I was in my tank top and yoga pants, sweating and fighting with whomever I could. And honestly, it felt amazing. In the chaos of everything around me, training in the gym was the one area I could always count on. This was the first time in a long time I'd had a chance to really work off all the aggression I had about feeling so powerless against Mina and Viktor Dalig.
So today, as I punched another one of Tilda's recruits in the jaw, I couldn't help but smile. It felt great to be back.
"Bryn!" Tilda shouted. "You're not supposed to be making contact, remember? This is just training. You don't want to break all the soldiers before they go to battle."
"Right. Sorry. I got a little overzealous." I waved at her, but by the look in her eyes, I knew that wasn't good enough.
She walked over to me, the trainees parting around her. "That's the fourth time I've called you out on it. We've been going at this all day. Why don't you take five?"
"No, I'm good. I don't need it."
"Bryn." She looked at me severely, and I realized it wasn't a suggestion. "Take a break."
"Fine," I said because there was no point in arguing with her.
I apologized to the guy I'd hit, then I turned and walked away. I tried not to storm off, despite my irritation. But both Konstantin and Ridley turned to look back at me, their eyes questioning. I just forced a smile and hurried on my way.
At the end of the ballroom were two large doors, and I pushed them both with my hands as hard as I could, blowing off a bit of steam. They flew open, and I heard a deep voice rumble in pain.
As the doors swung closed, I looked over to see that I had hit someone with the door. He straightened up, looking down at me with dazzling blue eyes, the thin gills under his jawline flaring when he exhaled. The chandelier directly above us was out, and his broad shoulders cast an ominous shadow over me from the light at the end of the hall.
It was the newly reappointed King, Mikko Biaelse. This was the first time I'd seen him since I'd been implicated in his younger brother's death, and he did not look happy to see me.
FORTY-EIGHT
confrontation
"Bryn Aven," Mikko said in a voice that rumbled like thunder. Linnea had once told me that Mikko was painfully shy, and I found that so strange. With his striking good looks, rather imposing size, and a voice like Odin, I'd never met anybody else who had a presence like his. He looked like he'd been created to be King.
I swallowed hard before replying with, "Your Highness," and bowing.
"There's no need for that." He looked uncomfortable for a moment, then folded his arms over his chest. "I heard that I have you to thank for my freedom."
"I ... I, uh, that was more Marksinna Lisbet," I stammered in surprise. His words sounded kind, but he looked like he wouldn't mind snacking on my bones for breakfast.
"She said that you swayed Baltsar into action," he said. "While I was incarcerated, Linnea told me that you never stopped believing in me and fighting for my innocence. She insisted that you were our greatest ally."
"I..." I didn't know how to reply to that. It was an exaggeration, but there was some truth to it, so I said simply, "I just did what I thought was right, sire."
"It's unfortunate how rare it is to find someone who will do what's right."
He turned his attention toward the ballroom doors. A sliver of bright light spilled through the thin gap between the doors into the darkness of the hall, making a line across Mikko's face as he peered inside. Even out in the hall, Tilda could easily be heard, shouting her commands.
The King had apparently come to watch his new army training, and with his attention back on that and off me, now would be a perfect time for me to slip away. I could go down the hall, get a drink of water, and cool off.
But I hesitated, and it caused him to look back at me. "Is there something I can do for you, Bryn?"
"I wanted to say that I'm sorry about your brother," I said finally.
He sighed heavily. "So am I." His normally hard expression softened, disillusionment and sadness wearing down on his features. "And I'm sorry that you got pulled into that mess. Linnea filled me in on what happened, and I appreciate you acting as honorably as you did."
"Thank you," I said, stunned to hear Mikko actually thanking me for my involvement in his brother's death.
"I do wish that Kennet had been able to come to me with his concerns instead of taking matters to into his own hands." He turned his eyes to the ceiling, and his exasperation gave way to anger. "But that's my father's doing. He always said that a real man would take what he wanted. Kennet was kinder than that, or at least he would've been without Father's influence."
