“This is a sorry business. Still, you must not lose hope. We are all God’s children, and his hand stretches out over every one of us. For myself, I do not fear death. The manner of it, that gives me pause; I may be a priest, but I am still a man, and I had not thought to meet such a violent end. But I will go to it open-eyed, if our Father determines this is my time. I will walk forward unafraid to meet my Maker. For you, this is another matter, I know. You do not share my own faith, and I have no intention of spending my last night on earth persuading you to it, although you are in all my prayers, Eyvind. Our heavenly Father watches over you, as he does over each of us, priest, warrior, fisherman, and king alike. Perhaps both of us will die tomorrow. You spoke to me once of your god, Thor. What does the afterlife hold for you, Wolfskin?”

Eyvind smiled grimly in the half dark. “If we die on the field of battle, we are assured of an eternity spent at the god’s right hand. Thor’s warrior women descend to bear such loyal fighters home to Valhöll, to feast there among the great ones for all time. It will be another matter for me, I think.” His voice shook. “Thor abandoned me. He ceased to call me. In time, I accepted that; I learned there was another path for me to tread, the one I followed in returning here to confront Somerled with the truth. Now it seems that path was short indeed, and I have failed utterly in my efforts to stand up for what is right. I find I cannot, after all, face death bravely as a Wolfskin should.” Nessa was in his mind, her wide gray eyes, her sweet lips parting to his own, the soft, tender warmth of her body. “I want so much to live,” he whispered fiercely, sudden tears flooding his eyes. “More than I’ve ever wanted anything before. I cannot die now, not when this task is yet unachieved, not when there are so many paths still to explore…I’m not ready to die, Tadhg. How can I leave her on her own? And yet…and yet, if it made the difference between keeping her safe or putting her at risk, I would give up my life gladly. That probably seems foolish to you.”

There was a little silence.