“Very well. Take half of the Idavoll soldiers and any Idavoll citizens who managed to escape to Alfheim. Bring North and keep her safe there.Prepare your legions, and await my call,” she ordered. Vali nodded and began dividing up the Idavoll soldiers.
“I can protect myself.” North bristled, her shoulders squaring.
“I know, Your Majesty,” Solveig said, turning to face North. She used the title the rightful queen of Idavoll deserved. “But we need to be smart, regroup. You will be able to help your people far better from Alfheim than from Asgard. There is less prejudice there.”
North looked like she was about to protest again when Easta laid a hand on her arm.
“Take this tunnel. It will lead you past the armoury and out towards the stables,” Westley told them. He walked over to his sisters. Easta held North in an embrace on the ground.
Westley pried Easta’s arms off their eldest sister and brought her to her feet. “You must go to Alfheim to recover. Take your people.”
“I am not their queen,” she whispered.
“Crown or not, you are their queen, North. Lead them as you vowed you would.” Westley’s voice was harsh but effective.
North steeled herself, only one word leaving her lips: “Munin.”
“He betrayed you,” Solveig said as gently as she could, approaching to stand with the royal siblings. “He was not your mate. And I promise we will find out how your bond was tampered with.”
North shook her head in disbelief. “That’s impossible.”
“I no longer believe anything is impossible when it comes to Ragnvald,” Solveig said, his name bitter on her tongue.
Westley spoke quietly to North as Vali ushered the Idavoll soldiers down the tunnel. When they were gone, North took a deep breath, glancing between her sister and brother.
She steeled herself, and without a word, the would-be queen of Idavoll ran.
“IhavetogetAndersand my daughter to safety,” Easta said once her sister was no longer visible. The strength of her resolve made it clear there would be no arguing with her. Not that Solveig planned to.
“We will,” Noren promised, stepping into his role as her guard. Solveig shook her head.
“I’ll need you elsewhere, Noren.” Before he could protest, she turned to Easta.
“You can take your family to Svartalfheim with Conalle,” Solveig ordered, glancing over to where Conalle was trying to collapse the tunnel to the throne room, but Ragnvald’s Block was still affecting him.
At the sound of his name he looked up, darkness crossing his features. “Where am I going?”
“You are to speak with the Dwarven—convince them to end their feud and join us. Tell them of what you have seen, do anything you can to convince them. If they agree, have them make as many weapons as possible until you hear from me.”
Noren interrupted her train of thought. “Why am I not going with them? They need a guard.”
“Easta can take other guards,” Solveig said, her patience with the male wearing thin. She understood he was usually posted with the princess, but she couldn’t spare him.
“Noren, it’s okay.” Easta stepped in, placing a hand on his arm. “If Solveig needs you for something else, I can spare you.”
A flicker of emotion Solveig didn’t have time to read crossed his features before he acquiesced with a dip of his chin. Solveig was grateful she wouldn’t have to waste precious seconds arguing with him. He couldn’t go with Easta, he would be too volatile and that wouldn’t bode well for her plans.
They could not fail, though the mission would be difficult. The Dwarven, who shared a border with Jotunheim, had blamed the Trifold for magic’s downfall.
The Asgardian queens had tried to broker peace with no success, but with new information coming to light about Ragnvald, there may be some hope yet.
Svartalfheim had a history of being oppressed by their neighbouring Giants.
If Asgard could help them break free from King Tyrell, they may just align with the Fae. Their smithery was unmatched—though because of the Block, they could not make magical weapons. Still, Solveig would need as many well-made weapons as she could get for her armies.
“Gerrie.” She had barely finished calling her name when her shieldmaiden stood before her, ready for orders. “You will need to break the Vanaheim royals out of their prisons. When I interrogated him, Latham so kindly informed me of their positions in the dungeons.”
It would be difficult considering the realm had been occupied by Ragnvald’s mortals the longest, but they must take Vanaheim back. If the Trifold could be reunited, they’d have a better chance of standing against Ragnvald.
