Does Sigvid deserve her forgiveness?
With his head resting against the wall, the King nods as he catches his breath.
“The gods tasked me with one fucking mission in this life. And it was to shelter my Keeper.” He fists his hands on his thighs. “If I weren’t so godsdamn furious with her, she would have been at my side when Lavinia’s men attacked. I could have shielded her.”
“Lavinia has loathed your existence since you nearly decapitated her, defending your love of Avina. She has been awaiting the chance to ruin your life.”
Calder kneels beside his mentor, who stood with him through every bout of darkness when even the gods had abandoned him. The man who took in a young boy and raised him to be the most notorious Drengr on the continent.
“We will get them back, I promise. But I need you to stand with me, not against me.”
Sigvid smears the blood across his face. After staring into the distance long enough for Calder to wonder if he had truly broken the man, Sig extends his arm. Calder grips his muscle-hardened forearm, pulling Sigvid to his feet.
“I trusted you to protect my daughter, not fall in love.” He spits the last word as if it were venom on his tongue.
“Trust me, that was far from my intention.” His breathy chuckle barely acknowledges the unexpected nature of his relationship with the Princess. “My respect for you stayed my hand more than you canunderstand. However, my existence is devoted to Aura. I cannot foresee a future where she is not at my side.”
Sigvid folds his arms as he listens. The berserker may have hit its limit, but the man bore more wrath than a thousand men.
“I gave you my oath, Lord Commander, but I must continue to disobey your blacklist.” He lifts his Drengr medallion off his neck and slams it into Sigvid’s chest. “Claim your blood oath.”
Sigvid seizes the emblem, staring blankly at the symbol. “Your life would be wasted if I sent you to the Depths now.” He shoves it back at Calder. “Besides, no one has ever bested me in strength alone. You have long been among my most trusted Drengr in my circle.” He lowers into a chair, wincing at his wounds. “If anyone is worthy of Aura, it is you.”
“Makt, in his infinite kindness, granted me four days, now three, to decide to be his vessel before Lavinia cuts the cord on Avina and forces Aura to agree to his possession.” His voice wavers as the reality of facing a reality without his beautiful girl crashes down on him.
He will not damn her to wander the Abyss.
“I assume you know where they are held?” The animalistic grunt and glance away betray the Lord Commander’s inner turmoil over losing control.
For once, Sigvid’s guilt and self-loathing strike a high chord. Blaming Calder has been an easier venture than accepting his part in losing his family.
A reaction the Iss Drenger anticipated.
“Nightwall Keep. We are only a couple of hours away by sail.” Calder settles into a chair at the opposite side of the table. “Lavinia has a tower where she keeps her favorite torture victims.”
“Your mother is a fucking peach.” He rubs his forehead. “How many reinforcements do we have?”
Calder explains the situation and his plot to save Avina and Aura before killing his parents. Sigvid listens in rapt silence, only tapping two fingers on his leg.
“This will be fucking fun.” Sigvid smiles, cracking his knuckles. “Perhaps events have clouded my judgment lately.” An unusualsheepish expression crosses his face. “Please accept my apology for doubting your loyalty.”
Calder stands, extending a hand to him.
Sigvid growls as he accepts. “Now, where the fuck are my Drengr?”
Calder removes his pipe, lighting the bowl dismissively.
His one command to Thora and Edmund would preserve the greatness of the Lord Commander. No one could attest to what occurred between the two warriors in the longhouse. He knew dragging Sigvid with him over the ledge of truth was the only way to end their confrontation.
I needed him to burn out his seidr or risk another confrontation.
The Beast of Salt may have fallen to his knees in defeat, but Calder will accept the only victory between them: the life of the Princess of Treland.
Aura’s heart and blood oath belong to the Iss Drengr.
42
AURA
