Chapter 31 Freija
Freija
I closed up my notes and Vigdis’s books for the night with a contented sigh. With the information she had plus these plans for indoor crops, I had an excellent proposal for my people.
A thump sounded outside, and I turned just in time to see the front door fly off its hinges. It crashed to the floor. Vigdis ducked behind her chair as I yanked my dagger from its sheath and pulled sparking royal magic into my palm. Instinct screamed at me to protect my new friend from—
I gasped.
There, in the doorway, shoulders heaving, fists clenched, was a violent storm.
“We need to go. Now,” Halvar said.
I gasped at the sight of him. Blood splattered his arms and chest, his hair looked like it had been caught in a downpour, and a tinge of ale sat in the air around him.
Snuffing the magic pulsing in my palm, I returned my blade to its home on my hip. “What happened?”
He stepped inside, chest heaving. “We were attacked.”
My heart stopped, and cool air gushed into the cottage from the opening where the door had once stood.
“Where are Vigi and Finn?”
“Killed.”
My hands flew to my mouth and my body began to tremble. “By… by who?”
“Someone looking for you,” he replied.
“Kidnappers again?” Vigdis asked.
I peered over my shoulder and found her half-hiding behind one of the armchairs. She’d even turned it around, putting as much of it and the room between her and the hulk of muscle that had just violated her cottage.
“They’re dead,” Halvar said, “but I couldn’t ascertain if they were operating alone or if there are more of them out there looking for you.”
How did they find us? We’d been so careful limiting the information about our whereabouts and now two good men had fallen in an effort to protect me.
Sometimes I really despised being a royal.
But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that.
Or on the demise of the two soldiers—grieving their loss would have to come later. I needed to focus.
“We’re leaving. Now,” Halvar bit out.
Ah, it seemed like he’d reverted to his old habit of being incapable of asking nicely.
“Not until you apologize to Vigdis and put that door back on its hinges.”
He glared at me like I was a fool for daring to give him orders in front of others. But even after our conversation on the way down here about who would be giving orders, I wasn’t going to allow him to break the home of the woman who’d housed, fed, and cared for us.
I propped my hands on my hips. “Halvar, please?”
He relented with an annoyed grunt and set to work lifting and realigning the door.
While he busied himself with that, I turned back to my new mentor. “I’m so sorry for the intrusion. But I believe our time together has come to an end.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay another day? Perhaps get some rest before the long journey home? It isn’t safe to travel at night.”
I glanced to where Halvar’s broad shoulder muscles bulged from carrying the weight of the door. Even without seeing his face, I knew what he was silently thinking.
“I think we might need to leave immediately.”
She gave me a gentle smile like she understood, but would prefer to spend more time with me. “In that case, you’d better find your belongings, my dear.”
With a smile, I packed my bag, stashing away the notes I’d taken and rolling up my nightgown. With a few more goodbyes and a warm hug from Vigdis, we made our way out of the cottage and I shut the now-fixed door behind us.
I was going to miss this place and the treasure it held, not to mention the sage woman who lived here.
Cool wind whipped up and over the cliff’s edge, dancing in the loose tendrils of my hair as the moon’s silvery rays cast a luminous glow over our surroundings. I strode through the garden, stepping past the soldiers’ tents, and heading toward—
The world spun on its head and I found myself hoisted over Halvar’s shoulder.
“Put me down this instant!”
“Can’t do that, princess.” He traipsed away from the cabin, my body bumping against him.
“Unhand me. I’m far too old for this.”
He grunted. “Like fuck you are.”
“Halvar Haraldson, put me down.” The words were filled with power and brought the man to a stop. He gently bent and set me down, and I righted myself, brushing my wild hair out of my face.
I opened my mouth to scold him again, when a chuff sounded behind me and an odd, hay-like scent wafted past. Turning slowly on the spot, I came face to face with a behemoth of a horse.
It chuffed again.
“Get on the horse,” Halvar grumbled.
I peered up at the massive mare, her white-and-black mane standing on end like the spikes of a hedgehog.
“What happened to asking nicely?”
“It’s my turn to give orders now.”
“I…” My toes curled involuntarily, but he did have a point. “All right.”
“Get on the horse,” he rumbled.