From what I understood, Mikko and Kennet's father, the late King Rune, was not a good man. My mom had bordered on calling him a sadist. He had hoarded sapphires and let the palace and the kingdom fall into disrepair. He'd been more focused on maintaining his wealth than the welfare of anyone, including his own children.
Even after his father's death, Mikko had seemed afraid to undo his proclamations. The continuing policies of Rune had led to an inept guard and rifts in the kingdom. It was also one of the motivations for Kennet's attempt at overthrowing Mikko.
"Despite everything Kennet did, I do believe that he loved you," I said.
Mikko lowered his eyes. "I know he did. That's what makes it harder."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."
"No. In an awful way, this has all been good for me." He looked up at me, making eye contact for one of the first times since I'd met him. "I've realized that I need to step out of my father's shadow and lead in my own right."
"Queen Linnea has talked about the greatness she sees in you," I said. "They need a strong leader, and I think you're the one to do it."
"The Skojare are good people, and they deserve a strong King." Mikko stood up straighter. "I must become that King for them."
I smiled. "I'm looking forward to seeing you in action."
"You can stay for as long as you want," he said. "I know things with your kingdom have become a terrible mess, but I want you to know that you are always welcome here. As far as I'm concerned, you have a home here in Storvatten."
A footman came running around the corner, going so fast he skidded on the floor. He caught himself, then raced toward us. As soon as he saw the King, he started yelling, "Sire! Sire!"
"What?" Mikko turned back to face him. "What's the matter?"
The footman reached us, gasping for breath. "The ... they sent me to get you." He paused, gulping down air. "There's an army waiting at the door for you."
FORTY-NINE
unannounced
Mikko was about to go to the door by himself, but I ran back into the ballroom and grabbed Baltsar and Ridley. I wasn't about to let the King get himself killed when the Skojare had just gotten him back.
Konstantin and Tilda stayed back with the troops, preparing to command them if they needed to. The hope was that since the army had come to the door, they wanted to have some kind of sit-down with Mikko. Maybe he'd even be able to sway them away from battle and come to some sort of compromise.
That seemed unlikely, but at this point it appeared to be our only hope to avoid massive bloodshed.
Before I left, following Ridley and Baltsar behind the King, Konstantin grabbed my arm.
"Do not leave the King alone with her," he warned in a low voice, referring to Mina. "She'll kill him the second she has the chance."
"I won't." I started to turn away, but Konstantin still hung on to my arm, so I looked back at him.
"Be careful," he said and finally released me.
I ran out after the King. He, Ridley, and Baltsar were walking quickly and purposefully toward the front door. Baltsar was talking to Mikko, telling him everything that he should do and say, and what response he advised based on what the leader of the army might say to him.
"What should we do?" I asked Ridley in a hushed voice as I fell in step beside him.
"Try not to let
the King get killed, and try not to get killed ourselves." He glanced down at me. "That's the best I've got."
We reached the front hall, and I was doing my best to slow the racing of my heart. Seven guards--veteran ones who had been working around the palace and not training--stood at attention around the hall. Their hands were on their swords, ready to act if they needed to.
If Mina and Viktor had sent their full army, it didn't matter if the entire Skojare force were in the hall. They weren't ready, and they'd be slaughtered.
Ridley and I flanked the King on either side, while Baltsar went to open the large front door. Mikko stood tall with his head high, and it was definitely a good choice to release him from the dungeon. He was far more intimidating than Marksinna Lisbet.
Baltsar looked back at us, making sure we were ready, and the King nodded. So Baltsar opened the door.
Standing right outside on the dock was a small hobgoblin, maybe three feet tall. In some ways, hobgoblins were like miniature ogres, except that they were far more symmetrical in appearance. His features were humanoid, but his skin appeared slimy, with thick grayish brown hair sticking up wildly on his head. Like ogres, hobgoblins were insanely strong.
