Fire and Lies by Angela Chrysler Read Free Book Online

why he had kissed her and why he hadn’t ignored the Shadow Beast and continued. He was certain she wouldn’t have stopped him.
    A particularly loud shout disrupted his thoughts, and Rune looked to the ships.
    Heat climbed the back of Rune’s neck as ill suspicions sank to his bottommost inner dwellings. The bulk of the army had shoved themselves onto his ship. The men on the gangplank were shoving as if trying too hard to see something.
    “Oh, no,” Rune muttered and was off, knowing what it was he would find before he got there.
     
    People cleared the way as Rune made his way through the onlookers, up the gangplank, to the main deck where the last of the men stepped aside.
    Bare-chested and with sword raised, Ottar stood in his massive glory towering over an opponent. Rune pushed his way to the side for a better view and locked against the sudden jolt to his senses.
    With flames ablaze in upturned palms, Kallan danced, alert and at the ready, dwarfed by Ottar’s massive frame. Opposite Rune, on the other side of the make-shift arena, Bergen stood with a grin plastered across his face.
    With the flick of his blade, Ottar swayed, waiting for Kallan to give him an opening. A smile tugged at his lip and Ottar jerked to thrust.
    “Stop!” Rune shouted over the crowd.
    From the gangplank, Rune shoved himself between Kallan and Ottar. With his lip stuck out, Bergen crossed his arms and leaned against the gunwale as if ready for a second fight about to begin.
    “Ottar!” Rune spun about. “What is the meaning of this?”
    “She challenged me,” Ottar said, pointing the tip of his sword toward the Dokkalfr.
    “She—” Closing his eyes, Rune pinched the bridge of his nose and willed himself calm.
    The water lapped against the ship’s side, bobbing it about in the water as Rune scoured his thoughts for a solution, something that would ensure Kallan’s survival in Gunir, something to guarantee her safety despite her own determination to die. A gleam shone in Rune’s eye, much like Bergen’s wiliness, and he heaved a sigh. His mind settled on his solution.
    “Lady Kallan is a guest!” Rune paused to look upon each face, ensuring their attention was paid. “At my request!”
    All was quiet save for the creaking of the boats and the water that lapped the strakes.
    “As of right now…” Rune continued, daring anyone to object to his next words. “…she is my vassal!”
    Kallan’s face fell white and she dropped her jaw in sync with the three hundred Ljosalfar around her. A low muttering began.
    “Rune, you can’t do that!” Bergen shouted. “Are you insane?”
    “I am king! Am I not?” Rune shouted, silencing any objections. “As king, I have rights to choose whomever I wish as vassal!”
    Again, Rune looked to each man, daring him to raise his voice against his.
    “For as long as she is on board this ship,” Rune said, ensuring all understood his command. “For as long as Kallan Eyolfdottir is in Gunir, she is my vassal!”
    Rune’s attention fell to Bergen, who had the sense to keep quiet. For now.
    Careful to avoid eye contact with a certain Dokkalfr, Rune snapped his head about in search of objections that never came. Once he was certain there would be no uprising, Rune stomped back down the gangplank, leaving Kallan standing on the ship, wearing a look of pure shock.
    The boards creaked mercilessly beneath his feet. Bergen followed fast on his brother’s heels.
    “Rune!”
    The water sloshed objectionably beneath Rune’s feet.
    “Rune!”
    Rune stomped back to his bedroll, intent on ignoring the backlash he knew would come.
    “Rune!” Bergen cut in front of Rune, who stooped to collect his bedroll. “You can’t appoint that prisoner as your vassal.”
    “Guest,” Rune corrected. “And can’t I?”
    “There will be an uprising,” Bergen said. “The men won’t stand for this, let alone your brother. You can’t—”
    “I have no choice!” Bergen stopped and Rune knew Bergen