The light from the rune stones hurt. He squinted, shading his sight with his hand, but he could still make out the woman: Ravenna.
The First stood over him clothed in her white robes. Her skin shone with a particular radiance this morning. Something nudged at the edge of his thoughts.
"What time is it?" His dry mouth kept him from enunciating, and the words ran together as one.
"It's almost midday. I would have waited for you to arise, but I couldn't lounge around all day. Without the dyrr we’ll have a long march to Asheim."
Asheim. The dyrr.
Neither word registered in his urgency as he focused his sight on the First. He kept gazing at her, though the annoying brightness of the rune stones forced his eyes to sink into slits. The angle of her jaw, the deep black of the raven tattoo against her bright skin—how his fingers slid over that skin and how she'd sung a sweet melody into his ear as they made love.
"Are you going to sleep through our march on Asheim? I didn't think I wore you out that much!" Ravenna’s lips tilted up at the edges, all smugness.
Hallad shook his head. "Just slept hard, that's all."
She slid down next to him, pressing her body against his. "I'll say you did." Her smile broadened. His body fired. Any thought wrangling for his recognition slid away. The honeyed tone of her voice hypnotized him. Ever since they'd arrived in Glitner, Ravenna's voice slipped inside him and lulled his mind.
It's not like he'd never been with a woman before, but this woman? Something about her ground his mind into mush. Last night played vividly in his memory. He hadn't meant to get her under his covers—he had too much respect for her to take advantage of their closeness. At least, he had thought he did. When she had talked about her branding, he couldn't help but reach out to her. Her smooth skin beneath his fingers led him to the kiss. Her hot mouth covering his own fired every desire he'd ever held in check. He’d wanted her. Hands down, no questions. He couldn’t control himself. All those years of leveling duty over his desires failed in one sweet, hot, passion-filled kiss.
Ravenna also seemed ravenous for the pleasure, and their union just happened. No planning on his part, though every bit of him desired her. Then a thought bumped against the back of his head for a moment, wondering: was there premeditation on her part?
She settled her mouth over his. She let out a moan. It sounded like a song. And the thought in his head disappeared.
The First pulled back and stared at him, her eyes lit with desire. "I wish we could stay in bed all day, but we've business to attend to."
Hallad nodded automatically, his brain fuzzy.
Something seemed off, though he couldn't pinpoint what it was. Then, he realized his sister's usual spot seemed vacant. His muscles tensed but before he could react, a subtle contentment flooded him.
That's odd?
He reached with his mind to call his sister—just to check on her and see how she was doing—when a warmth oozed over him. But the sensation seemed wrong. He'd usually perceive a barrage of emotions from Astrid, as if she wrangled an army inside her head. He'd never sensed anything different from her—except her love for him. That knowledge always settled his heart.
But this? He didn't understand. He wanted to speak with her, but Ravenna's mouth covered his again. When she flirtatiously pulled away from him, his entire body raged with desire.
She smiled broadly, as if satisfied, and sprang from the mattress.
"Come, Guardian. I have arranged for you to speak to the citizens of Glitner, and today we march on Asheim."
Hallad nodded without thought again as if his head worked by the pull of a string. Ravenna reached for his hand, wrapping her fingers in his. Her smile lit her face as she pulled him upright.
Everything that once seemed so important: his sister, his duty, his role as Guardian, his need to save the land and its people, all smothered under the light of Ravenna's smile until nothing was left but an overwhelming desire to do whatever the First asked of him.
Chapter 34
"I've settled them for now, but we need Hallad's help if we're going to make this work." Emma paced back and forth; Whitefoot huddled in her hair, twitching his nose toward Erik.
"Emma," said Erik, hushing his voice to a whisper. "Why don't you come with me? It would be better for you to speak to your brother, anyway. He's never turned you down for anything. And it would be safer than leaving you here."
