Thrain beats her abdomen, spewing blood, bone, and gore into the cell and onto Sigvid’s legs.
All his previous self-reassurances that this is a nightmare fly out the door as he watches the love of his life battered to death by his brother.Thrain wrecks her body until nothing but crimson mush remains of her midsection.
Her once gorgeous body lies unmoving and silent. Those bright blue eyes stare wide at the ceiling, and Sigvid convulses at the sight.
No, no, this is not happening. That could not have been Avina. She is alive and safe in Sjoby.
“...I do not understand.” Ceowald’s voice slices through the scene. “What is happening?”
Sigvid suddenly feels as if his head is forced through a tight, cold space, only to stumble back into his cell.
His legs and arms can move!
But his head throbs. And there is no Avina. Only Ceowald, Thrain, and Mali observe him as if he is a fascinating experiment.
“What the fuck is this shit?” Sigvid throws himself at the door, shaking the cage.
“Did you not enjoy the illusion, Sig?” Thrain mocks him. “I should have prefaced that Mali has a Sacred Stone power to conjure illusions in people’s minds once she learns a tiny bit about them.”
“What did he see?” Ceowald glances between Sigvid and Mali.
Sigvid bites his tongue, refusing to indulge them in his mental misery. He will take physical torment over this mindfuckery.
“He watched the love of his life raped by his brother while he stood helpless. Her death is his worst fear.” Mali’s lazy voice drifts through his bars.
“Surely you are not using visions of my daughter being raped and murdered as torture? What is the perception you wish to achieve?” Ceowald’s stuttering through his first question is a delight Sigvid wishes he could genuinely savor.
“Are you losing your nerve now, Ceowald? I suggest you leave if you cannot handle my methods.” Thrain’s voice is low and threatening.
Ceowald shakes his head. “This is too much. What will people say if this is how we torture him? You said my daughter was falling in love withyou. Thatheis interfering.” He jabs an accusatory finger at Sigvid.
Thrain snorts back a laugh. “Your daughter whored herself out to the Arena’s Beast. Sigvid can call it love all he wants, but one way or the other, I will use her against him until he fucking breaks!”
Ceowald stomps out of the dungeon with a furl of his cape.
“Mali, give him three scenes a day, as you please. Mix them up. Sometimes, she dies. Maybe he sees his little Queen experiencing pleasure at my hands,” a wicked smirk toys at his lips, “maybe she likes it.”
Thrain presses his face against the cage bars. “Ceowald may want answers from you, brother. But I want to watch you fall to pieces, knowing I will win this war. I will become King of Treland, not you. And when I do, I will fuck the memory of you out of Avina.”
52
AVINA
December 23rd, Year 100, 9th Era
Outside Blackwood Inn, Salt Province
Avina slides over the embankment beside the forest. She clutches her trembling hands to her chest as her hot breath fogs around her.
After all Sigvid and Helga did to help me escape with the Stones, I must not fail!
As the Salt and Ridge guards drag Sigvid to the Toftlund gate, she watches with bated breath. Once the soldiers are out of sight, she adjusts course through the woods surrounding Blackwood. Her feet stumble over the heavy snow as sweat trickles over her temples.
Helga is dead. They captured Prince Sigvid.
Derailing her life has been a focus of Thrain and her father for years now. This situation has spiraled into a debacle. Watching the only man she has ever loved hauled away to the dungeons to keep her hidden and safe is enough.
I need to be the one to fix everything.First, I must find a Drengr of the inner circle. Which leaves me with Slode or Kar.
