Page 21 (1/2)

Now, struggling out of bed, I coughed up a , and she pushed a waterskin into my hand

"Drink deep"

I did, until I could speak "What’s going on? Does he wantelse, I breathed softly

Hanna sucked in a deep breath, kneeling by et you out of here Hyto flew off not an hour ago, hunting for his dinner When he hunts, he’s always gone for a good day, sometimes two I will help you Youhiry I don’t think you’ll survive another bout"

She shoved thick clothes into my arms, linen and fur, and a pair of fur-lined boots made out of leather "I cannot allow myself to take my part in his crimes anymore I’ll never see Valhalla, but perhaps I can redeeods"

"What about your son?" I asked, but then soe Her son was there, but slu

"Oh, Hanna"

"Hyto tortured him to torture me and keep me in line I told you, my son’s been locked up for five years--never once has he been allowed out of the cage He turned into a wild child Gone quite feral I tried to keep him sane, tried to talk to him, but he had no release, no chance to stretch, to move his body He was able to lie flat, but he hasn’t had a chance to stand free since the Master brought us here"

She pressed her knuckles against her lips "I’ve been selfish When I brought you back tonight, I looked at er here His life has been horrific Hehe lost histhe way That’s no way to live, and there’s no chance to free him I realize that now So I finally decided to do the only thing I could The only thing a good aze, the pain in her face too much to witness

"Couldn’t we have broken the cage open?" The fact that she’d killed her son shook me to the core, but then she put her areit isI could think of, but it won’t open, it won’t break Dragon erous And o I’veto him and talk to himbut he hears only the sound of my voice, notleft of the boy I gave birth to save for an eht that put hi hied her throat and she let out a strangled cry and buried her head in her hands I wrapped her in ht again

She let out a shuddering breath "It was too late for Kjell, but not for you Whatever it takes to get you out of here, I will do I don’t care about myself My son is beyond Hyto’s reach, safe with his father"

There was no debate Sht be on the way, but it was only a matter of tiry Asme apart in front of my husband, he didn’t have as much self-control as he liked to believe Most sociopaths lost it at soe

My body protested, but I forced o You must come with me I need your help and I can’t leave you here"

She nodded "My son no longer needs one to his ancestors, I hope And perhaps, I will redeem myself in the eyes of Thor and Frejya"

"May I say a feords for hi her are, and I stared at the slack body, tears running down e to take a wife now, but he’d never wed, never prove hiht have become And the fault lay directly at Hyto’s feet

I reached into the cage, placedand slow, trying to ignoreht her presence She swept over me, for a moment took away my discomfort as I whispered our prayer for the dead

"What was life has crumbled What was form, now falls away Mortal chains unbind and the soul is lifted free May you find your way to the ancestors May you find your path to the gods May your bravery and courage be re and story May your parents be proud, and ht Sleep, and wander no nified the Trail of the Dead, I let out another long breath and turned around Hanna was crying, silently, but she ed a pained smile as she led me over to the table, where we both washed our hands

She shoved a sturdy crust of bread into my hands, spread with cheese A thick shard of jerky sat beside the plate, and a bowl of broth I quickly ate and slurped down the soup while she slatherednumb inside

"You’ll need it The weather outside is brutal"

"I know I’ve been out there before I also know that life around Hyto is far worse I’d rather die in the snow I don’t trust hiets here He went apeshit on me, but he could have been far worse And next tiarments, trousers, shirt, and robe she’d shoved into h ainst all the bruises and abrasions coveringdressed, Hanna yanked out a couple of rucksacks she had filled with food and water and other things I could not see I finished dressing and looked around for anything that ic, but it would be nice to have so sharp and pointy in

"You won’t find any weapons" She shook her head "Not here--except for the butchering knives We’ll take those Hyto didn’t consider them a threat in my hands, I suppose" She handed me a clean thick-bladed knife, wicked sharp and heavy I slid it through the belt holding the fur vest I’d donned together in front

"We should go How long does he usually stay out to feed?"

"Sometiot about everything we can handle Here--drape this around you" She wrapped a heavy white fur cloak around my shoulders, an animal hide with armholes slit in it The warmth would help keep me alive Hanna was similarly dressed