Jorn scrambled to his feet, grinning back at both Olrun and Rota. "Now that's why having two drengmaers to cover your backside is better than just one." He winked at Olrun, and she grinned.
Even Rota cracked the frown from her face, before ordering them to push onward.
The three of them rushed toward more oncoming warriors, while arrows whizzed overhead. The flaming points hit trees, and the dried bark ignited.
Crackling fire sparked from tree to tree until a dozen evergreens blazed like torches as the warriors raged on beneath the sizzling threats.
Black smoke engulfed the fighters as their attackers pressed the Lion Clan back into the Sacred Groves. The women and Jorn, gagged from the smoke as they fought, but the endless river of Upsalla’s men never ceased. More sprang from the burning woods quicker than the drengmaers could take them down.
The King’s men pressed them backwards into the Sacred Groves. As they reached the circle of longhouses that protected the inner sanctum, even more of Upsalla's warriors sprang from the barracks. They sprinted, weapons trained on the Lion Clan as they screamed, "For the King of Upsalla! For our God Odin—the Master of Shadows!"
"They've already taken the grove!" yelled Jorn.
Anger flashed over Olrun's freckled face. "Then by the Goddess, we're already defeated."
The three turned to face the new onslaught. They pressed into one gigantic form as they sliced their way into the longhouses, hoping to penetrate the inner grove, hoping to find survivors.
Instead, bodies—those of drengmaers, the hearth and of the temple—riddled the circular barracks. Astrid realized they must have converged at the outer wall to stop the onslaught here, but failed.
As Astrid watched the slaughter through the shadowwalk, her body buzzed and flashed. She thought of her sword, and the slickness of its hilt slid into her hand.
Esa, Gisla and the other Givers gasped at the blade’s appearance.
"Svenna," said Esa, her voice wobbling. "I... we do not..." but the woman's fear warbled through her tone, and she failed to continue.
Astrid didn't need to hear her voice to know she'd say, "We do not use weapons here." Her body wavered and the tingling sensation of the walk spread over her body.
She appeared in the grove as Rota, Olrun and Jorn broke from the barracks and into the center of the groves. Upsalla's warriors lit the dais with a blazing torch—the dry wood spit and ignited.
All around, the Lion Clan fell, some with their lives' blood releasing into the frozen earth beneath while others were knocked cold. As Astrid’s body materialized, she targeted an oncoming warrior, sword pummeling toward a short, black-haired young drengmaer she didn’t remember ever seeing. The warrior girl stood over a honey blonde girl holding a crying baby with a knife wielded toward the longer reach of the man's sword; the young warrior didn't flinch. With one swipe, Astrid knocked the weapon from the man's hands, and he lunged, scrambling for the blade, but the young girl knifed him in the back, stabbing again and again until he lay still. The young warrior nodded at Astrid and took up her stance, again, before the honey blonde girl as the baby screamed.
And the sensations—the dying man, the rage of the young woman, the baby's fear, and moreover, the chaos of war—spun inside Astrid so much worse than it ever had before.
Astrid’s body pulsated. She sensed herself waver between worlds. Back in the Palace, she heard a Giver scream and take off at a run down the hallway.
"Try and focus on your breath, Astrid," said Gisla.
The girl's big doe eyes appeared in front of Astrid, but just as quickly, her vision flashed back to the slaughter.
Astrid tried to focus on her breath—the cool, long draft of a warrior's breath. The kind of breath that sent power into every muscle of her body.
She raised her sword. Her body flashed in and out, one moment in the Palace, the next on the battlefield of the Sacred Groves.
Rota, Olrun, and Jorn fought like wild animals in the distance, but the press of hundreds of warriors was too much. Olrun plunged, hacking, slicing and battling. A blow to Rota's kneecaps sent her flying face-first to land with a thud. More attackers moved in on the threesome, and just when a death blow sought Olrun’s throat, Jorn plunged in front of her, taking the point of the blade meant for her in his bicep. Even though he’d momentarily saved her, another attacker moved from behind hitting the big warrior over the top of her head with the blunt end of an ax, and she fell like a landslide of boulders to her knees. Jorn hovered over her protectively until another blow took him down, and he fell, dazed to the ground.
