Lagertha gasped when Ga cursed in Viking.

  “Whoa! He really can speak Viking—and he even knows Flyting.”

  Ga swallowed a bite of bread, frowning at the unfamiliar word.

  “Flyting?”

  Tallev had already reached her, hooking an arm around her shoulder and tugging her back toward the table.

  “Flyting is fighting with your mouth. Whoever gets insulted into silence loses. It’s best when you do it in verse—real poetic stuff. Me? I’m amazing at Flyting.”

  As they neared the table, Tallev kept up his bright, reckless enthusiasm.

  “Come on, warrior. Lagertha made all this. And that bread you’re holding? Freshest blood.”

  Ga stared at the bread, alarmed.

  “Blood?”

  “Yeah! My blood bread. It’s good.” Lagertha smiled and patted the seat beside her. “Sit. Eat.”

  Her voice was warm—almost gentle. Ga’s guard finally eased. Clutching the bread, she sat down next to Lagertha, then lowered her head, awkward and shy.

  Tallev refused to let the air go quiet.

  “Alright, introductions! That’s Badji—strongest. That’s Sten—tallest. And… uh…” He shoved a slice of fried egg into his mouth, chewing. “I don’t know how to introduce anything else. Ga-Ga, if you wanna ask stuff, just ask. Don’t be polite.”

  Sten didn’t wait for Ga to speak.

  “So, Ga-Ga. How old are you?”

  “Fourteen.”

  Ga looked the same size as them—same kind of small. For a beat, all four of them just stared.

  Then, together:

  “Liar!”

  “Fourteen means you’re almost ready for Jarl lessons,” Lagertha said, eyes wide. “And—almost old enough to marry.”

  Tallev squinted at Ga.

  “You’re actually younger than us, aren’t you? You lied because you don’t want us looking down on you.”

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  “I didn’t!” Ga snapped. “I just… develop slowly.”

  “Develop slowly?” Tallev snorted and started laughing to himself.

  Sten blinked. “What’s funny about that?”

  Ga lifted her chin, stubborn.

  “When I grow taller—and grew large breasts—you won’t be laughing.”

  Silence fell again.

  Ga’s hair was cut shorter than almost any kid’s.

  Thin frame. Sharp angles. Hard eyes. A blunt mouth.

  Everything about her read like a boy—

  and yet she’d just threatened them with a future they weren’t expecting.

  Tallev broke the pause first.

  “Ga-Ga, are you trying to be a sissy? Boys don’t get that. Only Lagertha does.”

  Lagertha glanced down at herself and shrugged like it had never been worth thinking about.

  Badji frowned in thought.

  “Maybe he means chest muscles.”

  Lagertha narrowed her eyes, grinning like she’d found a new toy.

  “Or maybe Ga-Ga likes boys? Ga-Ga loves Tallev?”

  “No,” Ga said, immediate and flat.

  “No no no! I’m not marrying a boy!” Tallev protested just as fast.

  “Then you love Lagertha,” Ga shot back without missing a beat.

  Lagertha snapped her eyes to Tallev with pure disgust.

  “I don’t want him. He’s stupid.”

  “I don’t want you either. Gross!” Tallev blurted.

  Lagertha stood up so fast her bench scraped.

  “What’s gross about me?! Say it!”

  “Boys loving girls is gross,” Tallev said, wide-eyed and sincere, like it was obvious.

  “Idiot! Tallev, you’re a huge dummy!” Lagertha grabbed a piece of bread like she was about to throw it at him.

  “Huh? Why are you insulting me? I’m smart,” Tallev said blankly, palms up.

  Lagertha rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him.

  Badji cut in, voice calmer.

  “So, Ga-Ga… are you Viking?”

  Ga shook her head.

  “Ha! Of course he’s not,” Tallev jumped in. “He’s not strong at all.”

  Badji raised a brow. “If you’re not Viking, why can you speak our language?”

  Ga lowered her gaze, thinking.

  “Someone… taught me. At home.”

  “Oh. Your father—”

  “No!”

  Ga’s voice cracked sharp across the table. She immediately realized how loud it came out and dropped her head again.

  The others traded glances.

  After a brief, awkward pause, Lagertha coughed.

  “So… what are we doing today?”

  “We’re assigned to harvest fruits and vegetables at the village farm,” Sten said, smiling at Ga. Then he turned to Tallev. “And don’t tie a rope around his neck again.”

  “Oh! Speaking of that—last time we went out for school, we found a really good place,” Tallev said, eyes bright, like a spark had found dry grass.

  Badji swallowed. “Why do I suddenly have a bad feeling?”

  “It’s not far—like, a few dozen minutes from the village. Huge, beautiful crops. We pick the best ones and give them to the King. The King will reward us for sure.”

  “The Dwarf Hill?” Badji guessed.

  “Yes!” Tallev raised his cup.

  Sten shook his head.

  “Hey. We just said we’re going to the village farm. Wandering onto dwarven land is rude. And if we run into another Viking tribe out there, it’s dangerous.”

  “Vikings afraid of danger?” Tallev sneered. “Coward.”

  That did it.

  Sten grabbed Tallev by the collar.

  “Who are you calling scared? Fine. You lead. Whoever gathers less does all the chores.”

  Tallev slapped Sten’s hands away, grinning.

  “Ha! You’re doomed. I’m obviously winning. First rule—whoever takes the longest to get ready is a pig!”

  He sprinted into the house. Sten charged after him.

  “Ga-Ga, you don’t need to prepare anything,” Lagertha called, already moving. “Just eat. Eat until you’re full. We’ll take you out with us.”

  Lagertha and Badji stuffed the last bites into their mouths and hurried inside.

  Ga remained alone at the table.

  From inside came Tallev’s loud voice—already starting another argument.

  Ga ate slowly.

  For the first time since she arrived—

  breakfast tasted like real food.

  Breathing and mending

  are only pauses before the road continues.

  Thank you for walking this far.

  The next stretch… may be uneven.