"Hold this," the huge man barks. I barely reach his chest. He opens his hand and drops the thong with the stones on it. Instinctively, I catch it. Light explodes in my eyes, making my head hurt. I suppress a cry but don't manage to contain my flinch. One of the pebbles lights up, a brief blue glow. I hear Freydis gasp. Brynhild's eyes narrow in sudden concern, and Harald smiles. "We have found our rook," he says. I blink, repeatedly. "No," I say. "No, you've got it wrong. You want my sister, not me." "You are challenging the gods?" asks Harald, his eyes darkening, his voice dropping, and that
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