She shook her head, surveying the camp. The Conspirators melted snow at her command, and Alfridr managed to sing bean sprouts into existence under Emma's gentle prodding. Bera was instructed to oversee the production of soup with the added ingredient of salt rock.
"The soup will hold over the alves for a while, but not the wolves, Erik. I can't chance leaving them. It has to be you."
Erik reached for his tunic but remembered their betrothal key wasn't there. He'd given it back to Emma, yet he didn't spot the key on her anywhere. He cast his gaze to the ground; he found a rock with his boot and kicked it into a nearby fire. Sparks sailed into the air. He watched the reddish-gold bits evaporate as they floated upwards.
"Mundi shadowwalks. I saw the raven on his cheek, though he hides it beneath that pile of knotted hair. Maybe he should go."
"Are you mad?" Emma shot back. "The Palace guards would attack him on first sight!"
Erik cringed at the uncharacteristic squeak in her voice.
Emma continued, her tone flaring with an unknown emotion that Erik couldn't pinpoint. "Send the leader of the Conspirators—" she cut herself short. "I mean the Merciful."
"Merciful?"
"That's what they call themselves, that and the Master's Army of the Merciful."
"You jest."
"Nei, Erik, but think about it."
Erik shook his head. "It still doesn't make sense. They are as far from mercy as a headsman at a beheading!"
"Nei, Erik." Emma's face softened for the first time since he'd found her, the determination wore out of her features. A gentle roundness replaced her tightened jaw and furrowed brow, returning her to the Emma he knew. "They took in people that would have otherwise been sentenced to death just for trying to survive. The Palace would have persecuted them for taking their basic needs—for keeping warm and feeding their wives and children. I know if Hallad saw them, he'd want to make it right. You must speak to him, Erik. And even though there are walkers in the group, they aren't as strong as you. I don't think any of them can physically travel to another location through the shadowwalk. It has to be you."
Emma’s eyes rounded into a plea.
Erik lowered his head again, unable to meet her stare. He shrugged his shoulders.
She flung herself into him, hugging him forcefully. Whitefoot grabbed for his footing, but snuggled into the space between their necks. "I knew I could count on you, Erik. I knew it. Even if you're still upset with me."
He pushed her back, catching her gaze. "What do you mean, upset?"
"I just thought you’d…" Emma shook her head. "It doesn't matter now. Nothing matters except that you agreed." She smiled up at him.
Erik sucked in a deep breath. A shock of cold emanated from her flesh, and as much as he wanted to pull her into him—warm her—he sloughed off the desire, pushed her away and turned on his heel. Before striding a single step from Emma, he disappeared into the shadowwalk.
***
Intending on making this trip as brief as possible, Erik shadowwalked directly into Hallad's chamber. Though he knew he acted rudely, Erik figured Hallad and he were blood brothers after all; a little haste wouldn’t upset his friend, especially in this situation. As soon as his body flickered into existence, Erik spotted the two lovers in an embrace. He rolled his eyes and pulled backwards to give them privacy, but instead of leaving, his body stayed put.
By the smoke of Muspell, he didn't want to stand there and watch his blood brother, in all the man's naked glory, kissing the First. But Hallad never lifted his face from Ravenna’s—either too engaged t
o noticed Erik's entrance, or...
Erik shifted. He stared down to inspect his limbs—non-existent. For a breath, he thought he'd shadowwalked in the dream-sense, but he could feel his body had materialized in the chamber. He just couldn't see it.
He reached down, patting his torso, hips and thighs to confirm he was actually there. Just invisible.
He smiled.
I’ve never done that before.
When he'd traveled to find Emma before, his body had remained in the Village of Gnarn while his consciousness traveled, but this was different. It was as if an invisibility shield had been placed over him.
Ravenna pulled away from Hallad's intense exploration. She gazed up at him, tilting her head almost all the way back in order to capture his eyes. Hallad kept his grip firmly around her, and she pushed her body away to escape him.
Their separation caused a panic in Hallad's eyes. Erik gritted his teeth.
