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My father, Odin, and Fenri were locked in battle with the five arround, an arrow through his heart, his quiver of arrows scattered on the ground The bow justtra under a sword He used his axe to swing into his opponent’s back and knock hiest of the men, but the man’s armor protected his My father wasn’t as lucky--his leathers offered little protection He was faster than the arht, but he was also older

Odin was the first to go down, a sword in his stomach Fenri let Odin’s cries of pain distract hirass

Bearen roared as he continued battling two of the ain! I refused to lose any more to battle if I could prevent it I darted in for the bow and picked up a few scattered arrows I aimed to pick off each of the warriors in succession, one after another I knewwould very well lead me to lose control, but in thatthose so important to me I screamed in pain and frustration as I channeled that destructive power into the arrow and ai heart Faster than I have ever done it before, I released the arrow

Like a snuffed candle, he was gone

Each arrow exploded withon those closest to ain was blasted backward as my next arrow exploded into his chest

I curled ers and turned to Bearen’s attackers One danced an intricate dance of parries and thrusts, leading my father around to expose his unprotected back to his co and ran forward to thrust his sword into Bearen With an enorical push, I shoved my father out of the way Unable to stop his momentu to kill the other man while he was distracted He slid his knife into the soldier’s back and held hiround dead

Fenri had regained his footing and run over to Bearen Only onearound, he ran for his horse toover faint with the use of expended energy I should have been on the verge of blacking out

Instead, I felt alive Powerful And it scared me

Odin pulled himself up and surveyed his wound It had apparentlyhis vest and e Since he wasn’t worried, I wasn’t worried

Fenri turned to yell ataway froer The first one killed I stared, unfeeling, at the body of the stranger Maybe I should have felt so akin to pity but I didn’t Instead, I focused on the leather satchel attached to his side With a quick flick ofand shoved it under my arm as I ran to Faraway and mounted him

"Thalia, don’t read those," Bearen warned, running toward me

"I won’t if you tellthis fro to do with the Septori, then I need to know" I grabbed the bag and shook it in his face

Bearen reached for the satchel and tugged it gently fro that you coer he didn’t know your name, just demanded that the child of Thelonia be escorted back A few years later, he deirl child Now he asks for you by naasped

"I don’t know There were s your mother refused to share with me about her past But I discussed it with the council and we all agreed that ould not respond or give you up Recently, the deether--the first week of each e He turned and showedTieren