Chapter 14 Freija
Freija
Halvar guided us through the tunnels and out of the main entrance to the mountain.
“Where are you taking me?” I asked.
“Outside.”
“I can see that.”
He shot a quick glare over his shoulder before snapping forward as if he’d forgotten himself.
Oh, he hadn’t liked that. I bit my lower lip to keep from antagonizing him further.
It was silly to do so. Even Father had just warned me not to get on his bad side.
But something within me enjoyed challenging him and, secretly, the challenges he offered in return.
“You need to practice what you have learned outside the safety of the mountain.” He led me up the trail I’d just wandered down with Father.
But, instead of turning left toward the large, craggy clearing, he wound deeper into the forest atop the eastern side of the mountain, where it turned and sloped toward the growing hamlet of Skolvik.
We traipsed through the dense woods, stepping over fallen logs and moss-covered stones, a creek trickling nearby.
After a short hike, Halvar pushed aside a branch and revealed a small clearing surrounded by thick trees on all sides.
A few boulders littered the edge of the circle and the sound of my footsteps softened in the mossy grass.
We strode into the middle and Halvar nodded to a spot across from him, motioning for me to take up position.
My feet tamped down the thin green blades as I stopped where he requested. “What would you like me to do?”
His gaze heated. “Protect yourself.”
“From what?”
“Me.” He lunged.
Spinning as fast as I could, I sidestepped his advance and pulled on my royal magic. Power zipped down my arms and twin orbs of sparking white light filled my palms. My cloak billowed out behind me and I faced him.
Halvar grunted, a dagger in one hand, the other free, as he began to circle.
My chest rose and fell, breaths sawing in and out of my lungs. I felt like an animal caught by a hunter. Turning a few steps, then some more, always keeping him within my sight, I braced for another attack.
His eyes flicked to my right, but I didn’t fall for it. I’d be keeping my eyes on the biggest threat in this clearing: him.
He moved like lightning forking across the sky, so fast, I barely had time to react.
Spinning and launching both orbs—
The fabric around my throat tugged me back into a wall of muscle, arms banding around my torso, and the chill of a blade caressed the underside of my jaw.
I stilled. Ensnared. My chest heaving.
How did he move so quickly? The only fae I knew who could move like that were the Forest Fae wolf shifters and the Fjord Fae when they swam.
And why did it feel so good in his arms?
Even with a dagger to my throat, the warmth and protection his hold provided was something I’d never experienced before.
It ignited something deep within me, a tingling sensation I hadn’t felt in a long time… if ever.
Halvar flicked the clasp at my neck, and I gasped as my cloak fell between us before he tugged it and threw it away.
“What are you doing?” The words came out breathier than I’d have liked.
“Do not fight in a cloak. Ever.” He withdrew his blade and nudged me away from him. “You should know better.”
I bumbled a few steps across the clearing, spun, and planted my hands on my hips as he gave me his back. “Yes, sir.”
He stopped and slowly peered over his shoulder.
Our gazes clashed and my heart rate spiked. Oh, he hadn’t liked that either. A buzzing sensation filled my veins and I smiled.
Those frost-colored eyes dipped to my lips before flying back up to mine.
Or maybe he had?
He wiped his palm across his mouth before his eyebrows flicked up once and he waved his hand in a come hither motion. “Try again.”
I braced my feet and bent my knees as I called on that swirling royal power in my sternum.
Focusing on the thought of stunning him, I let a trace of magic flow down my arms, zapping me slightly as it went, and formed two balls of sparking power in my palms. I needed to remember my training.
I wasn’t as strong as him, nor as tall. But I had more types of magic than he did and was a smaller target.
I needed to use both to my advantage. If he got close to me, those broad arms and hands would latch on—
He launched again, and I stumbled back a step before throwing my first volley.
Dodging and dipping to his knees, he narrowly avoided a smack in the face.
I smirked and re-powered my empty hand as Halvar jumped back to his feet in one swift movement. That speed of his should be studied.
He raised his free hand and the ground shook. Roots snapped and spears of rock the size of trees jutted out of the ground along the edge of our makeshift sparring ring. I took five steps toward the middle of the circle—closer to my biggest threat.
Damn. He’d formed a tighter circle and caged me in. There was no way I could climb over those fast enough to retreat into the woods, nor collapse them for a quick escape.
