It began … and again it fizzled away.
Like the gods had heard his invocation … and saidno.
The prince took to the sword instead, swinging his masterfully glowing blade. A wolf leapt and he spun, using his momentum to behead it in one enormous swipe.
This time, the shadows did not regather.
But another wolf appeared to take its place.
Ezer scurried backwards, her back up against an aspen tree. The solid bark was the only thing keeping her rooted to the spot. Withtrembling hands, she held Arawn’s dagger before her, knowing how useless it would be against the wolves.
She’d seen six Redguard die in a matter of seconds.
Now their bodies were spread across the snow like a garland.
The other beasts down the path killed and killed, as if driven by some carnal need to end every living thing they faced.
Ezer whimpered.
‘Please,’ she begged whatever gods were listening, if they dared turn an ear to a woman like her at all.
She had no power to help.
She could do nothing but watch the others die.
Something touched her shoulder.
She screamed, and held out Arawn’s dagger, expecting another shadow wolf.
But it was only a raven. She could have wept at the sight of it as it landed on her shoulder, a balm to her soul, for now at least she would not die alone.
An omen would be with her.
The raven cawed once before it suddenly nipped at her ear. The pain was enough to shake her for a moment.
‘Stop it,’ she hissed, but she realized now that her shock was gone.
Her eyesight was clear again as she looked up. Arawn had run down the hill, where the wolves now circled the living as if they would pick them all off, one by one. Somehow, three more had arrived. Shadows seemed to drip from their bodies as they snarled, their maws steaming with hot mortal blood.
They’d kill them all.
And then they’d come for her next.
You will stand now,Ezer told herself.You will find your own strength and run before you end up like your mother and father.
But I’m afraid,Ezer thought back.
Now it wasn’t her voice that answered, but her uncle’s deep timbre.
Who cares, Little Bird?
Do it afraid.
The raven leapt from her shoulder.
‘Wait,’ Ezer whimpered.
She stood on trembling legs, reaching for it as it soared off into the snowy forest, a little black blur. She took one last glance at Arawn, could see him swinging his sword amidst the howls and snarls.
