Chapter 22
“How long has it been since you’ve worn a gown?” Koa asked Solveig with a disapproving look.
“Where would I have worn a gown? A fancy raid on the mortals, perhaps?” Solveig asked, not bothering to conceal her sarcasm. Koa shoved her playfully and the sisters shared a smile.
Solveig was enduring her final fitting in the new gown her mothers had ordered for her. It was not that she didn’t like wearing dresses. They were fine, just difficult to fight in, so she hardly ever wore them.
Plus, her thighs rubbed together and sometimes chafed—pants didn’t do that.
When she mentioned this to Gerrie, her shieldmaiden left and came back with what looked like short pants witchlings wore. They were stretchy and form-fitting, worn under the dress to help with chafing.
Solveig marvelled at the invention, lamenting the years of discomfort she could’ve saved herself if she’d known about them sooner.
The seamstress tugged and pulled at the fabric as Solveig played the doll, getting wrapped and draped with silks and chiffons. She sighed and wondered how the prince was faring. She hadn’t been able to get much sleep last night and had heard him return to his room in the early hours of the morning.
When the sun rose, she gave up trying and got up for the day. She’d opened the door to his room a sliver and poked her head in, but he was already gone, the pile of books she’d given him splayed across his bed.
“Stop fidgeting,” Koa muttered. Solveig had inadvertently leaned over to watch the connecting door, hearing nothing from the other side.
“Alright, I have what I need. The gown will be delivered in time for the ball tonight,” the seamstress said while taking the fabric off Solveig’s body.
“Thank you,” Solveig said sincerely. She flopped onto her bed in her underclothes, the bed dipping as Koa lay down beside her.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Koa asked.
“Talk about what?”
“Anything.”
“We’ve had so many meetings, I think you know my feelings on the matter.”
“I don’t know all your feelings,” Koa said with a knowing look.
Solveig rolled her eyes and her sister smacked her arm.
“I’m grateful he’s learning the truth and that we know why Idavoll has pulled away from the Trifold.
I do think we need to start moving the armies, especially the Riddari.
So they’ll be ready when we have need of them.
” She had suggested this in her last meeting, but the prince was wary of such a bold move.
Solveig wondered if, after last night’s crash course in history, he would change his mind.
“And that’s all?” her sister asked.
“All my thoughts are occupied with strategy. I don’t have time for anything else, if that’s what you’re implying.” With the lack of sleep, Solveig didn’t have it in her to feign ignorance. She knew her sister wanted to know how she felt about the prince.
There was too much going on for Solveig to even begin figuring that out for herself.
On the one hand, their magic created this connection she couldn’t ignore. On the other hand, his motives were obvious, and in his position, she’d have done the same. However, she still didn’t know if she could forgive him.
Why would she need to anyway? There were clearly some feelings there, but she owed him nothing. She owed herself and her people more, and for that, she would not nurse whatever it was she felt for the prince.
“There’s one thing I do wish to discuss,” Koa said hesitantly after a long pause. Solveig had allowed her thoughts to linger on the prince again. Though her own feelings were in a constant state of flux, she desperately wished she knew what he was thinking.
“What?”
“Are you open to the notion that he’s fooling you—us?”
Solveig stared at the ceiling. She thought about the last several months, his time in the Southern Wilds, and last night, the way his emotions had seeped into her.
“He isn’t.”
Koa nodded. “I don’t think he is either.”
“I sense a ‘but’ coming.”
“But, I also think there’s a fine line between what a person believes and what they’re willing to do because of it.”
“You don’t think he’ll turn his back on Idavoll.”
“If it was the other way around, would you turn your back on me?”
“I’m not foolish enough to answer that, Koa. Of course I don’t know what I’d do in that situation. I hope it never befalls me.” Solveig was under no illusion that her mothers had no secrets. She only hoped that whenever they revealed what they kept from her, it wouldn’t shake her foundation.
Koa reached over to grab her hand. “I’m glad to have you back, even if it is just for a short while.”
Her sister left with no further explanation. Solveig never bothered to ask what she meant by statements like that. Koa never explained anyway. Such was the way of Seers, even without their magic.
Alone in her rooms with no distraction, the nerves she’d kept at bay all morning returned. Her heart rate sped up as she stared at the ceiling, a low buzz humming through her body. She had too much pent-up energy and no outlet.
The party would begin in a few hours, and as the seconds ticked by, Solveig’s nerves intensified.
Though her dancing lessons would forever be burned into her brain, it had been a while since she’d been to a ball. She’d rather charge into battle with a blade in her hands than engage in political warfare on a dance floor.
