Page 156 of The Last Valkyrie

“It has to be done,” I said. “Gods only know what Korvan will do if he has the Runesphere. Like, seriously, we haveno fucking ideawhat he’s capable of with the relic.”

“Then let’s get to it, love,” Arne said, clapping me lightly on the shoulder. “We won’t let you down.”

I smiled sadly at him. “I know. You guys never do.”

Magnus wrapped his cloak tight around him, swishing his crimson hair off his shoulders. “The dark elves are regrouping. Fighting has died down, somewhat, at the gate. Now is our chance to get over there.”

With nods all around the huddle, we hurried over to the southern wall at a brisk pace. We couldn’t go too fast because Corym was still lagging, Grim was grimacing from his bleeding thigh and fucked-up arm, and my other three mates looked exhausted. But we made it.

Past the hole in the wall, which was about the width of ten men across, Thane Canute stood as a single beacon with his shield raised in defiance.

The two jotnar—a giant hulk of a man with a loincloth and club, and a monolithic monster of black obsidian with fiery veins—had backed off from him. The dark elves weren’t attacking.

It seemed Swordbaron Korvan’s arrival had put a ceasefire to the Dokkalfar’s efforts. Temporarily, I assumed.

On our side of the wall, Axel was barking orders as our tired troops regrouped and prepared for a second assault.

We’ve lived through the first wave of the draug and second wave of the elves and jotnar. I have to make sure there isn’t a third wave, or we might not last.

I drew my wings out, earning a few wary glances from my mates. I put on an innocent yet guilty pout. “I need to get up high to see what’s going on down there. Can’t see into the passageway from here past all the bodies.”

Arne said, “Oh, I forgot to mention. There are three other jotnar down there. Huscarl Grant pointed it out before getting an arrow in the neck. Poor bastard. One of the giants is a big-titted crone-looking bitch who I think is responsible for raising the draug.”

I looked askance at him at his description of the female jotun.

His shoulders lifted to his ears. “What? I don’t know her name. I’m sure she’s lovely.”

“She’s a fucking necromancer if what you’re saying is true,” Eirik pointed out with a grimace. “And likely more dangerous than all the others.”

“True.” Arne stepped aside so he wouldn’t be the center of attention. “Just thought I’d mention it.”

When my guys returned their looks to me, I gave them a weak smile. “I promise not to do anything stupid . . .” I took to the sky, kicking up dust and grime as my wings expanded and launched me into the air.

Once I was safely away from their groping hands, I yelled down. “. . . Yet!”

The grumbling of my mates billowed up to my ears, telling me not to be a dumbass or put myself in danger.Onlyscouting, as I’d promised.

My smile and gooey feeling of having my mates with me quickly dispersed when I got a look over the wall.

From this high, this angle, I could see the three jotnar in question. They were stationed down the mountainside, at the far end of the hilly incline leading up Academy Hill. Between the wall and the army of Dokkalfar and fire- and earth-jotun, the trio seemed to be speaking to each other.

No, not each other,I realized with a sinking heart.

Korvan’s black wings came into view. They were furled against his sides, his arms gesticulating like he was in an argument with the Jotunheim natives.

The jotnar, for their part, seemed unaffected by whatever Korvan was shouting at them about.

Then, from further south and east toward the tree line of Delaveer Forest, behind the entire evil army and the quartet at their backs, a voice boomed above everything, as if magically enhanced.

“Korvan, I amhere!”

Nightbirds squawked and took to the sky from the canopies of the thick trees, scared from the powerful voice.

My teeth clenched together, my hands knotted into fists—

As Tomekeeper Dahlia stepped out of the trees.

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