Apologies,came the voice of Gunhilde.There are so many magics flying about, it’s a challenge to find a way through. I need you to fetch Sif and Baedi for me.
Where are they?asked Hakon.
An image of a street flashed into Hakon’s mind.Here,said Gunhilde.Holed up like a pair of water rats. Jarl Birger has ordered a retreat. I need them back safely with us.
If she listens to me,thought Hakon privately then sent the thought,Understood.
Off you go then.
Hakon opened his eyes to see the others looking at him. “That was Gunhilde. I’m to fetch Sif and Baedi. The Jarl has ordered a retreat. The East Gate will be opened soon enough.”
“Good hunting, Brother,” said Gunnar with a smile. Ignetha gave Hakon a hug. “Be safe, and get your woman out,” she said.
Hakon nodded at them, took a deep breath, and ran back into the rain-soaked city.
***
“You couldn’t have sung a warm, summer rain,” said Baedi, teeth chattering.
“It was your spell,” Sif shot back. “Do you know any nice songs of warming?”
Baedi looked at Sif, nonplussed. “I’m an idiot,” muttered the Elder witch. “Hold on, let me share this with you.”
Images and sounds flooded into Sif’s mind. “How deceptively simple,” she said. “Give me a moment.” Then, she murmured a tune, a lilting summer air that spoke of warm breezes and cloudless skies. Sif felt the cold retreat from her bones.
“Mmm,” murmured Baedi. “Sweet Goddess, that’s better. Can’t believe I didn’t think of that before.”
“How many spellsongs do you know?” asked Sif, curious.
“I was a long time in exile,” replied Baedi. “That’s all under the bridge now, but there were many years when it was just me and some very old, very interesting books. I became an expert on a few things, spellsinging among them.”
“But you yourself can’t…” Sif hesitated, not wanting to appear rude.
“Sacred Frey, no!” Baedi snorted. “I can manage some of the minor ones, but most of them are simply on another level. I don’t have the power. No one did, until you came along.”
“Am I really that—” Sif began but stopped when Baedi suddenly raised a hand. “Hush now!” said theElder witch sharply. Sif followed Baedi’s gaze and saw that several figures had rounded the corner to the west. They all appeared to be clad in furs that made them seem almost bestial. This effect was exaggerated by how they moved—low to the ground, with loping strides. Spears and axes dangled loosely from their hands.
“Softly now,” hissed Baedi and led them both from underneath the market stall’s roof and slowly crossed from booth to empty booth, traversing the town square. The sound of heavy rainfall hitting the cobblestones was all that could be heard.
“Ready your witchfire,” Baedi murmured to Sif, as they both watched the increasing number of Skraelings filling the opposite side of the town square. Both of them were so absorbed in their quiet crossing and keeping a wary eye on the enemy across the square that they did not see the other danger until it was too late.
The single Skraeling that had spotted them and was quietly lying in wait rose up like an angry bear, his heavy axe raised high above his head. The warrior let loose a feral, awful howl, and presented such an image of sudden horror that both Baedi and Sif recoiled and lost their footing on the wet stones of the town square.
Terrified, Sif tried frantically to propel herself backwards, but she could find no purchase on the slippery cobblestones. She tried to concentrate her thoughts to cast witchfire, but the awful spectacle of the howling warrior standing above her drove all coherent thought from her head.
“No, no, no!” cried Sif, and sudden thought unwound calmly in her mind.So this is how you’re going to die? How foolish. What a waste.
The Skraeling’s arms were raised, the axe ready to fall. Then, the frenzied light in the warrior’s eyes faded, to be replaced by a look of sudden confusion as the man’s legs folded beneath him and he collapsed, axe clattering onto the street. Behind the fallen Skraeling stood Hakon, pulling his bloody sword from the warrior’s back.
“Come on,” said the man Sif loved most in the world, “we’ve got to get out of here.” He pulled her up then did the same for Baedi.
“I thought I was dead,” said Sif, and as that realization came crashing over her, she sobbed. Hakon gave her a swift kiss. “I wouldn’t let that happen,” he said fiercely. Then his gaze shifted to the other side of the square, and he said, “If either of you have any power left, now would be a good time to use it!”
Sif and Baedi turned to look at the Skraelings who had gathered and were beginning to charge across the square. The young witch’s terror and despair was replaced by rage. “Scum,” she hissed between her teeth. Sif flung her arms towards her enemies, and green crackling witchfire shot from her fingertips, doubling and redoubling upon itself until it resembled a massive net of green fire.
When it struck the assembled Skraelings, the effect was immediate and dramatic. The mob howled in pain, and despite the downpour, the square was filled with the stink of burning flesh.
“Time to move,” said Hakon and turned both witches around and set them running. He trailed behind the pair, with frequent looks backwards, until they were finally through the East Gate and out of the city.
