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I looked back to where Prince Thane sat. He was tipping back a drinking horn, face as stone. No doubt annoyed the Unfettered Folk were not leaping at the chance to join the cause.

Auki and Gunter plan to ride ahead and send word to the queen.

My stomach backflipped. “It is truly happening. All our lives we have been pawns in this game of twisted lies and betrayal. Now…it ends for them, or us.”

Roark cupped one side of my face. This is not where we end. But I plan to gift each royal a remnant of Fadey’s bones.

I snickered. “Is that so?”

It is. Roark’s thumb tugged on my bottom lip. Thane will be welcome to fashion Fadey’s arm into a bow. Yrsa might want to make a chair from his ribs. Sindri will make a better knife with the breastbone, and you, wife, you will have his head.

“I’ve always dreamed of mounting a skull on my wall.”

I thought as much. Roark leaned in to kiss me.

His lips had hardly brushed over mine when a throat cleared. Gammal, gripping her walking stick in hand, beamed at us both. “Pardon. Heard deals with Brokk are being made.”

I sat back. “Seems that way. You could’ve told us Sindri was Nivek’s son.”

“I believe I told you the boy was unique and you might want to get to know him.”

My mouth parted. “Gammal, that’s not telling us he is the heir to the Draven throne.”

“Well, there were other matters to discuss, elskan.” She clicked her tongue, like I was the one being foolish. “By the by, your poor melded brother is asking for you.”

The woman gestured toward one of the back doors. There were no additional rooms in the great hall of the Unfettered clans, simply smaller huts and structures for different uses like cooking or bathing.

A small hut ten paces from the hall was lit with a small lantern. Kyrre and Òlmr were both sprawled over the stoop. When Kyrre caught sight of Roark, he shot to his feet, his tongue lolling out one side of his mouth. He nuzzled our hands as we strode past, practically wriggling free of his coat when I scratched behind his bent ear.

Inside the hut, Kael sat against one wall, bare-chested, arms tied out to his sides. Gods, gashes painted his body, all in various marks of healing. Lumps and nodules bulged beneath his skin.

I had no doubt Fadey had melded Kael with a soul bone every day. Perhaps multiple.

His brow dripped with sweat. His breaths were heavy. Jaw tight, he lifted his head. “Ly.”

The word, so simple, came out like it was painful.

A fur covered a second entrance. Brynn emerged with a bowl of water and a linen in her hand. She jolted at the sight of us. “Oh, good. You’ve come.”

“What is this?”

Kael grunted and tugged against the bindings around his wrists. Brynn dropped to his side and pressed a palm to his shoulder. “Think through it.”

“Godsdammit.” Kael’s eyes clenched, and he puffed out jagged breaths between his teeth.

Brynn’s eyes were glassy. “He has so many corrupted souls fighting his own. The berserksgangur keeps taking hold, but he is beginning to fight it.”

Why? Are you guiding him with your craft?

Brynn tugged her bottom lip between her teeth. “Something like that.”

Roark stepped in front of me, one hand on the blade strapped to his waist. The bloodlust only worsens over time. You must be doing something.

Brynn dipped the cloth into the water and dabbed Kael’s brow. He let out a sigh, as though the touch soothed a festering burn on his flesh. “He’s fighting, you can see.”

“Take one, Ly,” Kael gritted out. “Please.”

“There are many, elskan.” Gammal rested a hand on my shoulder. “But it is the only chance he has.”