It took everything in me not to cower beneath the glares of the people spread out in the glen as I walked through it, unsure where I should go. But it was impossible to tune out the whispers that followed my every step.
“Can you believe she choseDarcke?”
“She doesn’t think any of us are good enough for her.”
“Did you see his face? I’ll be surprised if she survives the first trial.”
“No wonder her parents didn’t come to show their support. I can’t imagine who can stand her snotty attitude.”
I forced my eyes open to let the wind dry more of the tearsthat threatened to spill, and took in the sight of a copse of trees. One of them had a low-hanging branch that was partly hidden by the green leaves swaying in the wind, and when a servant passed with a tray of horns that smelled strongly of liquor, I swiped one off it, then walked over and climbed into the shade.
As I settled with my back against the trunk, I was able to see the crowd but was mostly hidden from them myself. Tilting my head back, I drank so greedily a drop escaped and ran down my neck, seeking its way into my sweaty leathers.
“Easy now,” a voice broke in.
Torden wore a crooked smile as he came to my side, and when I looked down at him, he tapped his horn against mine before leaning against the branch. He didn’t say anything, and neither did I, not until I’d drunk the final sip from my horn.
“He hates me,” I said.
“He hates everyone,” Torden replied.
“But me the most.” I played with the leather strap attached to the horn.
“Well…” Torden grimaced. “You did steal his ship and refuse to fight him, and now you’ve pulled him into the Hird against his will, although he was not truly an initiate.”
Guilt cracked through my chest, and I pressed my palms against the tree until the bark cut into my skin. There were far too many casualties in my quest. Viljan was now stuck with Ivren, and he would be so for life—or at least until Ivren either died or decided to retire from battle. And I’d tied the king’s most feared warrior to myself, just to avoid discovery.
“I don’t know what I was thinking,” I mumbled.
“I’ll be honest.” Torden tapped the tree. “It might not have been your most clever move.”
Throwing my head back, I sighed. “I know.”
“I won’t ask you why, because I don’t want you to lie.” Torden offered me a wry smile. “But you two need to figure out this thing between you. This bond puts you both in danger. To be an heir’s second is an honor, but it also makes that person vulnerable.Their entire life becomes about protecting you. You may think everyone wants this, but you’ve only been surrounded by the people who wish to attend the Hird. Most of us don’t want to be tethered like that to someone.”
I swallowed hard. I hadn’t even considered that. Everyone I’d ever known spoke about the iron-bound as occupying the most prestigious position within our society, and almost everyone in this field would kill for it.
“I don’t know what’s going on with you and the others, but your enemies are his enemies now. And it’s the same for Kilia and Ilse.” He started tapping the bark in rhythm with the music that flowed on the evening air, coming from musicians on the king’s ship. “You might want to start making some friends. There are several trials until the gods’ halls, and anything can happen before that.”
My jaw worked as some initiates by the dock undressed to get into the water, then screamed as they ran and jumped off. Others gathered around the fires, the sound of their hushed conversations so familiar my heart clenched.
“You’re right,” I said.
“I don’t like to brag, but I usually am.” Torden grinned when my mouth twitched. “Almost got you to laugh.”
I jumped off the branch, feeling a little bit better. “What should I do about Darcke?”
“He’ll come around. I think.”
“That didn’t sound too comforting.” I nudged the warrior’s arm.
“He’s tricky,” Torden responded. “But he doesn’t hate you anymore. Not really.”
I raised a brow. “From that first day, he made it very clear he doesn’t want to be anywhere near me.”
Torden placed a hand on my back as we started walking into the glen again. “You see Borje over there?”
I nodded. The one-eyed Viking stood mostly by himself, although some of the initiates circled him like wolves wanting tosniff a new friend. When he looked up, they scattered like birds instead, their shoulders hunching under whatever he’d hissed at them.
