By the Mountain Bound by Elizabeth Bear

Author:Elizabeth Bear
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy, science fiction
ISBN: 9780765318831
Publisher: Tor Books
Published: 2009-10-27T00:00:00+00:00

Herfjotur came to Strifbjorn as he waited, perched on a granite boulder alongside the trail. The way was too overhung for her steed to bear her, so she slogged afoot. She stopped when she saw him. “Brother,” she offered in a neutral tone.

“Sister.”

She came closer, close enough to touch. Strifbjorn stood, out of respect. Flakes of snow tangled in her braid. “I’m sorry to have failed you, sister.”

She laughed, not meeting his eyes, and punched him lightly on the shoulder.

“Idiot,” she said. “You realize, of course, that”—words failed her, and her gesture took in the mountain and the mead-hall and the whole dark cloud-wrapped sky—“some of us are willing to follow you no matter what.”

“The Lady won the flyting,” Strifbjorn reminded.

She shrugged. “I’m not above treason in a good cause, Strifbjorn. And Heythe . . . is a good cause. If I won’t bloody my hands for her purposes, it seems I’ll bloody my hands opposing them.”

“You talk about slaying our brethren. And most likely dying in the attempt.”

She patted the hilt of her blade. “I remember Yrenbend’s demonstration,” she said coolly, although Strifbjorn heard the pain beneath it. “I also know they are as free to choose as I.”

“Ah,” Strifbjorn said, thinking of Yrenbend.

“Yrenbend agrees with me. Menglad, too. I know not how many others.”

“We’ll lose,” Strifbjorn said. “We’ll die. It’s only about a clean death now.”

“I know,” she answered. “Send word when you are ready for us. I’ll see how many I can bring.”

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