Itzvar woke up as the sun rose. He stretched and got out of his bed, leaving two naked women still asleep on his bed. However, Itzvar did feel a slight headache from drinking ale last night. Excitement filled him as he thought about how much Sophia suffered from imprisonment. He dressed and approached the prison house. The guards nodded their heads. Those who were on guard nodded their heads.

"How were the prisoners?"

"Quiet, there were no quarrels."

Itzvar raised an eyebrow. He expected some resistance from Sophia. The Viking nodded and commanded them to open the doors, which they did. Once the doors were opened, Itzvar saw Sophia and Ragnar asleep but then awoken when Itzvar entered. Both of them eyed him. The Viking then looked at Sophia, who looked at him with no emotion.

"Look, it's the cockhead."

Itzvar raised his eyes. "Cockhead!?"

Ragnar couldn't help but laugh. It has been many years since he had a good laugh. Even his wife or his long-time friends could make him laugh with such enthusiasm. Ragnar knew right then that Sophia was a woman who could never be tamed. It made him think she had a higher destiny than she would admit. 

"This blasted woman called me a cockhead!?" Itzvar's body shook in anger. "You dare speak to me that way!?"

"You act like one, and you have one."

The guards tried to contain their laughter by biting their lips or looking away. They feared that if their leader saw or even heard a speck of their laughter, Itzvar would have their heads. Ragnar stared at the young woman; her eyes hinted at anxiousness and determination, which made him even more curious about her.

Then, Itzvar got in front of Sophia, and the two were face to face. He then got a handful of her hair and pulled it hard. "You are pretty defiant for a mere woman. Perhaps I should cut that tongue off and all that is left of the defiance you have left. Itzvar glared at the woman before him, hoping to see fear in her expression, but Sophia looked him dead in the eye when she looked at him. 

There was no emotion.

"You want to cut my tongue off? Then do it. You have the power to do so. Before you do, let me tell you. When you cut my tongue, you think it is my act of defiance, all because I speak against you. Don't forget other actions can show defiance. You will have to kill me if you no longer want defiance.

The Viking glared at her, and his face got closer to hers. "You wish me to kill you?"

"That is for you to decide. All I know is that when I breathe my final breath, I will be free from you and know in the end that I have won against you."

"Really? You win against me? Explain yourself."

Sophia giggled. "You are afraid of people like me."

Suddenly, Itzvar laughed, and his laugh gave out a loud echo. "Me, fear a weak and inferior woman like you!? You-!"

"It is the truth. When people speak against you, it shows that they do not fear you; they fear lies they do not wish to speak of. When people like you try to silence those trying to speak out, it is out of fear, the fear of losing them over the weak who dare not speak out. Do what you want if I am to die today. At least I have won against you and know I have installed fear within you."

It was silent, and no one said a word. Then, Itzvar slapped Sophia across the face. The slap surprised the young woman, and the pain was rapid throughout her face. Tears wanted to form, but she refused to let them develop. She bit her lip, slowly glared at Itzvar, and smiled. Itzvar slapped her again on the other side of her face. 

Ragnar watched everything unfold but couldn't do anything since he was contained. 

Again, Sophia contained her tears and felt blood dripping from her nose. She glared at Itzvar and smiled. "Go on, give me your fear."

Itzvar felt anger swell within him. He was about to slap her again, but then Ragnar spoke. "You are proving her point, Itzvar. She will not back down. That woman is stubborn to the core."

The Viking then turned to Ragnar, and then he stood up. "Take the woman to my quarters. I wish to speak more with her alone." The guards did as Itzvar told them, and Sophia was taken away.

"As for you, you will stay here another day, and I will think of a better way to end your life." Itzvar left, and Ragnar was left alone.

Ragnar was processing everything that had happened. He chuckled, "Sometimes I wonder if she is brave or just plain stupid."