Prince Thordur led us back the way we’d come, through a tunnel that exited on the outskirts of the larger city. During our hours of walking and taking in the sights, we’d learned that most of the population lived at the foot of the castle, within the massive cavern carved out by the dwarves over centuries. Though some smaller communities took up residence in smaller caverns that spiraled off the main one. Their religious fae, scholars, and healers were all examples of communities who had sought smaller caverns for their homes and to focus on work.
“This is all so interesting,” Neve said as Caelo and Anna fell into conversation with the prince. “I find the ways in which they tweaked the common infrastructures quite ingenious.”
“If you live beneath great mounds of rock, you find a way to survive.” I looked up, taking in the magical sky, courtesy of light fae working illusions.
The magic told me the sun outside was setting. The day was ending.
Neve came closer, snuggling into me. For the first time in weeks, we were without our long fur cloaks. I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her softness closer.
“Hmmm, that’s nice.” She nuzzled my shoulder. “I have to admit, while this tour has been fun, I’ve been a touchdistracted—thinking about how comfortable that bed looked.”
“After days of sleeping in snow, a bed will be beyond our dreams.”
“I don’t intend to dream too much tonight,” her tone dipped. My wife was coming on to me. “I hoped for quality time.”
I smirked, all too happy that she was thinking about us together, even if a small, annoyingly honorable voice inside me still whispered I did not deserve her. That by having married her and allowing this relationship to progress, I did Neve a disservice.
Her best chance at gaining support among the other great houses was marriage. When my parentage came out, as I intended it to, I’d be a bastard of House Riis. The House of the Ice Spider had much wealth but a very small army, and she’d need swords more than gold if she were to stand up to King Magnus.
I will give her my sword. My life. And free her from this marriage, if it will keep her safe.Thinking such a thing sent my heart racing with denial. I hated the idea but would do whatever was best for her.
“I need to work on my seduction. What stole your thoughts?” Neve tugged on my arm.
“Nothing as important as you.” I stopped following the others and dipping my head, I took her lips in mine.
Neve twisted so that her front faced me and wound her hands through my hair, her lips and tongue dancing with mine. My blood heated. I’d kissed my fair share of females. Bedded many too. But this one seemed as though she wasmade for me, and me for her. Though I hadn’t told her as much, inside something I couldn’t describe pulled us closer—a sort of magnetism that lived in my chest and deepened by the day.
Bleeding skies, it would be so difficult to let her go.
“Ahem!” Anna shouted. “We thought we’d lost you two, but apparently you slowed on purpose to get it on!”
Neve laughed and broke away.
“We’re here already,” Anna said from where she leaned around a corner, eyebrows arched and a smirk on her face “So come see. The sooner you do, the sooner you two canbe alone.”
I straightened. “Close to the forges? But I smell no fire, no metal.”
Anna smirked. “Must be the vents. Prince Thordur was telling us about it, but you were too deep down each other’s throats to hear.”
“That’s enough!” Neve said, though there was no anger in her tone. “We’re coming.”
Anna disappeared, and as much as I wanted to continue what we’d been doing, Neve took my hand and pulled me along.
Something I’d been so interested in before dulled in comparison to getting to explore her, but I followed around the corner. I sucked in a breath. These forges were the largest I’d ever seen.
“There are enchantments around the entire Circle of Steel,” Thordur explained as we caught up with the others. “You cannot hear the work, just like you can’t scent it, unless you are in a specific smithy’s business.”
The Prince of Dergia led us deep into a large market with so many forges that it resembled a maze.
“Zupriansteel daggers!” one apprentice yelled from the door of one of the more run-down forges. He saw me watching and winked. “Half-off, today only!”
My eyes widened, but Prince Thordur wrinkled his bulbous nose, a common feature of his fae race. “Not there. All our smiths are excellent, but you can do far better than that one. I’ll take you to the best and if you wish to buyzupriansteel, you’ll have your pick.”
I shared an excited look with Caelo, drawing chuckles from Anna and Neve. Laugh they might, but my best friend and I understood the value ofzupriansteel and how difficult it was to work. Dwarves were always the best with the material, and having a blade or other implement from the best of the dwarves would be a prize.
The market kept my attention with so many swords and weapons on display. Any soldier worth his salt would love to possess a good many of them. Would that I had the coin to buy them all, but I possessed very little on my person. I’d have to make do with merely holding and admiring such fine craftsmanship.
“Many here seem to workzupriansteel and make weapons.” I gestured around as we made our way through the workers, metal hissing and sputtering and hammers banging all around. “Your entire army must be outfitted in the best steel.”
