Near where he thought she’d stopped, the main character was sprawled out, secured to the bed with chains. He swallowed hard.
“Did they chainyou?”
Solveig looked at her wrists and ankles. As if to reassure herself she wasn’t confined, she raised her arms and wiggled her feet off the side of the bed. Gerrie’s hands went out to steady her, but Solveig didn’t need the help. She nodded.
“Okay, no books with chains—not even the fun kind. Got it.”
Latham started to scold Gerrie for her brashness, but a quiet husky laugh burst from Solveig. Her eyes widened, as startled as they were by the sound. She gave Gerrie another smile and leaned into her. Gerrie met her embrace and held on to her tightly.
Gerrie whispered something to Solveig that Latham couldn’t hear. She nodded and Gerrie stroked her hair, standing up. “I’m going to find her some real food.” She tossed a pointed glare at Laeknir. He had the nerve to look affronted.
After she was gone, Latham took her place in the chair beside Solveig.
“Can I hold your hand?” he asked. The moment she nodded, he scooped up her hands in his. They were still fragile but warmer and stronger than they’d been a week ago. She returned his grip.
“I’m so sorry, Sol. You have to know that I only wanted to help. I never meant for this to happen,” he whispered. When she didn’t reply, he kept going.
“You have no idea how sorry I am. You have no idea how I’ve been tortured by the guilt and I—” She froze and yanked her hands away. The expression on her face struck terror into his heart. Her eyes were cold, and she looked every bit the ferocious general she was known to be.
“Sol, what—?” She stared at him, hard. He thought over his words and realized what he’d said.
“You know I’m not good with words. I’m sorry, Sol, I didn’t mean to ... I didn’t think. I just meant that every second that has gone by I have felt so guilty for what I did—on top of grieving your loss, it’s beenunbearable.” Still silence, still that unrelenting stare. He would prefer it if she raged at him, screamed at him, anything but this defeated quiet.
“What can I do? I’ll do anything. I’m so sorry.” His voice breaking cracked the tension in the room. She slumped back to the pillows. “Sol, I—”
“Outside. Now.”
Latham jumped at the sound of Laeknir’s rough voice. He focused his attention on Solveig, but she was staring off into the distance, a shell of who she’d been. It broke Latham’s heart. He followed Laeknir out of the tent. As soon as they were out of earshot, the healer rounded on him.
“You sound like a pathetic, begging fool. Asking her for forgiveness the first chance you get.” Latham tried to speak, but Laeknir put up a hand.
“Listen to me, boy.” Even at four hundred and thirty years old, Latham felt like a witchling. “You have no idea what atrocities she’s endured. None of us do. So you can simper at her feet and grovel for forgiveness all you want, but the truth of the matter is this is not about you. This is not about your feelings.Sheis what matters here. You cannot force forgiveness out of her, and quite frankly, you don’t deserve it.”
Latham glared at him. “You have no authority over me. You don’t know what I—”
Laeknir put up his hand to stop him, and Latham swore if he interrupted him again, he was going to lose it.
“Don’t be a selfish babe. If you aren’t going to be helpful to her recovery, then I will not let you back in.”
The healer walked back to the tent, Latham’s hurt and frustration boiling over. He didn’t know what to do with his pent-up energy.
He wanted to help Solveig, but he also needed her to know he was sorry. He wouldn’t stop apologizing until she forgave him. But sinceLaeknir wouldn’t let him in the tent if he tried again, Latham left to let off some steam.
Passing by the fighting arena only reminded him of how Solveig had bested him and led them to this mess.
He shouldn’t blame her, but if she had just let him come on the raid in the first place, none of this would’ve happened.
ApatrollapwouldhelpLatham work off these unnerving feelings. When he reached the stable, he found Gerrie saddling Helle.
“What are you doing?” he asked. Gerrie huffed, not paying him any attention. He guessed their truce was over.
“What does it look like I’m doing?” she retorted.
“It looks like you’re taking Helle out.”
“I’m bringing her to Sol. I asked if she wanted to go for a ride.”
“You can’t be serious. She’s not well enough for that!”
