Chapter 113: Hearts, Part 6

Håkon recalled the monstrous squid, the hellish magic that had all but oozed from it. How many ships had gone missing over the years because of the necromancer, all of them assumed lost to storms or sirens?

The way everyone probably assumed he was dead. A chill ran through him. He did not like to think of people standing around his pyre singing hymns, whispering about how tragic it all was, first one brother, then the other, and oh, their poor parents.

To hell with his parents, who had left immediately after his brother's funeral. Had not replied when he had written to tell them he had survived the Blooding and was doing well. It was better to sever ties with family after the Blooding, but he had hoped they would care, would be happy to know they still had one son who was doing well despite the horribleness of it all.