So she's wrapped his—whatever—around her little finger, has she?
Ravenna firmed up her voice as she stepped away. "If we are to march today, we need to get a move on it. But first, you must address the citizens of Glitner. I need to prepare, but will meet you on the balcony that overlooks the Palace Green. I have ordered an assembly there."
Hallad nodded absent-mindedly, watching her go. His smile increased at the exaggerated sway of her backside until she sashayed out of sight, then a confused daze plastered his features.
Erik focused, and his body fully materialized.
Hallad glanced over at him without as much as a flinch. "Rude not to knock, don't you think?" he asked.
Erik raised his brow at his friend. "I'd be careful with that one, blood-brother."
"I know." Hallad smiled lazily. "She's not like other women."
"I'll say. She has you standing bare naked in your chamber."
Hallad glanced down, blushed and grinned. "I guess she does at that."
"Some trousers might be appropriate."
Hallad turned his bare buttocks on Erik as he rustled through a cabinet, pulled out silky trousers and a tunic and covered every single one of his muscles.
"Nice attire." Erik rolled his eyes as Hallad buttoned and belted a tunic woven with the Guardian tree.
"Ravenna had them made."
"Oh?" Erik raised his brow.
"She says my appearance needs to hold sway over the people of Glitner as much as my actions."
"She does, now, does she?"
"She says I need to look the part of the Guardian."
"Oh, and what else does Ravenna say?"
Hallad turned, catching Erik's glare. His brows dipped over his chiseled face. "What does that mean?"
"Just be careful."
"What are you trying to say?"
"What's going on between you two?"
Hallad shrugged. "I don't see how that's any of your business."
"She just seems like the type of woman who uses her wiles a bit... unnaturally. She has powers, Hallad. She’ll use them to get what she wants."
"Are you suggesting she's beguiling me?"
Erik raised his brows.
"Don't be ridiculous, Erik."
"Why else would you be lounging around midday? Ever since we were kids, you were up at dawn planning your next move, and now you're lazing around in your chamber with your pants down?"
"Everything Ravenna does, she does to keep peace in this land. Don't judge her so harshly. You and my sister both," said Hallad. "And that brings me to another subject."
Erik's shoulders bunched at Hallad's bristly tone. "And what would that be?"
"Ravenna and I have discussed it…"
"Of course you have."
"Shadowwalking. You're not to do it again," Hallad stated with as much authority as the Godhi presiding over a trial.
Erik smirked. "Oh, really."
"I'm serious, blood-brother. The walk is strictly forbidden."
"By who?"
"The First."
Erik snorted. "She did hit you with her stupid stick, didn’t she?"
"Don't be absurd."
"Why else would you be acting so strange?"
Hallad didn't reply. He rubbed his forehead. "I've got a lot of pressure on me right now, Erik. Besides, don't argue about the walk. Just obey."
"You order me around like I'm your servant?"
"Nei, but I'm the Guardian and I have..." Hallad switched his head side to side as if trying to slosh ale from his brains. "I just have a lot on my mind at the moment."
"Sorry to burden you blood-brother, but I have more to slide into that mutton-filled head of yours. The Conspirators—"
Hallad's head shot up. "What about them?"
"They need your assistance."
Hallad snorted. Then laughed—a weirdly hollow tone. "We would nei more help them than cut off my own legs."
"Who're we?"
Hallad stared at him for a moment.
"You said "we'" wouldn't help. You and Astrid?"
"Me and Ravenna."
"I didn't ask for the First's help; I asked for yours. The Conspirators are freezing and starving to death and your own sister—"
"Good!" yelled Hallad. "Serves them right after what they've done! I could care less if they all grovel in their beds of ice until the last bit of breath squeaks from their lungs." Hallad turned his gaze on Erik; his eyelids slunk down with suspicion. "You're not cavorting with the Conspirators, are you?"
"If you mean trying to help them—"
"I won't have you sneaking around in the shadowwalk behind my back, scheming with the enemy."