As Astrid strutted toward them, disappearing and reappearing, Rota lifted her head, spotted her and screamed, "Savior!"
Astrid kept coming, but she couldn't control the walk. She couldn't control the flood of feelings. She couldn't control the onslaught of warriors.
"Savior!" yelled Rota again. "Do not come to us! This battle is already lost!"
Olrun turned at the cry of her sister. She lifted her eyes to Astrid. A river of blood ran over her forehead. "Your fight is not today, Savior. Your fight will come, but not today. Please go back and live to fight for us all another day." Then the big drengmaer's eyes sunk downward, and her head hit the ground.
Chapter 38
"We depart for Asheim, now," said Ravenna. "All has been prepared."
The First prodded Hallad through the hallway of Glitner at a rapid pace.
"How was my speech?" asked Hallad.
"You did well. The crowd received you with little hesitation. They will follow when you bid them to."
Hallad smiled at her praise, then dug into his pocket, producing the dyrr. "I nearly forgot." He stretched his hand out, displaying the medallion for her.
Ravenna’s eyes lit, first with delight, then with suspicion, then returned to a constant state of placidness. "Where?"
"I told you it wasn't stolen. Erik found it."
"Found?" her dark brow didn't even raise a sliver, but Hallad sensed her unease. Women were never easy for Hallad to read. Rolf read them well enough, and Erik seemed to have a second sense for his little sister. Astrid was the one woman in the worlds he understood.
Astrid? he thought. Where is my sister? I feel...
Ravenna slunk into him, pressing her body against his. Her heat penetrated him, and all his thoughts disappeared. He cupped her chin and took her mouth in his. When she pulled out of his embrace, she asked again, "Where, exactly, did Erik find the dyrr?"
"I'm not sure, but I must have dropped it. Nevertheless, it's returned and makes our journey more efficient."
The First tapped her finger against her chin as a far-off look glazed over her eyes.
"Aren't you pleased?" he asked.
After hesitating, her eyes refocused on him, and she spread those glorious lips into a smile.
"Of course, I am."
Then she hurried Hallad into a steady gait once more and before long, they entered the nordr pastures of Glitner.
A team of reindeer and their callers awaited them, along with some hundred Palace Guardians. Some deer had been saddled while others were tethered to sleds. Ravenna stepped in front of Hallad and waved to a man, saddled and sitting on top of a buck.
Without spurring the animal into motion, man and deer trotted over to the First. The man's light, almost white eyes sparked with readiness.
The caller nodded at Ravenna. "We are at your service, First of Glitner." He tipped his chin and waved to his retinue of reindeer, men, and women.
"Daidu, I thank you for your quick response, but your services are nei longer required," Ravenna replied, "However, inform me how goes it with Emma."
The man shook his head, though he continued to stare unabashedly at Ravenna. His open, and approving gaze set fires in Hallad's heart. He had to catch himself. Am I jealous of this harmless exchange? Now he knew how Erik must feel—encumbered by passion's reins with uncontrollable emotions firing irrationally inside.
Daidu continued, shaking his head
, "To be frank, First, I'm having difficulty finding her."
"Is that so?" Ravenna's gaze encompassed Daidu's head, his shoulders, around his back and somewhere off in the distance. The off-kilter stare triggered Hallad.
She stares at me like that. And now him?
"Once more, Daidu, I thank you for your service. You're dismissed."
Then Ravenna turned to Hallad, taking his hand in hers. "Could Emma pose a problem?"
Her hand warmed his own and comforted him, calming the up spill of jealousy working through him. He breathed in deep, relieved.
Ravenna's dark brow shot upward as she waited.
Hallad shook his head, "Nei, Emma? Hardly. She's as gentle as a lamb. What problem could she pose?"
Yet Ravenna's brow sunk down in concentration before smoothing out. Then she switched her attention toward the retinue of Guardians awaiting her command. Hallad followed her line of sight, noting for the first time, the Guardians wore an extra draping of cloth over each arm.
