Deep veins of blueseidrscar each arm with a few on his face. She traces the ones traveling down his chest and legs to his feet. A faint glow emanates from the gouge.
Movement pulls her up to his face as he turns toward her.
“Aura?” Her heart melts at the weakness in his voice.
All her frustration and uncertainty evaporate.
The only person who matters is the Iss Drengr.
Her knuckles drag along a nasty gash of luminous cerulean. “You destroyed the drauger and froze the mountain.” She perches at his side. “How do you feel?”
“Like the temple was dropped on me.”
She places her hand over his heart, wanting to ask the burning question Helga tried to impart before she left. Yet, she is terrified, against all reason, to have it confirmed. “I fought a vísir.”
His brows raise. “Run that by me again?”
“Gullveig seems to have determined that your soul was prepared for the Depths and sent a vísir to guide you onward. I confronted her. It turns out she is an old friend, Drengr Helga.”
“Helga?” His eyes gaze up at the ceiling of the shack, as his mind replays memories from before Aura was even born. “Anything else I missed?”
Aura nibbles her bottom lip without meeting his gaze as she relays her interaction with the Drengr.
All except for their last conversation.
“Helga and I pledged the Drengr oath together. She was an exceptional warrior, even if she allowed Thrain to manipulate her.”
“She did not seem eager to leave the mortal realm.”
Emotion wavers in his expression, as he undoubtedly reflects on a simpler time in his life.
Calder scratches his head. “I froze the mountain?” He changes the subject as he lies back. “My head is killing me. But I need to rise. We need to move.” He tries to push himself upright, but she gently presses him back onto the makeshift cot.
“We will chart our course tomorrow morning.”
She grits her teeth, her heightened awareness burning on her cheeks. After Isabel, she vowed never to allow betrayal to sting her again. And yet, as he readjusts, she reflects on the uncertainty since their first meeting and knows one thing is certain.
Calder Avardsson is lying to her.
33
AURA
October 10, Year 21, 10th Era
Viktoft, Skalor
Calder’s healing is surprisingly quick, and Aura is wary of his recovery. His body’s ability to withstand theseidrwounds seems unnatural for a mortal. A halvgud could resist such an assault of godly powers upon the body.
But not him.
Then there are his powers, which are unheard of, especially for someone not granted Sacred Stone abilities as a young boy.
Fitz assures her the healing is routine and that she should trust his process.
In the barn, she tosses and turns, unable to find sleep through the night. Once morning arrives, she can no longer feign slumber. She rises and methodically packs her bag when Argnier and Edmund's snores are too loud to ignore.
After another cold bath in the lake, she paces outside the shack until Fitz unexpectedly announces that he wants to speak with everyone on the dock before they set sail for Sannhet Burg.
