“Marra, grant me wisdom.”
The beast rose on its hind legs and roared at the sky. This was no natural sound of a bear—it came from all sides of her, above and below—from within her skull.
Are you ready to play, Eisa?purred Myrkur, His glee and battle thrill charging the air.
“Ready to take that ugly head from your shoulders.”
And with that, the god of chaos attacked.
Chapter 60
Reynir Galtung had never been so terrified in his life. He batted at a Turned raven trying to gouge out his eyes, as the screams of men falling to undead creatures filled his ears. The leech’s Turned army had them surrounded; Silla’s warband was impossibly outnumbered and impeded by the snow. But none of that mattered while Silla battled the god of chaos.
“Fuck,” he muttered, swallowing his fear as he stared at the two lone figures facing off near the tree. Silla looked so gods damned small before the Turned beast. But her face was drawn with complete focus as she ducked the enormous bear’s slashing paw. With impressive movement, Silla twisted, hacking upward and burying her sword deep in the bear’s armpit.
The creature opened its maw wide, but no sound came out. Instead, the air vibrated with a premonitory warning.
“Duck!” bellowed Rey, and Silla threw herself to the ground not a heartbeat before black flames poured from the bear’s mouth. They scorched a nearby hjarta tree, and Rey muttered a thanks to the gods that the wet wood prevented it from catching flame.
But the sight of those black flames chilled Rey to the bone. Black flames, like the sword the enthralled Silla had wielded against him in Svangormr Pass. Black flames, like her sister Saga had used to decimate the great hall in Askaborg Castle.
And if what Silla said was correct—that only Myrkur’s power could destroy the leech—then she would need to wield these blackflames for herself. But first, she had to get close enough to the bear to pull the dark god’s power into her veins. It was impossible, and yet Rey knew better than to underestimate this woman.
She neededsomethingto give her an edge. Rey scowled at Myrkur’s avatar, assessing its movements. “He’s just shown you His tell!” he called out. “Next time the air vibrates like that, you know what He’ll do.”
Silla did not so much as glance his way, but the bear turned with a warning snarl. The air grew suddenly heavier; more difficult to pull into his chest. Panic lashed through him, and Rey fell to his knees, clawing at his chest. His need for air grew more desperate—
All at once, the feeling subsided and air surged into his chest. Rey clambered to his feet, anger burning to life inside him. It should behimfacing the god. He yearned to hack off that bear’s head—to flay its chest open and peel back its ribs. For weeks Myrkur had tormented Silla, and gods, but Rey wanted to make Him hurt.
Eerie, cackling laughter rattled the air, and though the bear’s back was to him, Rey sensed the god’s attention.Such delicious anger you have, lover of Eisa,purred the god inside his skull. Rey’s whole body shuddered at the reverberant sound.Little good it will do you now.
Rey’s grip on his sword tightened, blazing with fury as he watched Silla and the bear circle each other. He was vaguely aware of Hef battling an undead mountain cat just a few paces behind him, but Rey knew he could trust in the queensguard. Right now, Silla needed his eyes on that bear, studying His movements.
I will cut her down before your eyes, and you won’t be able to do a thing about it,taunted the god.Or perhaps I will Turn her draugur and keep her as my pet.
“You need an obstacle to slow Him!” shouted Rey.
Silence, mortal!shouted Myrkur. The sound scraped down Rey’s spine and left him gasping once more. But he gritted his teeth and examined the bear with keen eyes. Black blood oozed from the creature’s armpit and several wounds on its shoulders, but like the other Turned creatures, it seemed completely unbothered.
“Keep your eyes on His nostrils!” he called out. Silla said nothing, but the tilt of her head told Rey she was listening. “They flare before He lunges—”
Irritating mortal!roared the god of chaos, constricting Rey’s lungs.Do you want to play?
“Fight…me,” Rey wheezed, desperate to lift this burden from Silla’s shoulders…
Very well.The bear seemed to smile—if a bear could do such a thing.I’ll send you a playmate.
As air rushed into his lungs, Rey unsheathed his sword and advanced. But a thud from behind the bear drew his attention. Another soon followed. Another in a rhythm that had Rey’s stomach twisting in recognition.
A heartbeat—and it came from the infected tree.
A burl protruding from the side of the tree burst, and a cloud of white spores seeped into the air. The tiny particles whirled and twisted, joining together into a cloud.
“The mist,” muttered Rey, with a curse. Another burl exploded, more spores spewing from the tree. Rey strode toward the tree, giving Silla and Myrkur a wide berth. Then he wrenched his galdur forth and shoved smoke into the air as quickly as he could. Already, a tendril of mist tried to slither past him to reach Silla.
None may touch my avatar,snarled Myrkur inside Rey’s skull,but it was never specified that Eisa cannot be touched. If the mist reaches her, your precious shield-maiden will be Turned draugur. I fear that will end our battle rather quickly.
Silla danced back from the mist and stumbled over a rock. A ripple of dark glee filled the air.
