I opened the pack beside me as well as my jar of pemmican, eating the last spoonfuls before there was none left. The paste was thick and hard to swallow, even with water, and once again I found myself making a face at the taste of the food. Somehow it managed to taste worse than usual.

“Disgusting,” I finally said once I could unstick my tongue from the roof of my mouth.

Rose chuckled at the sight, and I rolled my eyes and said, “Did Seppo ever tell you how we met?”

“He mentioned it before. Something about dragons and nökkens and annoying Lydian, and you threatening him with physical actions every time he annoyed you.”

“Yeah, that’s basically it.” The sky was turning beyond the thick mist, and soon those sleeping would be woken so we could examine Fjalar’s lair and maybe think of a plan before we went in with weapons raised. Or, at least, Lydian and Seppo would wake. I wasn’t sure what would happen with Diaval.

Closing my eyes, I sent out a prayer to Freya, among other things the goddess of magic users, and begged for her to save Diaval’s life. I couldn’t lose her yet. She was a light in my darkness, the snarky voice when all the guys did something dumb, and the first person who’d sought me out after the coronation, practically forcing her magic lessons onto me with dark sparkling eyes.

Now all I saw when I shut my eyes was her on the ground, rolled up with her knees to her chest, shivering but never waking. The life drained from her—unable to make any movements, let alone comments. Terror built up in me at the thought of her dying. At anyone here dying. Okay, maybe not Lydian, but everyone else.

WHEN THE REST of the group woke, they ate the final portions of their meals and sat soberly with the two of us as the day finally peeked into existence. Even Seppo, never without a joke, was somber as he stared back into the burrow we’d been sleeping in. Diaval lay in there, covered with every fur and blanket imaginable, with supply bags left for her so she knew she wouldn’t starve, and a note in case she woke up but we failed in our battle.

Without so much as a word, we grabbed our weapons and followed Lydian. The snow and ice beneath us was stained black as if it were burned, and heat began to fizzle in the air, making the ice specks melt in mid-swirl until they were replaced by ash.