Brynn was first to step from behind the shelter of the burning hall, Cenric right beside her.She peered into the darkness and saw it.
The creature rose over the huts, storehouses, and ships, the light from the burning houses casting an eerie glow on its underbelly.She could make out few details, but she saw the glint of fire off scales and the outline of a long, knobbed body.The creature had to be at least five ships in length.
Screams of terror and panic rose from every corner of Istra.
Brynn took in the sight, feeling detached, the way she had inside that burning hall.She was so far beyond fear, so far beyond terror.
At her side, Cenric stared in horror.He held onto his pilfered shield and spear, watching as a creature from his nightmares burst into Istra.“It is real,” he murmured.“Morgi tried to warn me.”
Brynn wasn’t sure what good that warning could have done.
Around them, Ovrek’s men stepped out from where they had sheltered from the fleeing animals.Gasps of shock and wonder rippled over the men.Brynn heard appeals to Havnar and prayers to at least four different gods.
Brynn didn’t want to fight the serpent.She wanted to flee from this creature with its burning malice and taintedka.She hadn’t wanted to come to Valdar in the first place.
But if Esa was still alive down there, she was depending on Brynn.Even Kalen, Vana, Guin, Snapper, that little girl who had admired Tullia’s temple rings, and hundreds of others.Ovrek and his men could probably handle the Wulfwir.It would cost them dearly, but they could do it.The serpent was another matter.
Hróarr, Ovrek, and the king’s warriors began speaking quickly, conferring amongst themselves.Even if she could get them to listen, that would take time.Every moment was precious if she was going to save the people in the town.
Brynn marched in the direction of the burning city before she could change her mind.
Cenric followed at her side, still carrying his shield and spear.Those might be useful if they faced any more of Tullia’s men, but Brynn doubted his weapons would be of much use against the great serpent.
“Where are you going?”Hróarr shouted, his massive hulk trotting after them.
“See to the Wulfwir,” Brynn shouted back.
“It’s just Wulfwir,” Hróarr corrected.“That’s its name.”
“See to it.”Brynn turned back toward the town, moving quickly as she dared.
Ovrek was distracted speaking with his men, and she wanted to be gone before he noticed her leaving.
“What are you doing?”Hróarr repeated.“Cenric!”
Cenric shouted something back in Valdari.Whatever it meant, Hróarr didn’t press the issue.
“Does the serpent have a name, too?”Brynn asked.
“Jormanthar,” Cenric said.“The Great Serpent.”
“I see.”Brynn kept walking toward the burning chaos of Istra.“You’re not going to try and stop me?”Her voice trembled, but she hoped her husband wouldn’t notice.
“I’ve seen you work wonders before,” Cenric reminded her.“Besides, my foretelling showed us together.”
Brynn wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.“I’m not sure I can do this.”
“You can.”Cenric didn’t hesitate.
“And if I can’t?”Tears stung Brynn’s eyes even as she kept marching.
“Then it’s not as if we’ll be around for the embarrassment of being wrong, is it?”Cenric sounded entirely too cheerful about the fact.
Brynn continued down the hill, past the corpses of Tullia’s men and Ovrek’s men alike.In the death, all the bodies seemed to be the same.She did her best to draw power to herself, pulling it in great golden whorls.
Power shimmered off the corpses, off the grass, infusing the summer air.Brynn didn’t know how much might possibly be enough, but she would take all that she could get.
Cenric was close, at her side, marching without hesitation.Was he truly so confident or was he just better at hiding it?
