we going?”
“I—” Tyr began.
“Well?” Forse’s lips were drawn. “Where is
she? Come on. What are we waiting for? Brynn, pick up your sword.
Let’s move.”
Brynn
dove for the ground and came up holding her rapier. “Ugh. Really?”
She pulled a rag from her backpack and wiped the black blood from
the blade. “Dark elves have the grossest blood. This will be caked on the handle
for-freaking-ever.”
“ Where is
she?” Forse placed his hands on both sides of Tyr’s face and leaned
close to stare into his eyes. “Elsa, I’m so sorry they got you. I
never should have agreed to facilitate this exchange. If I’d just
been able to reach you faster, I could have ported you out of here
and…” Forse looked heartbreakingly helpless. “I’m sorry,” he
whispered.
“Enough already!” Tyr pushed Forse back. “You
do realize you’re baring your soul to the war god, don’t you?”
“Elsa’s in your head,” Forse countered.
“ Yes.
But you’re in my
face.” Tyr took a step back, distancing himself from our
friends.
Move the other way Tyr! I like being that close to
him , I
complained.
“Enough! All of you!” Tyr bellowed. “Forse,
Brynn, keep watch. Tosk might come back with new friends, since we
killed his old ones. Elsa, tell me where you are so we can come get
you.”
I don’t know . I
sighed. I’m
locked in some tower but you know how it is here at night. It’s
pitch-black outside, and the tower’s got enough dark magic I can’t
summon my orb. You guys are lucky Brynn has her brightener on, or
you wouldn’t be able to see anything . Tyr glanced to his left, where the glowing
sphere hovered over Brynn’s backpack.
Right. Well, how did you find me? Do you remember passing
any landmarks on your way? Anything that can help us? Tyr pressed.
I found you the same way I always do—I
pushed my energy out until I picked up on your signature. I tried
calling on my com, but you didn’t answer. You were probably already
fighting Tosk and his minions, and didn’t hear it hum.
I’m sorry, Elsa.
It’s fine, I
reassured him. I found you anyway.
So where are you?
I’m not sure. I know I’m somewhere on the other side of the
big mountain behind you. I passed the parliament building on the
way in, and I know I traveled for a long time looking for you.
Maybe you’re seventy-five kilometers from the place Runa’s holding
me? Maybe more? I
guessed.
Tyr
swore. You could be anywhere.
“Where is she?” Forse interrupted. My heart
tugged at the crack in his voice.
“Elsa, give me a minute with these guys,” Tyr
spoke aloud. “Forse, get the locator set up and set up two
scans—one for Elsa specifically, and one for all towers within a
fifty-to-two-hundred-fifty-mile circumference of the parliament
building. Elsa, do you know how high up your tower is?”
Between twelve and fifteen meters. And it’s surrounded by
water. But Tyr, I think the tower’s cloaked in dark magic—there’s
enough in my cell to mute my light magic, though thankfully my
energetic abilities are intact. I guess you know that, though,
since I’m in your head. But I think it will be too much for the
locator to see through. So even if —
“Slow down. The dark magic’s strong enough to
mute yours? You’re not in Helheim, are you?” Tyr sounded
alarmed.
“Oh gods, is she in Helheim?” Brynn
cried.
“I don’t know. Let her answer! Elsa?” Tyr
pressed.
I’m not in Helheim. You’re still in Svartalfheim, and I
didn’t jump realms to find you, so I’m here, too. I just have no
idea where .
“She’s not in Helheim,” Tyr voiced out loud.
I heard Brynn and Forse sigh in relief.
Oh, Elsa . Regret
clouded Tyr’s vision as he directed his words inside his
head. I’m so
sorry I put you in this position.
You didn’t. Runa did. You were right to want to bring her
in. We just hit a little hiccup, but we’ll get through it. I’ll try
to escape and get back to you guys, but in the meantime, I’ll