As they exited the Jarl's chambers, Rannveig's eyes fixed on Brandr. She waited until they were a good distance down the hall before pulling him aside.

  "You did not tell me Sigrida was a thrall," she said in a low, tense voice. "Why would you keep this from me?"

  Brandr shifted uncomfortably under his sister's scrutiny. "I... I didn't think it mattered," he mumbled, avoiding her eyes. "She's proven herself a loyal friend and ally."

  Rannveig's eyes narrowed, her voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "A thrall, Brandr? Have you lost your senses? She's beneath you, no matter her skills. Our position, our very standing, depends on maintaining these distinctions."

  Brandr's jaw tightened, but he held his tongue, his gaze fixed on a point beyond his sister's shoulder.

  Seeing Brandr's stubborn expression, Rannveig softened her approach. "Brandr, I know you may think highly of her, but you must think about your future. Your union will be crucial for our family's alliances. We can't risk your reputation over your... infatuation."

  Brandr's eyes flashed. "Why are you so interested in my relationships?"

  "I am doing what's required of me and for our clan," Rannveig snapped, her composure slipping. Her voice lowered, tinged with bitterness. "I am sacrificing my own wishes for the good of our family. For an alliance I never asked for. And so should you."

  A heavy silence fell between them. Brandr's expression softened as he noticed the strain in his sister's eyes, recognizing the burden she carried.

  "Rannveig, I forgot—"

  "Enough," she cut him off, raising a hand. Her voice was weary. "We have more pressing concerns right now."

  Brandr nodded, grateful for the reprieve but troubled by this revelation. "You're right. We should focus on Father's plans."

  Rannveig's mask of composure slipped back into place. "Let's join the others and share father's terms." They found Erik, Astrid, and Sigrida by the hearth, beckoning them to the privacy of Rannveig's quarters.

  Gathered in her chambers, Rannveig closed the heavy oak door, ensuring their privacy for the discussion ahead. The group settled onto cushioned benches and chairs, their faces taut with anticipation of the Jarl's terms.

  But before they could begin, a massive cat leapt gracefully from his cushioned spot on the bed, greeting his mistress with a rumbling purr. The tension in the room momentarily lifted as he wound his way through the gathered group, his white paws and belly contrasting with his brown-striped coat as he rubbed against each person in turn.

  "Bloodpaws, enough," Rannveig chided fondly, though she couldn't hide her smile as the cat curled his tail around Brandr's legs. Her brother reached down to scratch behind the cat's ears before attempting to begin the discussion.

  Brandr cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention back to the matter at hand. "Our father, the Jarl—" he started, but paused as Bloodpaws demanded Astrid's attention. The cat finally retreated to the bed, settling in to groom his thick fur with regal indifference.

  The mood sobered as Brandr tried again. "Our father, the Jarl, has agreed to aid Torbjorn. He'll rally our kinsmen and allies, providing enough force for a battle with Gunnar."

  Astrid and Erik exchanged hopeful glances, but Brandr took a deep breath, signaling there was more.

  "In exchange," he continued, "Torbjorn must swear fealty to my father. Additionally, he must allow the Jarl to develop trade routes through Skogstrand to the north."

  Erik nodded slowly, processing the information. "It's a steep price, but not entirely unreasonable given the circumstances."

  Brandr took a deep breath before delivering the final term. "There's one more condition. Torbjorn must concede the northern peninsula to my father, including its forests and iron bogs."

  Astrid's sharp intake of breath broke the ensuing silence. She shook her head slowly, processing the magnitude of the demand.

  "These are his terms," Brandr concluded, his voice heavy. "This is what it will take to secure peace and protection for Skogstrand."

  Erik and Astrid turned to each other, their faces a mix of shock and disbelief. After a moment, Erik found his voice, his tone strained as he addressed Brandr.

  "Can you persuade your father to reconsider?" Erik asked. "These terms... they're too steep."

  Brandr's posture stiffened, resignation clear in his features. "I'm sorry, my friends. My father's decision is final."

  On the bed, Bloodpaws lifted his head at their animated voices, yellow eyes surveying the tension below. With deliberate indifference, he turned his back to the group, kneading the blankets into a perfect nest before settling in.

  Astrid shook her head vehemently, her voice rising with emotion. "Brandr, you don't understand. The northern peninsula is the heart of Skogstrand's wealth. Our iron, our timber... it's all there." She paused, her eyes glistening. "Without it, my people will be reduced to poverty. We'll have nothing left."

