Page 154 of The Sun He Buried

Bastard.

I drop my hands again.

“No,” he says.

“Coward.”

His loyalty doesn’t move.

“Try another.”

“Second strongest.”

“True.”

“Mine clerk.”

“Also true.”

“Asta likes you.”

That does it.

Ketill’s fist reaches the side of my head.

Snow and trees change places.

I hit one knee. He stands above me, breathing hard.

“Stay down.”

I get up.

The bond carries Solveih toward sleep.

Soft. Warm. Held.

I raise neither hand.

Ketill understands.

His concern opens all the way. No triumph enters it. No pleasure.

“This will hurt tomorrow,” he says.

“Everything does.”

He steps in.

My knees go. I fall forward.

The snow comes up.

Then nothing.

Chapter Sixteen

The first stocking is under Baldr’s bed.