Chapter 9
Freydis
My eyes slowly opened. I lay on the bed, covered in sweat, for a moment, trying to break free from the dream.
Once I was fully back to the reality of my small chamber, I frowned. What a dream to have about Ragnar. This was what I got for thinking about him throughout the night.
I thought back to the dream. I had seen myself and Ragnar in a pool, completely naked. Ragnar had moved closer to me and pulled me in. When he touched me, I felt an electric jolt. Heat filled my face and blood. He kissed me, and it felt as if the water was about to swallow me whole—like I was about to sink. But he pulled back and whispered in my ear, "Mine."
I don't understand why I was feeling this way towards Ragnar because I already know this can't work—not at all. My mother would never agree to a relationship between me and Ragnar. And Father... Father would refuse to give his daughter to his brother.
I frowned, wondering why I was even thinking about the idea of marrying Ragnar. I was to be Queen. I shouldn't be having these thoughts.
Eager to shake off the remnants of the dream, I took my bag and stared at the selection of my dresses. Tonight, I mustn't be seen in luxurious clothing. I would wear mourning clothes for the funeral of five brave warriors who were killed five days ago by a Hound in the woods.
I chose a dark gown, and after dressing, I left the house with Siggy. We would burn all five warriors, forgoing the rituals of Fellur.
The bodies had already been washed the day before and dressed in their finest clothes.
Many had joined us for the burning. The King and Queen stood in front of me, and Ragnar stood at a distance. The rest of the people were scattered around, dressed in mourning clothes.
I tried not to think about the fact that the Hounds—or werewolves, as Ragnar had called them—were back to killing.
Ake moved closer to me, his hand sliding into mine, trying to comfort me.
Boats had been constructed during the past five days by my father's order. I watched as the other warriors carried the bodies to the boats.
They placed their weapons at the sides of the bodies. This was to ensure the dead would have everything they needed in the afterlife.
Animals, tied with ropes, were also placed next to the bodies. In some cases, thralls were burned along with the dead, but that was only when the deceased was wealthy enough to afford one.
How had we gone from having a peaceful life in Fellur to this? Was this a punishment from the gods? And if it was, what did we do to warrant such punishment?
Beside me, Siggy's eyes were red, and I knew it was because she had started to get close to one of the male warriors before this happened. But she couldn't express her feelings here—it was forbidden for a slave to be in a relationship unless freed by her owner.
I watched as the King stepped forward and, one by one, lit all five boats. The fire caught quickly, and the flames were hot.
The smoke was believed to carry the souls of the dead to the gods.
The King was the first to form a line, and the other important men followed behind him as they walked around the burning boats, singing mourning songs for the dead.
"I and the other warriors will arrange a hunt to find and kill that Hound," Ake said when he came to my side.
They stood their grounds.
Our warriors fought with pride.
By sword and flame, they did not die.
Though Hounds did bite and darkness came,
Their honour lives forever.
So rise, oh fire, and lift them high
To the halls of the gods beyond the sky.
Brave were their hearts,
Strong was their fight.
Their journey continues after life.
After the song, the boats had burned down. Only bones and ashes remained.
As the warriors gathered the cremated remains from the boats, the Queen stepped forward to give her speech.
"They were all sons of Fellur," she said. "Not just by blood. When the Hounds came, our brothers did not run. They fought the creatures and fell with honour."
She paused, her gaze lifting to the sky.
"Oh dear gods who dwell beyond the mountains and skies," she said, "I send you these brave warriors. See to their sacrifice! Let their names echo through your halls. Let their blades never rust and their spirits never wither!"
"Protect us! Watch over the sons and daughters of Fellur! Do not let the Hounds break us! We are your people! We endure! We fight even until we fall!"
"They will not hear you!" a voice shouted from the crowd.
Everyone fell silent. It was a tall man.
"You think the gods will save you?" he scoffed. "Even they cannot save us, because they created this curse. They made us—werewolves, or Hounds as your folks call them."
"You send your prayers to them, and yet winters and summers came but no harm befell us," the man continued. "This land, where you stand—every land—belongs to us."
A sharp intake of breath escaped me as I stared at the man. I turned to Ragnar, but his face was cold. He, too, was staring at the man.
"Seize him!" the Queen yelled.
The man's features sharpened, and then he changed. Shrinking in height and width, he fell on all fours, his bones cracking. His skin melted away as brown fur emerged. In an instant, he was covered in fur, his face beast-like. He snarled, revealing two sharp fangs.
He was a beast.
"What in the name of the gods?" the Queen exclaimed. "They have been living among us as one of us!"
Five warriors forced him to the ground, and a spear went through the beast's neck. Blood oozed everywhere, and suddenly, the man returned to his human form—but he was still growling.
"Soon we'll rise and claim this land as ours! We'll turn your humans into our slaves!" he screamed over and over until a blade went through his neck, silencing him.
The Queen turned to the people, smiling. "And just like that, the gods are starting to hear our cries."
Through the crowd, I saw Ragnar pull on his cloak. His jaw was clenched. He looked my way, and I raised a brow, trying to give him a look that said, What's wrong with you?
But he just stared at me, then turned around and walked away.
I looked to see if anyone was watching us, then I followed him.