‘What did your sister think of your husband?’ Sissa asked quietly.
‘She liked him herself at first.’ Hilda shifted uncomfortably. ‘She was jealous when I married him, but that was years ago.’
‘Was she bitter?’
‘Perhaps a little—especially because of the way he used to mock Eithr, her son—but I still can’t believe she would have ordered the massacre. Why would she?’
‘Because she was always a cold-hearted bitch,’ Joarr spoke gruffly.
‘Something else we agree on.’ Danr nodded whole-heartedly. ‘I loathed her even more than I loathed you—no offence—but if she used the pendants to pay the assassins then she must have known they would be traced back to you.’
‘Which means that she framed you.’ Joarr looked ferocious again.
‘No!’ Hilda shook her head adamantly. ‘She’s my sister. We had our differences, but she wouldn’t have done that. And even if she did hate Sigurd, why would she have killed all the others? Why Ingrid and Gilla? She had no quarrel with them.’
‘Maybe not, but you have to admit that she’s profited by Brandt losing the kingdom. It went to her son.’
‘But Thorfinn acts as his guardian. Eithr’s far too weak to rule on his own.’ Hilda snapped her fingers. ‘Thorfinn! He could have been the one behind it.’
Danr threw a questioning look at Joarr. ‘He would have had access to the pendants if they were in her possession. It’s possible. Either way I need to tell Brandt.’
‘Brandt?’ Hilda’s voice softened immediately. ‘Where is he?’
‘The last I heard he was in Eireann with Alarr. They’re both well. Alarr and Sandulf are married now, too.’
‘Married?’
‘So is Rurik...’ he gave her a pointed look ‘...if you’re interested.’
As he’d expected, her eyes flashed instantly. ‘Why would I be interested in Rurik?’
‘Maybe after fourteen years of living in the same hall?’
‘He still has nothing to do with me.’
‘Oh, stop it.’ Sissa glared at them both in turn. ‘Stop goading each other. This has gone on long enough. You—’ she gestured at Danr ‘—you almost got yourself killed because of this feud and you—’ she waved her other arm at Hilda ‘—you almost got your husband killed! How many years have you spent being resentful and jealous of each other? And all over a man who sounds as though he didn’t deserve either of you! So either fight it out yourselves or stop talking altogether, but leave the rest of us out of it.’
‘She makes a good point.’ Joarr rubbed a hand around the back of his neck.
‘She does not.’ Hilda lifted her chin in the air stubbornly. ‘I’ve never been jealous of him.’
‘If you weren’t then you wouldn’t be so determined to argue. Now, neither of you is leaving this hall until you resolve it.’ Sissa jerked her head towards the others. ‘Come on. I want some air.’
* * *
‘I’ve never heard anything so vile.’ Hilda glared at him. ‘As if I’d be jealous of you!’
‘Well, maybe not me exactly, but since my mother isn’t around to be jealous of...’ Danr sighed. ‘Maybe Sissa’s right. You know, for a woman who’s spent so many years living without people, she understands a lot about them. I was always jealous of Brandt and Alarr and Sandulf because they belonged in Father’s hall. Maybe I was jealous of you, too.’
‘What do you mean?’ Hilda’s chin lowered infinitesimally. ‘Sigurd acknowledged you.’
‘But I was still a bastard. I never felt...necessary, not when he had three legitimate sons. Good, strong, clever sons. I spent years trying to get his attention.’
‘You had it. He was always boasting about you and your exploits.’
‘Don’t remind me.’ Danr made a face. ‘I’m not proud of the way I behaved, but my exploits, as you call them, always seemed to amuse him.’
‘No doubt they reminded him of his time with your mother.’