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Snorri set his jaw in that way I’d coled the oars “So your grand down her witch’s curse on me?”
“I didn’t seek you out!” The nonchalance I’d been striving for wouldn’t come from a dry retted using the word dead immediately
“You’re a man of honour,” he said to no one in particular I looked for the s, then I needed lessons frootten his I concluded that he was re whose duties traditionally extended to re, or the other way around “You’re a ht at ot that idea, I had no notion
“Yes,” I lied
“We should settle this like men” Absolutely the last words I wanted to hear
“Here’s the thing, Snorri” I eyed the various escape options open to me I could jump overboard Unfortunately I’d always viewed boats as a thin plank between ain but without the plank The tree offered the next best option, butfronds aren’t cli material unless you happen to be a squirrel I selected the last option “What’s that over there?” I pointed to a spot on the riverbank behind the Norseman He didn’t so much as turn his head Shit “Ah,The thing is The thing Well, honestly” The thing had to be so “Um I’m afraid that when I kill you, the crack will run out of you just the saot too far apart And then—boo as it is to pit ainst those of awhat is your rank? I never found out”
“Hauldr I own e top”
“So as much as it tempts me to break with societal rules and pit the arainst aa hauldr, I’m concerned that I wouldn’t survive your death” Fro to take if no better alternative were on offer, so to forestall hi to visit the Northis done And besides, host-men of yours It would put her heart at ease to have the business sorted out So I’d best come with you”
“I mean to travel fast” Snorri’s frown deepened “I’ve left it too long already and the distance is great And be warned: It will be a bloody business when I get there Slowpretty quick when you crashed into , and that serous “Besides, you’ll know more about the terrain than me Tell me about the men of Rhone”
And just like that ere travelling coeance in so Snorri could save his fahter his enemies to the last man, necroood at self-deception but I couldn’tother than a suicidal night way off—plenty of opportunity to break the spell that bound us together and run away home
Snorri took up the oars again, paused, then, “Stand a moment”
“Really?”
He nodded I’ve good balance on a horse and none at all on water Even so, not wanting to fall out with the ot to my feet, arms out to steady myself He tipped the boat, a sharp deliberatedesperately at igs as a man about to droill clutch at straws
Above the splashing I could hear Snorri having a good old laugh to hiether” But I could only catch the odd word since drowning is a noisy business Eventually, when I’d given up trying to saveall the water and had slipped below the surface for the third and final tiedease I lay in the bottoh of the river almost to swamp the boat