Chapter 14 #2
“Easy. They have no jurisdiction in the Americas. Once you deliver him, he’s out of their grasp.”
Oh. That was actually brilliant. “That was your intention all along?”
Freya smiled back. “Nearly all along.”
Forty minutes later, Erik returned with fish in hand, and Freya began to clean them.
I studied Erik, who seemed to glow from his time outdoors, his cheeks flushed, his eyes bright, as if reinvigorated.
I wished I could feel rejuvenated just now.
Instead, I was without my cloak of ingredients, with less than a third of energy remaining in my pod.
Even if I wanted to refill it just now, I wouldn’t be able to do anything with this icy, hard-packed earth.
I needed somewhere green, somewhere alive, to refill my stores.
I sighed. Maybe I was being biased against Erik because my first impression hadn’t been great, but I still suspected that he would sell us out to the Ice Queen in an instant if it meant saving his own hide.
My eyes shifted to Freya then, and I realized that perhaps I wasn’t the best judge of character.
I would need to be more watchful in the future.
I groaned as I sat up the next morning, a kink in my back from sleeping on the ground.
The shelter still smelled of the fish we’d had for dinner the previous night, which didn’t exactly make me excited for breakfast, but I managed to swallow some bread from my pack.
Freya and Therese were sleeping soundly before the fire, so I tried to be quiet as I slid out the door, shivering at the sudden cold.
The air inside had remained rather warm throughout the night, but one step outside reminded me that we were in a land well below freezing.
Gazing toward the village, I noted the ice, still thick on the houses and the surrounding area.
Erik was there, walking toward me with a bundle over his back, his hair tousled by a breeze that drifted up from the ocean.
I’d half-expected him to have abandoned us during the night.
“Good morning,” he called out.
“Nothing good about mornings in the freezing tundra,” I muttered under my breath, but forced a smile in place. “Find something?” I called out to him.
Erik nodded as he neared, dropping the bag at his feet and opening it for me to see.
I knelt down and sifted through the contents, which included a few daggers, a double-sided battle-axe, and a small shield.
I glanced up at him, impressed. I tilted my head, wondering if it was my imagination that his clothes appeared to have filled in during the night.
His face also didn’t appear as gaunt. Perhaps I’d assessed him incorrectly, because he looked like he could wield these weapons comfortably.
“I collected these from hidden spaces, under floorboards mostly.”
“Were things inside just as frozen?”
“Yes.” He hesitated. “I figured that you could use some weapons if you plan to protect me.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Protect you?”
“Of course. Manny failed miserably in his duties, and your friend can teleport us out of here. If something else terrible comes along, I’m sure you can handle it with these.”
“Yes, well, as honored as we would be to escort you, we have our own short-term goals we need to accomplish.”
“Oh?” Erik looked wary. “And what would those be?”
“Well, a few of our friends are being held prisoner. I mean, I hope they’re still…. Anyway, we will be going to rescue them.” I paused as I picked up the bag and we began to walk back to the shelter. “We could use your help, of course.”
Erik blinked. “My help?”
“Yes. Weapon enchanter-extraordinaire. Able to defy the Ice Queen. Who else would I ask?”
He turned a shade paler. “I think you have the wrong impression. I imbue weapons with magic. I don’t … fight.”
I’d figured as much. “You don’t fight? Then what’s the point of imbuing weapons?”
“For others to fight! Obviously!”
I laughed. “Imbue these weapons, then. Give us an advantage in the coming battle.”
He frowned at me. “It’s a process, and I don’t have my tools. Besides, I didn’t say I wouldn’t help you.” He paused. “I assume that’s the only way I’m going to get out of this hellscape?”
“I’m afraid so,” I shifted my bag, amused as we reached the shelter. “You need us to get you out of here, and our portal is going to bring us directly to the Ember King’s castle.”
Erik glanced away. “Look, I probably won’t be much help, but I’ll go with you. I just wanted you to know what I could offer.”
“Which is nothing.”
He didn’t disagree. “I’ll need your protection while we’re there. Can you promise me that?”
I pretended to consider. Looking toward the shore, I spied several fish heads, blood soaking the snow. I frowned as I noticed something else bloodied, with slick, gray flesh. A seal, perhaps?
“Well?” Erik snapped, drawing my attention.
“I suppose I can do my best,” I said with a sigh.
Erik mused, “I don’t suppose you can drop me off somewhere else before this rescue mission?” He looked at me hopefully for a moment before his face dropped. “Well, I don’t really have a choice then, do I? If I stay here, the Ice Queen will track me down. At least with you, I have a chance.”
“Then we’re in agreement,” I said. I clapped him on the shoulder. “Just … try to stay out of the way. And don’t get anyone killed. If you do …”
“You’ll gut me?” he finished for me, face souring.
“Worse. I’ll have Freya do it.” I tightened my grip on his shoulder. “But before we do anything, you’re going to tell me about that.” I gestured to the dead seal and fish.
Erik tried to shrug my hand off, but I held on firmly.
“He’s a blood witch.”
I looked up in surprise as Freya came around the corner of the building, wiping her hands. She shifted her gaze to Erik. “Isn’t that right?”
Erik stopped struggling. “Most people get a little … squeamish when they learn what I am.”
I frowned. “So, you don’t imbue weapons with magic?”
“Nah. People usually don’t give me a second thought once I sell them that boring ability.”
I looked back at the bloody fish and seal. He’d had to kill them to gain strength. That was why he looked healthier now than he had when we’d rescued him. And so quickly. “Last night, you went fishing so you could strengthen yourself from killing the fish.”
“And this morning,” he explained. “It’s my nature.”
“Your nature?” I said incredulously. I looked at Freya. “We can’t trust a blood witch. He kills. That’s what he does.”
Freya made a face. “Think about this for a moment though, Callum. Witchcraft is all about balance. Your friend Lexi heals people from the brink of death regularly.” She gestured to Erik. “Erik takes lives regularly. Nature remains balanced.”
I must have looked skeptical, because she added, “Plus, he can’t kill witches or he’ll die himself. Our deaths would poison his blood.”
I’d heard about the blood witch curse before. Technically, we would be safer around him than anyone. He couldn’t kill us without killing himself. When we returned to our friends, it would be a different story, but between Freya and myself, we could fend off this leech. I nodded my acquiescence.
Freya stepped directly in front of Erik and leaned forward until her face was mere inches from his.
Her voice was low and dangerous when she spoke.
“But if you lie to me again, I will personally see to it that the Ice Queen freezes your tongue right out of your head. Got it? And I won’t be cursed if I kill you. ”
Erik nodded emphatically.
“Good,” Freya gave his face a playful slap and grinned. “I’m glad we understand each other.” She went back inside the structure.
Erik looked to me again. “I don’t suppose you’ll protect me from her too?”
I didn’t bother with a reply.