Chapter 39
KORMAC
What was left of Spring keep burned, the rest of it smoldering on the edge of the cliff. Most of the land close to the keep smoked, completely scorched and stinking of iron fire.
“Are we too late?” I said to the giant as we bobbed in the waves.
It’d taken two days to get here, and only because of Cullen’s magical speed.
“I do not know, Consort.”
“Valance!” I called, standing on the giant’s back.
There was no sign of him, no sign of anyone or anything. Life wasn’t here.
“What do we do?” I asked. “What the fuck do we do?”
The giant swam around some more, ducking his head beneath the surface to search for our king.
“There is nothing,” he said. “Only death and ruin.”
Anguish threatened to break me. He couldn’t die, so he had to be somewhere.
“Valance!” I cried. “By the gods! Where are you?”
Wait…
“Summer!” I yelled. “He must have gone to Summer. Hellpiss! What do you think?”
“I think we should head there immediately,” Lord Cullen answered.
I sat down, the giant shooting and leaping across the water once again like the massive seal he was.
Seawater sprayed my face, adding to my already-drenched hair.
But I felt no cold, remained dry everywhere else.
This suit kept me warm, kept me safe the entire journey.
And it would continue to do so as we headed for Summer.
Hold on, Valance.
Please hold on.