The Northern Wave: Book 3

The death of Sigurd was a hammer blow to Torf as now the weight of command fell on him. Until Sigurds son Gottorm took up the line of succession as Jarl of Orkney Torf must remain as commander of all Norse forces in Pictland.

Torf's greatest fear was a Pict attack from the south. If Picts got wind of Sigurd's death they might seize on the moment to attack in mass and take advantage of the power vacuum. Ro-Sheen was devastated by Sigurd's death but mournfully played a major part in the deception as ordered. Where Sigurd went, she went and to any observers, Sigurd had sailed north with Ro-Sheen.

Relative peace existed between the Norse and the Picts on the conquered land and the death of Tusk seemed to extinguish resistance as his failure was treated as a betrayal and Picts spat at his weakness

Ro-Sheen was devoted to Sigurd, and indeed to Torf. She had heard Sigurd refer to the second harvest many times and, in her mind, it would provide food security for all. She had listened in horror as the real meaning of the second harvest struck her with an overwhelming wave of betrayal, guilt, and shame.