The king was a muscular orc who might have seen some battle on his own. Unlike Astrid’s, his crown was quite elaborate, littered with jewels that sent cascades of light in every direction from the morning sunlight that streamed through the windows. He was dressed in fine velvet, richly colored.
“I need to speak with my cousin, but your librarian is hiding him,” King Skarde said.
“I am a scholar,” said Vera, “not a babysitter.”
Astrid turned on her heel. “Vera, where is Guthmar?”
Vera sneered. She had told King Skarde she would not bow to him, but in truth, she did not bow to Astrid, either. “In the back with his spouses. I should mention he does not seem fond of His Royal Majesty.”
“Noted,” Astrid said. She gestured for King Skarde to stay and headed to the private nook of the library that had served as her sanctuary over her years of ruling.
Guthmar was seated in the cozy reading chair. Tassi stood stoically behind him while Alvor kneeled at his feet, holding Guthmar’s hand and muttering reassurances. His face was puffy and red from crying.
“Hello, Guthmar,” Astrid said pleasantly. “Do you have any idea what your king wants from us that would warrant an uninvited and unannounced visit?”
Guthmar sniffled into a notably damp kerchief. “His brother’s dead, I’d wager.”
“His brother,” Astrid repeated.
“The one who was supposed to be the ambassador,” Freya supplied. “He’d fallen ill.”
“Ill,” Guthmar repeated, and laughed sadly. “If only. ’Tis a shame. His brother was a better man, though the standard is not high.”
“Queen Astrid!” King Skarde shouted from the front desk. “You are being rather rude.”
Astrid returned to the desk, where Vera stood glowering impressively at the entire retinue all at once.
“Your steward has been inhospitable and refused to answer my questions,” said King Skarde. “Your librarian is impossible. You are a terrible hostess.”
Astrid forced her trembling hands to be still. “And is it not rude to arrive in my queendom unannounced?”
The king’s face turned an impressive shade of chartreuse. He responded by charging past Sigurd, bumping her on his way to Guthmar.
Astrid followed. Tassi and Alvor now stood protectively before Guthmar, who sobbed anew.
“Move,” King Skarde ordered.
“You must be kind to him,” Tassi said, voice shaking. “He has done nothing wrong.”
“Both of you, leave.”
Neither of Guthmar’s spouses budged.
“That is an order from your king,” he added darkly.
“We will protect him,” Astrid promised them.
There was a clatter at the entrance to the small alcove as Sigurd and Norga held Skarde’s guards back from joining him. This area was crowded enough already, the least peaceful Astrid had ever seen it.
Alvor and Tassi parted around Skarde to exit the library.
“Stand up for your king, you sniveling piece of shit,” Skarde yelled down to Guthmar.
Anger rose in Astrid. She had become fond of Guthmar in his time at Vakker Castle, fonder than she thought possible.
“King Skarde,” Astrid said, “Ireallymust insist you do not accost my guests in my home.”
“This guest is only here because Isent him.”