"Can you bring them all through the dyrr?" Ravenna asked.
"Over a hundred? Do we require so many? I thought we would rally Asheim with word, not with force."
"That's what I intend to do," she paused, "but even with your smooth speech, they may require extra convincing."
Hallad scrunched his eyebrows downward, but Ravenna's forefinger turned inward and caressed the palm of his hand. A melodic hum played in her throat. The tone melted through him; her song dazed him, hypnotized him, captured him so that no protests formed, though a thought fluttered through his head. He tried to capture it, but it eluded him as if he tried to hold onto a cloud. What sway does this woman hold over me? Then another few notes emitted from the First's lips, and any worry that crossed his mind dissipated.
"Which I will handle," Ravenna assured him. "Nei need to worry. So, shall we proceed?"
"At your command."
Her lips stretched into a breathtaking smile. "I like the sound of that, Guardian."
"Oh, you do, do you?"
"I may have to command you more often."
"And I may have to obey."
Hallad let loose her hand and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into him. His pulse quickened; his loins ignited at her proximity. Another slight hum escaped her, and again his head dizzied at the sound of her.
"I must teach you the runes," Ravenna said suggestively.
"You may teach me anything you like."
The ends of her lips curled triumphantly as she gazed into his eyes, but she pulled back, dislodging herself from his grip. A wave of desire rushed over him at her departure, and he wanted nothing more than to pull her back to him, but the seriousness of her eyes warned him not to.
"We must not dally," she said.
"As you command," he replied with every intention of riling her passions again.
Instead, Ravenna stated each word as it morphed over the dyrr's face with controlled monotony. Hallad repeated them with every desire to please her and within a breath, a rip opened in the air.
Chapter 39
As the gap in the air widened, the crystal cavern of Asheim opened to Hallad's view. Ravenna nudged Hallad in front of her.
"You first," she said, "We don't want to alarm anyone, and I am counting on you to use your persuasion to keep them calm."
Hallad nodded. Her belief in him caused his chest to swell.
"As you say," he said, and her smile prompted him onward.
Hallad stretched his leg out and stepped through the dyrr. As he appeared on the other side, in the center of a vast crystal cavern, several of the nearest inhabitants gasped. A woman bolted upright while another held her hands out in front of her.
"Who are you?" asked one.
The other started a low hum in the back of her throat.
Others glanced up from their spots around the cave, noticing Hallad and the open tear in the air.
The woman spoke again, "I said, who are you?" Her eyes flitted to the glowing medallion in his hand.
"Shadow Sworn?" She gulped as she asked it.
"Nei," said Hallad.
The humming woman pointed to the gash in the air, and stopped short of her melody, screaming, "The Palace!"
Hallad glanced backward. Sure enough, the entire Palace with its gleaming white walls and flader bushes were visible through the doorway.
"I am not here to harm you."
Then Hallad spotted a familiar face. Seretta strode toward him; her gaze zinging back and forth as if searching for someone.
"Hallad?" Seretta asked. "What are you doing here? I thought we had an understanding."
"We do, Seretta, but we require your help."
"We?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.
Hallad turned and waved to Ravenna. She'd edged herself away from the doorway, but Hallad spotted her robes fluttering in the slight breeze. "Ravenna," he called.
Seretta's mouth fell, along with her brows as, after a few intakes of breath, Ravenna stepped through the doorway, and slunk to Hallad's side.
"Commanding Glitner isn't enough for you?" said Seretta, her tone thickening. "Now you come to conquer Asheim?"
At the mention of Glitner, Asheim's inhabitants emerged from every nook and cranny of the cavern. They pressed in behind Seretta. They chattered worriedly among themselves.
"We're not here to conquer anyone," said Hallad.
Seretta threw back at Hallad, "Then why did you bring her along? I thought you understood our danger."
The constant blast from the dyrr's opening sent an icy chill throughout the cavern. Seretta gathered her arms around her, mindlessly rubbing her hands over her arms. She settled a glare on Ravenna but spoke to Hallad.