I looked between the horse and the skirts around my legs. “I can’t ride like this.”
“Then go change.”
“I didn’t bring riding leathers.” Which was an error on my part apparently. “We sailed down here, remember?”
He grunted and nudged past me, opening one of the packs on the horse. Retrieving some items, he shoved them into my hands. “Go change before I throw you over this horse wearing that.”
He was ridiculous, but the threat seemed genuine. The scowl that had been locked on his face since he’d kicked down the door hadn’t shifted. In fact, it appeared to be deepening the longer we stood out here arguing. And we shouldn’t be out here arguing. We did need to get moving.
“Fine.”
He huffed as if to say, “good.”
I strode back to the cottage and the door swung open before I could even knock.
“Did you get it all out?” Vigdis asked with a pointed look between me and Halvar.
“He’s an oaf who doesn’t know how to handle people.”
“Mm-hmm.” Vigdis pointed to the bathing chamber, and I scampered across to it and closed the door.
Resting my back against the wood, I took a moment to assess what Halvar had shoved into my hands.
Leather trousers with thick laces that looked about my size and a white blouse that could swallow a boulder.
I pressed the latter to my nose. A distinct clean, yet woodsy, smell drifted off it. Was this his shirt?
I shook my head. It didn’t matter. It was better than riding with my skirts hiked up around my waist, especially as I would be sharing a horse with Halvar.
Quickly changing into the new clothes, I folded my dress into a square and refastened my cloak around my neck.
Vigdis waited for me in the living space, a small pouch clasped in her hands. “I put together this for you.” She handed me the bag. “Just a few things we discussed: the Archavia tincture, foxglove seeds, and some other things for your garden.”
My heart pattered at her kindness. “Thank you so much, and again, I’m sorry about the intrusion.”
“It’s nothing to worry about, dear. Just know that you always have a place here and to call on me should you ever need to.”
“You’re too kind.”
“We gardeners must stick together. Oh, and please do write. I’d love to hear how your gardening comes along.”
I smiled and gave her a gentle hug goodbye before setting off outside.
Halvar stood beside the horse, arms crossed, feet braced, that scowl still stuck on his face.
“You know if you keep your face pinched like that and the wind blows from the east, it will get stuck that way.”
“Old human wives’ tale.”
I tucked my cloak around myself and proffered the pouch and clothes to him.
He plucked them from my hands, grumbled something, then stuffed them into the packs on the horse. “Are you ready?” he asked.
“Yes, I—” A screech flew from me as he hoisted me onto the horse.
“Lest we have even more discussions about you getting on this damn horse.”
“I could have done so myself.”
He grumbled again and hopped up in one swift move, settling himself against my back.
Warmth radiated off him like the fireplace in Vigdis’s cottage. The part of me that yearned for him wanted to lean into the heat, let it wrap around me and lull me into peace. But he was still my guard, and I was still the princess.
Reality crashed down around me once more.
We’d been found.
Vigi and Finn were dead.
My adventure to the south truly had come to an end.
The moon was high overhead and the horse’s hooves clopped along the empty forest trails that hugged the southern coastline.
My body ached from sitting in the saddle with Halvar, desperately trying and failing to keep from leaning against his broad chest. With his arms wrapped around me gripping the reins, it was impossible not to touch him.
Everywhere our bodies met, my skin zinged, and my magic tugged at me like it wanted to be set free.
As we turned away from the view of the waves, I cleared my throat. “I don’t know what to say. There—”
“There is nothing to say. This is not your fault, and it’s my job to keep you safe. I would traverse the entire continent to do so, princess.”
My grip on the pommel tightened and my breath hitched. It was only for his job. Right?
“Where exactly are we heading?”
“Home.”
“Do you really think it’s safe there?” The kidnappers had made it into the mountain after all.
He sighed. “Unfortunately, I don’t think anywhere is safe for you right now.”
What was happening with my life?
I straightened in the saddle, my muscles creaking at the movement. Horseback riding had been far easier on my body when I was younger. My rear brushed against something hard and I stilled. Was that…?
“Princess?”
I cleared my throat and ignored the thought of what I was currently sitting against. “Have you heard anything from Skolvik?”
