He leans forward, his jaw throbbing, in an attempt to remain calm. “Aura,” if he could breathe fire, smoke would spew from his nostrils. “You become too attached to people who could give a fuck about you. You fluctuate between these men and women, hoping one might stick. And each time you are hurt, you retreat further into yourself.”
She sucks in a breath. With an exhale, she stumbles back into her chair. “I,” she looks away, unable to meet her father’s gaze, “did not realize you observed my life so critically.”
He softens in only the way he can for her. “You are my daughter. Have you any idea how many people I have fucking killed for you?”
She swallows, not wanting to know, yet suspecting as much. Several young Drengr who had courted her in the past, all in an effort to rub elbows with her father, have vanished unexpectedly.
“What is your point? To belittle me for falling hard for Isabel? I cannot change the fact that many of the people who express interest in me only use me to get toyou!” She lets her mead horn of resentment overflow. “Isabel was the first person who wantedme.” She taps her chest.
He shifts closer to her. “I understand my reputation has made growing up difficult for you. Fucking people manipulate you to seek rapport with me. I hate that it has been this burdensome for you, Kid. What I would not give for us all to live out our days on the farm with no disturbances.”
Her shoulders shake as the boiling emotion floods her mind. “I have no companions!” The tears collect on her lap. “Becoming a Drengr was meant to solidify my role in the family. And now I am nothing.” She buries her head in her hands.
He envelops her in his arms, tugging her close to his chest. “You are everything to us. The prophesied child whose line will live forever.” He teases.
“If I do not get us all killed first.” She mutters nasally.
“I will not allow that to fucking happen.”
She lays her head on his shoulder, and they sit silently until her breathing evens out. Then, she pulls away, wiping her nose.
“Aura,” he chews on the inside of his mouth, brushing imaginary lint from his pants, “I hate to do this to you, but I must blacklist you from the Drengr.”
And here she thought they were having a moment.
“Anyone who has pledged to me will not be allowed to fuck you.”
She flinches at his harsh proclamation. “Oh gods, you don’t have to say it like that!”
She understands the mistake she made with Isabel, but this is absurd! Blacklisting her from the Drengr? It is an archaic practice that his early warriors used to prevent their friends from bedding women of interest or family members.
“Why…why would you do this to me?”
Gods, this is mortifying. Even her friends will stop communicating with her. Not only could she not become a Drengr, but now she could not associate with anyone without feeling shame.
“Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe Drengr are your pick of… admirers. And it has not gone well for you.”
“Pops, blacklisting me is drastic and insulting. How do you expect me to deliver a line to live forever when you have forbidden everyone from even fucking speaking to me?” She spits.
“Fucking language, Aura!” He chastises. “Try to get to know someone first before taking them to your bed immediately. Assess their character and, perhaps, their fucking bloodline. You are welcome to continue the lineage with anyone but a Drengr.”
Sigvid stands and kisses the top of her head. “I do love you, Kid.” He saunters toward the stairs. “Blow out the sconces before you go to bed. I already dismissed all the staff.”
Aura groans and falls back in the chair.
6
CALDER
July 28th, Year 21, 10th Era
Blackwood Estate, Treland
Calder and Sigvid finally met to discuss his concern about the Draemonium threat in Steinlund. That is, until a pompous man in an official set of robes calls the King and Queen away to welcome the Astrian contingency.
He still has a fortnight before the Skalor meeting, leaving him little to focus his attention on. So today, he perches on a boulder behind Blackwood Estate, sharpening Freyja, his great axe, while the goats bleat at him.
What would his father, Avard, think of his mission to save the Treland Princess? Would it be enough to absolve his sins in Skalor?