“Clever,” I remarked.
He shrugged and settled back into a ready stance.
“You aren’t the only one with fancy magic, soldier.”
“Prove it, princess.”
In that case… I launched both sparking orbs and quickly drew my hands in front of me, pulling on the magic in the earth, the power that the mountain and our ancestors had granted me.
Heat washed through my entire body and I yanked my hands toward the sky, dragging my own shard of rock from the soil.
The ground rumbled once more and a spire pierced through the grass, forcing Halvar to stumble back.
My lungs heaved from the effort, but I didn’t let it slow me.
I pulled on more magic, letting it fill my palms again, and scurried closer.
Halvar stepped around the rock formation and I launched my attack.
One orb crashed against the stone while the other cracked across Halvar’s cheek, whipping his head to the side and sending a sharp reverberation through his body.
He grit his teeth and his eyes flew to me.
I sucked in a breath at the storm raging there. “Shit.”
It was as if he had absorbed the stunning magic and wasn’t going to let it overcome him. Most people would collapse and be rendered unconscious by the full force of one of those orbs… But, as was now very clear, Halvar wasn’t most people.
He straightened and stilled, his grip loosening on his dagger. I swallowed hard as he nodded and collapsed the weapon completely—the stone disappearing into thin air. “Well done.”
A sigh of relief slipped from my lips. At least I’d done something right.
It gave me a small seed of hope that I might come out of this sparring session unscathed…
at least physically. Mentally my mind was flying through everything I’d studied and learned while trying not to be distracted by the muscles rippling underneath Halvar’s shirt.
He extended his hand and crooked two fingers in my direction. “Come here.”
I narrowed my eyes, but sauntered across the space between us. “What other lessons do you have—”
His hand latched around my arm and pulled me.
Feet stumbling, heart plummeting to somewhere in my stomach, my body spun. Back met front and air whooshed from me. He banded his arms around me, giving me nowhere to run nor hide. I was stuck in his hold, the back of my head resting against his chest.
“Never let down your guard.” The words rumbled against my back as his breath skittered across the exposed skin at my neck. “Even when facing a friend.”
“Are you saying you’re my friend, now?”
“Hmmm.” The noise thrummed against me and it took every ounce of my control not to melt in his arms. “Any friend can become a foe.”
My stomach twisted at the thought. He was right. People could always turn or be turned against you. What if… No, he would never. The Head Guard turning against his King would be catastrophic. Misplaced trust at the highest degree.
“Is this a confession?” I asked.
Those forearms tightened across my ribs.
No answer. That couldn’t be good.
He shifted slightly and something cool and sharp pressed against the hollow of my throat. “I’m not the enemy.”
“I will take your word for it,” I said as gently as possible, lest a sudden movement pierce my skin.
Halvar moved, retracting the blade, and something tugged at my waist.
I looked down and found him wrapping a piece of leather string around my waist with an attached sheath. “What are you doing?”
“Hand,” he grumbled against my neck, sending tremors down my spine.
I opened my palm and he placed the hilt of the dagger he’d just used against me into it. The stone weapon was as sharp as steel, the tip glinting in the waning light, with an intricate pattern of runic shapes carved up the face of the blade.
“What’s this?”
“A gift. Keep it on you at all times.”
“Thank you,” I replied, weighing the dagger in my hand. Though it was clearly made of stone, the blade was still lightweight. Perfect to hide on my person. “Who made it?”
“One of the best smiths I know. Now, let’s train with it.”
They would have to be. Designs like those were a sign of a highly skilled smith like Brokkr, our forge master, not an amateur and most definitely not an apprentice.
He nudged me away from him, and cool air swelled between us once more.
One quick step in front of the other, I retreated across the clearing and spun to face him.
His gaze locked on mine and didn’t budge as he forged his own dagger.
It appeared far more rudimentary than the one he’d given me—sans any markings or runes—but that didn’t make it any less dangerous.
Any weapon wielded by Halvar was life-threatening.
“Use the lessons you’ve learned since you started training with me and my soldiers. Use your powers and size to your advantage.”
“I already did.” I motioned to his reddened cheek. “Or have you already forgotten about your new rouge?”
He scowled.
The look made me want to laugh.