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I scanned the battle before me and saw Gripir sprinting forward. He charged his opponents, now nearly upon him. Dropping onto his back, Gripir avoided a swiping blow meant to slice him in half. Twisting up, he hurled a dagger into the man’s face. He then charged at the remaining man who was trying to mount his comrade’s horse.
I then watched Sigmun aim his arrow directly at the female—her identity still hidden by her helmet—who had retreated a bit when the battle fully engaged. On her shoulder was a black raven—Hrafn. I saw her lips moving, her hands rising, and as she did so, the purple haze around me lifted just enough that I was able to step out from its suffocating hold. Hrafn was having her lift the spell. I glanced back at Sigmun and saw he couldn’t get a clear line of fire, but he was dodging swords and bodies to try to get his shot.
It was time I ended this. A little human death was inevitable in battle, but…enough. I had the power to stop this with a raise of my arms, and a few spoken words. The kingsmen were all too engrossed in battle to see that I had emerged from the fortress and the purple haze. But as I chanted the last word needed to freeze all the men engaged in war, Sigmun was able to fire the arrow directly at Briar Rose.
Her cry was the only sound I heard as I watched the arrow pierce her skin.
The sounds of battle suddenly ceased as every single man was forced by my spell to become as still as stone. They could see, they could breathe, they could hear, but there was nothing any of them could do until I deemed it so. For the first time in a long time, I was in control. They were all at my mercy. But my attention was on something far more important.
Briar.
She swayed on her steed, able to move because only men were cursed by my spell.
Grasping the pommel tightly, Briar leaned forward. Her breath became shallow and fast. Glancing down, she realized she was wounded. Barely able to keep her balance, she slid off the horse’s back and leaned against its side.
I ran up, worry pounding against my heart. Briar raised her hand, stopping my panic before it could begin.
“I have a leg wound, and it feels like a few other scrapes and cuts. It doesn’t seem that serious except for the blood loss and drop in excitement. I’m just a little lightheaded.”
“Briar,” I said, wrapping my arms around her. “You could have been killed! What were you thinking of, charging the kingsmen like that? You are wounded, and you are a fool. If you were not hurt, I would take a lash to your foolish backside and whip some sense into you.” The memory of Sigmun’s lashing had me blushing, and I hoped that Briar hadn’t noticed.
“You are my friend, Zellie,” Briar retorted.
I shook my head and sighed. “This is my fight.”
“That you need a good friend by your side to help with,” she countered, dabbing at her leg with a piece of cloth she pulled from a bag hanging off her saddle. She looked up and around at all the frozen men, including her prince. “How long do you plan to keep them all like this?” She giggled. “I have to hand it to you, Zellie. This is one of your finer spells. The looks on their faces.” She leaned over to where Frederick sat motionless on his horse and poked him in the thigh playfully. “I could have some fun with this.”
“Be careful,” I warned. “They can see and hear us.”
Briar froze, then stroked the area that she had just poked. “Sorry, my love,” she said to Frederick, her prince and now husband, with another giggle.
I tightened my grip around her tired frame. “I guess we better decide what to do now. When my spell wears off…the kingsmen are not going to be pleased.” I took the time to look at each one in their immobilized stance, knowing they were sizzling with rage inside.
Briar sighed, blinking against the dizziness that the blood loss caused. “Let’s get them locked up before that happens, and then I will leave it up to you to decide.” She looked around with sad eyes. “I hate to see all those who have lost their lives. But I will do anything to repay my debt to you, Zellie. Anything.”
Men had fallen in battle, and more were wounded. From all appearances, Briar’s were among the less severe, although her leg wound from Sigmun’s arrow was rather deep. She had another slight gash on her upper arm, and one across her face along the cheekbone.
“Do you have enough strength to help me get the kingsmen locked away in the dungeon?” I asked.
