Page 81 of Reign of Stars and Fire

My blood chilled when a deep, cruel laugh collided with my senses.

I lifted my gaze.

All hells. No.

Davorin—the creature as I knew him—stood no more than ten paces from me, a burning slip of parchment in hand, and a twisted smirk on his face. “Hello, Awakener. I so hoped I’d find you here.”

Chapter26

The Raven Queen

Night had long since fallen.My insides hardened like broken stones, jagged and heavy, in my belly. How long had Davorin had access to Ari? What was he doing to Eryka?

Gunnar was sedated by Niklas’s and a blood fae poisoner’s hands. Gorm’s healers had been with the prince, cleansing and stitching the wound, but he’d lost a great deal of blood. I was weak and left when the prince turned a pallid sort of gray. Gunnar’s father hadn’t left his side. No mistake, it would be touch and go through the night.

Frey remained near the prince’s door with Dunker and Hodag running to and fro with warm, medicinal water, bandages, threads, or drink to wet the healer’s tongues.

We couldn’t lose him. Gunnar meant too much to a great many, as did Eryka. They were a hope, a bright future for the realms across the Fate’s Ocean.

They were too bleeding young.

My fists covered my lips. I jabbed my elbows into the tops of my knees and leaned forward, studying Ari’s face. Unmoved. Peaceful. It didn’t mean Davorin wasn’t wreaking havoc somewhere.

“Saga.” Stieg tapped my shoulder. Blood and sweat from the battle still soaked his face. “Niklas is ready.”

I blinked, took Ari’s palm, and pressed a kiss in the center. In the great hall of the longhouse, Bo, the North’s first knight, and his wife, were bound, blindfolded, and placed in the center of the space. A blood fae guard stood beside each one.

They’d been given calming herbs, and, for now, were docile.

Across the room, Niklas held up a pestle and mortar. He offered me a quick glance, then stepped beside Bo first.

“The longest corrupted,” the Falkyn said. “Time to see how well I know my craft. Open his mouth.”

The warrior behind Bo gripped the tracker’s hair and yanked his head back. Bo moaned, as though falling asleep.

Near the long table, Rune stood with his hands clasped behind his back, unreadable. Face like blank stone, eyes dark, and body stiff. I could understand. Should the elixir be successful on these three, Niklas would move to Ari. The desire to drift into a numb state of mind was tempting.

If it didn’t work, it would make disappointment simpler to bear.

Niklas waited for the guard to pinch Bo’s cheeks until his lips parted. With exact measurements, the Falkyn dipped a carefully carved spoon. Dividers provided different amounts and weights on the spoon head. Four dividers, and one half went onto Bo’s tongue.

The guard forced Bo’s jaw shut, then waited until the bob of Bo’s throat proved he’d swallowed.

I didn’t breathe. All we could do was wait. How long? Would it be instant, or take days we didn’t have? Would it—

Bo shouted. I jumped back, running into Stieg.

The tracker heaved over his hands and knees. Bile and vomit spilled over his lips. Not vomit, dark blood. When Bo convulsed, Rune broke.

“It’s poisoning him!”

Niklas held out an arm. “Leave it. This purges. I never said it would be peaceful.”

Acid burned in my throat when the torment of spewing the corruption went on until Bo’s muscles trembled from exertion. Throughout the hall, more than one spectator, warrior and common fae alike, bowed away. Some heaved themselves.

At long last, Bo collapsed on his back, groaning. Sweat soaked his dark hair to his brow. His skin looked too pale and a little green.

Niklas waved Rune forward. Slowly, Rune knelt beside Bo and touched his arm on Niklas’s instruction.