The Beast of Salt (Saga of the Gods #1)

56. Sigvid

56

SIGVID

February 1st, Year 1, 10th Era

The Holy Triangle, Treland

A fter assuring Kar will oversee the care of the dead, he jumps on Hest and rides straight for the Healer tents, passing many of the other soldiers en route.

When he arrives, his sight is still stained crimson, with blood dripping off his body. He leaps from Hest to come nose-to-nose with Bertie.

“Lord Thordsson!” Bertie holds up a hand, blocking his progress toward the canvas surrounded by soldiers. “She requires rest.”

“What has happened?” He bellows at the Duke, hating his similarities to Avina.

“It’s complicated.” Bertie’s voice remains calm, which only incites Sigvid’s wrath.

“I demand to see her!” Spittle and blood rain down across Bertie, who, to his credit, buckles his knees and refuses to budge.

Bertie shakes his head, and Sigvid vaguely notices movement among the soldiers.

“She is mine! Gods be damned!” He shoves past Bertie only to have the monstrous Timber General Tyo block the entrance.

“I will take you on, tiny!” Sigvid unsheaths an axe and is about to attack one of their allies when two sets of arms restrain him. The assailant twists Sigvid’s wrist until he loses control of his weapon.

“My friend, you must allow Healer Svanlaug to do her job.” Grim’s voice whispers in his ear. He can feel his friend’s Sacred Stone ability wrenching at the logical portion of his mind.

“Sig,” Slode’s voice is at his other ear, “you will not hurt Bertie or the Timber generals. Avina is fucking safe, and you know it.”

His sight returns to normal, and the driving wrath subdues to a distant hum. Fuck them for intervening.

“My oldest friend and my brother at arms, I will use fucking Azure on you if you cannot control yourself.” Slode’s fist connects with his face. Sigvid collapses onto his back. The force of his punch rattles him enough that he takes a moment to breathe.

Suddenly, Grim and Slode kneel over top of him.

“Healer Svanlaug will summon you when she is stable.” Grim is impassive.

They know something.

Avina requires tender care more than he needs to lay eyes on her. “Is there something else going on?” Instead of threatening, his tone wavers over the fear that she will not survive the night.

Slode and Grim exchange a worried glance.

“ H ow is she?” Sigvid demands before the Healer fully steps out of her tent.

Dammit, I waited per their fucking instructions to know Avina’s fate. And fucking Svanlaug may have chosen my cause over Thrain’s, but that does not leave her immune to consequences should she fail her one job.

He will not lose Avina.

He can not lose Avina.

The old Healer glances from the Salt Prince to Slode and Grim at his back.

“You will be pleased to know they will both survive.” She croaks.

“Both? What the fuck do you mean both?” He could care less who else they are mending in that tent. Only Avina’s life mattered to him.

She shakes her head with pity reflected in her eyes, and then her wrinkled brow deepens with confusion. “My Prince, Her Majesty is with child.”

The world spins under Sigvid’s feet, and he stumbles back into Slode, who catches him before he can go down. “Avina is pregnant…?”

How did I not know? Did she not know? Or did she? That argument before the battle with Svanlaug must have been about her condition.

As if sensing his spiral, the Healer pats his shoulder. “I have been treating Her Majesty for several weeks. I did warn her about joining the battle today.”

He storms into the tent where Avina lies asleep, her armor discarded in a pile in the corner. Bloody wrappings cover much of her exposed skin.

Sigvid’s knees connect upon the earth with a thud.

His piercing gaze blinks back the burning fear and overwhelming desire for this woman. He once imagined how blue he could color her face with his hands. Fate and the fairest, most beautiful eyes kept his hand from slaying his enemy.

Now, if anyone so much as glances with malice toward her, he will gut them where they stand. The only soul in this godsforsaken realm of existence that he will die for because only she is his equal.

“Healer Svanlaug,” Grim’s voice carries over the scene. “Does Thrain know? Does he know Avina carries Sigvid's child?”

Silence stems for far too long. Sigvid reaches out to take Avina’s face between his hands.

Why did you hide this from me?

Her eyes flutter open, lazily searching for him. “Sigvid…” She breathes.

“Little one.” His words catch in his throat.

“Thrain does know. I-I am so sorry, my Prince.” Svanlaug hiccups back a cry. “He threatened my grandchildren’s lives.”

Sigvid holds no ill will toward her betrayal. Not when Thrain has done so much damage already .

“Out!” Slode demands. “Give them a moment for the love of the gods.”

Behind him, the canvas entrance flutters as he is left alone with his little Queen.

“Why did you not tell me you are pregnant?” His thumb strokes her cheek.

Her bottom lip quivers. “After Thrain forced me into the engagement, I felt ill enough to seek a Healer. When she explained I was with child, I feared if Thrain learned the truth, he would force me to lose the one part of you I could carry with me.”

“You still could have told me .”

She blinks back tears that escape the corners of her eyes. “Because I wanted you, of all people, to love me . Not because I gave you an heir. Everyone else has wanted that from me. I needed you to be different.”

“Avina Redwood, you are more important to me than reducing your existence to birthing a fucking child. My line could die with me, and I could give a shit. Besides, Thora is the only heir I need.” He chuckles, and a light smile brushes across her lips.

“I love you, my little one. I have only ever wanted you for you. Your mind, body, and soul belong to me. You alone are everything I desire. And if you give me a child, know it is not something I demand of you. Because your life is more important than your womb.”

He cradles her body, shifting her on the cot so he can sit and hold her in his arms. He hums a Salt lullaby until her eyes flutter to a close.

“Sleep with the stone, my love.”

He gently lays her back onto the cot with a kiss on her forehead. Sigvid is still dumbfounded she would knowingly enter battle in her state. No matter what happens, he will ensure she knows that she is wanted and desired above all others in his eyes.

“What is the plan?” Slode asks when Sigvid finally emerges from the Healer's tent.

If Thrain has the seidr to summon drauger on a whim, what will keep him from pulling more up from the Abyss?

“Get my fucking armor ready.” He barks at a young boy. “And deliver a message to Thrain. Tell my brother we meet for single combat. At first light.”

“What? No, Beast, you cannot. If the gods favor his movements, you will lose all of us!” Grim protests.

“If anyone can cut down that asshole, it will be Sig.” Slode shakes his head, crossing his arms.

Thrain is permitted to battle his Drengr over the kingship of Treland, sell Sigvid to the Arena to get him out of the way, and even torture him.

He can handle those things.

What he will not suffer is an attack on Avina.

“I came here to send a message.” Thrain’s words sit in his gut like a stone.

Everything is clear to him now.

Thrain’s frantic need to locate Avina after they captured Sigvid was to purge her of his child. Those arrows along the cliff had one purpose: to kill Avina and the true heir of Redwood.

The messenger boy finally returns to find Sigvid intensely focused on a dying fire while Tyo munches absently on a bit of dried meat, and Slode holds a slumbering Bertie in his muscled arms. The boy is out of breath and takes a moment to recover before relaying Thrain’s response.

“King Thrain accepts the challenge and wishes to greet Prince Sigvid on the battlefield.”