“Will Thyra return?” I asked when we came up for air. “I could show you a few moves to knock her off her feet.”
Isolde smirked. “Not any time soon. She was going to check on the Scholars and then rest.”
“Rest?”
“I guess she didn’t sleep well. Last night we brought up the matter of the rebels, and Thyra is worried that even if Lord Balik allies with us, he will not accept them. I think she also worries about the Frør Crown being left alone.” Isolde patted the sword at her side. The legendary Sassa’s Blade. “A sword fits in better than a crown.”
The Frør Crown, a Hallow of Winter’s Realm, like Sassa’s Blade and the Ice Scepter, had not affected me as it had my mate, and yet I still did not trust the thing. It had once shown Isolde a vision. One that combined with the fact that the Crown had heated and cooled as we walked through the mountain towards the Shadow King, made me think it was manipulative.
Isolde gestured to where many of our friends still battled. “Watching Qildor today made me realize I don’t know all of my friends’ powers.”
“You didn’t get to spar with him at Frostveil. He was too injured from the whipping.”
“Yes, and I didn’t know Marit wielded earth magic. Back at the castle, Sayyida only trained her with weapons.” She let out a breath. “To be fair, I also forgot that Sian is such a good light wielder.”
She stared in the direction of my friend, who let off a blast of light so powerful, we both looked away, Isolde scrunching up her face as she did so. “Back in Avaldenn, I had no magic, so I focused on taking in the details of swordplay.”
“House Balik isn’t called the Golden House just because they possess an abundance of gold. They’re famous for producing many limiters. Baenna is one too.”
“What about Eireann and the other Baliks?”
“Eireann has winter magic, like Filip, but not as powerful, which is why though she’s older, he’s the heir. Eireann wields her magic as frozen water. I’m not sure about the other fourBalik children. They didn’t come to court as often as those you know well.”
“Yesterday I only saw two teen girls and a boy who I didn’t recognize.”
“One is a baby. Likely with their maid.”
“Ah.Another large family, like in Dergia. They’re blessed.” A wistful look crossed her face. We’d rarely spoken of our future life beyond saying that we both wished for younglings.
“Perhaps one day, we’ll have that,” I said softly. “If that’s what you want. And if the stars see fit to give us such blessings.”
Her face swept up, and her violet gaze met mine. “More than anything, I crave family. Of course, I already have it with you, Saga, my sister, and my friends, and maybe it’s greedy, but I wantmore. Do you?”
“I want as many younglings as you and the dead gods see fit to give us.”
She kissed me again, her curves pressing into the harder lines of my body in a way that made me ache. Fates, would I ever get enough of my mate? It did not seem possible.
“Sorry to break up this love fest,” a voice cut through our moment and when we broke apart, it was to find Aleksander, Bac, and Qildor standing a few paces away.
“Back for more?” I asked the fylgjarn.
“I wasn’t the one who needed a breather,” Aleksander teased back. “But not quite. We were talking about something and wondered if you’d considered it.”
“Don’t make us wait forever before you get on with it, brother,” Isolde teased.
Aleksander’s face softened as he sent a wink at my mate. Since learning that he had not one but two sisters, Aleksander had taken every chance to get to know Isolde. To bond. She grinned, which was likely what he’d wanted, and he resumed training his attention on me. “You’re the Warrior Bear, Vale.”
“That’s what they call me.” I might no longer identify as an Aaberg, but the nickname was better than being called the Warrior Ice Spider.
“You’ve built a career fighting with the king’s army. You must have made friends with officers. Or just loads of regular soldiers.”
“Of course.” As a prince, I’d never gotten too close to most of them. That would have been inappropriate. However, I had a few officers I called friends.
“How many would switch sides and fight for you, if you asked?”
Aleksander’s question hit me like a blow to the chest. I’d often thought of having to fight the males and females I’d stood with in the army, but to ask them to risk their lives and turn traitor?
“You’re asking that risk of the great houses and their armies,” Bac pressed. “Why not those you know from battle?”
