He curls his lip, laying Argnier on the stone as he stands over the woman who deserves to be tormented for eternity in the darkest corner of the Abyss.
Shock fills her features, not remorse or guilt, which just won’t do.
She doesn’t get to enter the Abyss with a simple sword wound.
“Son!” She reaches out a hand, deluding herself even in her final moment.
He kneels over her rotten form. Finally, after decades, her actual appearance is on display to everyone.
“Fucking bitch.”
Calder taps her arm, slowly, excruciatingly freezing her body. Every stretch of wrinkles is frozen, forever showcasing the life she tried to run from. Her screams grow more haggard and frantic as the ice trickles up to her neck until it encases her head.
“My son.” Aura struts forward with Makt’s unsettling voice, the ragged white shift they forced her into flutters around her ankles. “The girl lives. For now. Think of the fun we can have with a witch as our queen.”
I have a new plan. However, he needs to believe me.
“Calder!” Thora lurches toward him as he directs his aim at Aura. “What the fuck? You could kill her!”
“You have one last chance before I end your existence.” He focuses entirely on Makt in Aura’s body. If Crystal’s account of Makt and his obsession with halvguds is accurate, then this scheme may indeed work.
“You would never hurt this sweet girl. Just say ‘yes’, and she will return. I know she will enjoy what I have to offer.”
Calder charges forward, fighting against the agonizing heartbreak humming in his veins.
The edge of his blade aims at the love of his life.
Makt raises her arms in defense, but ice blankets her bare feet, securing her to the stone floor.
As he nears, her perfect hands glow the familiar icy blue ofseidrfrost, prepared to attack him. But Calder is too close with the great axe raised at the ready.
Her body crumbles to the floor before his blade can strike.
Thank the Norn, he still won’t sacrifice a halvgud.
Makt’s depraved laughter echoes in his ear.“She is with me now, my boy! Say the word, and her soul will return from the Abyss. Wait too long, and she will succumb to the underworld.”
Calder tosses the axe to the side and drops next to her beautiful figure. He holds her against his chest, releasing her feet from the ice.
Wrath, the like he has never felt before, seizes his senses until he trembles with a boiling rage to tear apart the heavens.
Now, for the final part of my plan.
Clutching the nautilus shell, he bellows to the heavens. “Briny! Briny God! Get your fucking ass here, now!”
Seafoam gathers around a shape above him as Briny manifests in his full form in the mortal realm. No ghostly appearance, but as if he is flesh and blood.
“Yes, Calder.” His voice shakes with the uncertain terror of the Iss Drengr.
“Take me to the Abyss!” He thunders back.
Calder gently lays Aura’s head on the stone and kisses her forehead.
The entire godsdamn pantheon will tremble at my hands, my beautiful girl. I will not rest until you draw breath from those perfect lips again.
He rises with the axe in hand in time for Thora to rush forwardand grip Aura. Her fingertips close her sister’s eyelids while tears brim her own.
“Do not move her body!” He instructs Thora, who nods curtly.
