Eir gasped, coughing as she spat out a mouthful of blood.
“My sons,” she whispered before her hand fell limp and lifeless down to the ground.
“No! Stay with us, please!” Steffen begged, a sob bursting out of him.
Vali pressed his forehead to his mother’s, his tears washing through the streaks of blood.
The air shifted beside Westley, but he was too late to stop Steffen as he leapt up in a rage, taking the sword Solveig had abandoned to attend to the queen.
“Steffen, no!” Solveig cried, trying to catch him. She was too late.
Steffen charged towards Maddock. The Elven prince raised the sword above his head, the rage in his eyes fuelling his attack. Maddock only grinned, lifting his bow again to aim it at the grieving prince.
He shot the first arrow, but it was blasted back by a bolt of light from Solveig.
Frustrated, he shot again and again but was thwarted each time by Solveig as she cleared the path to Maddock for Steffen.
Westley felt her weakening with each strike, but she pulled magic from deep within her. When she was too tired, Westley took over, knocking arrows out of Steffen’s way with droplets of water.
They were so focused on their task they did not see Ragnvald step in.
Before Steffen could strike Maddock down where he stood, Ragnvald skewered the prince with his sword.
“No!” Vali cried, springing to his feet. Westley whirled, prepared to stop him from enduring the same fate.
Before he could act, North crashed into the Elven prince from behind, pinning him to the ground. North fought hard to hold Vali back, sorrow painting her face. He thrashed against her, but she refused to let go. The Elven heir would not be able to stand against Ragnvald—Alfheim had lost enough.
The battle persisted around them, and those who were able were forced back into the fray.
They were losing.
More and more Fae fell at the hands of Ragnvald’s soldiers. He was shielding them with that invisible force, somehow, and they were outnumbered.
Westley met Solveig’s stare and knew they were thinking the same thing.
Retreat was the only option.
Solveigsnappedintoaction,calling for retreat through the secret passage. She thanked her Hamingja Westley had shown it to her earlier.
She stood at the door as she called soldiers to flee into the tunnel, with the strongest warriors staying back to fight off the encroaching army as best they could.
Aelfsi brought Koa, bruised and limping from Maddock’s arrow, through the door. Coronation guests hurried after the queens, leaving the fighting to the dwindling soldiers.
Solveig’s eyes flitted around the room as the massacre continued.
More of her people dying—Westley’s people alongside them.
She thought everyone who couldn’t fight had escaped, but from across the room she saw Sten still battling, struggling to reach the door.
Viggo and Noren pulled a distraught Vali off his mother’s lifeless body. They dragged him to the passageway with North and Gerrie on their heels.
Time to go, Prince, she thought to Westley, who was helping the front line of soldiers keep the Giants back.
Just get yourself out, I’ll be right behind you, he replied, not looking at her.
Bullshit. You think I don’t realize you’re going to stay until you’re dead? If you’re not going, I’m not going.
He swore but didn’t bother to deny it.
