Viking Vow

by S. T. Bende

  The knot in my stomach tightened. “Okay, then. We’ll check in on the front lines after the undead army. Then—”

  I broke off at the sight of a red, horned dragon approaching from the south. It accompanied a second wave of ships, many of which bore the Valkyris crest. These must have been Ingrid and Axel’s recruits. They’d sent boats inland through the network of fjords and rivers to expedite extraction of the tribes they’d reached out to. And if the number of ships sailing toward us was any indication, they’d been even more successful on their missions than Erik and I.

  We had a real chance.

  Erik let out a low whistle. “Those recruits yours, Andersson?”

  Axel shook his head. “Some of them are, but we didn’t reach nearly that many clans. I don’t know if they brought friends, or . . .”

  He trailed off as another ship from the first party came ashore. A red-haired man with a wild beard approached Erik, axe in hand.

  “Are you Valkyris?” The man growled.

  “Ja,” Erik said. “Which clan are you?”

  “Vagrud,” he said stiffly. “Raynor Halvarsson sent us.”

  My jaw fell to my chest. “Erik’s brother sent you?”

  The man nodded at the unmarked ships streaming in alongside those bearing the Valkyris crest. “Those men are with us. Raynor said that when the time came he’d send word, and, well, we’re here to help.”

  Beside me, Erik was as still as a statue. He didn’t breathe until I nudged him with my elbow.

  “Right. Well, thank you. We’re staging here, so once your men are off the ship, I’ll give you your orders.”

  The man nodded and returned to the water to help his warriors unload a crate of weapons. When he was gone, I pivoted to face Erik.

  “Raynor wasn’t lying. He really was recruiting all that time.”

  “I suppose he was.” Erik stroked his beard. “And here I was ready to give Axel and Ingrid all the credit.”

  “Hey, we brought people in! Just not as many as your brother, apparently.” Axel looked to the forest. “Just so you know, we did convert one clan who refused to travel by ship. They said that when the time came, they’d arrive by land.”

  “In that case, after you check on the front lines, make sure the incoming warriors have a clear path to the forest,” Erik said. “I want them sweeping the area, flushing out any hidden threats. No doubt Bjorn has multiple waves of assailants lying in wait, just in case things turn around.”

  “Will do,” Axel said.

  “I’ll send more troops to the forest, and another rider after them. And I’ll send a team to the cliffs to move that fallen dragon. Now, go. Shoot down anything that’s unfriendly.” Erik’s eyes softened. “And don’t let anything happen to my girl.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it,” Axel vowed.

  I stepped into Erik’s side, and reached up to lace my fingers through his hair. My pulse quickened as I pulled his head down and kissed him hard on the lips.

  “I love you,” I whispered. “Don’t die.”

  It had become our standard farewell. If we survived this battle, maybe we’d get matching tattoos. I love you. Don’t die.

  “Back at you, min kjære.” Erik kissed me again. Then he turned his attention to the new warriors arriving on the beach. He resumed barking orders while Axel and I jogged to Deathknell, climbed onto her back, and flew toward the area we’d last seen Ingrid and her team. Ragfinn’s soldiers had joined them, and even from this height, I could see the group was holding their own against the draugr. The destroyers and our allies battled their opponents with a determination that left me breathless.

  They wouldn’t let us down.

  “Ingrid’s doing great.” Axel’s voice cracked.

  “Of course she is.” My heart swelled as I watched my friend—the slave girl who’d held my hand while I cried myself to sleep in a Clan Bjorn hovel—swing her sword high and bring it down on the head of her attacker. The once-dead soldier fell back, tripping over a root before landing hard atop a jagged rock. A loud crack echoed as its skull struck the unforgiving surface, and Ingrid delivered a fierce blow to its neck, severing its head from its body. She hurriedly plucked her fire-steel from her pouch, and set fire to the corpse. Then she pulled the crossbow from her back, drew an arrow from her belt, and dipped the fabric-covered tip into the flame. She fired a shot at the assailant battling Derga, and when the assailant fell back, Derga severed its head before running to Ingrid’s side. They watched together as the flaming corpses disappeared in a puff of black smoke.

