Without saying anything else, Solveig walked away, resheathing her dagger. She got back to her rooms and collapsed into bed, letting the exhaustion drag her down into sleep.
The last thought she had was of Westley poring over those books—a fallen prince weighed down by the truth and betrayal balanced precariously on his shoulders.
“Howlonghasitbeen since you’ve worn a gown?” Koa asked Solveig with a disapproving look.
“Where would I have worn a gown? A fancy raid on the mortals, perhaps?” Solveig asked, not bothering to conceal her sarcasm. Koa shoved her playfully and the sisters shared a smile.
Solveig was enduring her final fitting in the new gown her mothers had ordered for her. It was not that she didn’t like wearing dresses. They were fine, just difficult to fight in, so she hardly ever wore them.
Plus, her thighs rubbed together and sometimes chafed—pants didn’t do that.
When she mentioned this to Gerrie, her shieldmaiden left and came back with what looked like short pants witchlings wore. They were stretchy and form-fitting, worn under the dress to help with chafing.
Solveig marvelled at the invention, lamenting the years of discomfort she could’ve saved herself if she’d known about them sooner.
The seamstress tugged and pulled at the fabric as Solveig played the doll, getting wrapped and draped with silks and chiffons. She sighed and wondered how the prince was faring. She hadn’t been able to get muchsleep last night and had heard him return to his room in the early hours of the morning.
When the sun rose, she gave up trying and got up for the day. She’d opened the door to his room a sliver and poked her head in, but he was already gone, the pile of books she’d given him splayed across his bed.
“Stop fidgeting,” Koa muttered. Solveig had inadvertently leaned over to watch the connecting door, hearing nothing from the other side.
“Alright, I have what I need. The gown will be delivered in time for the ball tonight,” the seamstress said while taking the fabric off Solveig’s body.
“Thank you,” Solveig said sincerely. She flopped onto her bed in her underclothes, the bed dipping as Koa lay down beside her.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Koa asked.
“Talk about what?”
“Anything.”
“We’ve had so many meetings, I think you know my feelings on the matter.”
“I don’t know all your feelings,” Koa said with a knowing look.
Solveig rolled her eyes and her sister smacked her arm.
“I’m grateful he’s learning the truth and that we know why Idavoll has pulled away from the Trifold. I do think we need to start moving the armies, especially the Riddari. So they’ll be ready when we have need of them.” She had suggested this in her last meeting, but the prince was wary of such a bold move.
Solveig wondered if, after last night’s crash course in history, he would change his mind.
“And that’s all?” her sister asked.
“All my thoughts are occupied with strategy. I don’t have time for anything else, if that’s what you’re implying.” With the lack of sleep,Solveig didn’t have it in her to feign ignorance. She knew her sister wanted to know how she felt about the prince.
There was too much going on for Solveig to even begin figuring that out for herself.
On the one hand, their magic created this connection she couldn’t ignore. On the other hand, his motives were obvious, and in his position, she’d have done the same. However, she still didn’t know if she could forgive him.
Why would she need to anyway? There were clearly some feelings there, but she owed him nothing. She owed herself and her people more, and for that, she would not nurse whatever it was she felt for the prince.
“There’s one thing I do wish to discuss,” Koa said hesitantly after a long pause. Solveig had allowed her thoughts to linger on the prince again. Though her own feelings were in a constant state of flux, she desperately wished she knew what he was thinking.
“What?”
“Are you open to the notion that he’s fooling you—us?”
Solveig stared at the ceiling. She thought about the last several months, his time in the Southern Wilds, and last night, the way his emotions had seeped into her.
