“Understand what?” He forces the tapestry into the flames of the hearth. “How he fucked me over?”
“Fucked you over?” She wraps her arms around her chest, glowering at him. “How exactly did Thrain betray you, my Lord?”
“By laying claim, he does not have on Avina! My shit brother knows better!”
Helga sighs. “Were you planning a proposal to the Queen of Timber, who you infamously keep as a whore in your home, I might add?” She raises a brow.
He pauses mid-breaking of a small wooden table. Once displayed prettily on top, the large glass bowl of seashells shatters on the floor.
“I …well I…” Sigvid snaps the table in half and lets the pieces clatter to the floor atop the glass. “Avina is mine! And I will do with her as I please!”
Helga grabs the front of his tunic and shoves him back into anempty bedroom. With a quick look around, she slams the door behind them.
“Prince Sigvid, listen to me!” She jabs her pointer finger in his face. “You know Thrain is a greedy, slimy hack whose actions are growing increasingly drastic. Admit you care for the Queen of Timber, and this fury is because you hold affection for her, maybe even love her.”
Sigvid takes a deep breath to bellow a retort. Instead, he hesitates. He repeats but still cannot find suitable words. He slams down into an armchair and mumbles, “Maybe I do.”
She sighs and sits on the small bed slid against the wall. Neither of them utters a word for several breaths. Helga breaks the silence first. “She didn't say ‘yes’ to Thrain. I was there.”
“I will make that fucking ass pay for this.”
She sits with her legs crossed, examining her cuticles. “I had a too-close-for-comfort seat of you expressing your affection for Queen Avina in your Arena cell. You and Thrain could use a lesson in how to approach women.” She leans back, staring unblinkingly at the ceiling.
He looks away, unable to meet her gaze. “Thank you, Helga, for bringing that up again.” His snark drips from his tone.
She narrows her eyes, and he resigns a sigh.
“I know what I did to her. And I know it was wrong.” He summons the image from the Arena of her big blue orbs gazing up at him behind her curtain of frazzled golden curls. Dirt and grime coated her naked body, and it did not matter.
She is still the most lovely creature on this plane of existence. Even if her mind trapped his soul before her curves even had a chance.
Avina is the Queen Treland deserves. If that is the crown she wishes to wear, I will ensure she has my protection—even if it kills me.
“I could not help myself at the Arena. I never can with Avina.” Sigvid breathes out a sigh and looks back to Helga.
“He threatened Avina with the lives of Thora, Frida, and you, my Lord.” She whispers. “The Queen confessed,” Helga sighs, “well, she adores you, and her declaration was diplomatic, even if Thrain had other intentions.”
My little Queen, you deserve to know how I feel for you.
And Thrain deserves my axe through his chest.
“We must get Mum and Thora to safety.” He is still breathing heavily from the rage and crushes the chair he is sitting in with one swipe of his fist.
For good measure.
She nods. “Carefully, though. Thrain needs Treland to see their union as mutually agreed upon and that you hate Queen Avina for it. He fears the retaliation of the armies if he has coerced her. I can keep him busy. He is hyper-focused on planning his damned coronation. Get Thora and Frida out before he decides to place pressure on Avina. I worry she may not be able to withstand him.”
Present
December 14th, Year 100, 9th Era
Blackwood Inn, Salt Province
Sigvid tosses the wet towel on his bed, not bothering to throw on a pair of trousers over his naked figure. Grim and Thora spend more time in town than at Blackwood so he can remain in his stag lifestyle even with his little Queen’s presence.
I have nearly deciphered Father’s coded journal pages. Briny God, I hope I am wrong.
When he enters his study, solitude does not greet him. Instead, a strange man sits in one of his armchairs reading a book. In one hand, he cradles a glass with enough red wine to drown three people. Although he wears a tight Salt tunic and trousers, he has the same regal air as Avina. Fuck, even his nose supporting his reading spectacles reminds him of his little Queen.
