Suddenly, he was dragged from his thoughts by a sharp pain in his chest. He looked down and felt with his hand where the pain had appeared. No blood, but he'd definitely been stabbed. He felt another slide across his side by the ribs. The pain was excruciating, but still no blood. As he stood there, frozen in confusion. A smokey visage appeared before him, clear in the dark despite all things. It glared menacingly at him with a shadowy blade in its hand. The blade smote him through the heart. As Brenjulf collapsed to the floor, his final thoughts were of Ælhdrega.