22
When the birds stopped attacking, Blue and the others found themselves on a bloody battlefield. The dead were starting to rise. Someone unseen had breathed life into them.
“Kill them, kill them all.” But as the words came from his mouth, he saw that the others were already fighting. Chiyoko and her girls were mowing the dead down, two and three at a time, clearing a path. In the distance, he could see black smoke billowing from a black tree, and in front of it, stood a woman. His woman, only she didn’t look like the Olivia he was used to seeing. Her hair was still the same chestnut brown streaked with red, but it was in plaits like a shield maiden’s. Knives were strapped to the outside of her thighs, securely encased in brown leather. Boots were laced up over her knees, and her torso
