Page 68 of The Daughter of the Scarred Elf

Sijur had risen from his seat, an excited gleam in his eyes.

Kolfinna scrambled toward her, her heart racing. If she turned that blade to the boy?—

Birgitta pointed the knife to her own throat.

“No!” Kolfinna dove to her. Before the blade could plunge into her neck, Kolfinna shoved the knife into her own hand and yanked it backward. The sharp blade sliced through her hand easily and a pool of thick, bright blood streamed over the floor. Kolfinna gasped in sharp pain, but the adrenaline masked most of it. Birgitta struggled with the knife, trying to wrench it from Kolfinna’s hand. They both wrestled each other on the floor. Kolfinna’s blood stained everything—the tiles, both of their dresses, the knife, and the expensive center rug.

Kolfinna used both hands to grasp the slippery, bloody blade and the handle. Her blood smeared further over Birgitta’s hands, her dress, and the floor. Somehow, she managed to tug it freeand toss it across the room. A splash of scarlet followed with that movement.

“No!” Birgitta tried to reach over Kolfinna in the direction of the blade, but Kolfinna pinned her down to the floor.

Rune magic thrummed from her hands with such heat that she wasn’t sure if it was the mana or the painful gashes that made everything so clear.

“Accept the runes!” Kolfinna shouted. “It’ll stop the pain!”

Underneath her, Birgitta thrashed even harder, almost unseating Kolfinna.

“Kolfinna!” Sijur grabbed her shoulder.

Kolfinna’s hands were hot with magic.You will no longer feel any pain today.

The runes glowed gold over Birgitta’s blood-smeared chest and she suddenly stopped spasming. Kolfinna was ripped away from her in the next second as Sijur sent her flying backward. She rolled on the floor, her shoulder cracking against the tiles.

“Damn it, Kolfinna!” Sijur raked a hand through his hair, wild eyes flicking between Kolfinna and Birgitta, who was gasping like a fish out of water.

“Momma!” Aksel dove toward his mother and hugged her tightly, creating a barrier between her and Sijur.

A storm of emotions passed over Sijur’s face, rage being the most notable one. He pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled slowly. The only noise in the room was Birgitta’s panting, Aksel’s sobs, and the heavy breath of Sijur’s barely controlled anger.

“Kolfinna,” Sijur spoke through clenched teeth. “What the hell did you write on her?”

Pain radiated from her hands as Kolfinna pulled herself into a sitting position. “So she won’t feel any pain.”

Sijur turned to Joran sharply. “Is that true?”

Joran flinched and uncertainly approached Birgitta. He barely glanced at the runes before nodding.

“And why would you do that?” Sijur asked.

“Are you serious?” Kolfinna waved at the mother-son duo. “How can you do that to an innocent woman!”

Sijur flicked his hand dismissively in the air, the words spitting out harshly. “She’s a prostitute! Her life has no meaning, no purpose. I paid a handsome sum for it.”

“You can’t just … justbuypeople.” Kolfinna’s hands shook from rage. Blood spotted the floor with every tremble. “She clearly had no idea what she got herself into. And you took advantage of that. You’re a soldier. You—no, we—are supposed to protect the people?—”

Sijur sighed, long and hard. “Kolfinna, darling.” He raked a hand through his hair exasperatedly before his tone became cruel. “You’re no longer a Royal Guard, so stop acting like one. You have one job, and that’s to listen tome. Forget about everything you learned with the guards. Your only job here is to listen to my commands and follow directions. That is what it means to be a soldier. Do you understand?”

No. The word was on the tip of her tongue, but movement in the corner of her eye dragged her attention away. Birgitta was convulsing on the floor, her limbs jerking up and down and slamming against the floor violently. Aksel began to scream and clutched his mother’s arms to stop her.

“H-Help!” he screamed.

“What’s happening?” Sijur asked.

“I-I don’t know!” Kolfinna crawled to Birgitta, her handprints leaving ominous blood stains behind her. She grabbed onto her convulsing figure. Birgitta’s eyes were wide and fearful, and she parted her lips to speak. Blood gurgled in her open mouth and the whites of her eyes shifted to a light pink as blood streamed from them.

Birgitta raised a hand and touched Aksel’s damp cheek.

“Momma!”

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