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The two giants stood, fingers interlocked, straining one against the other Purple in the face and spraying crimson with each explosive exhalation, the Broke-Oar forced Snorri down, inch by inch Muscle heaped, veins bulged fit to burst, both ive—that in a sudden snap the immense forces would shatter li blood past the bindings on shoulder and side, Snorri gave, until with a swift release he was on his knees, the Broke-Oar still pressing down upon him

Tuttugu took one dripping hand fro slowness to retrieve his axe The Broke-Oar, without even see to have looked, kicked behind hi with a screa beneath him, but with a roar the Broke-Oar drove him back down

Ein and the Hardangeron the floor, both cut now I looked at my sword, already scarlet from tip to pommel That’s Snorri there I had to say it to h weeks of hardship, dangersThe Broke-Oar pressed hi animal threats A sudden twist and Sven Broke-Oar had Snorri’s throat in his huge right paw, their other hands still locked, Snorri’s unburdened hand trying to tear the fingers from his neck

The Broke-Oar was exposed Head bowed “Christ, Jalan, just do it!” I had to shout the words atup speed, I ran towards them, sword overhead I’d not wanted to hit the man in the tower, not even with an arrow froht then, right there, and if it had to be me to do it

I brought both arh the air, and somehow in that instant the Broke-Oar tore his off hand frorasp and interposed his buckler The shock of it rang through rip One swift lunge, pushing Snorri over backwards with the hand still locked to his throat, and the giant punched me just below the heart, a coe of his buckler The breath left me in a wordless whoosh, ribs snapped, and I fell as if ha

From the floor I saw the Broke-Oar flick off the buckler and lock his second hand around Snorri’s throat I ed to draw the breath that Snorri couldn’t The air wheezed intoaround their fractures

Sven Broke-Oar started to shake Snorri, slowly at first, then er ulation “You should have stayed gone, Snagason The North has nothing else likeme down”

I could see the life leaving Snorri, are was the next breath Ein had fallen away frou lay in a spreading pool of his own blood, watching but beyond helping

“Time to die, Snorri” And the rip that could snap an oar

Somewhere, unseen, the sun set

Snorri lifted his arms His hands closed on Sven Broke-Oar’s wrists, and where they touched the Hardanger man’s flesh it turned black A snarl twisted the Broke-Oar’s lips as Snorri raised his head and pulled the fingers from his neck A sudden, vicious doard yank and both the Broke-Oar’s forearore A backhanded blow and he fell, sprawling beside Tuttugu

“You?” Snorri’s voice blending with Aslaug’s as he stood “It’s me the North should walk in fear of” He held the discarded buckler now, nothing but darkness in his eyes

“Better” Froh “Better You ht even stand a chance Make a ruin of the back to Hel!”

Snorri knelt beside Sven Broke-Oar, leaning in

“They put a fear in ods damn them Gods damn them all”

“Where’s Freja?” Snorri took Broke-Oar around the neck, pounding his head against the floor “My son? Where is he?” Each question roared into the man’s face

“You know!” Broke-Oar spat out a bloody answer

“You’ll tell ainst the Broke-Oar’s eyes

I fainted at that point, just as Snorri started to press and Broke-Oar let out a screahter

Those dark and insensible moments were the only period of comfort I had in that black fort Washed away too soon by the passage of what could only have been seconds