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“The key is mine and I will use it”

“It will be stolen from you, Snorri, and by the worst of hands You serve only the Dead King’s cause in this madness Even if you evade his h it The Dead King—the very one who has worked these wrongs upon you—wants death’s door opened His desire that it be opened is the sole reason your people, your wife, your children died And now you seek to do that work for hiathered on the far side waiting to coh in the moment that key turns in the lock?”

Snorri shook his head “I will bring thee this, Baraqel”

“The breaking of day changes all things, Snorri Nothing endures beyond the count of the sun Pile a sufficient weight of e Even the rocks the”

The sun now stood upon the Beerentoppen’s shoulder In moments it would be clear

“Where will I find Skilfar?”

“Her cave looks to the north, froolden pieces, sparkling and dying on the waves, until in the end they were no ht amid the waters

I lifted one

“He’s right about the key,” I said

Tuttugu shot me a puzzled look

Snorri snorted, shook his head, and set to triled the Sea-Troll toward the base of theabout it on high, their cries added to the wind’s keening and the slap of waves Snorri drew the deepest breath and sht around him it seemed that even the most sorrow-laden man could know a moment’s peace

•••

When wehad left me dehydrated and weak as a newborn I curled up on h tide line, deterain Black sand, streaked with unhealthy yellows, stretched down to the breakers I poked half-heartedly at the stuff, coarse and intermixed with pieces of black rock made brittle by innumerable bubbles held within the stone