Chapter 21 Avina
AVINA
Blackwood Estate, Treland
“Your Majesty, I understand that the Lady Commander has not returned from visiting the Dowager Queen in Sjoby. I only require the crown’s permission to intake new Drengr.” Thora’s twitchy Second can hardly stop fidgeting.
Avina cannot cease twirling the loose curl resting on her temple. An anxious habit she has never been able to quit. “I trust your guidance, Varmar. You worked with the Lord Commander for years before Princess Thora.”
Her eldest daughter’s true desire was to steal Calder’s Second, Gunni Olafsson.
When Sigvid refused to return to Skalor after the ordeal with Lavinia, he instructed a young Thora to check in with the Jarl of Kaldrgataness. Against all odds, their hardened daughter developed soft feelings for Gunni.
Yet another situation in which her dear husband’s diverted focus inadvertently helped to stoke romantic interests in her children.
Varmar shakes his head, waving his arms about in apparent distress. “Queen Avina, the Drengr do not act without explicit instruction from the Lord or Lady Commanders.” The fear in his voice is tangible.
A knock comes from the front doors of Blackwood.
No! Is the next meeting here already?
“Listen, Varmar,” she strangles the franticness in her tone, “as your Queen and fellow Drengr, I require you to make these difficult choices. If the Commanders are dissatisfied, I will take full responsibility.”
He slams a fist against his chest. “Y-y-yes, my Queen.” His breathing wavers as he exits.
With trembling hands, Avina pours herself a glass of sweet Timber wine. Typically, Sigvid insisted they hold public meetings in the longhouse, but circumstances keep her from leaving Blackwood.
Since recovering from the carriage accident, Sigvid has awoken with a vengeance every few hours, his crimson gaze threatening his berserker side.
What began as a way to protect herself, Bjorn, and the continent from his fury evolved into a six-day-long sedation regimen of dosing her husband with Azure every time he awakened.
I am doing this for the greater good. Avina tells herself.
Thora, Edmund, and Calder need enough time to rescue Aura without Sigvid’s meddling.
And he would indeed interfere!
Already, she has rehearsed her explanation to Sig. While she is not shocked to hear from Bjorn that Aura would break the Drengr blacklist, she has no doubt the King will rage like never before.
And now I've implicated myself in all this mess!
And, of course, none of them have returned.
However, a reassuring conversation with her godly mother, the Goddess Maeve, suggests that her daughters are safe and have a longer journey ahead of them.
In the darkest parts of her heart, she recognizes what the end of this path may mean for her youngest daughter.
The front doors of Blackwood creak open, revealing the Salt Province Auditor.
“Your Majesty!” She curtsies. “I hoped to speak with the King on the final coin count from the Conclave.”
Before Avina can conjure an excuse for Sig’s whereabouts, the Auditor shakes her head, “I understand the King has been ill. However, the Healers have not been summoned to tend to him. If he is not sick enough to need treatment, he is well enough to answer a few of my questions.”
Avina forces a fake smile. “Contrary to what you have heard, His Highness does not wish to accept visitors at this time. I will discuss your inquiries with my King as soon as he awakens. Thank you.”
“Awakens?”
“Uh, thanks for coming! We shall call upon you soon.” She nearly shoves her out the door and locks it behind her. Glancing out the window, she sees a guard running toward the house.
With a tearless cry, she lays her forehead against one of the cool glass panes that frame the front doors.
Allowing Sigvid to fully wake from the Azure stupor would solve most of her problems.
That is, if he did not immediately rouse a crew for Kaldrgataness, leaving her to fend for herself anyway. At least at home, he is not interrupting her daughters’ divine adventure.
The back door creaks open and shut. Light footsteps draw near, and she turns with a relaxed sigh as Bjorn envelops her tightly.
“I have finished what you asked, Mum. Is there anything else I can assist you with?”
A knock sounds, signaling the guard has arrived on the porch. “Take care of whoever it is, please.” Avina flops into Sigvid’s big chair beside the hearth, where a stack of parchment and quill sits on a side table.
She reviews her daily checklist as Bjorn opens the door to a hunched Timber guard who gasps for air.
“Breathe, good man.”
“Pinewatch. Had…a fire,” he gasps, “…eight buildings destroyed in the blaze.” He stands upright. “We believe the Manchineels set the flame, which means I must speak directly with King Sigvid.”
“I am sorry, my good fellow, but my father has an ailment at present. I will instruct a battalion of Drengr to respond immediately. Here,” he digs out a small coin purse and drops it in the man’s hand. “Thank you for your allegiance.”
The guard salutes with a fist to his chest before departing.
“Mum, I must write to Varmar requesting Drengr be sent to Pinewatch.”
Avina waves in acknowledgement as he disappears up the stairs to their study to compose the letter.
Hopefully, this will be the last fire of the day.
Another rap on the front door has her shrieking. She crumbles her checklist in frustration.
