She almost argued, but they were both interrupted by the king's booming voice again.
"Competitors! It is time to ready yourselves for a hunt! A good partner knows what their bride may like." The king winked at the few men who had stood on Rose’s side. They weren’t competing. Instead, they were being fought for.
A few chuckles rose from the crowd. Of course the trolls weren't uncomfortable with that. They were remarkably accepting of anyone who came to their kingdom, at least once they got to know them.
The king lifted his arms. "The entire kingdom is yours to hunt! Bring back something that will impress."
The competitors all took off at once. A few of them leaned in to steal a chaste kiss on the side of a cheek before disappearing into the woods. Neither of Rose's competitors would dare. Magnus just shot her a saucy wink, and Gunnar looked even more determined as he raced off at a speed that was merely a blur to her eyes.
And then she was standing alone. Again.
Rose didn't like being alone just as much as she didn't like being surrounded by people. Her thoughts were a problem. Her mind was an enemy she couldn't easily beat or silence, no matter how much she argued with herself. She had to focus on something other than the memories that always tried to rear their ugly heads.
Footsteps approached, and one of the stunning troll women stopped beside her. Her skin was nearly black, it was so purple, and Rose remembered she had a lovely talent for the harp.
"Hello," the troll woman said. "My name is Vigdis, if you don't remember."
Oh, right, that was what her name was. Rose had heard practically everyone in the entire kingdom talking about her and her talent recently. Maybe that was why she was here to talk to Rose at all.
"Magnus should have chosen you," Rose said, already curving in on herself.
It wasn't that she thought Vigdis would be unkind. It was just that in the labyrinth, women had fought with each other. Often. Everyone had wanted the kinder gladiators, the ones who’d beenmore likely to fuck than they were to hurt. Rose had always been the one at the bottom. They’d shoved her, laughed at her sometimes. Others had been kind and tried to get her to eat, but Rose had been so isolated from everyone that she hadn't seen a lot of that kindness.
The memories were ugly, and they hurt her to think about. Because part of her felt guilty that she hadn't tried to help the others who’d been in that place with her. And the other part of her was too hard on herself for not leaving more than she already had.
Vigdis sighed and waved a lovely hand in the air as though dashing away what Rose said. Her fingers glittered with diamonds, an unusual choice for a troll. They liked color. Maybe Vidgis had enough of the rainbow in her skin that she didn't need to decorate herself with anything other than stones that would reflect more rainbows when the light hit them just right.
"No," the troll said. "I never thought he'd choose me. I remember him as a child. He was a nasty little shit. I doubt much has changed now that he's gotten older."
Rose was so surprised she let out a sound that was almost like a laugh. A surprised sound, surely, but it did almost sound like a scoff. "He hasn't changed."
"I knew it." Vigdis's grin was brilliant. "Whatever did you do to catch his attention?"
"I traveled with Gunnar to go get him." Rose wrinkled her nose, staring off into the distance where they had disappeared. "I wasn't very nice to him. So I don't know why he would even think to match with me."
"Some men like women who are mean to them."
"No," she murmured. "I don't think it's that."
Rose didn't know the logic of it. She could tell part of him just wanted to anger his father. Magnus hated being here. She could sense that deep in the very bones of her body. He didn't wantto be in this mountain, and he certainly didn't want to be the prince.
How did she know that? She wasn't sure. It was like a whisper in her ear from another person. A whisper that said he needed liberation and understanding, not cruel mockery behind his back.
Vigdis shrugged. "Whatever the reason, I don't think you should choose him."
"Because I'm not a troll?"
"Because I think he'd be a horrible husband." There was a long pause, as though the other woman was expecting Rose to look up at her. But she didn't. She just kept her eyes on the trees. "Gunnar, however. That's a good match for you."
"Gunnar is very kind," she replied absentmindedly.
"Yes, he is. And he's crazy about you."
That did it. Her eyes flicked up to look at the grin on Vidgis's face. "No, he's not."
"He has been for a very long time. It's hard for him to hide it around others. You know, before you, I used to see him heading into the brothel all the time. It was hard not to see that annoying swagger as he drank himself into oblivion and enjoyed women almost more than any other in his war band. But then he came back with you, and the man hasn't had a single drop of alcohol or even been seen on the same street as the brothel."
Poor man. He'd been so embroiled with her that he hadn't even been having fun.
