Chapter 84: A Convenient Dream

Thorfinn hurries after Einar, who is certain that if Gardar has escaped he will come for Arnheid, and who insists on doing whatever he can to spare her further pain. They reach Sverkel's and find her outside. Within, Badger reports the two slaves' arrival to Snake, who tells him to let them do as they please.

Washing dishes, Arnheid asks if they came because of the escape, then reveals she is the one who cut Gardar's ropes, feeling she had no choice but to save him from certain death. She recounts that he killed the guards and took a grave wound in the process. Noticing Badger watching from the window, Thorfinn tells Einar to crouch and mime helping with the dishes, since the guards are keeping her under observation. Arnheid explains that through the previous night's rain she brought Gardar to Sverkel's and dressed his wound, but he lost consciousness and proved too heavy to move, so on Sverkel's counsel she concealed him inside just before Snake and the guests arrived. Snake, believing Gardar fled on his own, has posted guards and is using Arnheid as bait, waiting for the man to come to her.

Einar asks why she acted so recklessly after vowing to move on for her unborn child. Arnheid cannot fully explain, admitting she nursed a faint, foolish hope that she, Gardar, and the coming baby might somehow begin again. She berates herself as selfish, weeping that she had been ready to blame Gardar and let him die even though he killed and escaped only for her and their son's sake. When Thorfinn learns the wound is to Gardar's right arm and still bleeding heavily, he judges the man to be in critical condition. Einar declares that if Arnheid cannot give up her husband, fleeing with him is her only path, warns her the journey will be hard given her pregnancy, and pledges their help. Thorfinn, seeing no alternative, agrees.

Inside, Snake hurls a drinking horn at a dozing Badger and threatens to break his nose if he loses sight of Arnheid again. Arnheid enters to prepare Sverkel's lunch and is told to cook outdoors so she stays visible as bait. From his bed, Sverkel muses that although many claim the lowly are destined for slavery, he sees slaves as merely unlucky, since anyone might have fallen into bondage. He urges Snake to abandon the mercenary life, offering him his fields as thanks for the Bible readings and a chance at honest work, but Snake scoffs that he will never toil like a peasant and vows to kill Gardar for slaying his men. Their talk breaks off when Spider calls Snake to the window, claiming he has just glimpsed Gardar among the trees.

Arnheid admits she freed Gardar and hid the critically wounded man inside Sverkel's house. Snake, thinking Gardar fled alone, uses Arnheid as visible bait. Einar and Thorfinn agree to help her escape with her husband despite the danger. Sverkel offers Snake his fields and a chance to give up the sword, which Snake rejects. A guard reports spotting Gardar near the trees.

Published July 25, 2012 in Volume 12, this chapter adapts into Episode 40, with a single page drawn from Episode 39. Its title captures Arnheid's fragile fantasy of starting over, and Sverkel's speech on the arbitrariness of slavery anchors the arc's moral weight.