Her shieldmaidens had kept her informed of everything they’d learned from the Fae. Given their propensity for spying, they were able to unearth a wealth of information about those who’d arrived so far.
Even if they were unable to glean any information about her captors, they were well on their way to infiltrating the key players. But without the knowledge she needed, Solveig’s patience was being tested.
The breathing exercises Laeknir had given her helped somewhat.
She’d been surprised when he asked how she was doing mentally and whether she had tried meditation. She couldn’t picture the gruff witch sitting cross-legged on the ground making humming noises.
When she told him as much, she earned a well-deserved whack of his spear on her arm. She laughed at the memory, the levity helping control her fear. She needed to get this over with. Her magic hadn’t been this frantic since the first Fae arrival. It was making her restless.
Solveig was staring so intently at the front gates that she hadn’t been aware that someone had stepped up beside her until he started to speak.
“I’m sorry, General Tordottir.”
She jumped at the sound of the male voice. Sten stood beside her, peering at her with guilt in his eyes. She hadn’t seen him since the night she was taken.
“Sten, whatever are you sorry for?” she asked, genuinely confused.
“I should’ve stopped you that night, but I didn’t know what was going on.” He broke her gaze and hung his head. “I’ve been avoiding you since your return.”
“There was nothing you could’ve done to stop me. You would’ve had to overpower me, and you and I both know that wouldn’t have happened.”
“But I could’ve told you ...” He paused and Solveig waited for him to continue, but he closed his mouth again.
“Told me what?”
Another pause and a hard swallow. “Told you what I Saw.”
Solveig blinked rapidly. “What do you mean, what youSaw?” she asked slowly.
“I didn’t know what it was at the time—I’ve barely had any experience, and it wasn’t like when I hadSeenthings before. It was still muted. I felt it more than I Saw it, I guess.” He shrugged, furrowing his browlike he’d thought it over endlessly but was still confused. Solveig stared at him.
“Do you mean your magic has awakened?” she asked carefully. How many of them were walking around with magic thrumming under their skin?
“No, just that one time before you ... left. And then ...”
Her gaze snapped to meet his. Fear shone in his eyes like it had that night. She had thought it was because of the raid, when he had grabbed her arm. But he had been scared for her, not himself.
“And then what? You had another vision, or feeling I guess?” He nodded. “Was it about me?” He nodded again, and her magic burned through her as thunder boomed overhead.
Just then, hooves sounded outside the gates. The last party had arrived. “Tell me everything you can,” she ordered.
“I don’t know—it’s not a real vision. I just have this feeling that you need to be careful.” She took a steadying breath through the pain of her magic.
“Be careful of what?”
He looked at her again, concentrating hard.
“Is it this new group of Fae?” she asked.
His face scrunched up, but he shook his head slowly. She relaxed a fraction.
“Then what do I need to be careful of?”
“I think ... I think you’re in danger.” He furrowed his brow, his irises growing pale. A tear trickled down the side of his face. “From someone close to you maybe, I can’t be sure, but I think they’re already here.”
Too shocked to speak, she said nothing as he walked away, rubbing his temples.
There wasn’t much time to recover as the gates opened and Latham stepped forward to greet the newcomers. She would have to deal with this new development later.
