When I'm done with my ale and I feel as though I've overstayed my welcome, I excuse myself without further thought. The ladies bid me farewell and leave me with the knowledge that there will be a great dinner tonight in honor of the return of the Jarl.

While I'm excited for the meal, I can't help but feel fearful of my company. For now, I push the fear from my mind and continue my exploration of the house.

To the left, a doorway to a bedroom stands. It's the largest of the rooms with only one bed, so I assume it's Ulmar's. I don't want to get kicked out of my temporary home just yet, so I pass the bedroom without even a peek inside.

That hall ends and I am forced to turn right. Just like the first hall, three doors line the inside wall. I begin my search at the first and come upon an empty bedroom.

The room is lived-in, however, because a blouse lays upon the bed and leather shoes sit below them. I enter the room, shutting the door behind me and softly stepping towards the bed.

The blouse that lays upon the mattress is a deep red color with beige and blue stitching upon the slotted neckline. Next to the blouse likes a pair of trousers and a cloth sash with which to use as a belt.

I do believe I'm in Henrik's room. I have no clue whether I'm right; I just have a feeling...

Next to the bed sits an unlit candle and an amber stone. My eyes widen and I take the stone in my hand. It looks almost identical to the one my father has...

The book's haunting words enter my mind again as I look into the smooth surface of the stone. How am I supposed to know which one is the real one?

I shut my eyes, clenching the stone with white knuckles, and try to remember the words from the book.

In the distance, I begin to hear footsteps echoing off the walls. Without another thought, I return the stone to where I found it and leap to the door desperately. 

As soon as I exit the room, I shut the door behind me and race to the next room over. The door shuts behind me and I hear the footsteps grow louder. 

I throw my bag off my shoulders, kick my shoes off, and flop into the bed to make it seem as though I've been asleep.

Suddenly, a knock breaks my silence.

"Come in," I breathe, sitting up fast.

The door opens hesitantly and Henrik enters. He looks at me with a strange glint in his eye and then inhales to talk.

"Dinner will be served at five tonight," he states neutrally, "You're welcome to come if you want."

I raise my eyebrows at him, as if surprised by the news, and nod in response, "Thank you."

He sends back one last sideways glance before shutting the door.

As soon as the door closes, I relax into the mattress with a sigh of relief.

-

Dinner is chaos.

The entire hall is full of obnoxious men and women that carry glasses overflowing with ale and sing along with the band. I, never having been one for large parties, have to use all my will-power not to leave before the meal is even served. 

The hall is set in the shape of an upside-down horseshoe, with Ulmar and his most trusted companions at the back of the hall and two long tables branching down on either side of his. My position is at the end of the left dining bench. In the middle of everything is a fire pit. 

I sit next to complete strangers, but I'm not so much intimidated as I am apprehensive. In my mind, I know that I am their equal. But in my chest, the fear of not being accepted is very much alive. For the mean time, I try my best to push that fear far away from me.

Salted pork, boiled potatoes, bread, and smoked fish lay before all the guests and everyone reaches over each other to get their share of food. Coming from a household of seven children, I know how to maneuver the food without becoming hostile, so I'm able to fill my plate without an issue.

As I sat eating rather quickly, I used that time to inspect my fellow guests. Most of them were men, from near my age and older, with a handful of bodacious women sprinkled about the room. A few children ran around, but not very many. Some canines roamed the room as well, none of them being especially kind or warm, and I'm sure I saw the occasional cat. 

While my eyes glance about the room, the strangers next to me don't pay me any mind. They go on with their meals as if I don't even exist, and I like it that way.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Ulmar stand and raise his hand. The hall goes silent and he clears his throat with a gruff cough.

"I cannot thank you all enough for your work," the large jarl begins gracefully, "This clan would not be what it is without every single one of you..."

As he speaks, his eyes float about to every guest in a way that makes him seem even more genuine. However, as soon as his eyes land upon me, a smirk contorts his face.

"Even the newest member of our clan deserves a hearty... pat on the back," he states, making the room begin to buzz with whispers, "Runa Öman, approach the stand."

For a moment, I can't comprehend what's going on, so I just sit there. But soon, the piercing eyes of the other guests forces me out of my seat and up towards the middle of the room. 

The music, while low, still sends a chill down my spine. All eyes are on me as I approach Ulmar's bench. Henrik and Sindri sit on either side of the jarl, and both look on with furrowed brows.

"There is a lot to be said for a woman that is willing to fight in the name of her family," Ulmar states, extending his arms in a grand gesture, "Miss Öman, we honor you... But there still lies a question of loyalty…"

I stare at Ulmar intensely, the tone of his voice turning from generous to poisonous.

"Do you, Runa Öman, pledge to fight alongside these men? To defend them and their home of Deildara?" Ulmar challenges me with an intense glare.

I swallow and return the gesture, "I do."

"And do you pledge to sacrifice yourself when faced with incredible danger?" he smirks, "Even if you know you may not return home?"

"I do," I growl through clenched teeth.

Dreadful anticipation sits like a heavy weight upon my chest. Something is going to happen, but I don't know what yet. 

Ulmar's eyes skirt to two large men to either side of me, and then he returns his foul gaze to me.

"Well, then you must not mind receiving the mark of the Ira," Ulmar murmurs and then shouts, "Men! Give her the ansuz!"

I recognize that name as the rune of Odin. My eyes immediately go to Henrik, who doesn't say a word.

Suddenly, two large me grab my arms and hold on to me with digging fingers and nails. The band picks up again with an intense, tribal beat. People in the room begin howling and cheering for me, but I can't tell if this is a good thing.

Fear grips at me but I still force myself to stay generally calm. That was until they lay my arm down at the edge of the fire pit and roll my sleeve up to my elbow.

"What are you doing?" I plead, my voice struggling to stay steady.

As soon as I say that, a cast iron rod is pulled out from the flames. On the end of the rod is the rune, sculpted in iron and glowing white and yellow.

My eyes widen and my surroundings become amplified. 

"No, let me go!" I scream, but my voice is lost in the crowd. 

I try wriggling away, but one of the men smacks his hand across the side of my face to keep me where I am. White dots dance in my vision, but I can still see as they press the iron against my forearm with a sizzle.

The pain is unlike anything I've ever felt before in my life. A sickening scream is released from my lips as the feeling of hundreds of fire ants bite my arm all at once. 

"Please, please stop!" I cry out as my entire left arm grows numb with pain.

The iron is taken from my skin seconds later, and then my wrist is grabbed. I am lugged upwards and then shown to the guests as though I'm a prize animal on display.

"To the Ira!" Ulmar shouts into the madness, and the crowd goes crazy. 

Seconds later, I am released and I feel my knees buckle beneath me. I land on the wooden floor with salty, hot tears blurring my vision. Meanwhile, numerous strangers begin to surround me, patting me on the back and giving me welcoming smiles.

Some of them grab me by the underarms and lift me up once more, but I am still struck into silent tears.

Quietly and without further thought, I hold my arm close to my chest and escape the rowdy hoard. 

My trembling legs carry me out of the hall as fast as they can and directly to my bedroom. All I can do once the door is shut is collapse upon my bed in a heap of tears.