  Rannveig leaned forward, her eyebrows arched in surprise. "My people?" she echoed, her tone sharp. "How curious. Only recently, you fled from them, vowing never to return. Yet now they're 'your people' once more. Very... interesting."

  Astrid's eyes flashed with anger. "You know nothing of what I've endured," she snapped, her voice trembling with emotion. "Your father hasn't promised you to Gunnar’s clan as mine did. You can't possibly understand the impossible choice I faced."

  The barb struck deeper than Astrid knew. Rannveig recoiled as if physically struck, her face paling. She sank back into her chair, her eyes darting briefly to Brandr. The siblings shared a fleeting look of discomfort, privy to a truth the others didn't know.

  Brandr cleared his throat, attempting to steer the conversation back on course. "These terms, while difficult, are fair considering the danger and lives that will be risked defending Skogstrand," he said, his voice strained with the effort to remain diplomatic.

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  Sigrida, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up. Her tone was thoughtful, but frank. "Brandr, I mean no disrespect, but you do have a conflict of interest here. As your father's heir, you would inherit all that Skogstrand will give up."

  Brandr's face fell, hurt evident in his eyes. Before he could respond, Rannveig whirled on Sigrida, her voice ice-cold with fury.

  "How dare you question my brother's integrity," she said, coldly. "Brandr would never stoop to such base motivations." Her gaze hardened as she addressed the room. "Perhaps it would be best if the thrall left us to discuss these matters privately."

  "Sigrida stays," Astrid interjected firmly, moving to stand beside her friend. "She has as much right to be here as any of us."

  The tension in the room heightened as they grappled with Magnus's terms, each understanding how the balance of power would shift - Skogstrand surrendering its autonomy while Fjell?rn's influence grew.

  Finally, though, Erik stepped forward. "Brandr and I have seen the extent of Gunnar's forces," he said, gravely. "The terms are unfair. But..." he paused, meeting Astrid's eyes, "without aid, Torbjorn and Skogstrand are lost."

  His words hung in the air as they confronted the bitter choice before them.

  After a long moment, Sigrida broke the silence. "Erik is right," she said softly. "Our choices are limited. Torbjorn and the village can’t hide in the mountains indefinitely."

  She turned to Astrid, her voice gentle but resolute. "Not all your family's wealth will be lost, Astrid. And consider this: the trading routes from this alliance will bring new opportunities to Skogstrand in time."

  Rannveig's gaze shifted to Sigrida, surprise evident in her features. The thoughtful, sensible words had caught her off guard.

  Across from her, Astrid's brow furrowed as she digested Sigrida's words, her shoulders relaxing slightly as she considered this angle.

  Eyes downcast and resigned, Astrid said, "I suppose we must agree, then."

  Brandr watched Astrid with sympathy, allowing her a moment to process the loss. Then, he cleared his throat gently. "How are we going to bring these terms to Torbjorn? We should decide now."

  Erik straightened, his voice firm. "It should be me. I helped the girls escape; I’ll take responsibility for delivering these terms."

  Rannveig stepped forward. "I'll go as well. As the Jarl's daughter, I'm well-suited to negotiate on his behalf."

  "Absolutely not," Brandr protested. "It's far too dangerous. I should—"

  "Oh, stop fussing, brother," Rannveig cut him off with a wave of her hand. "You're needed here to help Father and Kjell assemble our forces. I'll go, and Erik will ensure my safety."

  Brandr's brow furrowed with concern, but he couldn't deny the logic of her argument.

  Sigrida stepped forward, her voice resolute. "I can protect Rannveig as well. Two guards are better than one."

  Rannveig's eyes narrowed. "I don't need your—"

  "Actually," Brandr interjected, "Sigrida's presence could be valuable. As a woman, she can be at your side at all times, even in situations where Erik cannot."

  Sigrida stood a little straighter at Brandr's words, a sense of validation washing over her. Her face remained impassive, but there was a new glint of confidence in her eyes.

  Rannveig's lips thinned, her gaze flicking between Brandr and Sigrida. She inhaled sharply, as if to protest further, then exhaled slowly. "Fine," she said, her tone clipped as she looked away.

  Sigrida remained still, her expression composed. She glanced at Erik, a silent question in her eyes about their next steps.

  Erik nodded, a hint of relief in his voice. "Then it's settled. Rannveig, Sigrida, and I will travel to Skogstrand and present the terms to Chief Torbjorn."

