“We just want to go home and see our families again.”
For a brief second, a look of disgust flashed in Vhalla’s eyes, but it faded before it could gain momentum. The woman looked back at Soricium and sighed heavily.
“I suppose I can’t blame you. I’m barely shy of being a deserter myself.”
“The Windwalker, you’d never—”
“Don’t tell me what I’d never do,” she nearly shouted. Vhalla’s lower lip quivered and it was then Vi noticed her bloodshot eyes.
Sehra lived.
That was the only explanation for Vhalla’s presence. Aldrik had been betrothed to the chieftain’s daughter, as planned, and Vhalla couldn’t handle it.
“You have no idea what I’ve done,” Vhalla continued.
Vi raised her hands as if to show she was unarmed in both weapon and word. This was not the mother she knew. This was a war-weary and fragile young woman, pushed past the point of breaking.
“Sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry.” Vhalla shook her head. “I should go.”
“Where are you going?” Vi asked.
“I… I’m not sure.” She sniffled and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “I was thinking of the Crossroads. Seems like a good place to disappear.”
Go west by night. Vi’s own words echoed back to her. Had Vhalla left in the night, striking out for the West when all seemed lost, when she needed comfort?
Vi had let Yargen lead her in the Crossroads when she was speaking with Vhalla. Had Yargen foreseen this meeting? There was no other way for Vi to interpret the situation. Yargen had hand-delivered the woman before her.
And Vi wasn’t about to let her go.
“Then, the way I see it, we’re headed in the same direction and none of us wants to be found. Why not travel together?” Vhalla was clearly uncertain, so Vi added, “It’ll be safer for all of us to travel in a larger group.”
“I don’t want anyone to know where I am.”
“Who are we going to tell?” Vi motioned around her. “The army isn’t here, and a bunch of deserters certainly aren’t going back to report in.”
Vhalla fumbled with the reins and then dismounted with a sigh. “All right. I need to walk the horse for a bit anyway so he can catch his breath. We can go together for at least a little.”
“What made you depart so quickly?” Vi asked casually, taking a few wide steps to walk alongside Vhalla. Deneya and Taavin hung back. The young woman shot her a venomous glare. “Sorry!” Vi held up her hands. “I didn’t mean—”
“I know.” Vhalla sighed, her hands going up to the watch around her neck.
The pocket watch-turned-necklace was almost identical in size and shape to Vi’s. But where the cover of Vi’s watch was mirror smooth, Vhalla’s watch had a sun split in half by a wing. It was a symbol Vi didn’t recognize. But if she was forced to guess, she’d surmise Aldrik had made it for Vhalla—assuming the Aldrik of this world kept similar hobbies to her father.
Vi might not recognize the jewelry, but she did recognize the motion.Like mother, like daughter, she thought with a somewhat bitter note.
“I know you didn’t mean to upset me,” Vhalla continued. “I left because…” she trailed off, and just when Vi had given up on the woman speaking again, she continued, “because I found out something that made a part of me feel as though it were dying.”
“Dying?”
“It’s hard to explain.” Vhalla smiled weakly. “My heart exists beyond myself. My life is not wholly my own. And the parts of me that were in another’s hands were crushed in an iron grip.”
The cryptic words told Vi two things. The first was that she had been correct in her assumption about Sehra’s engagement. The second was a little less clear, but Vi was certain Vhalla was referencing the magical Bond forged between her and Aldrik all those months ago.
She wasn’t surprised to see the young woman dancing around the topic. Bonds were rare and precious things. Knowledge of them could be used against the sorcerers who formed them.
“I think I understand,” Vi said delicately.
