They got the frozen scouts back to the fortress just before dawn. Moving ice sculptures that contained living wolves took time. Any jarring movement could shatter them. Any temperature change could kill them.
Reign directed her wolves to place them in the coldest chamber of the fortress. A storage room carved from solid ice where winter never left. The five frozen scouts stood in a row like statues. Eyes wide. Mouths open in silent screams.
"Can you save them?" Eirik asked.
Reign placed her hand on the nearest block of ice. Felt the shadow magic woven through it. Felt the fragile thread of life barely holding on inside. "Maybe. But I need the direwolf."
"It's still recovering."
"I know." Reign closed her eyes. Reached through her bond with the beast. Found it resting. Weak but conscio
