There was a man standing atop the center table, with hair cropped to his scalp and a beard that was twisted in a tight knot with bone beads clicking as he spoke. The Skald had enraptured half the hall in a new tale of the Wanderer and how he defeated a Jotunn’s bear before the creature could devour one of his children.

A tale of how the great Red Ravines were carved into the land from the giant paws of the beast clawing free of the Wanderer’s bone snare.

I walked on, hand on my blade, head turned inward, searching, and searching, and searching for a threat, the slightest taste of retaliation for the soul bones.

No one shared my discontent.

Damir was enraptured by a man from Myrda and a woman from one of the lower jarldoms. I expected him to take them both to his chambers soon enough. Ingir was engaged in chatter with the Myrdan queen, and Hundur could not get enough of his new bones.

I made it to the other side of the hall where Baldur stood, nursing a tall drinking horn.

“Ashwood.” He took a long drink. “Why so stiff? Double watch has been placed at the walls.”

I ignored him and looked to the empty upper eaves.

Baldur snorted and took another drink; the last of his ale drizzled down his chin. “By the gods, man. Go find a damn hole for your cock. Does wonders for tension.”

I dodged his hand when he tried to clap my shoulder, like we were true Stav brothers. We weren’t. Baldur let out a wet chuckle and staggered off.

Loathe him as I did, I still knew Baldur wasn’t entirely wrong. There was little to do in here when the trouble I kept seeking had yet to rear its head. I gave in to the pull.

One step at a time, I made my way over to the bench between Thane and Lyra. With my palm, I shoved at Thane, forcing him to scoot down to a new position as I took his place.

“By all means, Sentry Ashwood, please sit with us.” Thane lifted his plate and placed it in front of his new seat.

I ignored him and turned toward Lyra. Súlka Bien.

A bit of pink dusted Lyra’s cheeks. “Sentry Ashwood. Decided to join us after all your lurking?”

Noticed me, did you? You were the only one.

“I wouldn’t be so certain. I saw many gazes of curious ladies following you around the room. What brought you here now?”

“Perhaps he wanted to sit beside you, Ly,” Hilda murmured, low enough I didn’t think anyone but us heard. Lyra tilted her head, eyes wide, as though silently communicating something hidden to the woman.

I tapped the table, drawing her attention back to my hand. Perhaps I did.