“Was he evil?” I blurted out.
“What?” Ivren’s face fell. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve just…” I pursed my lips. “I don’t know.”
“Lika was tough, Elvara. But not evil. He did what he needed to do.”
I twisted my lips. Something still didn’t sit right with me about what I’d found out about Lika.
Ivren tilted his head. “You’re bonded to the most lethal man in Skagerik, and you still aren’t sure?”
“He’s not that bad,” I mumbled.
Ivren bumped his shoulder into mine. “You need to be careful.”
“Why?”
“I see the way he looks at you.”
My hackles rose at the wrinkle between his brows.
Ivren lifted a hand. “I’m happy for you. Truly. But if I see it, others do too.”
“I don’t care about my mother,” I said. “She can’t say anything.”
“She’s not the problem here, is she?” Ivren asked. “The king is.” Ivren’s gaze snapped to my hands when they fisted, and he lowered his voice. “He’s tied to the king as well, Vara. They’ve already taken his magic and his people. What else is left if they find out?”
A haunting feeling swept through me, and I felt Darcke stiffen.
“There is nothing to find out,” I said sharply.
“I believe you. I only hope everyone else does too.”
“Is that a threat?” I asked casually.
“It’s a warning.” There wasn’t any remorse in Ivren’s face. “I don’t want you to get hurt. Or worse.”
My teeth ground together. “Everything comes back to the king.”
“Yes.” Ivren’s hands went white as he gripped the side of the ship. “He’s causing a lot of fucking problems.”
My head twisted to the mast, but Darcke was nowhere to be seen.
“Even our parents are worried,” Ivren continued quietly. “My mother was trying to keep it together, but she’s rattled. What comes next? We’ll all be sent out to lead a war before we’ve even begun our training at the academy?”
“I could see that happening,” I replied.
What would that look like? If I was at the Hird next year? If Darcke was here?
Would we go to war together? Me with whatever power the gods bestowed upon me, and Darcke with nothing but that mind that felt like it might implode?
“We have to do something,” I said slowly.
“What?” Ivren asked.
“I don’t know, but we’re all at risk now. This isn’t how it used to be. This isn’t what being a Viking means. Sure, we dabbled in battling for borders, and it’s not like we’re a gentle folk, but we were also pioneers in trade and shipbuilding and adventure. We can return to that.”
“You mean…” Ivren shot a look over his shoulder. “Getting rid of the king?”
