The Hunger of the Gods (The Bloodsworn Saga, #2)

by John Gwynne

“Spert hungry. Mistress make porridge?”

If Spert dies, I riot

“You are my thrall now, your life to be lived in service to me.” Skuld made a noise in her throat but bit back whatever words were forming.

I hate this, she's their best ally against the dragons!

“This is nothing. The real treasure is down below,”

Tricksy

“Yes, my queen,” Ilska said. “But… how does he live? We saw his bones.” She has some stones, still to question this god after what we have just seen her do.

Kill Ilska

“Rotta slew Orna and Ulfrir’s daughter, Valkyrie, and cast the blame upon Lik-Rifa,” Gunnar said. “He strangled Valkyrie, skinned her and left her hanging from a tree. But Orna and Ulfrir saw through his deceit and so he fled from them.

Yike

Came here, where he wrote the Raudskinna, his red-skinned book that holds the secrets of the gods, all of it carved into Valkyrie’s flayed skin.”

“Trust is a rare thing, even among kin,” Revna muttered,

“What does it say?” Orka asked, peering over Lif’s shoulder. “Don’t know,” Lif said, passing the scroll to Orka, “I can’t read. I’m a fisherman.”

lololol

“What are you so happy about?” Edel snapped at the vaesen. “All the teeth,” Vesli grinned.

If Vesli dies, I riot

“What’s wrong?” Orka asked the tennúr. “Too many teeth for my pouch,” she said, shoulders slumping. “Vesli going to need a bigger bag.”

Awwwwwhhhh

“You see I have a Froa to carve a new staff from

FUCK HIM FUCK THIS

Thank the dead gods, Guðvarr thought. “You are fortunate, no-ear,” Guðvarr said.

Guðvarr's idiocy is really grating me now

Wolf and bear are a powerful combination. This boy will grow into something fierce. Strong and savage and cunning.

FUCK YES BRECA

I said, don’t call me stupid, Guðvarr thought. Wait a moment… “snot-nosed”? Absently he wiped his nose with the back of his hand.

OMFG DIE ALREADY

“Didn’t have to go so hard at it,” he mumbled through swelling lips. “Had to make it look real,” Orka said with a shrug. “Besides, I held back.”

omfg

She nodded a greeting to Elvar as she passed

YES LADIES

“Ah, but I’m going to miss them,” Sighvat said as he came to stand beside Elvar. “Miss them?” she frowned. Sighvat shrugged. “You get a feeling about people,” he said. “I’d not mind them standing in the shield wall with us.”

Damn straight

Vesli’s mouth twisted and she looked at Spert a moment, then looked back to Orka. “Our maker called us,” Vesli said. “In the darkness. Summoned us to her.”

eeeep

“It was… hard, to resist Lik-Rifa’s call, but our oath to you, our pact to find Breca, they gave us strength to say no.”

Yes baddies

Spert muttered, looking up from where he slept across Orka’s saddle.

SPERT HUNGRY

Vesli stood on his knee, spitting balls of stringy mucus into her hands and rubbing them together and Spert lay at Lif’s feet like a hound, looking like he was fast asleep.

*sob

“Lik-Rifa made the vaesen,” the one with Orka rasped. “The crazy bitch,” muttered the raven in the nest. “But Snaka made us,” the one by Orka croaked,

RAVENS ARE GOAT

He stopped nibbling his cheese and listened.

Rat biorr

He closed his eyes and took a moment to let his beast trickle through his blood, the rat inquisitive and eager to help.

So, Glornir had left him there, in the care of Æsa, who was a skilled healer and wounded herself. All the children had stayed, as well. Glornir had unloaded a third of their provisions, barrels of water and food.

Røkia took a step back and acted dizzy, as if she were fainting. “Two sensible questions in one day. Who are you?” Svik called from his oar-bench.

These three fucking killll me 🤣

“Oh,” Varg said. “No-Sense,” Røkia breathed, shaking her head.

Love my No-Sense king

Spert shifted where he was lying across Orka’s saddle and looked up at her. “Stopping for food?”

SPERT HUNGY

“You’re bleeding,” she said. “Has the fighting started already?” “Only between Varg’s stubble and his seax,” Svik called out. Varg swiped blood from the shaving nick.

The three stooges - if any of them die I RIOT

“Sæunn, you could take our horses there. Wait for us if you wish, and you are welcome to travel with us. We will be heading south, hard, for Darl. But you are free to go, if you prefer. Take a horse, food, whatever you need.” Orka shrugged.

I'm Vibrating

The spertus in front of Orka turned in the air and its sting darted out, adder-fast.

I FUCKING KNEW IT

Hands gripped Guðvarr’s cloak, Hakon dragging him close,

Both the biggest troll turd cowards

and then Jarl Sigrún drew back her sword and stabbed Queen Helka through the back.

SOME GOT SHIT RIGHT HERE

Guðvarr grabbed a fistful of Hakon’s hair and pulled him back, dragged the edge of his sword across Hakon’s throat. Blood spurted and Guðvarr pushed Hakon stumbling to the ground.

Estrid was staring at Hakon, blood pooling about his corpse. She looked up at Guðvarr. “TO ME,” she yelled, “Úlfhéðnar to me.” She is no fool, has realised the power she now has,

I was hoping for alliance, but alas, we're all in on Lik Rifa I guess

Guðvarr was parrying Estrid’s sword, a strong overhead blow, another at his ribs, a stab at his throat, realising that she was far more skilled than he had expected,

Because You're a fucking idiot. Please kill him estrid

“Once Lik-Rifa knew the hyrndur was living in my chest, she knew I was not Hakon’s messenger. So, I told her everything

OYE