Chapter 34The grains of the planks bore into Rune's forehead as he rocked his head back and forth on the table. He tightly clutched the near empty flagon as his insides writhed with loathing for his cousin. A hard thump announced the arrival of his next drink, and a chair scraped the stone as Geirolf settled himself beside Rune.
“I hate that room,” Rune grumbled into the wood. “I'll have it burned before Bergen gets back, I think.”
He listened to Geirolf's gruff sigh.
“Rune,” Geirolf said. “Might I interrupt your self-brooding and speak plainly?”
With his brow still mashed into the table, Rune rolled his head to the side to better look at Geirolf. The wood grains left their mark imprinted into his face. His hand still clutched the flagon.
“With the men from the south arriving, and tho