  Whoa.

  “So, fire is effective on the undead,” I deduced. “Either it neutralizes the reanimation magic, or it’s just un-survivable, period.”

  “Either way, we’re sitting on a massive flamethrower. What do you say?”

  “I say it looks like Derga could use some more firepower.” I pointed to the warrior, already squaring off against another group of undead soldiers.

  “Do it,” Axel said grimly.

  I steered Deathknell closer, and shouted for Derga to fall back. When she was clear, I ordered my dragon to flame the cluster of assailants. A stream of fire tore from her mouth, and when the flames cleared, all that remained of Bjorn’s dark warriors were smoking piles of ash.

  “Fire stops them!” I screamed at our troops. “Ingrid, get your team to round up the undead. If they’re all in one place, we can destroy them faster!”

  “Good plan,” Ingrid called. She barked instructions. Her warriors pulled back from their individual fights and worked with Ragfinn’s men to lure the army farther from the forest. When they reached a clearing, Ingrid gave a cry and her team fell back. With the draugr exposed, it only took Deathknell a few seconds to incinerate them. After she’d finished, all that was left were the charred piles of their once-magical remains.

  Thank God.

  “Was that all of them?” I yelled.

  “I think so,” my friend replied. “Which means we’ve got available troops. Where are we needed?”

  That was Ingrid. Always thinking of others.

  “Front lines are in trouble. We’re heading there now.” I turned Deathknell around. “But if you find anyone before there—”

  “Hold on. What’s that man doing?” Axel pointed to the ground where a guy who looked an awful lot like Tirvald marched steadily toward Ingrid. How had he gotten here? And more importantly, was he going to hurt my friend? If he so much as looked sideways at her, he’d be the first victim of my flame-throwing spree. No question about it.

  “That’s Ingrid’s dad,” I whispered.

  “The guy who sold her to Clan Bjorn?”

  “One and the same. I thought he defected. What’s he doing back with Ragfinn’s clan?” I leaned forward, ready to order Deathknell to open her mouth and let Tirvald have it. But when he reached his daughter, Tirvald dropped to one knee. I couldn’t make out what he was saying, but if Ingrid’s gaping mouth was any indication, his words took her by major surprise.

  “Does she need us?” Axel growled. “We can flame him right now.”

  “I think she’s okay,” I said cautiously. Ingrid didn’t look happy, but she hadn’t chopped her father’s head off yet. She was either in shock, or relieved to have another fighter under her command.

  Even one who’d betrayed her in the worst possible way.

  “Ingrid!” I called down.

  She raised her chin to the sky, her face a mask of pure shock.

  “Do you want us to turn the dragon on him?” I shouted.

  “Yes,” she said honestly. “But we need all the help we can get. Maybe later?”

  Fair enough.

  “Just say the word, and he’s toast,” I offered.

  “We’ll see if he survives the front lines,” she called up. “My team will head there now.”

  “Stay safe,” Axel called.

  “I plan to!” Ingrid replied.

  Atta girl.

  We flew for the far end of Valkyris East. We hadn�
��t gone far when a roar from the ground pulled us off course.

  “What was that?” I gulped.

  “There.” Axel pointed at a massive form lying still on the ground. “It’s a dragon.”

  I squinted at the creature’s black scales, shimmering smoke, and listless red eyes. “That’s not a dragon—that’s Birna’s dragon.”

  “And that’s Birna.” Axel pointed again, this time at the angry woman clutching a sword and screaming in what appeared to be a rage-fueled fit. Birna was livid.

  But at whom?

  I steered Deathknell to the right until two more figures came into view. With her blond hair, shrill voice, and unmistakable arrogance, Birna’s sister, Brigga, was instantly recognizable. The male hovering protectively in front of her, however, was more difficult to place. Although his back was to me, I knew I’d seen him somewhere before. He had long hair and a lanky figure, and he almost reminded me of . . .

  “Oh, my God.” I exhaled heavily. “It’s Raynor.”

  Chapter 19

  AS IF ON CUE, Erik’s brother glanced upward. The moment he saw us, a cloud darkened his features and he turned back to Birna. She continued to scream, but Raynor kept his voice low enough that I couldn’t make out his words. The only thing I knew for sure was that he appeared to be protecting Brigga from her sister.

