“Go.” I turned so neither Viljan nor the rest of the initiates would see the glossiness of my eyes. “I don’t want you here.”
I wasn’t sure why the gods had allowed me to live this long, but I wasn’t risking the man I would trust my father’s legacy with. I would have to find another way to remain alive the next few days.
My hands clenched around the wood, my eyes staring unseeing out over the deck, as the warriors beneath me finished getting everyone onto the five ships.
I felt their eyes on me, and I shouldn’t have, but I returned their gaze and pinched my lips at the disgust filling every face, especially Darcke’s, who let out a low scoff before he climbed the brow, stalking past me as if I didn’t even exist.
“You did the right thing.” Fedic’s smile was weak as he nudged me. “Your guard should listen to you when you give him an order.”
I didn’t bother responding as Torden turned from where he’d been studying me and called, “Listen up! The choosing is in five days. We are going to spend them honing your skills in fighting. Heirs, you should use them to evaluate the karls to make your choices easier. Karls, this is not the time to hold back.” Torden turned to me once more. “You’re recommended not to stay close only to those you know. Your iron-bound are going to be your inner circle, not only in the Hird but for the rest of your life. Afriend today might be an enemy tomorrow, and who you truly need as your second might surprise you.”
Rakkel came up beside me. On the other ships, Ivren and Ottoh stood, like us, close to the bow, their faces turned to the speaking warrior, and I shared a look with each.
Ivren gave me an encouraging smile.
Rakkel pressed her lips together.
Ottoh smirked as he raised his brows my way.
Then fucking Geord gave a cocky smile as he and Borje came up in the bow of a fourth ship.
“This is Geord Palsjo.” The scarred warrior’s voice was sharp, cleaving the wind like an axe did a soft neck. “The king has appointed him to replace Adrion Leskog, who the gods claimed in the first trial. He hails from Adrion’s home isle and was the one who brought Adrion’s body home with him so his family may honor him on his journey to Valhalla.”
Geord smirked as he touched his chest, where Adrion’s father must have carved skydd, allowing the man to tap into his powers until the gods gifted him his own.
“And he was the one who killed him.” The girl from earlier came up to my other side, twisting her pale hair. “As if he wasn’t planning on this outcome from the moment he was selected for the Hird.”
“It’s the gods who decide which heirs lead the next generation,” Fedic mumbled from behind me as the warrior continued, stating that the king had organized a feast the night before the choosing to celebrate a new heir being chosen. “Not us.”
“That’s why you switched your arm ring so you could join Elvara?” the girl replied. “Becausethe godstold you so?”
Fedic didn’t miss a beat. “I have a feeling the gods will look favorably on her.”
My laugh surprised me. Fedic was sweet, but if that was his best gut feeling, I wasn’t impressed.
“I need some space,” I said, keeping my hand on the railing as I walked up to the dreki.
Caressing its horns, I rolled my shoulders.
“At least I don’t need to fight today,” I whispered.
“And who told you that?” Darcke said, something dangerous trickling into his deep voice and his smile so deadly it could rival the Svartoarna wolves’ maws.
“Torden,” he called. “I think our heirs should show the karls what they can do before they get to relax, don’t you?”
My stomach surged when the other warrior grimaced my way before shrugging. “Sure.”
“Great.” Darcke patted the ship, and every tap of his fingers felt like a threat. “Great.”
Eighteen
“What are you waiting for?” Darcke taunted.
I lifted my chin as his men finished tying five ropes between the ships’ tallest masts.
“Nothing.” My hands were steadier than they should have been as I used the rigging to heave myself upward. I reached the start of the rope at my end at the same time as the other heirs did the same.
Darcke’s scent wrapped around me as he began climbing after, and I scurried upward to evade the heat from his body as his strong arms allowed him to ascend faster.