Especially since a few days ago, when Sten found her. She’d been meeting with him frequently, hoping to encourage his power. She’d tried to loosen it, as she had Conalle’s, but it wasn’t fully formed yet and she couldn’t grasp it.
He finally had another premonition.
His warning kept crossing her mind. His abilities were growing, which meant his words were becoming more difficult to decipher. Typical Seer nonsense.
But one phrase in particular stood out in its frankness.
Silver halls will be bathed in blood, signalling the end of a time not yet lived.
When he had uttered these words, his face went nearly as white as his eyes. Chills had pebbled her skin as he’d come back to himself.
He’d spoken again, but not as a Seer. “I see only darkness.”
She had no idea what that meant, for her or for the world. But she damned well wouldn’t sit back and let Yggdrasil fall.
Resolve settled, she made her way out of the palace towards the barracks, where an Asgardian battalion was training. Swords clanging and the thumping of knuckles on flesh comforted her. Soldiers bowed their heads as she sauntered through, coming to a halt outside the commander’s house.
She knocked on the thick wooden door and a voice told her to enter.
“Commander Hagan, I have need—” Solveig pulled up short, seeing Latham sitting in the chair before the commander.
Both males got to their feet but only Hagan bowed his head, his fist coming across his chest. She returned the gesture and he nodded, directing her to take the seat beside Latham, who hadn’t met her eye.
“If it’s not a good time, I can come back,” she said stiffly.
“Not at all. Captain Arlanson and I were just speaking about his new appointment.”
“Oh? And what is that?”
“I’m being promoted to commander, heading out with the legion you’ve ordered to Midgard,” Latham said bitterly.
Solveig nodded, thinking over the plan.
“I was going to consult you before it became official, General,” Hagan said quickly.
The Midgard Legion was a gamble, Solveig knew. She didn’t want to set off any alarms that would alert Ragnvald. Though he’d given no word of his attendance, if the King of Hel appeared at the ball, the last thing she wanted was for him to get a whiff of their plans.
Moving five legions around the world without their enemies noticing required some finesse. The queens had given her an idea and she was stewing over the possibilities. She had to reassess at the ball tonight before voicing her intentions. Many of her plans hinged on how many allies they had.
Solveig turned to Latham, who finally looked at her. “I cannot trust you.”
“I know,” he whispered, surprising her with his sincerity.
“This is not the right post for you.”
His nostrils flared with anger. “Where would you have me?”
“I don’t know, Latham. I can’t let you out of my sight, but I also want you nowhere near me.”
Commander Hagan said nothing as he watched with confusion.
“I think Vanaheim would be best,” Solveig said quietly.
Latham’s eyes snapped up to meet hers. “Vanaheim?”
“We need to clean up your mess.” Solveig put up a hand to stop him from interrupting. “I know it was not just your doing, but you left the door wide open for snakes to worm their way in.”
“And what of Laeknir? Whose fault is that?” he hissed.
“It is mine,” Solveig said solemnly. “I too must sacrifice to make things right.”
“What am I to do in Vanaheim?”
“You will take a battalion with you and inspect the chasm. I want to know everything we possibly can. How far does it reach? Where does it end? Does it span the entire realm? As you search, you are to aid each Vanir settlement affected by the rift. We’ll be sending missives to all cities, alerting them to expect you.
You will take half of each battalion you come across and set up camp in the south before awaiting further orders. ”
“You’re banishing me?”
“I’m giving you the honour of serving your own people. I know how much you love Vanaheim, Latham. Be grateful.”
Solveig stood and the males followed suit. “Commander Hagan, as we discussed, your legion will need to make themselves invisible for the ball tonight. Asgard needs to appear weak.”
“Yes, General, my soldiers are preparing to get into position as we speak.”
“Your soldiers are playing dice games and drinking too much. They’ve become comfortable.”
“Yes, General.”
Solveig stepped out of the building and the commander followed, with Latham on their heels. The males stood back as Solveig stalked over to one of the barracks and kicked the door in. The loud chatter and revelry quieted immediately.
“If your commander gives you an order, you follow it immediately. And if your general has to come in and repeat that order, you have failed in your duty.” She levelled them with a glare.
“If you are not out of this hut in two minutes, I will personally toss you into a pit where you will fight each other to the death. Any survivors will be dishonourably discharged, and I will find better soldiers who know how to take orders to fill your worthless places. Now get to your posts.” She turned on her heel and walked out with a smile on her face.
“I think some of them peed themselves,” Hagan whispered.
“Oh gods I hope so.”
“You have such a way with words, General.” Hagan laughed.
“It’s taken decades of practice.” Solveig smiled. “Now, to your position, Commander. I would hate to have to replace you as well.”
With a laden look at Latham, she turned back towards the palace, ready to take on the ball.