“The most backwards family you could ever meet.” Baldair grinned.
“But a family nonetheless.” Jax nudged Baldair, and the prince chuckled, giving him a nod. Vhalla remembered Daniel and Craig both praising the Golden Guard as being more like kin than soldiers.
Baldair turned to Aldrik, pausing. He took a deep breath, and Vhalla held hers for the younger prince’s words. “Then again, I suppose we always were. We’re hardly what could be called conventional. Do you remember those awful dinners your uncle would take us to when we visited the West, Aldrik?”
Elecia scoffed at the notion.
“Speak for yourself,” Aldrik said haughtily, bumping his side against Elecia’s in silent agreement.
“No, no, there was the one ...” Baldair hummed. “The one when we got into that alley fight.”
“An alley fight?” Vhalla couldn’t imagine the princes brawling like thugs in the back streets.
“Oh, that.” Aldrik’s voice was flat, but not with displeasure. His younger brother grinned wildly. “Ophain thought it’d be good for us because there were boys somewhat near our age.” “When was this?” Elecia interjected.
“You were still a child,” Aldrik elaborated. Vhalla used the information to envision a thirteen year old Aldrik in the story.
“Those two boys were so full of themselves,” Baldair explained to Raylynn. “They were completely asking for it.”
“Why do I have a feeling this ends up being your fault?” Vhalla covered her mouth to hide her half-chewed food when she spoke.
Baldair gripped his shirt over his chest. “You wound me, Vhalla! Why would you assume it was
my
fault?”
“I can see why you like her,” Jax snickered to Aldrik, tossing his head in Vhalla’s direction.
Aldrik smiled smugly at Baldair, doing nothing to object. Vhalla ran her greasy palms over her loose-fitting pants. She saw Baldair roll his eyes at his elder brother before continuing the story, but Vhalla was momentarily lost.
Was she accepted among this group?
Was she accepted at Aldrik’s side?
“... but if they hadn’t said Solaris was a dumb name, I wouldn’t have needed to take them out back,” Baldair was speaking.
“So then I find him, bruised and bloody.” Aldrik’s eagerness to continue the story betrayed his forcefully uninterested tone.
“And he says,” Baldair interjected while pointing at Aldrik, “‘No one can beat my brother but me!’ and charges! He punches the
bigger
of the two in the face!”
“You?” Vhalla and Elecia gaped in unison.
“A crown prince must demonstrate that he doesn’t tolerate others questioning his command.” Aldrik took another nonchalant bite of his food, which sent Vhalla into more pearls of laughter.
“I don’t think anyone has ever questioned your command.” Baldair rolled his eyes, but his smile betrayed him. It was a smile Aldrik shared, and both brothers paused. The other four at the table were forgotten. “Brother, when was the last time we talked like this?”
The second his sibling mentally reached out, Aldrik withdrew. It was heartbreaking to witness. His expression fell behind the mask that had been crafted as a survival mechanism over the years. But, Vhalla realized, she still didn’t understand why.
Even not understanding, she wanted to bridge that gap more than ever. She wanted them to often smile like they did. Their ease seemed so much more natural than the tense silence currently surrounding them.
“Aldrik.” Her fingers boldly slipped around his, where his hand rested on the table. “Your brother asked you a question,” she encouraged gently.
“Yarl,” the Emperor’s voice slithered across the room, and all levity shriveled up and died.
Vhalla turned slowly with the rest of the group, staring at the Emperor, who had somehow crossed half the distance between their table and the back entry.
How long had he been there?
“I believe you meant,
Prince
Aldrik.”
Her hand slid slowly off her prince’s and into her lap. It was too late, however. The Emperor had seen. His frigid, unforgiving eyes hadn’t missed anything. Vhalla tightened her jaw, trying not to shiver as Emperor Solaris stared her down.
“Now, I think it is best if you leave,” the Emperor commanded.
Vhalla stood, allowing the scraps of her cloak to fall over the opposite side of the bench, accentuating the slash marks. “Vhalla, no, you—” Aldrik turned between her and his father, too caught off-guard to conjure his usual elegance.
“It’s fine, my prince.” She saved him from himself. Vhalla was sure to caress the words,
my prince
, as she spoke them. She treated them with all the care that his love deserved. She would give the Emperor what he asked for, she would use Aldrik’s titles, but not in the way he wanted.
