“You gave me nothing but loneliness and a dead mother.”
Ceowald’s fades into a sickening shade of purple. “This is your final chance. If you come with me now, you will live a comfortable life as a wife to King Thrain of Treland…”
Oh, so we are already using that title.
“...Should you force a war, I will hold you down myself while Thrain pumps a son into your belly. Then you will be locked away in a tower just like the rest of the Redwoods.”
Over my dead body.
“I have only one thing to say to you, Father.” She steps backward until her back bumps into Grim.
“Shield wall!” She screams so loud that Sigvid’s ears start to ring. Her grip tugs him into a crouched position, and the swords around them shift into shields, protecting them from the archers above.
“Move!” She commands.
Damn, I think I am hard right now.
The slow-moving force shifts toward the gate that bursts open with more shield-bearing Drengr. The shields lift upward, creating a tunnel for Sigvid, Grim, and Avina to run up the road, protected by Drengr on all sides.
Once Toftlund fades at their back, Slode joins them. “My brother in arms! It's good to see you alive!” Slode pats a hand on Sigvid’s back and tugs him toward Blackwood, which should now be under their control.
“What happened to you?” Slode questions. “You look haunted.”
“Thrain found some kind of mind witch to fuck with me.” He omits any more details.
Life will never be the same for him.
“Well, I am glad you are alive, my brother.” Slode embraces him in time for Kar to catch up to the group.
“That was stupid of you to allow them to capture you.” Kar scolds. “What happened to the Sigvid who slew forty men in a pub while in berserker mode all because someone spilled his ale?”
He fell in love with something more significant than ale.
“It was necessary for Thrain to hang himself, for the people of Salt and soldiers to see his true colors.” Sigvid tightens his arm around Avina.
He allows them to pull him into Blackwood, where Healer Svanlaug waits to care for his wounds. A horn of mead and a slab of grilled meat already sit ready for him on the table in the central section of the inn.
“How long have you planned this?” He groans as he settles into one of the chairs beside his mouthwatering food.
“Since the day of your imprisonment.” She unbraids his hair. “You need a warm bath after the healer sees you.”
“Your Queen is the brains behind most of the operation.” Kar begrudges.
Sigvid smirks, not doubting that sentiment.
“I will find Bertie and alert Timber to our good news. Kar, it would be best if you told the other Drengr not involved in the rescue. They’ll want to know our prince is safe.” Slode guides the lingering Drengr out of the room.
“Happy to see you are not dead, Beast,” Grim adds before leaving Sigvid and Avina alone.
“Is that armor new?” Black is an attractive color on Avina. Add in her golden curls, and she is stunning.
She pauses, and he catches a blush on her cheeks. “My Timber generals surprised me with it. Too much?”
He tugs her into his lap. His heart calms just to be able to hold her in his arms. “You are the sexiest warrior I have ever seen.” He is about to remove her cuirass when he pauses.
“Timber generals?”
“Yes, I summoned my army. Oh, and I am in honorary control of the Drengr. They all swore a blood oath. Quite a surprise, I must admit-”
