Panic was making my heart race, and frustration crackled down my nerve endings. “What if we’re about to be eaten by the undead, though? There’s a time and place for honor, but this isn’t it.”
He sucked in a sharp breath. “I can make exceptions.”
“Do you know where the Old State House is?”
“Probably best not to be seen stepping out of a portal right in front of the finish line.” Galin paused for a moment. “I could get us to Faneuil Hall, just around the corner. Can you stand? I’ll need my hands free to do the spell.”
I wasn’t sure if I could, but I had to try. Carefully, I unlinked my hands from Galin’s neck and slid to the floor.
Putting weight on my leg sent fresh agony rocketing up my thigh, but I forced myself to do it. The draugr must have heard the movement, because on the other side of the exit door, they began to unleash ravenous screams. I could see Galin’s shoulders and legs straining with effort as the undead slammed themselves into the metal.
I stared as he scribed glowing runes in the air. Moments later, the portal shimmered before us—a magical safety exit.
“Go.” He nodded at it. “I’ll be right behind you.”
The draugr screamed, and the door shook behind Galin as if it were being repeatedly struck by a wrecking ball. I dove through the portal, landing on a snowy street. White hot pain lanced up my leg, but I still spun, waiting for Galin to arrive.
Instead, I stared in horror as the portal shimmered for a second, then disappeared with an electric crackle.
No. The scent of ozone washed over me, and my heart went still for a moment.
I could see exactly what he’d done, and I hated him for it. He had tricked me, again. He’d known that as soon as he moved his back from the door, the draugr would fling it open before he could make his way through the portal. They would tear him to pieces, and then they’d charge through the portal after me.
So, he’d simply closed it as soon as I’d passed through. He’d sacrificed himself for me.
Gods, this wasn’t how I’d imagined any of this playing out.
I clenched my fists, my entire body trembling with shock, tears welling in my eyes. I should have seen what he was up to. I had no way to get to him right now, no way to help. At this point, all I could do was hope that he found a way out of there, despite the odds.
Worry electrified my mind.
Suddenly, I heard the distant shouts of elves. The Old State House must be close by.
I looked around, taking in my surroundings for the first time. Galin had dropped me in the shadow of an ancient statue. Though it was encrusted in ice and snow, it appeared to be a man with his arms crossed.
I looked away as a bestial howl rent the frigid air. Not elves this time. Draugr.
I stood, using the plinth for support, even as pain splintered my leg. I’d been stabbed before—Hel, I’d had my finger cut off—but this was different. Each step was like getting stabbed with the javelin all over again.
Gritting my teeth, I began to shuffle towards the Old State House. I could see it in the distance, now, an old red brick building with a large marble balcony. A group of elves stood in front, a mix of gasping runners and officials dressed in striped shirts.
As I shambled towards them, I tried to block out the pain, but I found my mind kept going back to Galin. I was trying to picture him fighting his way out of there, as if imagining it could make it happen.
It hadn’t been that long since I’d planned to kill him myself. But now, I wasn’t sure what I wanted. When I’d thought he’d betrayed me, it meant everything had been a lie. That he’d put up the wall to help us. That he’d help me free the Night Elves. Killing him had seemed imperative to freeing my people.
But if he hadn’t sent the letter—if he’d spoken the truth—maybe he wasn’t the monster I’d been raised to believe he was.
I believed him when he said the letter hadn’t been his.
It seemed impossible, but he was trying to help me. He’d just sacrificed himself for me, hadn’t he?
Already, guilt was eating at me. If I hadn’t been there, slowing him down with my ravaged leg, he’d already