Chapter 26 Halvar
Halvar
I was going to kill Ragnhild… then bring her back to life so Freija could have her best friend, however much I currently disliked the Forest Fae woman. Of all the ships in the North Atlantic, she had to coordinate our passage on this one?
It was like walking into a mousetrap in the mountain’s dungeons and hoping it didn’t spring on you. Henrik may have been a courageous flirt, but he was not to be trifled with. Thieves who tried stealing from him, his crew, or his ship wound up floating in harbors or washed up on the shoreline.
If he knew exactly who was on his ship right now, he’d use us to his advantage—barter us or hold us for some ridiculous ransom.
As long as he didn’t hurt Freija, it would be all right, though.
I peered over at the woman. She was fast asleep lying beneath her hammock, head resting on a limp pillow.
She looked far less green than she had on the deck with Henrik, and a small tinge of color had returned to her cheeks once she’d eaten some bread.
But nestled there, huddled within her cloak on the floor, she looked so delicate.
Yet, underneath that soft veneer was a strong and dedicated woman.
A single eye opened and caught me staring.
“Are you all right?” I whispered.
“Felt better, but glad I decided on the floor instead of that deadly contraption,” she replied with a look to the material above her. “How are you faring?”
“I’ve had some experience at sea so the waves don’t affect me as much.”
“When was this?”
“The most recent trip was a scouting mission to monitor the waters between us and Iceland.”
“Ah,” she said, “Veigar?”
I nodded. “We sailed out of a small village called Farhamn on the island of Alta. Saw no threats or signs of the Fire Fae, but lots of icebergs.”
Thank fuck. Veigar and the Fire Fae were responsible for volcanic activity and aiding in the movement of tectonic plates.
However, the King had a temper and hadn’t been trusted for a very long time.
Very few Fire Fae ventured to the mainland, and if they did, we made sure it wasn’t for nefarious reasons.
Freija shivered.
“You’re cold.” I shifted, pulled my cloak off, and draped the thick, wool fabric over her before returning to my hammock.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “The thought of sailing past ice…”
“It’s worse than you think.”
“Really?”
“Even draped in layers of furs, wool, and leather, the cold would seep into your bones and settle there like an enemy waiting to attack.”
She shook her head. “Sounds awful. Do we need to send more supplies up north? More wool?”
I smiled lightly toward the ceiling. Her immediate compassion for others was highly admirable. So too was her sense of duty. The Fjell Fae would be lucky to have her as their queen one day.
“They have everything they need up there.”
“Oh, well, if you ever hear otherwise then please let me know.” There she went again, constantly thinking of others.
I peered over at her and found those gray-and-brown eyes staring back at me.
This trip was going to be harder than I thought.
Having her so close by, but not being able to touch her…
I shouldn’t be thinking like that. Should put distance between us.
Yet, every time she opened her mouth I couldn’t help the warming sensation in my chest.
She stifled a yawn, the motion making her look like a woodland rabbit in need of rest.
“Sleep, princess.”
“I’m fine.”
I chuckled. Now there was something we needed to discuss. “Are you giving orders on this trip or am I?”
It had been my request to the Council that was approved, and I was in charge of her security, but she was still the Crown Princess. The line was murky.
“How about a bit of both?” she replied.
Compromise. One of my least favorite things other than traitors and emotions. However, since being assigned as her guard, I’d faced more and more compromises—or challenges from her.
I rolled onto my side to face her, my hammock swinging harder. “If I agree to that, will you at least agree to listen to me when it comes to your safety? Not question me when I give a sharp order?”
“Yes,” she said before yawning once more. “You have a deal, soldier.”
A smile broke out on my face and I couldn’t squash it. “Will you ever stop calling me that?”
“In private? Probably not.” She giggled, and the sound sent a zap through my body. “Will you ever stop calling me princess in the non-titular form?”
My smile grew wider. “Probably not.”
Ancestors help me. This woman was making me laugh and smile.