Eyvind drew a deep breath. Thor’s hammer, his wrists felt as if naked flames licked at them. “So, you expect our people to follow a man who murdered his own brother?” he asked. “It seems to me you have let nothing and no one stand in the path that leads to your desires. I’m not sure you understand what you have done.”

“If you want to explain it to me, please go ahead, Eyvind. I’m here to listen.”

“On one count you are right.” Eyvind’s fists clenched tight; the shaking was getting worse. “I did swear loyalty to you once, and I meant it. I have never forgotten that you saved my life. From the first, I recognized in you what others could not see: courage, determination, fierce strength of will. A cleverness I could never come close to. A desire to be your own master and set your own course. I admired that in you; I saw a future in which those qualities would flower, a time in which you would set them to some great and noble purpose.”

A light had awoken in Somerled’s dark eyes. “Now is that time!” he exclaimed, springing to his feet and setting a hand on Eyvind’s shoulder. “Can’t you see that? We are here together, and I am king, and we have a whole new world to make as we will. These people look up to me, Eyvind, they like a leader who’s prepared to make hard decisions and to abide by them. They want someone who will adhere to the old gods. They don’t want some vacillating peacemonger with his head in the clouds, they want direction. I’ve given them that. They’re grateful. They’ll do anything for me. Look at your fellow Wolfskins, lurking out there in the hallway. They’re more loyal to me than they ever were to Ulf. I’ve given them real work to do, the only kind they understand.”

“A kingdom founded on a brother’s blood is not much of a kingdom,” Eyvind said quietly. “A battle fought on such uneven terms as yours against King Engus can bring no glory, only shame.”

Somerled’s eyes narrowed. “Are you telling me you would break your blood oath? That now, in the light of day, after time for reflection, after weighing the consequences, you would still stand against me, Eyvind?”

“I don’t think that’s what I’m saying at all. It seems to me my blood oath ties me to guide your steps in right paths. It forces me to tell you when you are wrong; to make sure you don’t do anymore damage to yourself or to others. What crime did Ulf ever commit, to bring down such doom on himself?”