“Only the letter I received the other day saying how frustrated the Council and King are about the lack of search results.”
“Do you think we will ever find the culprit?” Or was I going to live in this limbo for the rest of my days?
Halvar’s chest rumbled. “Yes, but I think our search has unfortunately narrowed.”
I turned to face him and wobbled in the saddle, but a broad hand found my hip, stopping me from falling. Halvar’s eyes fell to me as his fingers tightened their grip on my side. “What don’t I know?”
Looking back to the trail, he said, “One of our attackers today said the group was sent by someone within the mountain in Skolvik.”
I swallowed hard, mind whirling at the disloyalty. Why would someone within the mountain want me kidnapped for gold and resources? What would they stand to gain from that? What was their motive and was it more than just the gold?
Halvar gently nudged me to straighten in the saddle and readjusted his hand against my hip, not far from where my thigh began. A wave of something washed through me—possession, belonging, I couldn’t be quite sure—but the smart of betrayal dulled slightly.
“Who could it be?” I muttered to myself as we rode past more thick pines.
“There is one person, but you won’t like it.”
“Who?”
“Crown Princess Rag—”
“It wasn’t Ragnhild.”
He grumbled like he didn’t believe me.
“It wasn’t.”
“How can you be sure?”
“For several reasons. First, she is my best friend. Friends don’t harm each other like that. Second, betraying my trust would ruin our friendship and the Forest Fae’s good standing with the Fjell. Third, she doesn’t want to spark a war between our people—”
“Fine,” he grunted, “it wasn’t her.”
“Thank you.” I sat up straighter. “And just because you don’t like her, doesn’t mean it was her. You know better than that, soldier. Use that logic of yours that I admire. Furthermore, you will have to get used to her being around. I won’t be rid of her any time soon.”
He grumbled again, a surlier tone this time. A tone I had come to recognize.
I peered over my shoulder, bringing us almost nose to nose, our lips a mere movement apart. “You will not kill her.”
A huff skittered across my cheek as he kept his eyes on the path ahead.
“You may not kill my best friend.”
“Fine.” He pinned me with a glare. “But I don’t like her.”
“For arranging my journey or for being as stubborn and stoic as you?”
He looked away again, his lips falling into a firm line. “Both.”
They were petals from the same bloom—spiky and unyielding.
I bit back a laugh, turned around, and leaned my back against him. There was no denying this comfort, but if anyone were to see us, I’d blame my tired body and the proximity. It wasn’t like there was much room on the horse for both of us and the packs.
My mind took the opportunity to linger on the threats, as if it could tell that here, with Halvar behind me, was a safe place to dwell on those terrors.
We were still no closer to figuring out who had sent those initial letters.
But… “In your experience, who do you think we should be watching?” Vigdis had recommended watching the metaphorical soil, but what part exactly?
“Usually I’d say everyone.”
“So, you’ve crossed people off your list already?”
“Mm-hmm.” His chest warmed my back, and I sank deeper against him. “Considering today’s events, I think we can rule out Fjord and Fire Fae.”
“Because they have nothing to gain or because we’d have routed them out already?”
“Both. Plus, a Fjord Fae could flood your chambers just by standing in the hallway.”
What an alarming prospect. “I don’t think it’s a Forest Fae group either,” I added.
“I agree,” he said.
My stomach flipped and churned, our statements leaving me with an unsettling truth: “It really has to be someone within our own mountain. Perhaps someone well connected or well positioned?”
Halvar hummed, the reverberations running through me. “I fear you are correct.”
“What are your plans?”
“Hunt down the few leads I have and prepare for any other kidnapping attempts.” His short beard brushed the top of my head as he peered down at me. “What are your plans?”
Steely resolve zapped down my spine as my eyes met his. “Prepare to kill anyone who comes close to me.”
A slow smirk appeared and Halvar tugged on the reins. “Good.”
The horse came to a gentle stop in a small grove within the trees.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Making a camp before we both become lethargic.”
He hopped off the horse in one swift movement, and my breath caught in my throat. No, no, no, no, no. This was decidedly worse than the horse. I was going to have to sleep near him. Outside. Probably close enough so we could both stay warm when the chill of night descended.
Ancestors save me and my willpower.