Page 166 of Curse of Darkness
Which will mean we’ll arrive right on top of Mother.
“Vi?” His brow furrows.
I activate the newly replenished Hallow and it plucks us into the portal, as though it throws us into the maelstrom.
34
We land right in the heart of the Eidyn Hallow.
Right in the heart of Asturian-held territory.
“Keep them off my back,” I tell Thiago as I push through the sentinel stones that guard the Hallow. “But don’t kill them. Don’t kill anyone.”
Mother’s halfway down the slope, her chainmail dress battered and bruised. She hasn’t even realized I’m there yet.
Some of her troops see me, turning as one to stare.
The Duke of Thornwood comes out of his tent, a familiar letter in his hand and a grim expression upon his face as he sights us.
One by one, the entire Asturian army turns to look, muttering among themselves, sensing blood.
And my mother finally seems to realize she’s not alone, coming to a halt.
“Mother,” I yell, my fists clenching at my side. “I’m not done with you yet.”
Her shoulders stiffen, and she turns incredulously.
Nobody should have been able to use that Hallow so soon.
I stride down the hill toward her, sword in hand. “Let us finish this.”
Runnels of kohl streak down her cheeks, but they’re no longer the marks of a woman stained by grief. They’re painted on her face like a warrior marking themselves for war. Her slightly agape mouth becomes the sneer I’ve always known.
“Fine.” Stalking toward one of her men, she yanks his halberd from his hand. There’s an elegant striking falcon etched into the steel, and a deadly sharp blade just above it.
And the six-foot staff might cause me problems.
Curse it.
Now she has the reach advantage, versatility, and the moves she makes will be less exhaustive.
Strike for the hands,Finn whispers objectively in my head, as if we’re in the training yard, discussing how best to incapacitate a weapon.Her hands will be unprotected, whereas you have the cross guard.
Get within range.
Get it done quickly.
Another whisper joins the chorus, this time a malevolent one:Kill her.
“No,” I whisper, slipping free of the crown’s grasp. It doesn’t have to end that way. The prophecy spoke of death and destruction, but there has to be some other way I can defeat her and the Horned One.
I go in low, forcing myself beneath her weapon.
Too late, I realize there’s a knife in her hand. Twisting hard, I earn the slice of it across my upper arm as she slams the staff of the halberd into my cheek.
Down.
I hit hard, rolling as the razor-sharp edge of the spear slams into the ground where my chest was.
