Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #4 (2024)

Deathstroke, Bat-Prince and Alec enter Slen Rastløs, a Draugr-haunted frozen wasteland on the way to Gyllenhjem. They fight their way through an undead army, but Bruce is severely weakened by the lack of sunlight. Bruce asks what happened in Jarnlünd and Slade tells him that the last king, Maxwell I of the Clan Lord, had an affair with Lady Nora, the wife of his court magus Viktor. When Viktor discovered this he cursed the land, transforming the people of Gyllenhjem into the Draugr they are fighting, banishing colour and bringing down the endless Allwinter. Bruce is exhausted by the fight, and appears troubled by the parallels between the story and his own origins, but insists on going on. Alec says that Bruce is a hero, but Slade says heroes are worth little in this place. As they march onwards Bruce asks why no-one has tried to stop the Allwinter before. Slade replies that the lands around Gyllenhjem are full of Draugr, and the city itself is surrounded by the impenetrable Everstorm. They are attacked by another army of Draugr, and Bruce's powers have diminished so much that one of them is able to slit his throat; he survives but is severely wounded. Slade dispatches the Draugr and tells Bruce that he can't go on, as there is no sun at Gyllenhjem and without his powers Bruce will surely die. Bruce refuses to abandon them, but Slade says he will just slow them down and Alec tells Bruce that he's done enough. Bruce bids farewell to them and retreats south to absorb more sunlight and heal. Slade and Alec press on through the wastes. They take refuge from a storm in an abandoned tower and Slade asks Alec where he comes from and how he got caught up in everything that is happening. Alec tells Slade that he is from a small village on a distant island which was raided by the Vandal Clan. His family were killed and he fled into a nearby swamp which his people believed was cursed by an evil spirit that dwelt within. In the swamp he met the Green, who restored his colour and told him he would save the world. Slade is still sceptical of Alec's visions, and Alec says he would question why Slade is with him if the Green hadn't told him what happened to his sons. He tells Slade that it wasn't his fault and Adeline was wrong to blame him. Enraged, Slade grabs him and yells that Alec doesn't know anything about him, but Alec says that he knows it's not too late for Slade to be a hero. Suddenly, a javelin of ice shoots through the window and punches straight through Slade. Rose and Killer Frost enter and Rose throws Slade off the tower. In Gyllenhjem, Viktor's undead servant Solomon reports that Rose and Killer Frost are heading south with Alec. He asks if he should dispatch Draugr to finish off Slade but Viktor tells him to leave Slade to the storm.