Freya feels a violent, almost supernatural need to stop what is happening as Bjorn drags Snorri into Saga's runic square. Tora restrains Freya, and even Freya's attempt to curse Saga with Hel's magic fails. Inside the wards, Snorri refuses to fight his son, insisting Saga has lied and that there is no honor in killing him this way. Bjorn, driven past reason, finally breaks and buries his flaming axe in Snorri's chest.

When Saga tells Bjorn to let Snorri die slowly, Tora releases Freya, and Freya throws herself over the dying man. Then the truth shatters everything: Saga's laughter changes, her form distorts, and she becomes Harald. Harald reveals that he has been impersonating Saga, and that the real Saga is long dead. Freya and Bjorn also discover they are trapped within Harald's wards, while Tora confesses through her obedience that she is magically bound to serve him.

Freya realizes Harald is a child of Loki, which explains why Hel's roots would not answer her against him. Before Snorri dies, Freya gives him his sword and promises to protect the blood he charged her to defend. After his death, Freya calls on Hel and resists her long enough to deny Snorri to her, but Harald dismisses the act as meaningless. Bjorn, shattered by grief and betrayal, attacks the barrier until Freya physically pulls him back.

Harald then explains the cruelty behind his schemes. He says Bjorn truly did kill Saga in the fire, but only after Harald, disguised as Snorri, had abused and threatened her in an effort to break her bond with Snorri and recruit her into his cabal. He says he spared Bjorn so both Bjorn and Snorri could lose everything, and Freya realizes Harald's Nameless, not Snorri, orchestrated her kidnapping. That means Snorri had actually come to Nordeland believing he was rescuing them, not invading to conquer.

At Harald's command, Tora throws Snorri's corpse out of the ward and tries to kill Freya and Bjorn with lightning. Freya calls on Hlin, strengthens her shield, and deflects the strike. When Tora hesitates, Harald reasserts control and abandons a direct attack. Ignoring Freya's taunts, Harald chooses a slower death, leaving Freya and Bjorn trapped in the freezing ward without food or shelter while he prepares to sail for Skaland.