In the burning ruins of an ancient city, Ragnar Lothbrok's eldest son with his second wife Aslaug, Ubbe, found one lone survivor. A young girl. A girl with deep and dark and red eyes, and hair black as night with a single streak of white.
"Aila." Ha...
Ivar watched the puppets before him, finding them amusing and adorable.
"What do you think of these Eastern puppets?" Oleg asked
"Hmm." Ivar pursed his lips. "I like them. I wish someone could hold me up like that."
"I thought the Gods did that." Oleg said and laughed.
Though Ivar had not learned the language of the Rus, he still listened to the puppetmaster telling a story of what Boneless assumed to be a tale of two lovers.
"»Through the shadows and the light, he can see she is there . . . but not alone. It is his wife. Beautiful, faithless. Rage and sorrow fills his heart. The rumors and whispers were true.«"
Oleg took a sharp breath.
"»He kills her lover. Then, in his anguish, he strikes her. Again. And again. She does not cry out. She falls to the ground. Lifeless, unmoving.«"
Ivar raised a brow in question, glancing at Oleg next to him. Tears soon filled the Rus' eyes.
"»Yet, it is not his wife, but the King who is wounded. Forever suspicious. His trust broken. His soul cheated. His cup full of bitterness.«"
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"«Betrayed. Alone . . .«" The puppet master said grimly. "»Did he deserve this, this great loving King?«"
Ivar waited for what would happen next. He saw the murderous look in Oleg's eyes, and wondered what the puppet master's story had told of.
Then, Oleg wiped his cheeks and said, "I have to go to Novgorod."
"Novgorod?" Ivar asked.
"The old capital of Rus." Oleg explained. "My brother lives there. I need to talk to him. I told you, I have family business. Then I can concentrate on building a fleet and raising an army. You will meet my ward, Prince Igor. The son of my dead brother in law, King Rorik. Igor is the true heir to the Kingdom. But first, I must speak to someone."
*
Aila put a hand on her belly.
"Bloodeye . . ." Whispered a hoarse voice.
She looked around in the cell room. Avan was asleep, and Aila could not see anyone else, but she could still feel their presence.
