“You’re funny. You didn’t get that from your father.” Ragnall wagged his finger at me. “Indu’s loyal, ambitious, and impressively devout, but he’s never had much of a sense of humor.”

“Did you invite me here to reminisce about my dear ol’ dad?” I asked him.

His smile instantly fell, and he gazed down at me beneath his harsh black eyebrows. “No, I did not invite you here. You begged for an audience through your lackeys, and I allowed you to come up. You wanted this, but you are only here because of my benevolence. I want you to remember that.”

My hair had fallen across my face and I brushed it back. “Why are you being so benevolent?”

Illaria snorted. “That is a good question.”

“First, as a favor to your father, and then because you were useful,” Ragnall answered. “But your usefulness has run out, and I consider any favors to your father repaid.” He unbuttoned his suit jacket and crouched down to my eye level.

“I let you up here so I could tell you that it’s over,” he said, his voice firm, cold, emotionless. “I have been looking for a way to cross the bridge and return home for a very, very long time. You had an important role to play, which is why you’re still alive. But your part is done.”

“You can’t cross the bridge,” I warned him. Tuva hit me in the back of my head with the pole, but I had already gritted my teeth, preparing for it. I winced but I didn’t fall forward this time. “There are dragons on the other side, and if you cross the bridge, you’ll unleash them on this world. They will burn it down to the ground.”

He laughed again, but it was completely devoid of any happiness or joy, and it stopped abruptly. As he looked down at me, scratching his eyebrow, he said, “I’m honestly disappointed that you fell for their lies. Until now I thought you were smarter than that.”

I looked over at Illaria. “You know the truth. That the earth can’t withstand the life in your world. That’s what the Grændöden was. Áibmoráigi fell in a matter of minutes. The whole city and all the life within it.”

“I don’t care about this place at all,” Illaria said. “Our mother’s fondness for this stupid blue world was always her greatest downfall.” She walked closer, so she stood just to the side of Ragnall, and sneered down at me. “I’ve been on the other side. I know the Älvolk will be revered like the gods they are when they return to claim what is rightfully theirs.”

“Jem-Kruk and Sumi—” I began, but that’s all that made it out before Tuva hit me in the head again. This time, gritting my teeth wasn’t enough, and I blacked out for a second.