A Curse Carved in Bone
by Danielle L. Jensen
Contents
Chapter 2: Bjorn
Overview
On Nordeland’s shore, Bjorn and Harald confront the failure of their old plan to kill Freya and shift toward a new goal: understanding the rage driving her before Saga’s prophecy comes true. Harald reveals that Freya’s desire, not just her magic, may determine whether she becomes the ruin Saga foresaw.
When Guthrum reports that Snorri knows Bjorn and Freya survived and suspects Harald has them, the stakes widen from private conflict to possible war between kingdoms. By the chapter’s end, Harald moves them toward Hrafnheim and Bjorn recommits himself to both Freya’s protection and Nordeland’s defense.
Summary
After the storm, Bjorn helps bring Harald’s drakkar ashore at Stormnes and feels both relief and bitterness at returning to Nordeland. Alone in the woods with Harald, Bjorn reflects on how his attempt to save Freya failed: instead of freeing her, he only delivered her from one ruler’s control to another. Harald presses Bjorn to explain why he ruined plans years in the making, and Bjorn admits he could not bring himself to kill Freya.
Harald argues that Saga never truly approved Bjorn’s change of plan and still feared Freya as the weapon of Snorri’s future destruction. Bjorn asks whether Saga still wants Freya dead, but Harald cannot answer because he has not seen her in weeks. Their conversation shifts when Harald explains that Freya’s true danger is not only her death magic or her power to deny warriors Valhalla, but the rage burning inside her. Harald says that rage belongs to Freya herself, not merely to Hel, and urges Bjorn to learn what Freya wants because understanding that desire may be the key to changing the future Saga foresaw.
Before they can speak further, Nordeland warriors arrive with Guthrum, whose merlin familiar has carried news from Skaland. Guthrum reports that Snorri immediately searched for Bjorn and Freya after they went over the falls, believes they survived, and suspects Harald rescued them. Harald concludes that secrecy will not last and decides they must move inland to Hrafnheim before Snorri can act on that suspicion.
Freya openly refuses to go to Hrafnheim, mistrusting Harald’s promises and demanding a guide to Saga who is not Bjorn. Bjorn taunts her, and Freya’s anger shakes the ground, showing how dangerous her temper remains. After Harald leaves the choice to Freya, she turns back toward the ship, effectively agreeing to continue with them. Harald then returns Bjorn’s old arm ring and warns that Snorri may wage war on Nordeland to reclaim Freya. Asked whether he will still defend his homeland as well as Freya, Bjorn takes the ring, declares himself forever a Nordelander, and embraces being home again.
Who Appears
- BjornPOV character; returns to Nordeland, defends sparing Freya, and recommits himself to protecting homeland and shield maiden.
- HaraldKing of Nordeland and Bjorn’s father figure; reframes Freya’s threat and tests Bjorn’s loyalty.
- FreyaCaptive shield maiden whose rage worries Harald; refuses to trust Bjorn or willingly enter Hrafnheim.
- GuthrumJord-blessed scout with a merlin familiar; brings news that Snorri suspects Bjorn and Freya survived.
- SagaBjorn’s seer mother, off-page; her visions and possible answers drive the journey inland.
- SnorriOff-page ruler of Skaland who searches for Freya and Bjorn and may pursue them into war.
- SkadeHarald’s hostile daughter; escorts arriving warriors and remains a threatening presence around Freya and Bjorn.
- ToraArmed watcher over Freya who stays close as tensions rise on the beach.