It was as the man had said, Brige relayed to them, and indeed a bit worse. Meeting with those who had grievance against the entrenched soldiers, she had found that they stole, harassed women, and would arrest unfairly those who did not pay heed to them.

Sif could see that this deeply troubled Rágn; after all, if not for a twist of fate, would he not still be loyally serving this man who had saved his people from a witchking?

" Lord Hélna, I'm troubled," he said as Sif lounged at the hearth. The women were off in the kitchen, cooking. Oébfinn accompanied them, as she took great joy in it.

" I know," Sif said. He ran his fingers through a cat's fur.

" Are we truly doing the right thing? Not even five years ago I would have gladly died for that man," Rágn said. " He did everything he did in order to free us from oppression..."

" Perhaps it is as your mother says, and mortal men have their hearts corrupted when they gain power," Sif told him. " Talk to Brige, and she will say her lord Caedwghe was always fair to his own people, until the time came when he wasn't. I don't know much of these affairs. I'm a god of the land, not of politics."

Rágn sighed, laying back on his chair.

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