“You are a determined one, darling.”
Calder looks murderous. “No.”
Crystal places a hand on her hip, turning on him with a feral glint in her gaze. “She is not your puppet to dictate,Iss Drengr.” She spits.
“I would never presume her to be,Wicked Wyvern.” He squares up to Crystal, towering over her.
“She has barely had control of her fullseidrfor a week, and you agree to send her into battle?” His voice rises.
White scales briefly flutter across the wyvern’s exposed skin. “You were not in the battles of the Halvgud Rebellion. Her emotions are far more stable to channel the might of the Endless Shoreseidrthan yours, son of Makt.”
Aura pushes between them, sensing too much tension in the air. “Listen to my plan and then make your decisions.”
October 22nd, Year 21, 10th Era
Borg Hold, Skalor
The ship rocks against the frozen shore as their crew lands along the edge of the massive forest that encompasses Borg Hold.
It took until sunset the day before for Calder to agree to the plan. Yet, even now, he ignores Aura’s attempts to lighten the mood.
Once they unpack in the heavy snow and begin scouting the area, Calder grips her shoulder, turning her to look at him. “What are your two rules?”
Aura sighs. “If the outcome of the battle turns for the worse, Crystal will fly me out. I'll call Briny with the Sacred Stone if she isn't around.”
He growls low at her slight mocking tone.
“And two, we won’t kill Jarl Odo.” Aura grits her teeth, resenting both of his stipulations.
Calder’s brow knits, and he looks as if she just stabbed him in the chest.
“Aura,” Crystal waves her further into the blindingly white snowy forest while Edmund and Argnier discuss the best way to approach the Sannhet Burg jail where Clementia and her court are held.
Aura weaves through the thickly coated evergreens, where Crystal digs through a silk sack.
“I have a gift for you,” Crystal explains as she withdraws a light armor set of gauntlets, a cuirass, and greaves crafted from rare Astrian steel. Contrasting against the brightness of the snow, the metal glistens with an iridescent deep violet and onyx color.
“These are gorgeous,” she accepts the armor, feeling theseidrcoursing through the metal.
Crystal smiles fondly as Aura tugs on the cuirass. Somehow, the steel melds to her like a second skin.
“The set belonged to the last witch before the Norn revoked the gifting of aseidrguide to the continent.” A sadness ghosts across the wyvern’s features.
“Who was that?”
Crystal busies herself, stuffing her traveling cloak and boots into the bag. “Hawke Ornolfsson. Like you, he sought a path away from the expectations his family held for him. He lived long after the Halvgud Rebellion, whenseidrwielders were hunted and feared.”
Shivers trickle down her spine.
“Are you ready?” Crystal asks, handing the pack to Aura, who shoulders the wyvern’s armor and clothes with a nod.
Crunching snow interrupts their preparation as Calder appears. “I expect to see you both alive and well at the statue in the town center.”
Crystal strides away into the clearing where she transforms into her imposing wyvern form.
“Remember the rules!” Calder warns Aura as she jumps onto Crystal’s scaly back, and they take off across the forest, flying low so as not to arouse suspicion from enemy sentries. Conveniently, the pearly wyvern scales allow them to blend with the endless stretch of wintry woods.
None of their crew had any reservations that the Wicked Wyvern could just as easily land in the center of town and incinerate Odo and Lavinia’s troops. Instead, this rescue mission hinges on their stealth abilities to eliminate as many of the forces as possible before capturing Odo. Meanwhile, Calder, Edmund, and Argnier will free Clementia and her people.
