She gives me a nod, but she waits, and I know she needs more. She needs to know if I’ll force her to take action she doesn’t want to take.
“I will not force you into this war,” I say, but I hold up my hand. “But I want something in return.”
“What is it?”
“Leave us be.Allof us.”
Her focus is suddenly on Galeia, but I’m not finished.
“And tell General Glass that her daughter will be loved.”
The Valkyrie Queen’s eyes are now narrow, silver slits.
There’s no doubt in my mind that she’s struggling with my demands, and I’m really not sure what she’ll choose.
“Or we can fight,” I say calmly. “And I will win. After which, I’ll force the Valkyries and the Einherjar to fight on the side of the humans.”
The Queen eyes me with such resentment that I’m surprised by her response.
“We would most certainly have been friends,” she says. “I agree to your terms.”
Without another word, she sweeps her wings back, rises into the air, and lifts her voice to a commanding shout. “Fall back! Let them leave.”
The warriors on the wall immediately lower their weapons.
Now that I’m holding my hammer, I can make out their features. One of them, an older man, catches my attention. He has the brightest blue eyes, glowing sapphire in a way that makes me suspect he is somehow in constant contact with his deep light.
He gives the Valkyrie Queen a firm, supportive nod, which draws a soft smile to her face before she soars back to him.
Within moments, she has disappeared into the village, and only a few warriors patrol the wall.
A hush falls around me, broken only by Galeia’s soft snarls, but she sounds less fearful now.
I find myself taking a deep breath.
Across the way, Erik’s expression is no less fierce, but there’s something in his eyes, something lost…
I hurry toward him, reaching him as fast as I can, wrapping my arms around him and Galeia, my power glowing around all of us. “Erik?—”
Cailey’s voice interrupts me. “We don’t have time for reunions. We must move.” She’s already spinning to the dragon, addressing him as if she has authority over him. “Vargo Vanem, you will carry Erik, Asha, and Galeia. I will ride the wolf-bird. We will go west. To my home. You know the way.”
The dragon inclines his head, an unexpected show of reverence. “Yes, Caoilainn Liadan. As you request, it will be done.”
Blackbird appears at that moment, sweeping toward Cailey. She launches herself into the air and onto his back in one seamless move as he soars past her. “Hurry!”
I take Erik’s hand, meeting his eyes. I suddenly can’t find words. Some of the ferocity in his expression fades. I press my cheek to his, and that’s all we have time for.
The dragon soars from the rock to the flat plain beside us, sending a gust of wind around us that nearly knocks me off my feet. I quickly put my hammer away and reach for Galeia, but her arms only tighten around Erik’s neck.
“Okay?” I ask him, and it feels like I’m asking for far more than that he carries her on the journey.
I’m asking him to protect her. To accept my choice to bring her with me. To support me in trying to help her. All without knowing anything about who she is and why she’s here with me.
He nods. “I’ll look after her.”
Within minutes, we’re seated in the saddle on Vargo’s back, Erik holding Galeia in front while I sit behind him. This way, I can lean forward and tell him everything.
Then we’re rising into the night, and once again, I cling to the hope that wherever Cailey’s taking us, it won’t be into danger.
