Chapter 22: Defiance

In dreams, Siannon either couldn’t run because her feet were as heavy as stone blocks, or she ran unhindered, experiencing no other sensation than speed. This was different; she felt the cold of the snow seep through her boots, the wind stung her face, and her breath grew ragged and painful as she pushed herself harder.

But if it wasn’t a dream, why was she running away from a dead army led by a man she decapitated on the wall of Ellesmere Keep? She was tired of running but even more tired of being alone. She longed to be back in her castle, where she would happily embrace Clyde, Gwen, Antonio, and all the rest of the friends she had neglected for so long.

She reached the edge of the canyon and searched for the hidden ladder to the top, where she could trigger the boulder trap, but it wasn’t there. Once she stopped running, she knew she lacked the stamina to continue. She could hear the thunder of the Norse footfalls as they closed in on her.

A shadow passed over her, and a great wind knocked the oncoming Norse back into the snow. Asha landed between Siannon and Norse, and Siannon ran onto the dragon’s back. As Asha took off, Siannon turned and gave Thorsten a rude hand gesture accompanied by a fierce shout of defiance. Siannon laughed as he cursed her in vain.

“You came back!” Siannon said.

“I’ve been searching for you for weeks,” Asha replied.