By that morning, Rágn had recovered enough to speak with them. His men fared worse, and one remained in bed, delirious.

" They said that by allowing the god to descend, we broke covenant with Calsar," he told Yrnhold weakly. " There is no recourse; even if we support them driving off the Cwge, we've been marked..."

His wife brought him a bowl of porridge.

" Must you question him so, coven?" she begged of Yrnhold.

" It cannot be helped," Yrnhold said. " Rágn, that man speaks blasphemy. Never in all my years as coven have I heard of cutting ties between clans over this. The stakes that hold down the old gods are made so they cannot be pulled by mortal men; a god may only come down of its own will, and should only ever be welcomed."

" He has had ill intent about this the whole time," Sif said. " Was that man who tried to assault me not one of his people?"

" I would take it as Calsar himself having something against the natural order," Rágn's mother unexpectedly chimed in. " He was of great help in turning tide when Caedwghe oppressed us, but was that not just because he was able to banish spirits? Perhaps this whole time, he has sought to eliminate even our own gods."

Then she went back to taking up clothes for Rágn to change into.

" Mother, must it be something so awful?" Rágn complained. " We can't forsake Lord Hélna..."

" If the man has shown himself to be as greedy as the king he replaced, then it's only fair to resist his rule," his mother responded. "Now, the lot of you clear out, so that Yveda and I may help my son change."

<- .....->