The smoke from the hallucinogenic herbs that worshippers often inhaled during their visits to the temples thickened around them until her mind grew fuzzy.
In her outburst, she had forgotten to maintain the air shields around herself that had kept her mind clear. Now, as the drug took effect, the sands of the same beach she had seen before the ritual started flashed before her again. Only this time, the group was smaller—only two people and an infant. Maude took a mental step forward, her body leaning forward almost incorporeally to catch a glimpse of who stood with their backs to her.
As soon as she moved, the robed seer who chanted in front of the infant looked up directly at Maude. Before she could open her mouth to speak to the seer who had sensed her, a wall of flames shot up in front of her, blocking whatever was taking place on that beach.
The same instance her mind returned to her body, a sharp crack reverberated through the air.
Shadows as thick and as heavy as the nightmares that sometimes clouded her mind at night shot up in tall pillars from where Herrick, Dahlia, and Hildr stood. The opaque darkness clouded her sight for a small eternity until the only thing she could make out was the sound of her blood pounding in her ears.
Abruptly, the chanting stopped, and as fast as the shadows had appeared, they vanished. The moonlight cut through the remaining darkness until the field before them became visible again. Arms raised above her head, Hildr stood before Herrick, who had sprawled forward onto his hands and knees, with the iron band in her hands. The two halves of the band glowed where they had seemingly been ripped apart after something flaming had severed it, the dark iron still burning a bright ruby over the ends.
Maude didn't care, all she could think to do was reach Herrick's side as that thread tying them together throbbed painfully. Aeric released her so she couldsprint forward. She slid onto her knees in the damp grass right next to Herrick, her hands running over his exposed back as he breathed heavily. His sweat mixed with her damp palms, their scents perfuming the smokey air until it wrapped around the both of them. Petrichor and cedar. Summer berries and jasmine.
Dahlia still stood behind him, but when Maude glanced up at her, she saw that the healer was about to fall backward from exhaustion. Hakon, who had been heading for his brother, stopped to catch the Elven healer before she hit the ground. Head lolled backward, her hair a curtain of glossy black, Hakon crouched to lay her gently on the grass as the rest of their friends joined them.
Needing to know that Herrick was well, Maude shifted in front of him on her knees and helped him sit up. His hands wrapped around the back of her arms as she gripped him by his elbows until they both sat in a crouched position.
"Herrick," she whispered, her voice suddenly gone from her grasp. She couldn't think of anything else to say but his name.
He looked up at her then, his golden eyes clear and bright even as sweat beaded on his brow. He seemed to look through her, like she was a ghost that he wasn't sure was even there. Hands tightened around her arms as he slowed his breathing. Understanding flashed across his face before his eyes focused on hers. He opened his mouth to speak but remained silent. Taking a deep breath, he smothered whatever he had experienced.
"It's gone," he finally croaked, his voice hoarse from his screams. "He's gone."
"Who's gone?" Gunnar asked, but Herrick could only stare at her.
Without responding, Herrick released her and planted his fingers on the ground before closing his eyes. Maude could feel the earth pulse below her a second before it happened. She grinned as dark green sprouts broke free from the soil. The longer the vines became, the wider she smiled. Wrapping around her ankles and then her calves, small white buds began to bloom as Herrick poured hisgalderinto them. Soon, her legs and hips were wrapped in vines that were covered in white jasmine flowers, their spicy scent caressing her.
Herrick opened his eyes, snatching one of the small flowers and tucking it behind her ear before he grabbed the back of her neck and pressed his mouth to hers. Assoon as their lips touched, the crisp flow of water seemed to bubble over her skin. Herrick's hands cradled her face, their touch as invigorating and soothing as they had been before his capture.
"If you two are finished, there is more to discuss," Hildr said, her grumpy voice cutting through the reunion Herrick was having with hisgalder.
Maude turned to snap at the old woman, but saw that Hildr only met her glare evenly. Any protest she may have had was silenced— the truth she had asked of her was going to be revealed tonight.
"We should have this conversation in the privacy of my cabin," Hildr went on as she motioned for everyone to follow her out of the clearing. "Now that the band has been removed from Herrick's body, we may speak freely about your next steps in this war."
"What do you mean?" Bryn asked as she caught up to Maude's side.
Liv watched Bryn's movements with longing but quickly shuttered the emotion as she caught Maude's attention on her.
"I mean that whoever put this restraint on the General of Rivers has been keeping tabs on him through its connection with the being inside the metal."
Ice wound through her at what Vilde might have heard in the time he had been back with them. Herrick's eyes widened slightly— if he had been tracked, he hadn't been aware of it. Their group was silent by the time they reached Hildr's cabin. Hakon, who had carried Dahlia from the clearing, set her on a small cot in the corner of the room before covering her with furs.
Once everyone gathered around the fire in her cabin, the Grand Soothsayer at the head of this meeting with one of her seers behind her, the room finally settled. Unable to sit down because of the nervous energy that wound through her, Maude stayed standing with Herrick close behind her.
"What have you discovered, Hildr?" Aeric asked, his voice calm despite the palpable tension.
The Soothsayer was silent as she weighed her answer, her blind focus moving from person to person. Finally, when she spoke again, her words seemed to vibrate in the still room. The world outside of her cabin quieted, the Norns listening intently.
"The mission you had set upon three moon cycles past," she began, her voice low. "Was not a complete failure, as you may have thought until now."
Maude shivered as Herrick seemed to drift closer to her. His skin was cooler against her back than before, the water in his blood already making itself known.
"How can you know that?" Hakon asked, his focus split between Hildr and Dahlia.
"Because what came to pass would have always happened," she explained. "Thedalkr Helawas not in that cavern; that much was true. But you were always close to finding it. You were only mistaken about its resting place these last ten years."
"If you know where it is, you have to tell us," Liv said, trying to get to her feet, but Bryn gripped her wrist before she could move.
