A Fate Inked in Blood

Ylva admits to feeling responsible for unleashing the “monster” in Freya upon Skaland’s people. Snorri’s ambition blinds him to his people’s suffering, and Ylva doesn’t want him to rise to power on a tide of fear. Freya realizes that Ylva shares her values and may be more of an ally than an enemy. Ylva offers to hide Freya’s absence so that she can see her mother, Kelda, in Selvegr—a trip that Snorri would deem too dangerous. Bjorn accompanies Freya to protect her. In Selvegr, Kelda tells the story of her interaction with Hlin when Freya was conceived. Geir was very sick as a baby and was near death, so Kelda prayed to the gods to save him. A goddess appeared and agreed to save him on the condition that she could lie with Kelda and her husband. The next morning, Geir was gone. Kelda believed that the goddess had been Loki in disguise, and that he tricked them and stole their son. Then, a different goddess appeared, dressed as a warrior. By Kelda’s description, Freya identifies the goddess as Hlin. Hlin told Kelda that she had been tricked, but that if they allow the child they have just conceived to be Hlin’s vessel, she will return their son to them, healthy and strong.