Roots of Darkness

Recap of the mist storyline in The Road of Bones

Hekla ‘Rib Smasher’ is a member of the Bloodaxe Crew, a group of viking mercenaries who specialize in monsters. Other members of the crew include Reynir ‘Axe Eyes’ Bjarg, and brothers Jonas ‘the Wolf’ and Ilías ‘No Beard’. After meeting with Magnus Hansson, King Ivar’s Chief Hirdman, the Bloodaxe Crew sets off on a quest to reach the town of Istré and rid it of the deadly mist terrorizing its citizens.

According to reports, the mist has the sound of a beating heart; it emerges from the woods and leaves missing people in its wake. The Klaernar—King Ivar’s specialized warriors—were sent to help. But the Klaernar’s corpses were soon found secured to the pillars with vines, and a symbol written in blood, over and over.

In The Road of Bones, The Bloodaxe Crew leaves for Istré, but soon discovers a stowaway in their wagon—Silla Nordvig, on the run after the queen’s warriors killed her father. Though a secretive person, Silla integrates herself within the Bloodaxe Crew and becomes quick friends with Hekla. As a domestic abuse survivor, Hekla insists on teaching her self-defense.

But after the Bloodaxe Crew agrees to protect Silla from the queen’s warriors, Ilías ‘No Beard’ falls in battle. Silla’s lover, Jonas—and older brother to Ilías—feels betrayed. After drugging Silla, Jonas hands her over for a reward. Reynir ‘Axe Eyes’ Bjarg, leader of the Bloodaxe Crew, goes to rescue her, leaving the Crew under Hekla’s command.

In Kingdom of Claw, Rey is forced into hiding with Silla. He writes to inform Hekla that his old friend, Eyvind Hakonsson, will arrive with his retinue to help with the job. Now Hekla and the rest of the crew—Gunnar and Sigrún—are in Istré, grappling with Ilías’s death while trying to complete their task.