In his cell beneath Grindill, Bjorn paces and senses dusk approaching. Harald comes to taunt him, announcing that Freya is outside with her draug and is searching for a way to rescue him without slaughtering the Skalander soldiers on the walls. Harald explains that Freya’s morality and oath make her predictable: if he delays her long enough, desperation will force her to surrender in exchange for Bjorn’s life, and then Leif can be used to make her stand down.

Bjorn challenges Harald’s plan by warning that Harald cannot keep deceiving everyone forever. Bjorn argues that ruling as both Harald and Snorri will invite suspicion and that Freya has likely already spread enough truth for people to turn on him. Harald answers by revealing that he has built his life on that exact deception, saying that people trust what they see even when their instincts warn them otherwise.

Harald then gives Bjorn a deeper confession. He says he was not originally Harald at all, but a Nameless bearer of Loki’s blood who killed and consumed the real young Harald of Hrafnheim, then returned wearing his identity so completely that he eventually became it. Harald explains that Loki’s blood lets him change shape, but older magic taught him that truly taking on another person’s attributes requires taking them physically into himself. Realizing what Harald means, Bjorn is horrified and forces the conversation onward so the hidden Steinunn can hear, leading Harald to imply that he also consumed Bjorn’s mother.

When Bjorn asks who Harald really is, Harald describes himself as a discarded, unloved Nameless child who remade himself again and again until creating his “masterpiece” in Harald, with Bjorn’s mother and now Snorri among his greatest stolen identities. Bjorn calls him a monster, but Harald only turns back to his immediate goal: using Bjorn to draw Freya close enough to trap her.

Harald summons Tora and four Nameless to gag and move Bjorn, ordering them to hurt him if he resists. Tora reports that Ylva is looking for her husband, and Harald responds by shifting into Snorri’s form, even changing his clothing to complete the disguise. After Harald leaves, Tora tells Bjorn that it is time, confirming that Harald is about to put his plan into motion.