"Since when do you have enemies?"
A red bloom sprung up Hallad's neck. His blonde brows furrowed down over his eyes.
"What's wrong with you, Blood Brother?"
"Nothing," said Hallad.
"You're not yourself."
"I've never felt better."
Hallad plopped on the bed and tugged on satiny slippers—the kind Erik had seen on the Palace Guardians. Hallad snorted again, rose and slicked his attire down. "Is that all you came for?" he asked. "I've business to attend to."
"Nei," said Erik. He pulled the dyrr from his pocket and handed it to Hallad.
A grin split Hallad's face. "Where did you get this?"
"I found it." It wasn't entirely a lie—he "found" it on Emma. Though Erik prided himself on telling the truth, regardless of the consequences of speaking it, he wouldn't risk telling Hallad that Emma had stolen the dyrr from him. Not in Hallad's peculiar state of mind.
Hallad snatched the dyrr out of his hand, "Good," he said. "This will make Ravenna so happy!" Then he turned, marched through the archway and strode down the corridor.
"Since when is Ravenna all you care about?" yelled Erik.
But Hallad ignored him until he strode out of sight, leaving Erik to return to Emma empty-handed.
Chapter 35
After watching Hallad stride through the corridor with all the cluck of a rooster, Erik slid into the shadowwalk and back to Emma.
She stood with her hands folded together over her belly. Goose bumps marred her arms as she paced. When she spotted Erik, she jogged up to him. Her big gray eyes beamed up at him expectantly.
"Well, when is he coming?"
"Emma, you're freezing," said Erik.
"It doesn't matter," she said, but shivered anyway. "There're more important things—"
"Ja, it does," Erik insisted as he unhooked his mantle and swung it around her.
She swayed back and forth like an impatient child but allowed Erik to wrap the linen mantle up beneath her chin. He briskly rubbed his hands up and down her arms, trying to warm her.
"Now stop stalling and tell me."
Erik stared at her. He couldn’t bear telling her he failed.
She switched her gaze back and forth between his eyes, searching him. The expectant look on her face sank. "He couldn't have refused! Not Hallad. He wouldn't."
Erik shrugged his shoulders. "He didn't seem hi
mself, Em."
A slow, steady shake pulled her head back and forth. "Nei. He wouldn't refuse." She wrapped the mantle tight up to her neck, settling her chin on the linen cloak, her eyes drifting.
"He didn't even give me a chance. He swore he'd rather—" Erik thought of the indelicate way Hallad had expressed his wishes for the Conspirators and stopped, considering another way to phrase it, but Emma's lips pressed into a frown. She swiveled around, quickly surveying the camp's inhabitants.
When she swung back to face him, Emma's cheeks burned red. "Hallad will not deny me! We'll march to Glitner and demand he use the dyrr to take us all to Scandia!"
"What are you talking about Emma? Scandia?"
She hushed her voice and leaned into him conspiratorially. "I've been thinking. Glitner cannot take care of these people, but in Scandia, the wolves and the alves can live freely. They won't cause any harm for Alvenheim, and they can blend in with the people of our own lands and take care of themselves. It's the perfect solution."
"Em—" Erik wanted to tell her about Hallad's strange attitude, but she shook her head at him fervently.
"It's the only way, Erik. I've thought it clean through. If we're going to help these people and the wolves, this is the way."
We? he thought. She just assumed he would agree. "But Scandia is freezing just like here, Emma."
Emma ignored his protest, swirled again, and raised her voice, "People!" she yelled. "We have a new mission!"
Erik grabbed at the mantle, trying to pull her back to him, but she strode ahead, lifting her hands to the crowd. "In my lands, people make fires; they hunt for food; they harvest with iron-forged pitch forks without hurting the land and without persecution!"
The white wolf lifted her head from the black wolf's side, settling her yellow gaze on Emma. The wolf and Emma stared at one another for a brief moment.
Broken: Book 2 of the ShadowLight Saga Page 18