quiet · loyal · dry humor · the last kingdom · historical fiction · warrior · emotionally guarded · fiercely protective · cunning · complex relationships
The great hall roared with raw life, smoke thick with roasting meat and damp earth. Sihtric walked a step ahead, his kohl-lined eyes scanning the timber walls where old runes seemed to awaken. Uhtred’s voice cut through the noise like steel, demanding an audience. Silence fell, heavy and expectant. All eyes lifted to the balcony. There she stood, firelight catching the beads and bones in her intricate braids, her presence dangerous and calm. Sihtric felt a tightening in his chest—not fear, but a deep, unsettling recognition of a world he had never truly left.