  “Looks like he’s running interference,” Axel murmured.

  “Will Birna listen to him?” I asked.

  Axel stilled behind me, and I guessed he was assessing the situation on the ground. After an endless beat, he leaned forward to speak softly in my ear.

  “Freia and Halvar put Raynor in charge of the girls when their parents died. He checked in on them a few times, but then he took off—checked a dragon out of the Dragehus and spent weeks on end Odin only knows where. Things went downhill for the girls after that. I don’t know much, only what they told me when we were, uh . . .”

  “When you were hooking up with both of them at the same time?” I offered helpfully.

  “When we were spending time together,” Axel corrected.

  “At the same time,” I pressed.

  “Do you want the story or not?”

  Men.

  “I heard the last time Raynor checked in with Brigga it was not long after Birna went missing. He disappeared again after that, and he’s only come home a handful of times since—when his parents summoned him, apparently.”

  Interesting.

  “Do you think he was out looking for Birna all that time?” Could the family jerk actually have a heart after all?

  Axel sighed. “I don’t know. But if he can’t get through to her, we’re going to have to stop her somehow. Ground the dragon.”

  “You heard him,” I said to Deathknell. I nudged her with my feet and she dove, landing a safe distance from the spot where Birna and Raynor were now locked in an epic glaring match. If looks could kill, Raynor would have been dead and set to sea in a flaming boat. And Birna . . . let’s just say I was glad I was dating the Halvarsson who didn’t currently look like he wanted to murder someone.

  “Stay here,” I hissed to Deathknell. “If she makes a move, flame her and come get us. Deal?”

  Deathknell chuffed as I slid off her back. I reached up to stroke the scales on her face before turning to Axel. He rifled through the net at Deathknell’s side, emerging with two crossbows and several sets of arrows.

  “Take these.” He shoved a bow and some arrows at me. “I’m pretty sure Raynor’s on our side, but if I’m wrong . . .”

  “Don’t worry, Andersson. I’ll protect you.”

  “Ha. Ha. Ha.” Axel rolled his eyes before marching toward the confrontation. I set my bow and followed him, ready to defend my boyfriend’s BFF to the death.

  God willing, it wouldn’t come to that.

  “What the Helheim are they doing here?” Birna’s shriek pierced the clearing. Her eyes locked in on me and Axel before shifting back to Raynor, some fifty feet in front of her. “First you kill my dragon, then you bring in your mother’s minions?”

  “You can’t kill something that’s already dead,” Raynor growled. “And you were about to kill your sister. I didn’t have a choice.”

  “Maybe my sister deserved to die,” Birna spat.

  Axel stopped abruptly, still forty feet from the confrontation. He raised his fist, motioning for me to stay put. “This is about to get ugly.”

  “Was it ever not?” I whispered.

  “How could you betray us?” Brigga asked.

  “Us?” Birna’s knuckles whitened around her sword. “You’ve made it more than clear there is no us.”

  “It’s only ever been us!” Brigga cried. “Even before our parents died. And then they got their prophesy and went off on their stupid death quest. And then you decided our prophesy meant the same thing, and you left me all alone.”

  “I told you that you could come with me,” Birna retorted.

  “To join the clan who’s only using you to take Valkyris down? Bjorn doesn’t care about you, Birna. They’re going to kill or enslave you the minute they don’t need you anymore!”

  “I’m too valuable.” Birna didn’t take her eyes off her sister.

  “Today, yes. But once they’ve conquered Valkyris, you won’t be. And then what do you think will happen to you?” Brigga’s fist pounded her thigh. “I don’t want to lose the only family I have!”

  “I told you to come with me,” Birna said. “Bjorn would have made you a commander. Instead, you’ve sentenced yourself to a lifetime of scrounging for what little bits of power Freia and Halvar are willing to dole out. You’ll never amount to anything in Valkyris.”

  “Maybe.” Brigga glanced over at me. “But at least I know Valkyris won’t betray me. When I asked Erik and Saga to help me find you, they were there for me. They looked out for me . . . and for you, too.”

