Chapter 25
ISOLDE
With my sister at my side, I stood outside the gates of Myrr, my body and heart weary from travel and blood loss.
Though Astril’s ministrations helped, King Tholin’s injury had been so dire that Thyra and I had required the constant use of Sassa’s Blade to keep the wound shut as we traversed the mountains. We’d both given much of ourselves and were feeling the repercussions two whole days later.
Not far away, Bavirra and Thordur assisted the injured soldiers of Dergia on Rynni’s back. There was no denying that these dwarves were among the few with injuries so severe that they’d never fight again. Much like their king, their lives had been forever changed by the battle with the frost giants.
The dead? They were going too. Wrapped in soft, white linen, they had been placed in a large wooden box that the dragon would carry through the clouds.
We hadn’t even faced off with King Magnus yet and already my first allies had experienced great losses. And that wasn’t the only alliance that had been affected.
Lord Balik had yet to utter a single word to me or Thyra. Right after the battle, he’d made it clear that he was flying ahead of the armies—getting a severely concussed Filip back home. No one questioned that the lord had wanted to help his heir, though I suspected that wasn’t the only reason the high lord had left Sian in charge.
My stomach soured at the memory. Had our failure to trust Lord Balik with the truth cost us everything?
Vale assured me it had not. After all, Lord Balik had not kicked us out of his city, and the Warden of the South couldn’t deny that our magic had turned the tides. No, the stoic Lord Balik was simply ignoring us.
The final injured dwarf mounted the dragon and Bavirra and Thordur fell back to stand with my twin and me. Together we watched as the dragon and the gryphon riders rose in the air and banked east, back to Dergia.
Bavirra sighed. “May the winds take them swiftly home.”
“Indeed.” Her brother’s eyes were red, as they had been so often these last days.
My throat tightened. I’d apologized to the prince and princess many times for their losses. They’d expressed pain for the deaths of their people, but also acknowledged that casualties were expected. They’d agreed to war.
It was Bavirra who spoke the most haunting words. That in the end, we’d all lose someone we loved.
Thinking in that vein brought up another question. One I’d smothered time and time again, but it continued to flare to life whenever something went wrong. Back before I’d known who I was, back when a vampire prince hunted me, I’d bargained for Anna’s life.
What was that price for her life? Had I already paid it?
The past moons had been difficult. Sometimes heart-wrenching. But something told me that the answer was no. Mydebt remained and when I did have to pay, it would be awful indeed.
“Let’s go back.” Thyra’s hand brushed mine.
I glanced to the dwarves. They did not look inclined to leave. More like they wanted a moment to themselves.
“We’ll see you two at the castle,” I spoke softly.
“See you there,” Bavirra replied, her gaze still firmly on the dragon and the gryphon riders escorting her in the distance.
My twin and I turned to leave, and in doing so had to pass through a crowd of Dergians. Most were watching their friends leave, but some stared at us, anger on their faces. My stomach hardened. In the days since the battle, I’d overheard a few conversations.
Some from Dergia were already questioning if they should have left the safety of their rock. No such talk had come from Thordur or Bavirra, but I couldn’t help but wonder what the king thought.
“We need to go to the healing sanctuary,” I said once we passed through the city gates and our Valkyrja formed a circle around us.
“Why?” Thyra’s eyebrows pinched.
“The King of Dergia awoke this morning, and we need to speak with him. To make sure he’s not having second thoughts.”
“Don’t you think approaching Lord Balik would be more prudent?”
“When he’s ready to talk, he’ll let us know.”
“Not like you saved his heir or anything,” Thyra muttered.
