Page 54 of The Last Valkyrie

“To think,Ser’kariothreborn, in our lifetime. Truly a wonder, child.” Vaalnath moved from me to inspect Magnus, making a sneer of distaste before saying, “They are an interesting race, these humans, are they not?” Then, to Chief Jhaeros, they said, “Skogalfar have not stepped foot in our city in years. Hail, Hunter-Chief.”

Jhaeros nodded in a less extravagant salute than the one I had given. I hated how Vaalnath spoke of Magnus as if he was a dog, a pet, or some tarnished creature that neededrehabilitation. Such was ever the way of elves, and why we were seen as pompous and superior to our brethren from Midgard.

I had been much the same, once. Then I met Ravinica and everything changed. Now I wanted nothing more than to see her vision come to fruition. I prayed to the spirits that it would come with theMaltor’sassistance.

Stepping back from our group, Vaalnath spread their thin arms wide, the robe dipping down to their elbows and showing spirals of magically enhanced tattoos across their bare arms. “What brings you to the palace in such a state, and with such colorful company, my child?”

I noticed Magnus raise a brow at the sight of Vaalnath’s tattoos along their arms—much the same as his, in fact.

I cleared my throat. “You have heard Dokkalfar have come to Midgard, moving past their weakened wards.”

“Yes, Elayina’s absence from that realm has caused upheaval, as I understand it.”

It wasn’t Elayina who brought the wards down. It was the humans themselves—the Gothi and others, I believe. Hoping to finally get a glimpse of the Runesphere, which they have sought and seethed after for generations.

I didn’t need to tell Vaalnath all of that. They understood the mixed and confusing bloodlines of our people even more than I did. They had dozens of children, after all.

“I come with grimmer tidings, Father. The Dokkalfar are not the only ones to invade Midgard. The jotnar have joined them.”

A flash of annoyance crossed Vaalnath’s features. I heard the creaking of steel as the two guards at the door behind us shifted their weight uncomfortably.

“What are those malevolent heathens planning to do with Midgard, hmm?” Vaalnath asked.

“I don’t know. The humans are fighting them valiantly, and I have joined. Our first battle . . . did not go well. We require assistance, my liege.”

“Ah.” Vaalnath shot me a small smile, almost whimsical in how effortless it crossed their face. “We come to the crux of why you’re here, with a scarred human and an outcast wood elf at your side.”

“I would not request aid if it was not essential, Father. If the soldiers of Svartalfheim and Jotunheim overtake Midgard and use it as a landing base, they will travel Yggdrasil to Alfheim next.”

“You think they come for the Runesphere?” Vaalnath asked.

“I do.” I nodded slowly. “And perhaps with the Lightbearer on their side, captured, they might get it this time.”

Vaalnath tapped their chin, thinking. Pursing their full lips, theMaltorturned to return to their chair. Once sat, they let out a great sigh. “Our armies are spread thin, Corym. Prince Vesryn—”

“Is out at the Eastern Pass, taking my station, I’ve heard.”

Vaalnath let out a high-pitched laugh, the sound never reaching their eyes. “What was I to do? The Ferinosk are a nasty bunch, and getting more unwieldy. Would that you had remained here . . .”

Grinding my teeth together, I stepped forward and clenched a hand into a fist. “It wasyouridea to send me to Midgard, Father!” My voice echoed off the high, vaulted ceiling of the room. Magnus fidgeted uncomfortably beside me, not understanding my words but clearly understanding my mood.

Vaalnath’s eyes moved to Jhaeros. “What have the humans promised the Skogalfar in return for aiding them?”

“Blood,” Jhaeros grunted, without using any honorific. He sounded bored.

I put a hand on Magnus’ shoulder. “Not just any blood, my liege. This man, whom I call a close friend and brother, hasuniqueness in his veins. It can be used in many ways. He is a weapon himself, if used for those purposes.” I gave Magnus a smile, which he returned with a confused frown.

“Interesting. You expect Heira to call forth, band together, and withdraw from our battlefronts for the same thing?”

“No. I don’t suspect you will, my liege. I suspect you’ll want more.”

Vaalnath cocked their head. “What is it you think I want, that would benefit Heira, that you could give me, boy? TheSer’kariothherself?”

I shook my head adamantly. “Ravinica—the name of the Lightbearer—is not for trade. She is off the table.”

They inspected me a moment, eyes narrowing in a disconcerting way. I could feel the power of their mind, their magic, trying to stab into me and discover my allegiances. Their head popped up with a shadow of a smile on their face.

“You love her,” they said.