Elof doesn’t answer. Or he can’t, I don’t know. He is made of rock. A mountain giant. He ignores Ylvin’s complaint and smashes a fist into Ari’s chest.
And again. And again.
Each earth-shaking blow shatters more ice from Ari’s ribs. Frost sprays in violent bursts. Ari screams, clawing wildly, struggling to survive. The mountain shudders under their fury.
Shockingly, Ari surges upward, striking like a snake. As Elof regains his balance, Ari grabs the mountain giant’s arm with both his gruesome hands.
“Not good,” growls Ylvin.
Ari twists.
Bone, or stone, cracks. Elof’s arm snaps at the elbow like a brittle branch. Gods, they can break. He tries to rip his arm loose, but Ari doesn’t let go. Holding onto Elof’s arm and twisting the other way.
“What’s happening, Ylvin?” shouts Eidunn.
I could easily answer her. Ari is fucking up Elof’s arm. But Ylvin’s words bear more wisdom.
“If Elof can regain control, he can wear Ari down. Ari will fizzle out. But Ari is full berserk. He draws from a well of power only accessible to the mad. The mindless.”
“He isn’t mindless!” I shout.
Ylvin snorts.
“You think Ari would ever hurt Elof? They drank mead together. Elof taught Ari about his blood.”
“No, but?—”
“Prepare to run,” growls the she-wolf. “Elof will be fine. Climb on.”
Eidunn runs to Ylvin, climbing onto her back.
“Come, Kilda,” says Eidunn.
Ari releases a strange sound. It reminds me of… laughter? Elof’s arm still seems to function, but Ari controls it, pulling Elof back and forth with it. I regret my wish. I don’t want Ari to win. Or kill Elof. I just want Ari to survive. Freya give me strength. This is all my fault. Why do others always pay the price? I always bring… ruin.
Letting Ari drown in this madness alone is not an option.
I run forward.
“Kilda!” shouts Eidunn. “Don’t go!”
“Sorry!” I shout back, unsure if they can hear me over the clash of giants.
I don’t even look where I plant my feet. They move before my mind agrees. My hand dives into my satchel, yanking out the hammer. It quivers, thrashing in my grip. Eager.
“Kilda!” roars Ylvin.
I raise the hammer over my head.
“Ariii!” I scream at the top of my lungs. The hammer crackles with ice energy. The same as Ari’s. Frost lightning shoots from its head.
He turns. Sees, or feels, the hammer. He shrieks and pulls Elof’s arm, smashing his head into Elof’s. A sky-splitting blow. Rock flies in all directions. Elof crumbles forward to his knees, leaning on his arm.
Ari stomps viciously on Elof’s back. It’s hard to tell if Elof really is a stone giant or just a heap of stones. Ari turns to me. An alien smile under his eldritch eyes. Crow bastard.
I pull my arm back, closing my eyes as I hear Ari’s titanic steps draw nearer. Seconds, that’s all I’ve got.
Ari. My man. He killed for me. He would do it again—his own words. He strikes like a snake. In and out of the neck. His gladius. I remember. To protect Eidunn. To protect me.
