“No!” Astrid cried, shielding her face from the stinging wind and ice. “Raiden, come with me!”
There was no reply, only the whooshing and whistling of the storm. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, clearing her mind, following an instinct deep inside herself. The sound of the wind and snow faded from her senses, leaving only her breathing and heartbeat. She knelt on the ground, taking comfort in the dirt beneath her.
Astrid dropped the sword and laid her hands on the ground, palms coming to rest on a massive tree root. “I need your help,” she whispered. “Please.”
For a moment, nothing happened. Then a great ripping sound split the air and Astrid felt dirt spray over her body, resting in her hair and clothes. She opened her eyes and got to her feet, ignoring the stiffness in he
