Astrid's head felt heavy, her tongue like cotton. It reminded her of when she'd used the Seal in Greyfair, though the fatigue wasn't as severe this time around. She forced her eyes open with a groan, then pushed herself into a sitting position.
She was in a dark cell. A dim lamp hung from the ceiling, illuminating the thin layer of straw strewn across the stone floor. Her armor had been stripped away, leaving only her tunic and breeches to protect her against the chilly air. Raiden was nowhere to be found.
Astrid crawled to the bars and peered out. Only darkness greeted her, suffocating and silent as the grave. She pushed against the bars, bile rising in her throat. "No. I can't be locked up again," she muttered. "No. No. No." Panic twisted in her stomach and her lungs refused to fill wi
