“Now,” she said. “Why don’t you let go of my uncle, so we can kick the living shite out of these arseholes?”
“Damn, I love you,” I said before breaking our connection and making a quick call to Andi.
Isla formed a fireball in her hands and hefted it toward Gillian.
She ducked, standing straight again with a sneer. “Nice move, Wandavision. That the best you got?”
Confident my woman had things under control, I released Kade and grabbed the sword from the ground. Sindri, now realizing I was no longer under his control, grabbed his staff and ran towards me. I ordered Hershey to guard Isla as I ran to take care of Sindri.
Kade, standing face to face with Erik, smiled and nodded politely, saying, “Dad,” before headbutting him squarely in the face.
From there it was all out pandemonium. The women teamed up with the Gunnachs to battle Erik’s guards, while Kade fought Erik.
“Heed your master’s call!” Sindri shouted, pointing his staff at me. “Ketill Feilan, I command you to obey me.”
He tried to compel me, but the power he once had over me was gone. I had the strength of the oracles flowing through me, and the love of Isla deep within my heart. I was surrounded by my clan on the field of battle and my thoughts finally belonged to me and me alone.
“Yeah, about that,” I said, raising my sword. “I’ve had some time to think about it, and I’m done doing what you say.”
“Obey my commands,” Sindri hissed, trying once again to compel my thoughts.
“Suck my sword,” I said, throwing the enchanted blade at Sindri, which he swatted to the ground as if I’d thrown a paper airplane at him.
“Did you forget I made that sword?” Sindri screamed. “Did you forget I made you?”
“You’re not my father or my master, Sindri,” I said. “You’re a political opportunist who put his own selfish need for power before the common good of the powerless. You’re a monster who must be brought to justice.”
“Who’s going to do that? You?” Sindri challenged. “You may be a powerful oracle, but you’re not knowledgeable enough to banish me on your own.”
“Not him, me,” Haddi said, and Sindri turned to see him standing with the blade Andi removed from his chest now firmly in his grasp. Haddi drove the knife into Sindri’s chest, and he dropped to his knees before him.
Haddi’s rune glowed bright white on my chest as I spoke the ancient words of eternal banishment.
“Sindri, þú hefur verið fundinn sekur um að brjóta heilög lög öldunganna og ert hér með dæmdur í eilífa bannfæringu.”
Within seconds, Sindri’s body was reduced to a pile of ashes and his soul sent into eternal limbo. Haddi dropped to his knees and wept over his brother’s remains while the fighting continued all around him. As I held onto my truth, my tattoos glowed blue, shining onto their people, giving them each a boost of power as they fought.
“You’ve lost, Erik.” Kade said. “Your guards have been defeated, your pet wizard is dead, and you’ve failed to bring about the prophecy. It’s time for you to face the true death.”
“You won’t do it,” Erik challenged.
Kade began, “Erik Gunnach—”
“Wait!” I interrupted. “He needs to know he wasn’t wrong.”
“What?” Kade asked. “What do you mean?”
“About the prophecy. He and Sindri were right. This is the time of the Great Awakening.”
“What are you saying?” Isla asked.
“The elders prophesied of the Vakningin Mikla. A time when all Kalt Einn would be free to walk alongside mankind. This is that time. Sindri read all the signs correctly but was unable to see the true meaning of the prophecy, which is not about ruling over mankind, but about working with them side-by-side to make a better place for us all to live.”
“Sentimental foolishness that will lead to the demise of our people,” Erik said.
“No,” I said. “It’s the dawn of a new era of Cauld Ane, Kalt Einn, and humanity. An era of peace, prosperity and of making the planet a place where immortal children can live freely without fear.”
“Is this true?” Isla asked.