  Astrid watched her friends, a knot of guilt tightening in her chest. Her impulsive actions had set these events in motion, putting those she cared about in peril. She silently vowed to find a way to make things right.

  "We need to plan this journey with care," Brandr said, leaning forward. "Gunnar's ships have surrounded Skogstrand's beaches. We cannot afford a misstep."

  Erik sighed, running a hand through his hair. "The mountain path is too dangerous, and it would take far too long."

  "And the only other route would be along the beach," he said, shaking his head. "We'd be too exposed, especially near the cliffs of Skogstrand."

  Sigrida stepped forward, a thoughtful look on her face. "There may be another way," she said slowly, "a hidden route that most don’t know about."

  Rannveig's eyes narrowed slightly, a mix of intrigue and wariness in her gaze. "Go on," she said, her tone measured, inviting Sigrida to elaborate.

  "Erik, do you have the map you made in Honningdal?" Sigrida asked. Erik nodded, retrieving the wooden tablet from his pack.

  Sigrida studied the map intently before pointing to a spot along the coastline. "There's a concealed inlet here, the mouth of a river. It's not on your map, but it should be right about here."

  Erik leaned in, his brow furrowed. Suddenly, his face lit up with recognition. "I remember now! I've come across that route while hunting. It's well hidden."

  Sigrida nodded eagerly. "It leads east of Skogstrand and winds through the mountains. I learned of it from Trader Gorm's thrall's sister. Her brother, Sven, travels this path to Skipavik weekly."

  Astrid's eyes widened, recalling Sigrida’s mention of the route when they were planning their escape.

  Erik's excitement built as he spoke. "The inlet is a challenge for most ships, which is why it's rarely used. But with a smaller boat..."

  Sigrida's brow furrowed with concern as she thought more on the plan. "Although...even if we take the hidden inlet," she said, her voice tinged with worry, "we'll be seen leaving Skipavik. Especially if Gunnar's scouts and spies are watching the ports."

  Brandr leaned forward, his eyes glinting with sudden inspiration. "There might be a way to avoid that," he said. He reached into his pack and pulled out the tablet with Veldefold coast drawn in.

  The others huddled close, squinting at the etchings and markings. Erik and Sigrida exchanged a glance, both struggling to make sense of Brandr's handiwork.

  "We have secret ports along the coast," Brandr said, tracing his finger over smudged lines on the tablet. "Hidden havens for our fishing and scouting vessels."

  Erik nodded slowly, his eyes narrowed as he studied the map. "You'll need to give us clear directions as well, Brandr. This map is... a bit hard to follow."

  Brandr grinned sheepishly. "Fair enough. The terrain is dangerous," he said, "with narrow paths winding through rocky cliffs. But if you could reach one of these ports and use one of the small boats, you could hug the coastline until you reach the inlet, virtually invisible to anyone watching."

  Sigrida chewed her lip, brow furrowed in thought. "How long will this journey take?" she asked, glancing at Erik.

  Erik’s eyes narrowed as he made swift calculations. "With fair weather and a bit of luck, we could reach the inlet in under two days," he estimated.

  Rannveig stood up, her gaze sweeping across the group. "Then let's not waste any time. Erik, Sigrida, and I will take this route to Skogstrand immediately."

  "Before we split up," Brandr said, looking around the room thoughtfully, "is there anything we haven't considered?"

  Astrid, who had been quiet for some time, looked up with worry etched on her face. "What about the sea-wolves Alfgeir warned us about? If they're draugr..." Her voice trailed off, concern for her friends evident in her expression.

  Brandr's laugh was gentle. "Just pirates looking for easy prey. They won't bother with a small boat. Father will send scouts south to investigate, but for now, we must focus on Gunnar."

  Astrid nodded, though uncertainty lingered in her eyes. Erik rose to his feet, ready to depart with Rannveig and Sigrida. His movement roused Bloodpaws from his nap. The cat stretched languorously on the bed, letting out an insistent meow that demanded attention. Brandr paused to scratch under the cat's chin before approaching Rannveig.

  "Stay close to Sigrida," he said, caringly. Then, turning to Sigrida, his expression softened. "Thank you for watching over my sister," he said with genuine gratitude in his eyes.

  Next to them, Astrid threw her arms around Erik in a fierce embrace. He smiled, making no move to pull away. "Don't worry," he murmured. "I'll be back before you know it." His fingers brushed a strand of hair from her face, bringing a smile to her lips. The tender moment passed, and they all turned to their preparations, each knowing their part in the dangerous days ahead.