Yes, purred Myrkur.Let us play with it, Eisa.
Silla exhaled in frustration, refocusing on what Rey was saying.
“I did not return merely for a visit. I came to fetch you.”
“Me?”
“It seems,” said Rey, “this job with the mist has always involved you.” And with a sigh, Rey relayed everything that had happened in the forest—the Spiral Staves carved into the trees; the Forest Maiden’s awakening and her call for the Protector. Silla gasped when Rey revealed that the grimwolf she’d encountered in the Twisted Pinewoods—the one that had slaughtered the Battle Thorns warband—was none other than Kritka, servant of the Forest Maiden, who’d been searching for a Volsik heir.
Myrkur growled low, anger sharpening Silla’s senses. She drew a deep breath, trying to keep her mind on task. “And the Forest Maiden believes that my gift—this strange ability bestowed by Sunnvald—will banish the leech from the woods?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
Myrkur shifted, peering upward.We must play with this power of yours, Eisa, He purred.You won’t defeat my progeny without it.
Silla’s spine stiffened, but Rey buried his nose in her neck. His touch caused warmth to bloom inside her, and the dark god to skitter away.
“There’s more,” Rey murmured against her skin. Silla’s fingers scraped along his scalp, and he leaned into her touch. “I need to muster a great number of warriors. I’m told the leech has a considerable army guarding—”
“The tree,” finished Silla, the dark dream she’d had the night before haunting her anew.
Rey’s spine straightened as he stared at her intently. “In the heartwood, yes. The leech is thought to reside inside the tallest hjarta tree. How did you know?”
“A dream,” she said, gaze growing distant. “I believe it was an accident…that Myrkur did not mean for me to see it…but Ihaveseen it.” The god hissed, flooding her with a wave of anger, but she focused on the feel of Rey, steady and warm. “A misshapen tree and an army of undead creatures surrounding it.” Silla swallowed. “We will needmanymen.”
Rey’s grip on her relaxed, and Silla sensed a great weight lifting from his shoulders. Did he think she’d refuse the Forest Maiden’s call? That she’d leave him to deal with such a task alone?
“You must go to Atli,” she said. “Ask for his help in mustering men. He has great sway over Jarl Hakon—”
Her words broke off at Rey’s preternatural stillness.
“What is it?”
“We must discuss the missing letters,” said Rey in a voice of gravel.
Silla exhaled, running a finger along the embroidered neckline of his tunic. She’d gone over this a dozen times in her mind and only one person made sense to her.
“It was Kaeja,” she blurted, right as Rey said, “It was Atli Hakonsson.”
Silla blinked, then stared at him. “No,” she murmured, shaking her head. “It cannot be Atli.”
“You don’t know him like I do.”
“But he’s been such a support in your absence. Besides, I told Atli I was withyou,and he assured me his interest was only in friendship—”
Rey’s fingers dug into her hips, and she could practically feel the rage rolling off him. For a moment, his anger felt like more than missing letters. Like there was some history between them that she didn’t understand.
Secrets,whispered Myrkur.He keeps things from you.
Silla shook Him off. Chose her words carefully. “How can you be certain?”
“I have no proof, but…” Rey’s jaw hardened as he drifted into thoughtful silence.
“What about Kaeja?”
He was silent for a moment, then shook his head. “Ithasto be Atli.”
A memory coalesced in Silla’s mind. “Atlididbring up Eyvind’s letters in conversation—twice, in fact. Each time, the reminder that you hadn’t written was like a knife in my heart—”
