Returning to Swordbreak after its liberation and the hunting of Oddgeir, Arn spends time with the townsfolk, getting to know them in their longhouses while continuing to tend to Darri and spend time with Jorunn. Before leaving, the village elders point him towards a nearby fishing village where he find a boat and passage to the Barrier Islands.

At the end of the first day, he comes across a small group of forester’s cabins, where he spends the night. They welcome him as they know the people of Swordbreak.

The next day he comes to the fjord that Highmark lay at the head of.

Having tracked Arn, he attempts to abush him on the cliffs of the fjord, where they struggled and fought until Arn was able to disarm him, saying that he had returned to undo the damage he caused. Ormr demands to accompany him on his quest to recover Ulvetann to ensure Arn does indeed fulfill his responsibilities. Arn accepts.

Upon arriving at Highmark the next morning, they find it to be in ruins, still smoldering from fire. There are several bodies, but not enough to account for all the villagers. Arn deduces that the survivors were most likely led away as captives, and swears on the village’s swearing iron to find and return them.

They find a survivor and nurse him back from the brink of death. Thorbjorn tells them of the foe they face: a husk named Hoggvandill who leads a bad of bloodthirsty raiders. He then pledges to help get them to Hoggvandill’s island stronghold.