She held her hand out in a stopping motion, and Soren took a step back. “Don’t get anywhere near the circle,” she said, eyes still closed. “You’ll ruin it, and then we’ll have to wait another month.”

With that, she continued her chanting. From beside her, I noticed a small flask that she took sips of every so often. It stained her lips a violent reddish-black color, almost like viscera, and looking at it made my stomach twist.

It didn’t take long until Seppo and Rosamund came too, leading the young filly that they’d been chasing a few days before. Satu stood with them as well as Tanya, here to see us off, apparently. Part of me wondered about the rest of the council, before I came to the conclusion that even if they were plotting something, leaving the Permafrost in the hands of Satu and Tanya was more than enough protection.

“What’s with the horse?” Soren asked.

Seppo sighed. “Well, my baby sibling isn’t getting this horse any time soon.”

Satu rolled her eyes. “It would take a few years for it to even be able to ride anyway. I’m sure we’ll find a new horse.”

“If we don’t die from the coming apocalypse,” Rosamund muttered under his breath.

Diaval breathed out heavily through her nose. “Not helping, Rose.” She stood and came forward, though carefully remained in the circle as Seppo led the filly toward Diaval. She cooed and spoke softly to the young creature, ruffling its mane and rubbing its nose.

A sour feeling spread throughout my body. My grip tightened on Soren’s hand, causing him to wince.

“You don’t have to watch,” he said.

“Yes, I do.” This animal was sacrificing its life for us. The least we could do was watch as it died.

Diaval sat back down in the middle of the circle, holding the rope of the filly tight enough that it couldn’t escape. She continued her muttering as the young animal blinked at her with large, brown, trusting eyes. Another ignorant lamb—technically horse—to the slaughter.

She shivered as she took another, longer sip of the dark red liquid in her flask, and I found myself asking, “What is she even drinking?” Some of the liquid escaped her mouth and ran crimson down her chin as she choked on it.

A hand on my arm caused me to jump almost a foot in the air before I realized it was Tanya. She beckoned me over to where she stood, and with a lingering glance at Soren, I went with her. “It’s venom,” Tanya said, “from the snake that hangs over the bound Loki.”

“She’s actually ingesting that?” I said, shocked. “Won’t it kill her?”