I'd met hobgoblins before, and I realized that I'd actually met this one in particular. He was Ludlow Svartalf, the right-hand man of Sara Elsing, the Queen of the Vittra. He'd accompanied her on trips to the palace in Doldastam before.
Just to the right and slightly behind him stood Finn Holmes, offering us an uneasy smile.
Standing behind both Finn and Ludlow were rows of troops, lined up down the dock. Most of them wore the dark emerald uniforms of the Trylle, but a fair amount had the deep burgundy uniforms of the Vittra, worn by both hobgoblin and troll alike.
"Queen Wendy Staad of the Trylle heard about the plight of Skojare, and after considering it, she decided to send half of her army to aid you in your fight against the Kanin," Finn explained.
"In addition, Queen Wendy and King Loki persuaded Queen Sara Elsing of the Vittra to join in the fight," Ludlow added in his low, craggy voice. "Queen Sara has sent a third of her army to join your fight."
Mikko appeared too stunned to speak for a moment, but finally he managed to say, "I am forever grateful for your offers, but I am not sure that I can ever repay your kingdoms. We are not in a position to indebt ourselves so greatly to such powerful kingdoms."
"We are not asking for anything in return," Finn told him. "We are simply here to help you as you may need us."
"We are here to serve, King Mikko," Ludlow said, and he bowed before him. Finn followed suit, as did the troops on the dock--all of them bowing before the Skojare King.
FIFTY
masquerade
"We need to celebrate!" Linnea declared. "We're not all going to die, and if that doesn't call for a celebration, then I don't know what does!"
It was hard to argue with that logic, so I didn't even try, and neither did Mikko.
Since the Trylle and the Vittra had pledged their allegiance and a chunk of their soldiers to us yesterday, we had spent the entire time trying to combine our armies. It required more effort because each of the tribes had such different strengths.
Many of the Trylle had powers of psychokinesis, meaning they could move things with their minds or even start fires. Since the soldiers present were all lower-ranking trackers and civilians (and stronger abilities went along with the more powerful bloodlines of the royals), they weren't very powerful, but they had did have some psychokinesis.
The Vittra were physically stronger than almost any other tribe, possibly barring the Omte. Despite their smaller stature, hobgoblins were easily as strong as ogres, if not stronger. And while Vittra trolls were generally more attractive and smarter than the Omte, they could be just as quick-tempered and aggressive.
The Skojare could breathe underwater, which wasn't very useful for this fight. They were also the least skilled in combat, and the other two tribes were often frustrated by their inability to properly defend themselves.
More than once during training I saw a Vittra soldier throw a Skojare guard across the room in irritation. Ridley, Finn, and Ludlow were doing their best to keep order and get everyone working together, but it was no easy task.
It was during our training in the afternoon that Linnea came into the ballroom, excited about the cause for celebration. She insisted that everyone needed a morale-booster and a fun way to bond, and the way to do that was with a party in the ballroom.
With that, she tossed everyone out, telling us to go practice outside where the Trylle and the Vittra had set up camp in Storvatten. I spent the rest of the day out in the warm spring rain, teaching Skojare new maneuvers and fighting in the mud.
After a hard day of training, I walked down to my guestroom to wash off all the dirt in a warm shower. I'd almost made it to my room when Linnea came rushing down the hall toward me, carrying three garment bags in her arms.
"Bryn!" she called to me, nearly tripping on her long satin dressing gown in her hurry. When I turned to face her, she realized how filthy I was, and she slowed down. "I was going to hand these off to you, but you'll get muck all over the bags. I'll just put them on your bed while you go shower."
"Why are you bringing me garment bags?" I asked.
"For the party." Linnea gave me a look like I was an idiot and brushed past me as she went into my room. "I know you weren't able to pack your finer clothes with you, so I grabbed a few gowns that I thought you might like and would fit you."
"That's very kind of you, but I hadn't planned on going to the party," I said as I walked more slowly into my room.
