Revna’s lilting voice. I turned to see her coming up behind me as we reached the bottom of the hill. “Where have you been?”
I shrugged. “Here and there.”
The rest of the tribes had joined us now, and we ran together, the competition fierce and fast. A group of three Vanir passed close to us, and Revna emitted a little chirp of excitement.
She rushed forward, her dagger gleaming. She struck, and one of the Vanir fell, clutching his lower back. He shouted to his companions, and they slowed, reaching for their weapons, but Revna danced out of their way.
“Gods, this is fun!” shouted Revna gleefully as she rejoined me.
I pumped my arms, focusing only on the race. “Save your energy, sister,” I said in a harsh whisper, just loud enough that only she could hear.
There would be worse things to fight than the Vanir today.
A minute later, we raced down Winthrop Street and past the Old Training Field. In the 18th century, it had been a practice area for colonial militias. Now, it lay frozen under the snows of Ragnarok.
We were just turning onto Park Street when I heard the first guttural shouts. Even though I’d been expecting them, my skin crawled.
“Galin,” said Revna, still running next to me, “what’s that sound?”
The reason why Ali had suggested torches. And in the next moment, Revna understood the reason for herself.
“Draugr!” she shouted.
A ripple of fear was already passing through the running elves. Even if they’d never actually seen one in the flesh, the bestial shouts of the draugr were enough to turn anyone’s blood to ice. Cries of “Draugr!” began to fill the air.
I glanced over my shoulder. Undead corpses poured from the alleys behind us. I turned, watching with a feeling of nausea as a draugr descended on an injured Vanir. Their shouts became a frenzy of feral screams. Blood sprayed the frozen street.
The draugr paused for a moment, but the taste of blood sent them surging forward the next, teeth gnashing, ravenous cries echoing in the frigid air.
But it wasn’t the sound of draugr that chilled me to the core. It was a woman’s scream—a voice I immediately recognized.
I spun in time to see Ali fighting a group of Vanir. Even as the draugr bore down, the dark-haired warriors had surrounded her. With my heart slamming, I raced across the street to help her.
I saw Skalei flash as Ali stabbed a Vanir in the neck, but there were too many for her to take alone, in her state. Ten at least. One of them pushed her from behind, and she stumbled. A dagger glinted in the evening light as one of the warriors lunged.
But I’d reached her just in time. I drove my shoulder into the Vanir’s chest, sending him crashing into a snowbank. Another leapt on me, but I threw him off. Even as we fought, the draugr gained on us.
I heard Ali call Skalei. She fought them in a frenzy of whirling snow and silver hair, ducking and slashing, dagger glinting. As one after another attempted to flank her, I snapped their necks.
When her attackers all lay dead, I held my hand out to her. “Are you hurt?”
“I don’t think so,” she said, panting. She started forward, then stumbled, clutching her injured thigh. Then, with wide eyes, she turned to look at the draugr. They were only fifty feet away, barreling forwards in a cannibalistic frenzy of leathery skin.
Adrenaline coursing through me, I grabbed one of the dead Vanir by the legs and spun round like a shot-putter, throwing him at the incoming horde. They slowed to eat him, buying us time.
Ali was gripping her thigh, and she’d sliced her pant leg open to look at her injury. She gritted her teeth, grunting. The stitches had ripped open, and blood pumped from the wound. She wouldn’t be able to run anymore.
Panic coiled through my mind.
“Galin,” she snarled. “I can’t run. You need to go.”
As if I’d leave her.
My heart hammered as I glanced back at the draugr, who had almost finished consuming the Vanir I’d thrown their way. Twenty seconds at best before they were upon us.
I crouched down, then scooped Ali up. She grunted as I moved her, but she gripped me tightly.
I broke into a sprint, flying down State Street. I didn’t have time to consider what would happen when the High Elves realized I was helping her, but I was going to carry Ali to the Old State House if it was the last thing