“I do not expect to find you lingering here again.” The Emperor sat.
Raylynn and Jax were already making for the door. Even Elecia was quick on their heels.
“I would not want it to cause any confusion,” the Emperor explained.
“Confusion?” Vhalla repeated.
“Among the other
commoners
,” the Emperor said with emphasis. “They may get this mad notion that you are one of us.”
“Of course not, my lord. That’s a rather asinine notion.” Vhalla was unsuccessful at hiding all the bitterness from her voice.
“I think it also.” The Emperor’s eyes shone with malice. “Now, I suggest you spend the day proving to me why it is that I continue to let you live—”
“Father!” Aldrik slammed his palms on the table.
“—and move the archers’ wall using your magic, as was discussed,” the Emperor finished, deftly ignoring his son’s outburst.
Aldrik stood.
“Where do you think you are going?” Emperor Solaris asked. “I think it obvious.” Aldrik drew his height. “She is too valuable to go unprotected.”
“I need you this morning.” The room temperature seemed to rise as the current and future Emperors locked eyes in a staring match.
“I would rather go with Vhalla.” Aldrik threw the gauntlet. The Emperor’s eye twitched. “Your brother’s Golden Guard will be sufficient. Won’t it, Baldair?”
“Yes, we’ll look after her.” Baldair was quick to stand—quick to flee, more like—and he joined Raylynn and Jax.
“Father, this—”
“My prince,” Vhalla dared to interrupt. “I think, you must be tired still from your long sleep.” She tiptoed delicately with her words. “Your concern on my behalf is beyond what one like me deserves.” Vhalla lowered her eyes, hating herself immediately for the necessary act of humility. She wasn’t beneath Aldrik any longer, and the last man she wanted to humble herself before was the Emperor. “But I understand you have other duties. Please, consider them.”
“What a day, when the crown prince is reminded of his duties by a low-born girl,” the Emperor sneered. “Now
sit,
Aldrik. We have much to discuss.”
Vhalla watched Aldrik sink onto the bench. His shoulders were heavy, but his eyes were aflame. She let Baldair usher her into the sun. Vhalla searched for Aldrik’s image even as the door closed, praying he would continue the necessary dance. Her stomach tightened.
“So what needs to be done?” Vhalla asked no one in particular. One of the Golden Guard, Elecia, someone around her would know what was next. Her brain wasn’t working properly,
she was so tired
. All she could think of was Aldrik and his father alone in that overwhelming room.
A man pushed off from where he leaned against the side of the building next to the door. “I’ll show you what we need moved.”
Vhalla tensed instantly.
Daniel
. His dark brown hair was tied at the nape of his neck today, stray pieces floating around the stubble on his jaw. Vhalla’s lips pursed into a thin line. No one else spoke. Jax, Baldair, Elecia, Raylynn, half the army could’ve been standing there, but none of them saved Vhalla.
“Not you,” she breathed.
“I’m sorry.” Daniel took an unwelcome step toward her. “Let me apologize.”
Vhalla bit her lower lip to keep it from quivering in frustration. She wanted so badly to hate him. It would be so much easier if she could hate him for his petty jealousy.
“No one else knows?” Vhalla sought help from Baldair and
Raylynn. Jax and Elecia had already vanished—
the traitors
. “Daniel?” There was a whole language of words around the man’s name from Baldair’s mouth. The prince peered at the guard, apparent concern in his eyes at Daniel’s continued involvement with Vhalla. Raylynn seemed to hear the meaning as well, gazing expectantly at the Easterner.
“I know what I’m doing,” Daniel asserted to his friends. “I’ll show her what the majors decided to move.”
“I leave you in his care,” Baldair said after a long internal debate.
Vhalla wanted to scream at the prince’s back as he walked away.
What did he think he was doing?
She was going to find Baldair, sit him down, and make him tell her everything that went on in that confounding head of his.
But, for now, Vhalla’s attention finally returned to the inevitable: Daniel. His eyes shone with earnest remorse. She crossed her arms.
“Let’s talk as we walk,” he suggested.
Vhalla nodded and dragged her feet half a step behind him, focusing on the ground.
“You were right,” Daniel began. “I was the one who presumed.” He tilted his head up to the sky, watching the cloud wisps drift through a canvas of endless blue. “You owe me nothing for spending time with me. You can do so without it meaning anything, or, well, anything that you don’t intend for it to mean.”
