I was running up the hill. The men on my heels were closing in, their breath so close I could smell the bloodlust on it. I pushed myself until I thought my heart might shatter from exertion. I didn’t expect to survive this, but I needed to warn the others.
That was the purpose of my short life.
I’d seen the ships and I’d taken off immediately, but they’d still noticed me, and now there were only heartbeats left until their blades found my neck.
My feet trampled down frosted grass, and I could hear him now—my commander doling out orders.
Just a little bit longer.
The first arrow found my shoulder as I crested the hill, but I jumped, and then I was over. “They’re here! They’re coming for us!” I screamed with everything in me.
My commander’s eyes found mine, and I watched his grim calm splinter into brutal pain.
But I’d done it. I’d warned them.
The next arrow found my heart.
My hand flew to my chest and the heart beating so vigorously there.
“You okay?” Darcke was beside me, and somehow I knew no time had passed.
“I’m fine,” I said. “Get back.”
“What—”
“Get back,” I screamed.
For the first time, Darcke listened to me, and as I lifted the sword, which had grown hot in my hand, I knew he felt my smile. Sparks flew through the air when I cleaved the stone, and I continued striking the wall once, twice, five times until the air rumbled and it collapsed, bright, pale light spilling in.
“Help Ottoh.” I spun, getting hold of the neck of Vero’s jacket. After kicking more of the rubble aside, I dragged her into the winter sun.
Forty
As I aided Vero to her feet, Darcke dragged Ottoh out of the cave. I was about to thank him when shock rattled my spine.
“Fuck,” my second cursed.
I lifted my gaze at the same time as Vero.
“Fuck is right,” the Briggen second whispered.
It was utter chaos. Kilia and Ilse were standing back-to-back, swords glistening in their hands as they fought three hrimthursar, ducking and parrying blows from the frost giants’ ice picks. The Briggen fourth had a sword, but his brother did not, and blood ran down his arm as the former did everything he could to keep two more giants away.
“You should go,” Vero said. “I’ll keep him safe.”
“Vero,” I started, but Darcke lifted me over his shoulder before I had time to finish.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I snarled.
“Getting you away from them,” he snarled back.
“Set me down!”
One shake of his head.
“You realize I’m holding a sword, right?”
“If my blood is the price for your breath,then so fucking be it,” he growled. “That cave fucking shook me, and I will not relive that.”
