Taboo Broken?

Kjell was left stunned by this revelation because it left a bitter taste in his mouth that Asmund was so willing to give up on Xenophanes despite the king of Kattegat being willing to give up his life for Asmund.

"Why did you give up on him?" Kjell could not help but ask, his curiosity had the best of him but Asmund did not mind the question and that was why he told the story.

"Hahaha! It was because he was a traitor…" Asmund said in a joking manner, the tone not matching the seriousness of the situation but his joyful face turned sour.

"... Or at least that was what I forced myself to believe. I knew there was no way he would turn his back on me not after risking the stability of his kingdom on a whim but I am not like Xenophanes. I had to do it for the sake of my kingdom. I had to treat him like we do traitors…" Asmund said, but Kjell did not believe a word he had said.