Most movement in the throne room had stopped, only the rapid actions of the healers and groans of the wounded broke the silence.
If it wouldn’t have meant leaving Arnulf to bleed, I could’ve throttled my father. “She only defended herself! These men fought to defend their princess. Let her heal them.”
The king scoffed. “And allow a berserker loose in my kingdom to slaughter indiscriminately? I think not. These men will die knowing they did their duty.”
The people in the hall grumbled, courtiers and soldiers alike disturbed by the idea of needless sacrifice.
Elric stepped forward. “Lady Sigrid was brave and true on the field. She saved many Saxon lives. I’ll vouch for her, Your Majesty.”
I was too stunned to react, but for all his faults, Elric always put his men first. He was just as filthy as the rest of us, and his shoulder still hung at an angle that turned my stomach, but he stood rigid, helping a healer with bandages.
Arnulf coughed, and blood trickled from his mouth. He was barely conscious and getting paler by the second. I hadn’t been here to protect his father even though he’d always tried to protect me. Now, I’d failed Arnulf too.
Sigrid charged towards my father, even though her hands were chained. “He’s dying, Majesty!”
The king looked around the room, sensing what he’d lose if he refused to even let her try. Everything changed in that battle, and new loyalties had been formed. Every man in this room who’d been at the maze would surely trust Sigrid. He’d lose face with his soldiers if he didn’t do something quick.
His mouth twisted into a horrible smile. “There is no way for me to release your berserker. But if you’re so desperate to save them, there’s another option. You can release some of her power to me, and I can heal these men.”
This was why he’d brought her here like this. The cruel bastard had probably been waiting for just such a chance. He’d find her weaknesses and slowly force her to surrender power to him until he’d drained it all.
Sigrid blanched, but recovered instantly, raising her chin. “Do it.” She held out her wrists, and the guard closest to her removed the shackles.
“Sigrid, we don’t know what that will do to you,” I said urgently. Or how powerful it would make the king.
I looked down at Arnulf. And at the other men around us who’d die if we didn’t take the chance. Sigrid did the same, and the resolve in her expression solidified into something obstinate. “I’ve taken enough lives. If I can save some now, I will. I owe them mine.” Her eyes softened as she considered Arnulf. “And I won’t have you live with the guilt of losing him.”
Whatever the cost.
She didn’t say it, but I saw it in her face all the same.
She snapped her fingers at the king. “Hurry the fuck up or he’ll be dead before we can help.”
My father ignored her impertinence, and his face flashed with triumph as he hurried down the steps of the throne, carefully lifting his expensive robes to avoid the pools of blood on the floor. He laid a hand on Arnulf’s shoulder, but he focused on Sigrid.
She reached for the collar around her neck like something had happened, though to the rest of us it was invisible.
“Let me in,” my father commanded.
I hated everything about this. I wanted to stop it, but there wasn’t time to argue if we were going to save anyone.
Sigrid bowed her head and frowned. She sucked in a gasp as my father jerked, then he fixated on Arnulf.
“Just channel it,” Sigrid said, brow creasing like she was concentrating on something only they could feel.
Beneath my fingers, the bleeding slowed. When it stopped altogether, I lifted my hands and watched in amazement as the wound closed and began to scar.
He’s going to live!
“That’s enough,” Sigrid said through gritted teeth, like she was in pain. “Move to the next one or I’ll be depleted too quickly.”
One after another, my father moved around the room, healing the worst wounds and saving at least two more lives. When no one was in mortal peril, he moved to wounds that would never heal right, setting bones and saving an eye.
Arnulf clasped my hand, his grip strong, but he was still pale. “Will I live?”
“Aye,” I said, overcome with emotion at the gift Sigrid had given us.
But what violation to her was occurring? What was she giving of herself?
