“Steinheim seems to always provide,” I say. “The food is cheap at the market, but it’s good. Everything is quite affordable.”
“Steinheim is wealthy from the diamond trade,” he says. “And it’s a tight community. Golems and humans live well here and help each other. There’s no reason for scarcity when we sit on a literal treasure.”
“I love this city,” I say. “Though I’ve only seen the Narrowhalls and the Highhalls. I haven’t had business on the other levels.”
“I’d love to take you to the Corehalls again,” he says. “You could see the dining hall, the gardens, which are beautiful. And there’s a gemstone museum.”
“That would be lovely.” I shoot him a shy look.
A knock on the door interrupts us. It opens, and a golem woman walks in, smiling wide.
“If he’s taking you to see the Corehalls,” she says, “then that only leaves the last level to me.”
Korr whips around and grins at her.
I climb off my stool and walk over, extending my hand. She’s tall, solid, massive like Korr, but shapely underneath her simple clothes, with a beautiful face, full lips, plump cheekbones, and bright eyes. She’s bald, like all golems, but it suits her. It makes the shape of her face stand out, the sharp jaw and the high forehead. She looks strong and warm at the same time.
“You must be Irrva,” I say.
She takes my hand gently, barely touching my fingers. I guess she’s afraid she might crush my bones.
“And you’re Sorina. I’m so glad to finally meet you.”
“It’s lovely to meet you too. Korr talks about you and your husband a lot.”
“Only good things, I hope.”
I giggle and tuck my hands behind my back, suddenly not sure what to do with them. Even if Irrva is easy and kind, I’m still freaking out a bit about meeting Korr’s family.
“Are the Stillhalls the last level?” I ask.
I don’t know why I do it. Maybe to prove to her that I’ve been paying attention to my surroundings, and I know things about the citadel.
“Yes,” Irrva says.
I look at Korr, then back at her.
“Korr hasn’t told me what’s in the Stillhalls.”
Irrva raises an eyebrow and glances at her brother. He meets her eyes, and something passes between them. I have no idea what it is, but it gives me the impression it’s a loaded message.
“You can visit the Stillhalls, of course,” Korr tells me, “But I’m afraid they’re a little boring.”
“Nonsense,” Irrva says. “I will take her.”
“Can we go now?” I ask. “I’m curious.”
I don’t miss the tension in Korr’s posture, and now I really want to know what’s gotten him so worked up. He says that he’sfine with me visiting the top level of the citadel, but his body language tells a different story.
“Absolutely,” Irrva says. “I came over because I wanted to spend some time with my new sister-in-law, and this is a perfect opportunity.”
I turn to Korr. “Is that okay?”
“Of course,” he says. “Please go. You don’t have to ask me.”
I look at him sitting in his chair with a few crumbs of pie left on his plate and the full glass of wine that he hasn’t touched, and I want to step up to him and press my lips to his cheek. I want to thank him for the easy way he said “of course”, like stopping me from doing something that clearly makes him nervous didn’t even cross his mind.
He’s been so nice to me, so patient, careful and considerate, and I’ve been behaving like a fussy ice princess. I want to do something to let him know that things will change between us, but not now, not with Irrva watching. I bite my lower lip and follow Irrva out the door, making a plan in my head about how I can get closer to him later.
