Burial Rites

As Chapter 10 begins, a clerk writes up the deposition of Rosa Gudmundsdottir, regarding her relationship with Natan and what she knows of the people accused of killing him. She has a child, now three years old, with Natan, and she did not know Agnes or Sigga. She tells of how Natan sent Fridrik to her house to rob her, claiming she had money there. This was a lie, and Fridrik tore her storeroom apart looking for it, which only increased the rivalry between Natan and Fridrik. She states that Natan often buried money in the ground. Meanwhile, Toti has returned to his father’s house and taken ill due to exhaustion. Agnes wonders where he has been, and worries that he has abandoned her or grown tired of her. She also suspects that Blondal may be keeping Toti away, as an attempt to break her. She has not been told her execution date. She considers asking Margret if she could attend church with the family, as she feels in need of spiritual guidance, and regrets that Natan never allowed her to go to church. This brings her thoughts to Rosa, whom Natan grew tired of, despite having a daughter with her.