Page 23 of The Last Valkyrie

Ravinica and the others were close now, listening. Damon and Eirik were there, which I felt cautious about.

“It’s not your fault,” I said. “You were ordered to relay intelligence to the Gothi. There wasn’t much you could have done here.”

Kelvar frowned. “I suppose you’re right.”

“Did you see any fighting at all? Axel’s scouts told him all three regiments were attacked.”

“It was sparse outside the woods. Not enough to cause us any real trouble.” He looked past me, squinting into the foggy western path. “I fear for Hersirs Kardeen and Selken’s regiment, however.”

I let out a small grunt of agreement.

Ravinica said, “They’ve only just started to appear from the tree line, I think. Too hard to tell from this distance if the initiate regiment is okay.”

“We shouldn’t have split our forces,” Kelvar said. “That was a mistake on the Gothi’s part.”

Like so many other mistakes he makes in your eyes, Father.

To my surprise, Ravinica shrugged and came to Sigmund’s defense. “He couldn’t have known we would be split and attacked by undead monsters.”

Kelvar tilted his head but said nothing. His gaunt face almost seemed to say, “CouldSigmund have known?” But even Kelvar the Whisperer, for all his disagreements with his chieftain, would never voice such a treasonous suggestion that Sigmundhad somehow been responsible for this or knew about it in advance.

What would be his motive to bring vast death to Vikingrune Academy? His plan had always been to strengthen the school beyond the possibility of failing. He was ambitious and needed subordinates to follow him in order to get anything done.

Ravinica said, “I fear we’ll need more allies to take on things like the undead. We have no idea of their true numbers.”

“Aye, girl,” Kelvar replied. “You may be correct.”

A loud horn-boom broke the dim thread of conversation rolling through the plains. It pierced the night, echoing for nearly ten seconds in the cold early morning.

Heads turned slowly toward the west.

“The initiate regiment!” Ravinica called out, fear cracking her voice.

Gothi Sigmund stepped forward, clearing his throat to speak to the soldiers in his commanding tone. “This night is not over, sadly. Our brethren need our help.” The Gothi took to his saddle and pointed his sword west, striking a pose of a savior once he was astride his steed. “My regiment will lead the charge. We ride, academy!”

Chapter 8

Arne

WE RUSHED TO THE WEST, toward the edge of the Niflbog in the distance on the far end of the Isle. The sounds of battle were fierce in the plains, yet the fog was too murky and thick to see through until we got closer.

All the death, the destruction, the forest ablaze, the cries and hideous sounds coming from the draug as they emerged from the ground and the trees . . . it was too much to take. The terror and trauma of this night was getting close to what I’d felt watching Frida die in front of me.

I wasn’t a courageous man. No, I wasn’t like Sven or Grim, Magnus or Corym. I tended to stay to the shadows, which was what made me such an effective spy. When I had first met Ravinica on theGray Wraithand threatened Ulf Torfen with incredible pain if he touched her, it had been the first time in my life I’d done such a thing.

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