[Alvar's POV—Towards the Raventon Forest]
GALLOP—! GALLOP—! GALLOP—!
The earth thundered beneath the hooves.
My horse charged across the frozen plains like the wind itself feared to slow me. Cloak whipping behind me, heartbeat matching the pounding hooves—louder, faster, desperate.
Haldor and Roland raced behind, struggling to keep up.
The only thought in my skull:
The Spirit Goddesses. I have to reach them. I have to bring them to my Leif. I have to wake him.
"MY LORD—!! WAIT—!!" Roland shouted over the wind.
I didn't stop.
I didn't even look back.
"I won't WAIT, ROLAND—!" I roared, voice cracking with fury and fear. "Not when every second is breaking his soul—! Not when I can still SAVE HIM—!"
My horse pushed harder—breath ragged, hooves ripping clods of snow and dirt from the ground.
I would ride the world into dust if it meant reaching Leif.
Haldor called out, voice strained — "MY LORD— THIS IS MADNESS, YOU CAN'T—"
