A Curse Carved in Bone

Bjorn is Freya’s true love and loyal ally. His role as one of the book’s two narrators indicates his importance as one half of the romance that constitutes the story’s dominant plot arc. Bjorn’s motivation revolves around protecting Freya and earning her forgiveness for deceiving her in book one.

Bjorn’s character undergoes less development and transformation in this book than in book one, making him somewhat static. Allusions to past mistakes constitute the primary way Bjorn’s flaws and complexities are revealed, and his character arc involves redeeming these mistakes and proving himself a worthy romantic partner for Freya. Bjorn tends to mitigate conflict rather than create it, especially on the several occasions he shows up in the nick of time to save Freya from a fight she’s losing. His constancy in these circumstances can be viewed as evidence of his devotion to her. He makes good on his promise to fight by her side, thus earning her trust and forgiveness and demonstrating The Redemptive Power of Loyalty.

Bjorn’s functions in the story revolve around his relationships with other characters, including Saga, Snorri, and Harald, in addition to Freya. Having a seer for a mother meant growing up in the shadow of her prophecies: “All my life, I’d been driven by prophecy and destiny and fate, accepting the Allfather’s guidance given through my mother’s lips without question” (148). Bjorn longs for self-determination but often feels like he and his loved ones “are pieces in a game played for amusement” (202), powerless to change their circumstances. His connection to the fearful shield maiden prophecy and his investment in averting it reveal The Tension Between Fate and Free Will. Bjorn’s relationship with Harald develops the theme of The Freeing Power of Truth by portraying the devastating consequences of Harald’s lies.

Harald is the story’s antagonist. He embodies the shapeshifter archetype, presenting himself as an ally but then betraying Freya and revealing himself as her enemy. Harald’s skills of deception are impressive. He studies people the way an engineer studies a complex mechanism: “That is how I understand them […] Like the drawbridge mechanism: I had to understand it before I could make it work” (165). Learning people’s strengths and weaknesses and understanding what they care about allows him to manipulate them. His actions and words in early chapters demonstrate this power of deception by characterizing him in an extremely positive light. Examples include forgiving Bjorn for betraying their plan because Bjorn acted out of love, not malice; calling the Unfated who serve him his family; and putting himself on the front lines of efforts to protect his ship from the storm or his city from attack. Nordeland sees Harald as their savior and as a “liberator and a champion of the weak” (10). His ability to cultivate these beliefs, gather loyal followers, and amass a great deal of power sets up the book’s thematic exploration of The Freeing Power of Truth.

According to Saga, Harald is motivated by the desire to outwit and control others. Their suffering is not his primary goal, but a byproduct of his drive to control them. Bjorn’s observation while in Grindill’s prison cells paints a different picture. He concludes that Harald chose Tora to guard him, rather than a thrall, because he knew that having to choose between his friend’s life and his own freedom would be a form of torture for Bjorn. Harald finds amusement in pitting friends against each other and forcing them to make decisions that will traumatize them. This, along with the stories of him destroying the families of the Unfated, paints a picture of a sadistic villain.

Another aspect of Harald’s motivation is also the cause of his downfall. In his pride and arrogance, he’s always eager to brag about how he’s outwitted people and taken from them. He sees it as evidence that he’s stronger and smarter than everyone else. Tora presciently calls it his weakness. Harald’s compulsion to boast about his deeds allows Steinnun to reveal the truth, turning all his followers against him. Their previous allegiance, a result of lies and coercion, contrasts with the devotion Freya and Bjorn freely show each other, which emphasizes The Redemptive Power of Loyalty.