Bryn shifted until her hip rested on the railing. Swallowing her issues, she placed a hand on Maude's forearm. A gentle touch, a sign of comfort. It was unfamiliar territory for Bryn, but at this moment, it felt right to lend her sister strength.
"He's afraid of my fire," Maude whispered, the words so quiet that Bryn wasn't sure she'd heard her correctly. "He won't come out and say it, but I can see it in the wary movements around me."
Based on what Bryn had seen of his scars, she wasn't surprised.
"That stubborn fool is crazy about you," Bryn said quietly. "I've seen it in his face, in the way he moves around you. Whatever is going on with you both is the direct result of Father's interference. Herrick was his prisoner; you were killed and then brought back to life by the Odin himself."
Maude stiffened under her touch but did not pull away.
"Things are different now; we've all been through some shit that would level any ordinary person," Bryn said with a chuckle. "So it's good we're not ordinary. Trauma bonding aside, it feels right to be here with this group. I know you feel that too."
Maude nodded and sniffed once. Bryn reeled in her shock as a single tear dropped onto her sister's cheek. She quickly swiped it away before anyone else noticed.
"If you want to put Herrick through a little Hel first, I'm game. But you should forgive him for whatever he said or didn't say to you," she finished, her words hanging between them. "Eventually."
Maude chuckled, a short and broken sound, but she straightened a bit. Eventually, a comfortable silence settled between them— one that Bryn was reluctant to break. Until the door to the lower deck opened, and Herrick stepped out, searching for Maude.
"That is my cue to leave," Bryn murmured to her sister. "It's about time I returned to the highest point of the ship so I don't lose sight of the horizon and empty my stomach right onto the deck that everyone works so hard to keep clean."
Bryn winked at her sister before stepping away and slipping on her mask of fury, ready to torture Herrick a bit for hurting her sister. So what if she was protective of Maude after everything she had gone through? Bryn wasn't prepared to lose anotherperson she loved, and though Maude was strong and could fight her own battles, she still felt responsible for letting Herrick know she was watching him.
As she passed the General of Rivers, Bryn leveled a glare at him that she had frequently used in her position as Lieutenant General. A glare she knew had sent soldiers scurrying into formation lest they end up reprimanded by her for poor attention.
It felt good to see the unease register in his golden eyes as she passed him. As soon as he could no longer see her face, Bryn let her mouth tip up with the mirth that skated along her bones, hoping no one would notice. Except Liv did; the Elven saw every moment of the game she and Maude had begun with the second born Kolbeck.
Liv rolled her eyes but tilted her lips up in a way that Bryn found incredibly distracting. It took a few moments for Bryn to remember how to speak because all she could think of was pressing her lips to the Elven's.
Allfather, give me strength to behave normally around this enchanting female, Bryn prayed as she managed to form words again and toss jokes back and forth with the Elven who had somehow wormed her way into whatever remained of her shattered heart.
19
Bryn was the first to sprint off the longship when they docked in Nida the next morning. The spicy night-blooming florals that permeated every surface in the Kingdom of Shadows felt more welcoming to her than she ever could have imagined.
This early in the morning, bakeries and restaurants were only just beginning to open their doors to the public. Warm, sugared pastries and the malty but slightly sweet aroma ofrugbrødloaves cooling in the brisk morning air filled Bryn with a strong sense of safety. The local Elven that were beginning their day flooded the grey-bricked streets, their quiet content palpable.
This was what peace in a kingdom felt like.Thiswas what the rest of Ahland needed to feel.
But Bryn couldn't enjoy any of it because following in her shadow was Maude, who had taken to playing a juvenile game with Herrick ofWho's Going to Speak First. When she told her sister to give him Hel, she hadn't meant this.
"Thank the gods that journey is over," Maude said as she stretched out her cramped limbs. "We all need a good bath and some sleep. I'm tired of listening to this one whine."
Maude gestured toward Hakon, who in turn shot a filthy gesture at her without looking at her. The anger that had previously been rolling off of Hakon in volatile waves had somewhat dissipated, which was probably why Maude felt safe teasing the Heir of Rivers. However, Bryn could see that the anger had turned inward now. Hakon was going to erupt, and she just hoped none of them would get caught in the crossfire.
Around them, the Elven who had come on the journey were reuniting with family and loved ones, the smaller Elven children running to greet their parents. Her chest caught at the sight— the easy joy that flooded the docks at the return of their people.
"Liv, you need to lead us back to the Midnight Palace; gods know I'm already lost," Maude muttered, her eyes scanning the area for any threat that she knew was not there.
The Elven came up behind her and said, "Aeric will have received notice that we returned. There's something we need to talk about before anything else happens."
Bryn nodded in agreement, her focus withdrawing from the peace of Nida's early morning streets. She knew that whatever information had kept Liv so preoccupied these last few days was going to change how they moved forward in their plans to rid Ahland of her father. She had taken to whispering with one of the freedvitki, the golden blonde woman who wielded earthgalderwith a proficiency that impressed Bryn. When she asked about it, Liv only said that she needed to speak with Aeric about it before she could talk to any of them.
The woman in question stood close behind Liv now, her children grasping onto her tunic as they stared wide-eyed at their surroundings.
Before anyone else could speak, Herrick came to stand with them, looking everywhere but at Maude, who in turn ignored his appearance as well. Bryn rolled her eyes and then shot Maude a look that saidYou're Being Childish. Maude stuck her tongue out at her sister in response.
"I need to see Gunnar," Herrick said, his voice allowing no argument.
"But—" Liv began to say when Bryn interjected.
