Annika watched the two boys, for they could not be called men at this point, stare each other down. She sighed. She knew of the brother’s dislike of Keir but his precence could not be avoided. When Askel demanded why she had brought him here she replied the way she had been taught, cryptically.

“There is a price for everything. And the price must be paid one way or another. He is here to pay that price.”

She watched Keir swallow hard. He probably thought he had to die in order to save her, which would explain his reluctance. What he didn’t know was that while the ritual would not claim his life it would claim something far more valuable. Her love for him. Annika knew Akira loved him still, the evidence was around her neck. That ring was a promise of love, she knew. A promise which had been broken by him. It was why Hel’s curse was able to drain the life from her instead of festering or dying. She sighed again. It was going to be a long night.

“Alright, everyone out!” she ordered.

They stared at her for a moment before moving to do as she asked. She rolled her eyes then moved to the alter she had set up. She began the ritual by invoking her goddess.

“Oh great goddess, Hel,” she intoned. “Keeper of Helheim and guardian of souls, come to us. Move in us. Bless us with your favor.”

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With the invoking complete she turned to Ehren and Ferros. She beckond them forward and instructed them to hold out their hands palm up.

“Oh great goddess Hel, here before me stand twin princes. Each his own man, yet red ties of Fate bind them to the one you have cursed. Each cares in his own way for the cursed. They give themselves freely to your judgement and spill their blood in hopes you will release the one you have cursed.”

She ran a curved dagger across their palms before turning them so the blood could collect in the chalise on the alter. When the blood filled the chalise about halfway, she instructed them to staunch the flow of blood. She proceeded to chant in the ancient language of the goddess.

At about the same time, Akira sat bolt upright. Her mouth was open in a silent scream of agony as the lash marks opened once again. Annika didn’t see the boys move but she heard them, well one of them at least.

“Stop it you’re going to kill her!” Keir exclaimed in panic.

But Annika didn’t stop chanting. She knew watching this ritual was hard, from personal experience.

“Please, you’re killing her!” Keir begged.

“Thou puny, boil-brained puttock!” Ehren snapped. “She’s saving Akira’s life! Shut the fuck up and let the priestess do her job!”

Annika’s mouth twitched as she resisted a smile at the Prince’s insult of Keir.

“If I let her continue, Akira will die!” Keir argued.

“You fawning, fly-bitten foot-licker! If she stops, Akira will die!” Ehren countered.

Annika’s mouth twitched again. She had no idea princes liked to use Shakespearan insults.