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Hel’s mother raised a gleaming spear and said, “For your King and Queen!”

Tears slipped down her cheeks. She lifted her eyes to the sky and smiled.Thank you.

Starborn and Night soared down just as their people rushed forward.

“Let’s finish this.” Valeen hopped into her chariot, and Hel stepped in with her.

Katana grabbed the edge of her chariot. “Don’t leave Pricilla alive to do this again. Don’t take her as a prisoner.”

“I won’t.”

Katana let go and her legs gave way. Thane caught her before she hit the ground. “Lead them to victory for me,” he said.

“We will.” With a flick of Hel’s fingers, her helmet vanished, and the weight of her crown settled there instead.

“For Villhara and for Palenor!” Valeen shouted.

Starborn and Night lifted into the air and Valeen and Hel raised their fists. The echoing cheers brought goosebumps across her skin.

An army of thousands raced down the valley hill behind them. She rode up beside the group of Ravens. The two forces clashed with the enemy in a fury of valor and vengeance.

The new force of dragons was enough to make the council’s aerial force turn and flee or shift and drop to the ground.

Pricilla screamed, “Fight! Keep fighting!”

But even at her command some turned to run.

Palenor and Villhara overran them like a flood wave crashing down a mountainside.

Hel jumped out of the chariot and vanished before he hit the ground. Valeen pulled the reins and Starborn and Night landed at the back of the fighting.

The council’s army fell like snow in winter. All that was left of the council was Pricilla. Hel had already killed the others. She had a few god allies but even they started to flee and commanded their legions to retreat.

“You cowards!” Pricilla shrieked. “Come back!”

When Hel reappeared, it was before Pricilla. Her usually perfectly sleek brown hair was a halo of frizz. Her pink armor was stained with blood. She squealed and stumbled backward into a soldier and threw him in front of her. “Stay away from me!”

Valeen stepped out of her chariot and slowly followed after him.

Hel cut down the soldier and shoved him aside. She grabbed yet another and another, in her retreat.

“You can’t do this! Iamthe council!” She fell over a body and hit the ground. Holding up a sword to shield herself, she screamed.

Soulender hit, shattering her blade. Hel shoved his boot to her chest and squatted, putting the tip of Soulender to her throat. “Remember when I said I would come back and kill you? I always keep my promises. This is for my wife.” He shoved the blade into her windpipe, and blood gurgled up out of her open mouth.

It was a moment she’d been waiting centuries for, and as she watched scarlet bubble out of Pricilla’s mouth, she smiled. The ones who ordered the stripping of their immortality, who cursed them to die and be reborn were gone.

And that’s when she sawhim. Synick could have escaped with the wall down but instead he stood fifty yards away, staring at her with Sword of Truth in hand. “It was always supposed to come to this moment, Valeen! You, and me, the possessors of the immortal swords!”

Even if the armies of Villhara would overrun the council’s fleeing fighters, it wasn’t over yet. It wasn’t over until Synick was dead and she had the other immortal sword in hand.

Chapter 58

VALEEN

With her goddess blade in hand and her magic flowing out in the form of shadows and vines all around her, she marched for Synick. Soldiers ran past her to chase down the enemy, weapons clashed further down the battlefield, and the elven archers on the wall cheered at the retreat of the invaders.

Synick didn’t turn to run. He waited. They both knew this moment was coming and neither of them would back down.