I lifted my eyes to the lush tree crowns, holding back a choked sound of pain as the movement stretched my ribs. “Not even if Odin forced me.”
His laugh was low. “It’s good to see you, too, Elvara.”
When I gave him a grimace, Ottoh’s louder laugh somehow shook the tree to my right. I blinked a few times, but it wasn’t until a shadow flew from one of the branches that I understood it wasn’t a sound but one of the cloaked men that made the leaves shift.
The scene before me sharpened against my will, every detail cutting through the haze with agonizing slowness. The man landed behind Ottoh, and the smile the heir had given me was still on his face when the enemy slit his throat.
My cry made birds leave the surrounding trees, and somehow my sword was in the air, piercing the man’s chest so hard he flew backward, his hood sliding off his face.
A gurgling sound left Ottoh when he fell. I threw myself after him, another cry leaving me at the pain splitting my own body as I caught him, pulling half his body into my lap.
I could barely see for the tears filling my eyes as the heir pressed his hands against his throat, trying to quell the blood.
“Shh,” I hushed when another horrible, wet sound left him. “Don’t speak.”
My pain was stark in Darcke’s face as he stood frozen above us. I didn’t even fucking care that Geord gave Ottoh one look, then turned and started sprinting through the woods, unwilling to risk his own neck if there were more enemies we’d missed.
I could barely stand the fear in Ottoh’s eyes, the pain racking his body, making his limbs convulse. My hands hovered over him, unsure where to press—how to help.
“You’re going to be all right,” I said, my voice cracking. “You’ll be… you’ll be okay.”
“Don’t lie to him.” Darcke crouched down on the other side of the heir. “Not now.”
Ottoh fucking dipped his chin, making more blood pool beneath him.
I felt my control slip, more tears threatening to overwhelm me, and I was about to let the sob in my throat free when Darcke’s fingers wrapped around my shoulder.
He held my eyes as he sent his own calm through me.
I took a sip of air. Then a little bit more.
This wasn’t about me. This wasn’t about my anger over another wasteful death caused by our king, nor about me not being able to repay the blood debt that I owed the heir bleeding out before me.
This was Ottoh’s last moment in this realm, and he deserved it to be honorable.
My hand shook when I took his. “You were so brave. A true Viking. An honorable heir and brother and friend. The gods will welcome you with open arms to Valhalla.”
Darcke bowed his head. “Thank you for saving her.”
The crooked smile on Ottoh’s face nearly took me with him. His eyes shut more frequently, his grip on my fingers so loose it almost felt like he’d already left us.
It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fucking fair that he would die and someone like Geord would live. It wasn’t fair.
“If I’m…” I choked down another sob. “If I’m welcomed into Valhalla… save me a seat?”
The press of his hand made a single tear sneak down my cheek.
I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, Ottoh was gone.
I released him when a burst of anger wound through me, and I pushed to my feet, more fury clawing through me at the agony blinding me. As I stormed over to the foreigner I’d killed, I was unsure what I was trying to do, since he’d died instantly when my blade cleaved his heart.
Ripping my sword from his chest, I wiped at my face.
So fucking useless. So fucking wasteful.
All of this—so fucking dishonorable.
“Elvara.”
