Chapter 10 (Chapter 9: Freya) Summary and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Harald’s thralls set up camp in a clearing. Freya finds their silent, hooded behavior deeply unsettling; even Steinunn avoids them and cooks instead. The soup is bland, so Freya forages along the riverbank for pepperrot and mushrooms. Bjorn follows, and they argue about the Islunders Freya killed earlier. He asks if she is well; she deflects with insults, but he insists she talk. She admits no one made her kill them, but she regrets nothing. Bjorn grabs her wrist, then releases her without speaking.
Back at the fire, Freya improves the soup. She broods over Steinunn’s betrayals: spying in the tunnels, leaving a runic message for Snorri, and informing Skade of Freya’s visit to her mother—directly causing her mother’s death. Freya barely restrains herself from attacking the skald.
Harald asks Steinunn for a song. She sings an old poem about Baldur’s death and Hel’s refusal to release him. Freya lies down, thinking of the souls she sent to Helheim and vowing never again to wield that power. She notices Steinunn creeping into the forest and follows. She finds a burned village with several cairns; Steinunn sobs over a small one, presumably a child. Freya feels sympathy but steps back to leave.
She collides with Bjorn, who carries her away. They argue in the dark. Bjorn confesses he does not trust Harald’s intentions: Harald previously wanted Freya dead because of Saga’s visions, but now that he knows of her Hel blood, he may want to use her as a weapon. Freya insists she will never call Hel’s name again. Bjorn fears desperate moments will change her mind. Freya reveals that Ylva’s blood magic binds her to serve no man not of Snorri’s blood, so she cannot serve Harald. Bjorn is shocked. Freya says she stood alone before and will do so now, then returns to camp. She hears a large bird overhead—possibly Kaja—and whispers a plea for silence.
Key Events
- Freya forages with Bjorn and argues about killing Islunders; Bjorn admits he is not well either.
- Freya mentally lists Steinunn’s betrayals, including her role in causing her mother’s death.
- Steinunn sings a song about Baldur, prompting Freya to reflect on sending souls to Helheim.
- Freya follows Steinunn to a ruined village and witnesses her grieving over a child’s cairn.
- Bjorn intercepts Freya and warns that Harald may want to exploit her Hel blood.
- Freya reveals her sworn oath to serve only Snorri’s bloodline, surprising Bjorn.
- A large bird (likely Kaja) circles overhead; Freya asks it not to report what it heard.
Character Development
- Freya: Struggles with guilt over killing the Islunders, yet refuses to regret her choice. She resolves never to use her power over souls again. Her anger at Steinunn is tempered by witnessing the skald’s grief, showing her capacity for empathy even toward enemies. She asserts her independence from Bjorn, insisting she stood alone before and will do so now.
- Bjorn: Reveals vulnerability—he is not well after the battle. He follows Freya out of concern, not manipulation. His distrust of Harald deepens; he worries that Harald sees Freya as a weapon. He seeks Freya’s trust but fails to bridge the gap between them.
- Steinunn: Previously seen as a cold spy, she is now shown grieving at the graves of her family. This humanizes her and complicates Freya’s (and the reader’s) view of her.
- Harald: Though absent from the scene, his motivations are questioned by Bjorn. The king’s shift from wanting Freya dead to wanting her alive is portrayed as potentially dangerous.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- The Burden of Power: Freya’s ability to send souls to Helheim weighs on her. She vows never to use it again, but Bjorn and Harald see it as a weapon of last resort.
- Grief and Guilt: Both Freya and Steinunn carry deep grief—Freya over her mother, Steinunn over her family. The burned village and cairns symbolize violent loss.
- Trust and Betrayal: Freya feels betrayed by Bjorn, Steinunn, and nearly everyone. Bjorn’s confession of distrust in Harald adds another layer of uncertainty.
- Fate vs. Choice: Freya rejects the idea that her fate is fixed, but Bjorn fears that any change Harald engineers could be worse.
- Oaths and Binding Magic: Freya’s blood oath to Snorri limits her choices and surprises Bjorn, highlighting how past decisions constrain present actions.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens Freya’s internal conflict and complicates the web of loyalties. It reveals Steinunn’s tragic backstory, making her more than a simple antagonist. Bjorn’s warning about Harald sets up future tension: will Freya be forced to use her Hel blood again? The revelation of Freya’s oath is a key piece of information that changes Bjorn’s understanding of her situation. The chapter also reinforces Freya’s determination to walk her own path, even if it means distrusting everyone.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Freya decide not to attack Steinunn after following her to the cairns?
Freya witnesses Steinunn’s genuine grief over what appears to be her dead child. Despite her anger, Freya cannot bring herself to attack someone in the depths of mourning. This shows Freya’s capacity for empathy and her unwillingness to sink to that level of cruelty. -
What is Bjorn’s primary fear regarding Harald’s change of heart toward Freya?
Bjorn fears that Harald no longer wants Freya dead because he now sees her Hel blood as a weapon. He worries Harald will manipulate Freya into using her power to defend Nordeland, potentially leading to a fate even worse than the one Saga foresaw—or trapping Freya in service she does not want. -
How does Freya’s oath to Snorri affect her relationship with Harald?
Freya reveals she is bound by Ylva’s blood magic to serve no man not of Snorri’s blood. This means she cannot willingly serve Harald even if she wanted to. The oath surprises Bjorn and complicates Harald’s apparent plan to use her as an ally.