"Don't be ridiculous, of course you are." Linnea kept her back to me as she carefully laid out the bags on the bed. "You're integral to everything that's happening here, and you need to be here to mingle and get people to trust each other."
She unzipped each of the bags, pulling out the gowns a bit so I could see them. I'd owned some nice dresses in my life, but none as fabulous as these.
One was a rich navy-blue fabric that looked like liquid when it moved, and with a slit so high, I would be worried that my panties would show. Another was snow-white satin with diamond and lace embellishments creating an ornate illusion neckline. And the last was pale aquamarine, embroidered with flowing designs and sapphires, and a bit of tulle under the length filled out the skirt.
"And besides," Linnea went on as I stood, transfixed by the lavishness of the gowns, "you've earned it. You've been working so hard lately. You deserve a night to let your hair down."
I nodded slowly. "Okay. I'll go to the party."
She clapped her hands together. "I would hug you, but I don't want to get covered in mud. Now hurry and get ready."
In the end, it wasn't the logic of her arguments that won me over--although she had been right. It was simply the sight of the dresses. Something in the troll blood made it hard to deny luxury, which was why we all had such a penchant for gems and jewelry.
But also, a part of me just really wanted to wear a gown that was made for a Queen.
I showered quickly but thoroughly--there was no way I was ruining one of Linnea's dresses. Then I hurried back to try them all on and pick one.
While I'd been showering, Linnea had sent down a masquerade mask and a pair of pale sapphire earrings. The silver mask was gorgeous and delicate, its ornate flourishes encrusted with diamonds. Attached was a note that read, "Wear me."
The difficulty of the choice was made easier by the fact that the aquamarine one was snug in the chest, squishing my breasts in a very unflattering and uncomfortable fashion. While the darker navy dress felt like heaven on my skin, the slit felt too high, and it also had a plunging neckline, a combination that felt slightly improper for this party.
The white one fit perfectly, almost like it had been made for me. The illusion neckline allowed a hint of cleavage, and it was open in the back, showing off a bit of skin. While the length was longer than I normally liked, it was light an
d flowed away from me, so I didn't think it would be a problem to run or kick in if I needed to.
Once I'd finished with my hair and makeup, I went down the hall to admire myself in the full-length mirror of the bathroom.
Since I wasn't doing anything other than looking at my reflection, I'd left the door open, which allowed Konstantin to pause and whistle at me.
"Well done, white rabbit." He smiled crookedly at me, but his eyes were serious as they assessed me.
Something about the way he looked at me made my skin flush a little, and I turned to face him. "Thanks."
"It's kind of a shame I'm missing the party tonight," he said.
"Why aren't you going?" I asked in surprise.
Based on the way he was dressed, I assumed he planned to attend. He had on a simple black uniform, similar to the one that Ridley had worn as Kanin Overste, with epaulets on the shoulders, and a sword in a scabbard that hung from a belt around his waist.
While Ridley and Tilda had taken to wearing the shimmery blue uniforms of the Skojare, Konstantin had managed to dig up one that showed no allegiance. No color, no insignia, nothing to tie him to any kingdom.
"I'm walking the perimeter of Storvatten, along with some of the other guards," Konstantin explained. "Since we don't know when Mina and Viktor are going to strike, we're keeping a lookout."
"Damn." I looked down at my gown, suddenly feeling very silly. "I should change and go with you."
"No, no." He shook his head. "We've got enough guys going out. You should go. You should be happy."
I started to tell him that he should still come to the party if he got a chance, but he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there in my beautiful dress feeling flustered and alone.
FIFTY-ONE
dalliance
Given the short amount of time Linnea had had to put it all together, the ballroom looked especially impressive.
Under the dark canopy of night displayed in the glass dome, twinkling lights had been strung around the room. Along the walls, tables had been adorned with shimmering linens, crystal centerpieces, and mood-enhancing candles. A buffet of savory and sweet ran along the wall at the end of the ballroom, with an ice sculpture of a fish.