I nodded. “Sounds like her to me.” Seppo looked so peaceful. It would be good when he woke up again. I was going to yell at him for being so stupid and trying to sacrifice himself, but that was kind of how my relationship with Seppo went. He annoyed me, I yelled, he continued to annoy me because he found my yelling hilarious.

“And Diaval and Rosamund?”

“Diaval’s the worst,” Soren said, casting a soft look at the magic-wielding goblin. “She’s lucky she didn’t lose her leg, let alone die. If the infection had lingered any longer…” He trailed off. “Anyway, Tanya says it’s just a matter of time until she wakes up. She’ll wake up. We just don’t know when.

“I really hate having to say this, but we were lucky Lydian was there. He saved her life, most likely, with the maggot thing he did. But I guess I have to give credit where credit is due. I’m grateful for him in that aspect, anyway,” Soren continued.

I nodded. “I feel the same. It’s conflicting. What about Rose?”

“Rose is very lucky his spine and skull aren’t broken, and managed to get out of the entire fight with a few broken ribs and a broken leg,” Soren said. “I’m glad. I’m starting to like the idea of having blood relatives who aren’t always trying to kill or torment me.”

“Speaking of blood relatives…” the voice that came from the corner of the room hoarsely spoke. Lydian.

“I thought you were asleep,” Soren said. “Or whatever shades do to rest.”

“You thought wrong. And to answer your question, shades who are corporeal can sleep.”

I crossed my arms. “What do you want?” I asked. “Not that I’m unappreciative of your help, but it still doesn’t change much.”

He made a sound almost like a chuckle. “I didn’t expect it to. No, Hel will still be after me. I’m technically a runaway soul. All I ask is you burn my heart and whatever pieces of me are left over and give the ashes a proper burial, so I can truly reside in Hel’s realm. It might calm her.”

“You want us … to kill you?” Soren said. “And make sure you get proper rest?”

“I know what you two are going to say. I don’t deserve it. And you’re right, I don’t. But Hel still needs my soul, and well, I doubt she’s going to make my afterlife any fun. You don’t need her breathing down your neck with a war going on.”

War. Gods, we set out to kill Fjalar before its three world-ending shrieks but failed to stop the first. Somewhere, the ship of the dead was being readied to turn to the unholy sea.

“Your request is accepted,” I said. “We’ll hold the burning later tonight.”