He sighs, dragging his hand over his face. “Invisible now.”
It takes him a moment to realize the blur around her form and almost transparent appearance signal her invisibility.
“Go hide.” He urges Avina, who appears fully dressed at his shoulder, “Do not become visible until I say. You are too important to be captured.”
She nods with determination as she scoops Nellie into her arms and disappears down the hall.
Sigvid throws on his pants, tunic, and boots before rushing downstairs to the front door. He halts to compose himself, opening the door only when the flicker of scarlet leaves his vision.
“What can I do for you all?” He smirks out at the crowd.
Thrain, Gunter, King Ceowald, and at least a dozen soldiers of varying heraldry fill his front porch. Based on Ceowald's sudden scowl and Thrain’s unamused lip thinning, they are not expecting to greet Sigvid.
“Good evening, brother,” Thrain squares his shoulders. “I thought you would train with your new Drengr tonight.”
A lie.
One that Sigvid circulated among Thrain’s foot soldiers in an attempt to confirm his ass of a brother had him followed. Judging by his brother’s belief in the misdirection, Thrain’s fucking goons were tracking Sigvid's steps.
“I had a lot of work around the farm.” He surveys the soldiers at their backs.
Fifty men at best, butI think more hide in the woods. They are here for my Avina.
“What can I help you with tonight? It looks like you were expecting to meet a small army here.”
Thrain’s eyeline lifts above Sigvid’s to the central area of Blackwoodas if searching for something or someone. “We are looking for Her Majesty. May we speak with her?”
What an asshole with his polite fucking ask. As if he would not dismantle my home if I slam the door and told him to fuck off.
“She is gone, Thrain. We are two days post-Solstice. Per our agreement, she is allowed to leave.”
“Where?” King Ceowald’s nose wrinkles with pure disdain.
“There is our marriage to consider.” Thrain crosses his arms. “She could not have wandered far from Toftlund.”
Wandered? Briny God, why am I not putting him out of his misery?
“QueenAvina must consider her rule of Timber. Perhaps she wishes to return to her people before another marriage?” Ceowald glances again at Sigvid as if remembering his presence. “Well, boy, what is it? Where is my daughter?”
A thought smacks Sigvid upside the head.
No, it cannot be.
How did I miss it all this time?
And Avina did not even know…
“Do not look at me like that,Leto. How am I to know? Avina was gone before I awoke this morning.” Sigvid keeps his tone even despite the crimson tinting his vision.
A wry smile twists across Ceowald’s lips, picking up on the use of his wager wig. “Well, well, well. You did a clever job connecting the dots. I did not think your dense head had it in you. Although a bit late in the game, are we not?”
“And you are late in the day to catch your daughter. How about you and Thrain hold hands, skip up the road, and look for her? I am sure she is not far, Thrain. I bet if you piggyback Leto, you will find her quickly.”
Thrain’s smile is threatening as he shoves his way inside Blackwood, followed by half the soldiers on the deck. “Here’s the thing, Sigvid, I have two hundred men surrounding your quaint little abode.”
Ceowald and his men also push inside and settle in the seats surrounding his fireplace.
“Come on in. I am sorry, but I did not have time to make muffins for everyone.” Sigvid stands tall with hisarms crossed.
