Surrendered to the Berserkers by Lee Savino

Author:Lee Savino
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lee Savino

A low level of clouds blanketed the sky. I trudged with my head down. Each step seemed to be uphill. Ragnar led the way, threading through boulders and sharp rocks that threatened to slice through our boots.

“Here,” he said and I raised my head. We were on a hill, overlooking a long plain covered in a grey mist that matched the low-lying clouds above. In the distance, there was some movement.

“Draugr,” Ragnar snarled. He pointed to the teeming mass. “There. And there.”

“So many.”

It was just like the dream I’d had, except instead of the Corpse King, I had Ragnar and Loki at my side.

The Corpse King’s army was a silvery sea.

I should recoil and run the opposite way but I felt nothing. My heart was empty. I had felt everything there was to feel, and now that my quest was almost done, there was nothing more for me but to go on.

“Another few miles of walking, and we will be upon them,” Ragnar grunted.

“We can sneak around them,” Loki said.

“And then what?” Ragnar ran a hand over his braids. “What is the plan?”

“We walk in together,” I said. “The witches said I must not be separated from my helpers.” I looked into Loki's eyes as I spoke. He nodded slowly. He knew what I was saying. Only he had been sent to help me. Ragnar must be left behind. He would not thank me, but it would save his life.

The air had an opaque quality to it.

“What is this strange fog?” Ragnar croaked.

“It’s smoke,” I choked out. “They are burning funeral pyres.”

“The Corpse King gains power from sacrifice,” Loki said, and we fell silent after that.

I kept my head down. My steps grew slow, as if I were dragging my boots through mud.

Tomorrow, I would walk into the Corpse King’s lair. Alone. All alone.

There would never be any hope for me again.

The mist rose around me, thicker than smoke. My limbs moved slowly, as if I was in water.

Too late, the mist cleared and revealed the briars tearing at my gown. Thorns wide as my fingers pierced my skirts and scratched my skin. I felt nothing, but when I thrashed, I couldn’t move. I was trapped.

“Rosalind.” I heard Ragnar’s voice, frantic. “Rosalind, come back to me!”

He touched me, and I was able to breathe again. His scent was clean, a relief after the burning mouthfuls of foul air. His palm patted my face.

“Gentle,” Loki cautioned.

“She’s rousing.” Ragnar held me as I coughed. Ash burned in my lungs.

Loki’s long fingers stroked my face. “Let’s get to shelter.”

“Can you clear the air of this wretched smoke?” Ragnar snapped.

“I can try.” For once, Loki was grim, not joking.

I pressed my face against Ragnar’s shoulder, breathing in his dry cedar scent. It cut through the mist in my head. “I’m fine.”

“Hush now.” Loki pressed three fingers to my forehead, right at the spot where the Corpse King had marked me. Where Ragnar had kissed me, and I still felt the brush of his lips. “Close your eyes and rest.

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