"And now you bring her into our midst! Ravenna, descendent of the Third House of Hlin, First of Glitner, and heartless backstabbing ogre of a woman who won't stop at anything until we all bow at her feet."
"That's quite a greeting, old friend." Ravenna's tone remained slick, like polished stone.
"Old friend, my backside."
"Come, Seretta," soothed Hallad. "We're not here for a fight. We are in great need."
The two women glared at one another until Rolf bound in-between them. He ran up to Hallad and patted him on the shoulder. Then he hugged him fiercely.
Hallad stiffened in Rolf's grip.
Finally, Rolf pulled away. "Oh, you wet mop, you! You never were much for affection."
Seretta gazed between Hallad and Ravenna, rolling her eyes. "So that’s her game, now. She has a way with twisting men to her will, you know."
"Now, wait just a moment—" started Hallad.
But Rolf interrupted with a punch to Hallad's shoulder. "Nei matter! I'm glad to see you anyway! Not much to do for fun around here." He grinned at Seretta, but she was too busy staring down the First. Rolf swung back around to Hallad, "How's my brother?"
"We're not here for a visit, Rolf. We've business to attend to."
"Ja," said Rolf. "You were never one for having any fun, either. You'd fit right in here." He threw his hands in the air. "But, once you're all done, I could perform that one you like—you know, The Prophecy of the Goddess."
Rolf swished his mantle around him, but both Hallad and Seretta yelled, "Rolf!" at the same time, stopping Rolf in mid-swish.
"So what's so important to you that you betrayed our trust?" asked Seretta. She folded her arms over her breasts and shot another venomous glare at Ravenna. Ravenna's expression remained in a state of motionlessness.
Hallad turned from the women, but remained standing between the two—he didn't want to chance an all-out cat-fight and figured their physical separation would keep them apart. Though there was apparently a long history between the two, Hallad wasn't privy to the details, and Ravenna was counting on him to keep the peace. He just wished she'd warned him beforehand.
"Songvaris of Asheim, we request your aid," Hallad’s voice rang through the cavern, echoing, startling even him with its tremor. "As you know, the Mother dies
each day, and the Shadow threatens to break lose into our land. My sister and I work daily to discover what we must do in order to stave off the Shadow and recover the Mother but so far, our progress has been slow. We request your return to Glitner—"
"Nei!" screams broke into a chorus from the crowd. "Nei!"
Hallad raised his hand, and for a moment the shriek died down. "Wait! Hear me out! If we pool all songvaris together, we think the song will be able to strengthen the land until my sister can find her voice."
"Who thinks that?" asked Seretta, leaning around Hallad to stare irately at Ravenna. "What kind of underhanded plan do you have going?"
Ravenna's mouth twitched with satisfaction, but she remained, standing still, watching something far beyond the crowd.
"Nothing underhanded, Seretta. Just joining forces for the betterment of our land."
"And what would keep you from using and abusing songvaris as you did before?" Again, she spoke to Ravenna.
"It takes a strong hand to rule, but your limp wrist blinded you to the fact that the Conspirators were draining the resources from everyone. You would have let all suffer to save the souls of a few had you ascended to the seat of First."
"You could have been First?" Rolf gasped, his jaw slackening as he examined Seretta with new eyes.
Seretta pushed around Hallad and stepped into Ravenna's space. "And now? Those souls you so willingly cast away are Shadow Sworn. Better to have saved them than lost them to the Dark One, don't you think?"
Ravenna reached for Seretta, but Seretta jerked her arm back. "Don't you lay your hand on me! I know your dirty little tricks."
Ravenna's tone turned melodic. "We were friends, once, Seretta."
Seretta shook her head. "It won't work on me. You forget. I've more power in song than you'll ever have. You were once a hurt little girl betrayed by your father, and I—"
"My father!" Ravenna's voice trembled. She heaved in a breath and within a blink, her tone returned to a state of utter placidity. "My father taught me right from wrong, a lesson you should have learned."
"Funny," said Seretta. "That's not how I remember it."
Broken: Book 2 of the ShadowLight Saga Page 20
