Page 31 of The Last Valkyrie

Sounds of despair, moaning, and fear filled the battlefield from Vikingrune soldiers.

We turned tail and fled for our lives, no longer feeling the confidence and glory of battle that Sigmund had promised us before this horrible night.

Chapter 11

Ravinica

OUR ARMY BROKE TOWARDDelaveer Forest to the southeast, avoiding the dangerous Niflbog so its swampy, suction-like terrain couldn’t hold us back.

It was every man for himself, and I saw more than a few cadets stumble and fall. I stopped for a few of them, hoisting them up by their shoulders so they could keep running.

It wasn’t until we made it two-hundred yards out that I took the first glance over my shoulder. My mates were all around me, fleeing with determined and angry expressions on their faces.

The jotnar weren’t giving charge. They were lost to the mists behind us, in a corner of the shrouded Isle I never wanted to visit again.

Delaveer was merely a stopping point. No one felt safe enough to stay for long and try to regroup—we only wanted to be here long enough to get a count of our numbers and losses. Plus, pockets of the forest were still on fire, sending great plumes of black smoke into the air.

After what we had to initially deal with against the draug in that dark, foreboding wood, everyone was hesitant to push into the tree line.

At the edge of the tress, the Hersirs convened—Sigmund, Canute, Axel, Gudleif, Kelvar, and a few others. They spoke in angry tones, arms gesticulating wildly as they argued.

I scooted in closer with my mates beside me, and tried to listen.

“. . . in over our heads, Sigmund!” Kelvar yelled.

“. . . Whisperer is right, regrouping will only lead to more death,” Axel said.

“. . . can’t believe Thorvi is gone,” Gudleif mused, her head bowed in apparent shame and grief.

“For her honor, we must continue fighting!” Sigmund insisted.

“For her honor, we mustlive, Gothi!” Kelvar argued back.

Axel spoke logically, lowering his voice when he noticed other cadets and soldiers getting closer to listen to the blow-up. “Dawn is here, Sigmund. We have no telling what the jotnar have planned for daylight, or how strong they’ll be.”

Gudleif Selken sniffled and shook her head. She didn’t look quite as menacing with her golden armor and shield-maiden vibes as she had during the Dorymir Hall introduction the other night.

“I remember from one of Thorvi’s tomes that draug are allegedly weaker during the day. It’s nighttime when they’re at their strongest, under the moon.”

“We can’t know that for certain,” Axel snapped back. “And Thorvi’s dead. She can’t help us now.”

Gudleif’s shoulders sank. She nodded dumbly.

Axel paused, body going taut. He reached a hand out and placed it on the taller woman’s arm. “I’m sorry, Gudleif. That was unkind, and my temper got the better of me. We will mourn her loss properly, I swear it.”

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