Isolde was beyond prayer. She’d moved on to sacrifice. Perhaps that was what the All Mother wanted; a demonstration that she was willing to go as far as she demanded. That she, mother and guardian of her children, was not only willing to inflict pain so that they might return to the light. She was willing to sacrifice so that others might heed the warning. That others might be saved when some could not.

The dove clasped in the priestess’s hand no longer struggled. It’s beady black eyes looked up at the woman in resignation. As if even it, dull creature that it was, understood what was to come. Isolde prayed, the ancient chant leaving her tongue in a ripple. It reached its sharp conclusion as, in one swift movement, Isolde twisted its head from its body and wrenched it off.

Blood will be spilled before the red moon comes again.

Isolde lay the bird before her altar. She dipped her fingers in the bird’s pooling blood and drew a straight line down her forehead, down her nose and across her lips to her chin.

Blood will be spilled…

“Priestess.” Isolde’s head turned to see Revna, kneeling as the creature’s body still twitched on the altar.

“What is it my child?” Isolde stood, walking over to Revna and cupping her cheek in one hand. She guided Revna’s eyes up to look at her, the bird’s blood striping the young warrior’s cheek.

Isolde’s hand never left Revna’s cheek. She lifted her other hand as well, cradling her as her words spilled out one after the other. Isolde felt creeping dread like ice start to freeze inside of her before hardening into cold, calculated anger. Her features remained placid, but her blue eyes sharpened.

Isolde brushed Revna’s tears away with her thumbs. She kissed her daughter’s forehead before parting to look into her eyes, still holding her face in her hands. “Then we must save our sister Kelder like we have the others,” Isolde said simply. She’d been tainted, after all, by soldiers of Nevermere. Not only was she unfit for the Valkyries; she was unfit for Cambria.

She took Revna by the hand and guided her to sit on the floor cushions in the center of the room. “What of Viveka? Why does she doubt?”

That was far more of a surprise than Kelder’s confession.

Isolde’s methods were draconian. Her outlook, harsh. But the core remained the same: Isolde was a loving mother. Cruel, perhaps, but never without love. She took Revna’s other hand as well, stroking the top of her hand with her thumb.

“Then she too has been led astray,” Isolde said, the sorrow in her voice genuine and endlessly deep. Kelder was a corrupting force. It wasn’t just about her own salvation now. It was about her sisters that stood to follow her.

“Gather the party. Do so quietly. Tonight…” Isolde said, voice heavy with grief, “We bring Kelder back to the light, so that others might not follow her into the darkness."

For a moment, Isolde feared she might weep. Her eyes shone with tears, brimming with affection as she looked upon her daughter. How could she have been so blind? Revna was a star that shone just as bright as her sister, Wren. Their strengths were different, yes, but the All-Mother looked on Revna with the same favor—perhaps even more so.

Isolde moved to kneel before her, taking Revna’s face in her hands and leaning her forehead against hers. She started to chant, holding Revna, slow tears running down her face when she closed her eyes.