Cracking and creaking as their reptilian skin turned to stone, theDökkálfarexposed to sunlight or the radiantgildirgems ofLjósálfarweapons petrified before her very eyes.
Amidst the screams of dying men, roaring flames, and the deafening clash of steel, a bone-deep shriek split the sky, as an enormous dragon dove from the clouds,frostfireunfurling from its massive maw.
As flames erupted all around, a wave of horror swept over Úlvhild.
For the scarred Snake Warrior from herseiðrvision slithered stealthily toward Haldor.
And at his side, a flame-haired, crimson-eyed witch.
Enshrouded in swirls of smoke.
As the Snake Warrior raised hisDökkálfarblade to strike down her beloved Falcon, Úlvhild channeled the divine light of the Sun Goddess Sól into Skugga’s sinister eyes. He screamed in agony, vainly swatting at the spewing flames which burned into his skull.
Searing pain shot through her belly, knocking Úlvhild to her knees.
Black tendrils poured from the witch’s outstretched arms, writhing like snakes which wrapped around Úlvhild’s throat.
As foul fumes smothered her, and the coils constricted, cutting off her breath, Úlvhild poured the last of her essence into Haldor through theseiðrfjáðrrune.
* * * *
Thesoulboundmark on his chest seared with sudden, blaring heat.
Haldor spun, just as Skugga’s eyes burst into flames and the Snake Warrior fell backward, writhing on the ground and shrieking.
A surge ofseiðrmagic wrenched Haldor’s gaze to Úlvhild.
She clutched at her throat, gasping for breath, while a witch with long scarlet hair and pale skin etched with black runes cast swirling shadows which crushed and consumed her.
Haldor grabbed the Dwarven spear strapped across his back.
And hurled the unerringÍsfalkrinto the black heart of the crimson-eyed witch.
An inhuman shriek rang out across the vale—a raw, ragged wail from the Underworld. The dark shadows smothering Úlvhild recoiled, as if in pain, slithering back into the witch like snakes. Myrkkha’s body arched, her spine twisted, and the runes on her skin flared with crimson fire. As they dimmed and died out, she crumpled in a heap of ash when the last of Hel’s breath left her lungs.
Haldor rushed to Úlvhild and dropped tohis knees, cradling her head with unsteady hands.
Her breath was faint and ragged. She was alive, but broken.
He poured his soul, his love, and his magic through theseiðrfjáðrto sustain her.
As he had done near Dvalinn’s cave when Dáinn was injured, Skjöld removed a small section of thefrostfireshield which encircled Luna and Sif so that they could join Haldor. Once they were all gathered around Úlvhild, he rekindled the blue flame to protect them.
Raptors dove like spears from the sky. Their sharp talons and curved beaks tore the flesh and pecked out the eyes of screaming Rus raiders and Frankish warriors who retreated north, desperate to escape.
While Luna cleansed Úlvhild with the healing magic ofnen glir,Skadi rent the sky with a harrowing screech, swooping down to unleash a flood of ice blue flame over the fleeing, doomed men.
Silence stretched across the meadow.
When the dense smoke finally cleared, the bloody battlefield was littered with stone statues of petrifiedDökkálfarand the smoldering bodies of slain warriors, Skugga, Myrrkha, and the vile troll.
Skjöld retracted the shield of fire and dashed over to Haldor. His haggard, haunted gaze raked over Úlvhild. “Is she alive?”
Haldor’s voice broke. “Barely.”He frantically searched Luna’s luminous face. “Did you heal her? Will she live?”
As Elfi, Njörd, Njáll, and the others gathered near, Luna replied in a clear, calm voice. “Úlvhild lives. I have cleansed her ofDökkálfardarkness, but I cannot revive her. For she has been stricken with the malevolent magic of a goddess.”
“Then she must be cured by a goddess!” Haldor spun to Skjöld. “I need to take her to theDragon’s Leapcave in the Lofoten Islands—where I once summoned Freyja. The goddess ofseiðrmust cure hervölva.”He shot to his feet and scanned the shore, now free of enemy ships. Eyes wild, he cast his desperate gaze at the wolf warriors around him. “Help me get her to my ship. We have to sail with the outgoing tide.”
