Freya and Bjorn return to Hrafnheim at sunrise and find the fortress heavily guarded. On the ride in, Bjorn warns Freya that Harald is dangerous and views her like a new toy, but Freya refuses to run because Snorri's threatened war is too serious. As they pass through the waking city, Freya is unsettled by how ordinary Nordeland feels, because it makes the cost of the coming invasion more real.

In Harald's hall, Freya reports Saga's prophecy that Snorri will unite Skaland and bring devastation in her name unless Freya breaks free of his control and weaves a new destiny. Harald reacts with frustration at fate, and Freya realizes that many of the people seated with him are Unfated. When Bjorn asks to speak privately, he explains Freya's blood oath to Snorri's line and asks whether it can be broken.

Harald says the oath could be ended by killing the volva who made it, but he argues that Freya's wording leaves one path open: because Freya swore not to serve any man outside Snorri's bloodline, Freya can still serve herself. Harald insists Saga's vision means Freya must lead and kill Snorri herself, then offers his knowledge and resources instead of trying to command her. Though Freya distrusts him and questions whether he gathered so many Unfated for power, Harald claims he built a family for children of the gods and asks only that she judge him by what she learns.

Forced to think like a leader, Freya decides the first step is to get intelligence from Guthrum while preserving the advantage of surprise; open mobilization would warn Snorri's spies. Harald agrees and says he can send the swift-footed Astrid to find Guthrum. After Harald leaves, Bjorn angrily tells Freya that she is not truly leading, only repeating Harald's ideas, and he argues Harald wants to use Freya to destroy Snorri out of personal vengeance.

Bjorn again urges Freya to run, but Freya rejects him. Freya says fleeing or dying would not stop a war already being waged in her name, and Freya breaks down over the horrors Freya has seen and the fear of becoming the cause of greater slaughter. Freya also accuses Bjorn of refusing the one power that might guarantee victory, then leaves him and joins Harald's followers. Sitting beside the smith Gyda, Freya asks about Harald's past; Gyda explains that Harald grew up under an abusive father, left Nordeland, returned as a man, killed his father, and vowed to rule differently. Gyda says Harald did not save everyone for noble reasons, but may shelter young Unfated because no one saved him, then invites the others to tell Freya their own stories so Freya can judge Harald for herself.