  Axel glanced over his shoulder. Our gazes locked, and he motioned me forward. We crept slowly toward the confrontation, bows loaded but pointed down.

  “You’re even stupider than I thought.” Birna’s cold laugh sent a chill down my spine. “They’re only here to bring me in—the arrow they shot into my back proved as much. They’ve probably already got the bales set for my execution seating.”

  “That’s not true, Birna.” Axel said calmly. “If you come with us, we’ll speak to Freia on your behalf. You know she believes in second chances.”

  “She does,” Raynor said quietly. “My mother is many things, but cruel is not one of them.”

  “I’d rather die than go back to being invisible.” Birna’s expression hardened. “I’m not coming with you. And if you try to force me, I’ll kill you all.”

  “Birna. Please,” Brigga begged.

  Birna glared at her sister. “Last chance. Call off your dogs, and I’ll let your friends live.”

  Axel and I raised our bows.

  “Please,” Brigga repeated. “Just come home.”

  “Have it your way. Attack!” Birna had barely shouted the word when a flash from the forest caught my eye. Before I could register what was happening, a massive Viking launched himself from behind one of the trees. He charged at Brigga, axe in hand, and released it with a powerful throw.

  “Brigga!” I shrieked.

  Brigga spun around. The axe spiraled toward her face. Raynor must have sensed her panic—he threw himself on top of Brigga and tackled her before the axe passed directly through the spot where she’d stood. It flew through the clearing and landed neatly at Birna’s feet. She wrenched it from the dirt and charged forward, sword in one hand and axe in the other. She was seconds away from reaching Raynor and Brigga. And if she got to them before they had the chance to get up . . .

  “Axel!” I cried.

  “On it.” Axel took aim and fired his crossbow at Birna. At the same time, I found the axe-thrower. He flung a second blade into the clearing, and as it left his palm I shot two quick arrows in succession. They pierced his leg and chest, dropping him to t
he ground and leaving him shrieking in agony. I fired again, this time landing a shot straight between his eyes. He immediately went limp.

  “Are there more of them?” I spun a quick circle, looking for a second assailant. But the forest was still. The only sound was an agonized wail from the clearing. “Axel?”

  “No,” my friend said quietly. “We’re clear. It’s over.”

  “It’s over?” I turned, and my hand flew instantly to my mouth.

  Oh, God.

  My gaze swept the clearing where Raynor was on his knees, holding tight to a sobbing Brigga. The blonde’s shoulders shook as she wept over her sister’s still form. Blood pooled around Birna’s body and an arrow protruded from her calf. But I didn’t have to ask to know that Axel’s shot hadn’t been the one that killed her. That honor went to the thick axe lodged firmly in Birna’s skull.

  The axe of her so-called clansman.

  “Oh, Brigga.” I closed the distance between us, skirting the widening pool of blood to kneel beside the sobbing girl. “I am so sorry.”

  “We all are.” Axel knelt beside me, and placed one hand on Brigga’s arm. “We only meant to keep you safe. I shot to wound—not kill.”

  “I kn-know.” Brigga wailed. “I t-t-told her they’d k-ki-kill her when they were d-d-done with her. Can you s-s-save her, Raynor?”

  “Unlike Bjorn, we don’t bring back the dead,” he said. He tightened his arms around Brigga, and for the first time, I caught a hint of compassion in his eyes. He was visibly moved—whether by Brigga’s pain, or his own failure to look after his orphaned charges, I’d never know.

  “Besides, that’s no way to exist.” Raynor tilted his head at the dragon, whose corpse still streamed glistening smoke. Killfire’s once-red eyes had rolled back in his head so all that I saw were two endless, black holes.

  Shudder.

  “Brigga.” Raynor shifted the girl in his arms. Her sobs didn’t ebb as he turned her torso to face him. “Brigga, I need you to look at me.”

  “She’s g-g-g-gone!” Brigga wailed. “My sis-sis-sister is gone!”

  “I know. And that’s my fault. All this is my fault.” Raynor held Brigga’s chin between his thumb and pointer finger. He held it steady until she met his gaze.