Page 136 of Kingdom of Embers and Ruin

A second whistle, short and sharp. Maude sprinted forward, eyes on the dagger. She felt the air moving around her and pushing her forward,her feet carrying her as fast as she could go toward the dagger. She almost glanced up at the ceiling but stopped herself. No distractions.

Thirty feet.

Twenty feet.

Fifteen.

Now.

Maude used the atmosphere around her to push herself up into the air ten feet from the altar. She began to twist, extending her hand out above her head.

Closer, she needed to get closer.

Her fingers brushed ice-cold metal, and Maude reflexively closed her hand around thedalkr Hela’sblackhandleas she finished her arc through the air.

The dagger was heavier than she ever could have predicted.

Shit.

Shit.

Maude’s entire balance was thrown off. Herrick shouted her name. She was going to land on her hip, just like when she had practiced. Distantly, a loud crack echoed in her ears. The heavy rush of water falling came from above her, but she couldn’t think of that right now. She saw the ground coming for her, so she tried to shift in hopes she could maybe roll and take off at a run.

Millimeters before she hit the ground, ice flashed underneath her. Herrick had shot out a long path of ice from where she landed to where she needed to be. She spared a glance up to see the water rushing in from above the altar, fast. Impossibly fast. If she didn’t move, she would be dead.

She continued to slide toward Herrick, but her momentum was running out. Twisting in place, she got to her knees and threw one hand behind her,blasting wind from her palm and sending her flying forward on the slick surface.

“Maude!”

She didn’t take her eyes off Herrick; his hand outstretched to catch her and pull her into the tunnel.

Only a bit further, she thought.Come on.

“Hurry!” Hakon shouted, looking past her.

Herrick’s hand wrapped around hers, pulling her to safety. She looked over her shoulder at what Hakon was looking at and saw pure white forms in tattered clothing cutting through the water at impossible speeds just as Herrick and Hakon froze the entry.

Draugr.

Terror washed over Maude as she got to her feet, heart pounding, and sheathed thedalkr Helain her boot.

“We have to go,” Maude said to Herrick, grabbing him by the arm and reaching for Hakon. "Now."

A scream splintered through the dim tunnel, loud and clear as a wind chime in a storm.

“Eydis!” Hakon called, taking off at a sprint and following the sound.

Herrick and Maude quickly chased after him. Thedraugrbehind them began to pound on the wall of ice, trying to break it.

“I don’t know how long that ice will hold,” Herrick said to her through his labored breathing.

“It just has to hold long enough,” Maude bit out.

She grabbed the bow from Herrick’s outstretched hand and nocked an arrow, ready to fire if they came across any more of the undead creatures. Hakon disappeared behind the bend where the sounds of clashing metal rang out. Maude glanced at Herrick and pushed more wind behind them both, increasing their speed.

When they turned the corner, all Hel was breaking loose.

A large group ofdraugrwas attacking their friends. Each of them were engaged in a fight with the undead creatures, swords and axes flashing while Eydis’s staff cut through the air, its sharp, metal end cutting into the dead flesh of the monster in front of her. The focus that was etched into her friend's face had pride swelling in Maude’s chest.

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