won distrust of her father.

Discussion turns to Oskutreð. Uspa and Kráka insist it is real; Uspa claims the Graskinna once revealed the way but she destroyed it on Iskalt. She explains Ilska pursues her because Uspa and her husband stole the book. Agnar balks at the risk and cost of chasing the Raven-Feeders to rescue Bjarn.

Uspa offers leverage: she will guide them to Oskutreð if they first swear a binding oath. Agnar proposes Oskutreð first, then the search for Bjarn; Uspa agrees only if all present swear the blóð svarið, a Seiðr oath whose breaking brings agonizing death.

Grend initially refuses another oath but relents for Elvar’s sake. Uspa carves runes of life, death, blood oath, and torment, and each cuts a palm, mingling blood over the runes. Uspa invokes the spell; their blood rises, binds their wrists, sears a mark, and then dissipates.

Marked and bound, the group—Elvar, Agnar, Kráka, Sighvat, Grend, and Uspa—seal their pact to seek Oskutreð first, setting their course and uniting their fates for the perilous quest ahead.