Einar the Fat-Bellied? He was a house-karl, almost a venerable one after Bravik, they had lost so many – but what was he doing here? ‘Admit him.’ Her hand checked that her hood still concealed her swelling and presently the bulky figure of a warrior in dire need of some exercise entered the chamber.

When she appeared from behind her screen, he dropped to his knee, with no small thud on the floorboards. ‘My queen.’ He had served her father since before she was born, then served her ill-fated brother, and lately her husband. And now. . .

He stood. ‘Forgive the lateness of the hour, Queen Lilla. It’s just. . .’ His normally jovial face seemed agitated.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘I had to see you. Do you know what’s going on out there?’ He nodded backwards, as if Lilla could see through walls.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Thrand the Dane has called council.’ Einar looked hesitant. ‘He’s sitting in your husband’s seat—’

‘My father’s seat.’

‘So it is,’ agreed Einar. ‘Only Thrand Haraldarson doesn’t seem to know it. He’s ordered an assembly of all able men at noon tomorrow. Did you know about this?’

‘No.’ So it had already begun.

‘Is there something Lord Ringast decided before he . . . well—’

‘If you mean, did Ringast name Thrand his successor. . .? No. He did not. He named me.’

‘You?’ Einar’s docile eyes narrowed. But after thinking about it a moment, he nodded. ‘Aye. I see that. That’s as it should be.’

‘I don’t suppose many others would think so.’

‘Oh, I don’t know. . .’

They looked at each other. There was much unsaid in that look.

At last he rolled his shoulders back and stood tall, though he still looked broad and bulky as the back end of a bull. ‘I served your father for twenty-two years – ever since I could hold a shield. My loyalties are yours, my queen, till my dying breath if you’ll have ’em.’

‘You fought for my brother.’

‘Aye. I was given no choice.’

‘Do you have a choice now?’

‘You tell me,’ he said, a little slyly.

Lilla snorted. ‘Shall I be honest with you, Einar?’

‘Be as you will.’

‘Right now, it feels as if not five swords in the whole world would follow me.’

‘Well, here’s one at least.’ He said it so guilelessly that she had to smile. ‘What will you do, Lady?’

‘I intend to hold this kingdom,’ she said grimly. ‘But to do that, I must first get far away from here.’

‘I see.’ He nodded slowly. ‘Wouldn’t have something to do with that bruise coming up, would it?’

‘You don’t need to know the details. I can’t stay for now. That is all.’

‘Hmm,’ he grunted.

‘Tell me, my loyal friend, what allies do you judge I have in Sveäland?’