There can’t possibly be anything else.
Sigvid is going to wake soon, and I must make a decision.
Queen Avina opens the door to find the little girl, Eivor, whom Aura has taken under her wing. Her tiny arms are crossed over her slender chest as she taps her foot.
“With all due respect, Aura’s Mum, there is not enough effort to bring home the Princess.”
Avina ushers her further onto the porch and closes the door behind her. “Aura has been summoned on a mission to Skalor.” She admits the truth that she has kept from even their advisors.
Eivor’s arms drop to her sides. “When will she return?”
“Is there something I can assist you with?”
The little girl twists her face, considering her request. “Aura said we would work on blocking.”
Avina’s fingers itch to twirl her loose curl as the sensation of drowning in royal duties crashes down upon her.
Training Eivor will increase her already extensive responsibilities, alongside those of Sigvid and Thora.
At this rate, she is uncertain how to manage the country and province without the girls and Sigvid.
“Bring your weapon and arrive here at the same time in two days.” Avina makes a mental note in her extensive list.
After dismissing Eivor, she climbs the staircase in Blackwood to their bedroom. Her heart pounds so intensely that she fears it will beat through her chest.
Perhaps it is time to wake him up?
She shudders at the thought of his berserker form.
She understands that the love of her life would never harm her or their children.
After the War for Treland, his sadistic desires have solely resided in the privacy of their bedchamber. Yet, the mound of secrets she has buried from her husband over the past several days constricts her throat as though she cannot breathe.
She hears stirring and groaning from their bedroom and rushes in to see Sigvid struggling through the Azure, his features heavy with sedation.
“Bjorn!” She shrieks. “Bjorn, the Azure!”
She paces at the foot of the bed, gnawing on her bottom lip until she breaks the skin. All the while, her gaze is fixed on Sigvid’s struggles with the haze until her son emerges.
“There is no more.”
The floor spins underneath her feet. “Impossible! I have a month's worth of doses…”
He shakes his head with a wince. “You had a month of nightly tea doses to calm him, Mum. Not enough to fully sedate him for days at a time.”
How did she allow this to happen? If he awakens, would he dismantle the continent piece by piece?
She twists her fingers through her curls in a futile effort to stop the ground from knocking her over.
“This had to be done.” Bjorn wraps an arm around her shoulders. “Pops will understand that he was trying to berserk for a week.”
She struggles to suppress the guilt tearing her apart inside. “Maeve told me your sisters must be allowed to continue their quest. We must not interfere. If your father wakes, he will summon the Drengr and march on Skalor to kill Calder.”
His brow knits together as he studies her.
She twists the slick, loose curl at her temple so vigorously that she knots it around her finger. “Bjorn, he was only berserking for two days,” she licks her lips, “I dosed him the other three days to protect us all.”
Despite his Sacred Stone ability of foresight, Bjorn’s jaw drops. His hands tangle in his dark locks, mimicking her reaction. Unusually, he stumbles away from her and crashes into a dresser.
“Please, B, do not conceal whatever you’re thinking from me.”
“Oh, Father will rally his forces and march against Calder, especially once he learns something is brewing between him and Aura. However, even Pops cannot withstand the Iss Drengr. Mum, if Father raises his axes against Calder, he will be defeated.”
“My little Queen?” Sigvid slurs his words.
Avina is at his side in the blink of an eye, concern overshadowing the stress as he captures her full attention.
“How do you feel?” She strokes his loose auburn locks, which have a few silver streaks.
“Disoriented. What happened?” His calloused fingertips gently caress her cheek, offering a tenderness she could cherish forever.
She peers up at Bjorn, who slides his hands in his pockets. “Truth, Mum. We rehearsed this. He needs the truth.”
She stares into the piercing blue gaze of the man she loves more than any other on the continent.
Their youngest child mirrors his determination.
Their oldest daughter reflects his intensity.
His devotion to justice is evident in their only son.
Avina cannot see him join the Depths prematurely.
No matter how strongly she believes Calder would not kill his Lord Commander, she dares not risk Sigvid’s life.
Therefore, she lies to him for the first time in twenty winters after they promised each other honesty.
“That damned Isabel,” the lie flows clearly, unable to address her sin.
Bjorn mutters a string of curses.
“She gave you a heavy dose of Azure.”
“Fucking cunt.” Her Beast growls. “Where is Aura? My head is cloudy. I can hardly recall what occurred after the start of the feast.” A heavy emotion lingers in his tone.
She questions whether more occurred during the carriage accident.
Bjorn shakes his head frantically, but Avina must protect their people, family, and this divinely sanctioned mission in Skalor.
“She is with Thora, visiting Frida.”
Sigvid continues stroking her cheek, kissing her lips with a firm passion that leaves her breathless.
“I love you, my little Queen.”
“I love you, Sigvid.”
As he labors to stand, she catches Bjorn glaring at her.