His apology was both justifying and guilt inducing. “
Truthfully, I think we both wanted the same thing: forgetfulness of the holes in our hearts left by others.” Daniel paused briefly, glancing down at her. Vhalla met his eyes. Their hazel colors were nothing special; pull any ten Easterners and nine of them would have some variation of the shade. But the way they shone then, the way the sun hit his raw honesty and sincerity. He was stunning. “I can’t fault you for seeking something to fill the void when I was doing the same.”
“Well, that doesn’t make it right,” Vhalla finally spoke. She brought her hands together, paying attention to her feet more than the soldiers around them, the camp, or wherever it was he was leading her to. “You just said so yourself. I was using you for something.” The confession was barely a whisper.
“Just because something isn’t right doesn’t make it wrong.” Daniel’s tone shifted, and it sent a small tingle up Vhalla’s spine. “Tell me something. During all this ‘using’, were you unhappy?”
“No, but—”
“Then it couldn’t have been wrong,” he spoke with confidence. “I was happy, you were happy. Let’s not worry so much over what it was or is. Let’s not try to make it into something it’s not. You can make your own decisions, and trust that I know such. You can do what you wish and—” he faltered briefly, but long enough for Vhalla to witness, “—
with whom
you wish. So, let’s put it all behind us?”
Vhalla reflected on the time she’d had with Daniel. It was strange to think that, were it not for the war and her situation, she would’ve never even met him. Marching with him, training with him, as both Serien and Vhalla, had been enjoyable. Maybe more than she should’ve enjoyed. Vhalla’s cheeks felt warm. “All right.”
Daniel assessed the large tower that had appeared before them. But his eyes weren’t seeing it. They had a look that instilled the same feeling Vhalla had felt when she saw Elecia and Aldrik together, before she’d known of their kinship.
Her throat felt gummy. She didn’t want to do this to him; Daniel was her very dear friend, and there was something that felt so wrong about the position he was in.
As if sensing her concern, Daniel returned his attention to her, laughing lightly at her terror-stricken face. “Don’t be so worried, Vhalla.” He slung an arm around her shoulders and shook her lightly. “I won’t utter a word and am still your ally. I can remain that for eternity. Or perhaps something more if you ever desire it and the mutual opportunity arises.”
Vhalla opened her mouth, but she wasn’t even sure what she would’ve said and the world spared her from figuring it out. It preserved the delicate stasis between them that Vhalla was more than relieved to have back.
“So, that’s what the majors decided was the most important tower to be moved.” He pointed, and Vhalla realized instantly why he had been against moving it in the first place.
She had thought it some kind of other structure, it was so tall. The battle tower was a large triangle with landings for archers to hide within and slats on the side. Extending from it were large spikes that reached outward in all directions, ready to impale any who may have the misfortune to be thrust upon it.
“How does it move?” Vhalla walked around the growing crowd. It appeared while she was wrapped up in her and Daniel’s hushed conversation, the other soldiers had taken notice of the Windwalker in her dramatically tattered cape. They showed a mix of awe and a dark sort of fascination.
“We didn’t build them with the intent to move them.” Daniel grinned.
“Is it structurally sound?” she asked. “
Likely,” Daniel apologetically replied.
“Lovely.” She rolled her eyes. “I accept no responsibility if I break it.”
“Now you’re speaking like a lady.” He grinned.
Vhalla ignored the statement, the Emperor’s comments too fresh in her mind.
“Clear out!” she called, clenching her fists. Her Channel rushed to meet her, and Vhalla took a breath.
“You heard her,
clear out
!” Daniel shouted in the voice that was easily heard over men and women sparring. Soldiers began to scatter. When he turned back to her, she gave him a nod in appreciation. “At your leisure, Windwalker!”
Vhalla took a step into the circle of people toward the tower wall. She felt their eyes on her. Some were the excited ones who’d seen her prior feats, eagerly whispering to their friends. Others were the skeptics with their heads cocked and their arms folded.
She saw Tim and faltered. The girl seemed horrified at the state of the cloak she’d returned.
Tim couldn’t have been the one to send the message
, Vhalla tried to tell herself. But whoever was behind it, Vhalla hoped they understood her blatant reply.