I felt like I was being chased by a flock of formal seagulls.
I responded politely, then escaped down a side corridor and stepped outside.
A soft breeze hit me, wiping away the heaviness of the hall. I breathed deeply, savoring the tang of sea air from the fjord. The smell of the sea breeze cleared my head. I got the same feeling of freedom whenever I visited the countryside. There was nothing quite like the simple pleasure of tending to unicorn herds in complete silence, just enjoying being in their presence.
I made my way down the stone streets toward the harbor, passing shops whose weather-worn signs swung in the breeze. Where the hall was all pomp and ceremony, here were ordinary people living ordinary lives, their laughter genuine and their bows mercifully brief.
A cluster of children huddled on a shop stoop caught my eye—or rather, the suspiciously smoky bundle in one boy’s arms did. I recognized a firewolf pup when I saw one, having raised Smoke from the same adorable menace stage.
Glancing about and seeing no sign of my furry troublemaker, I whistled for him. Surely, he was lurking somewhere about, then I went to join the children.
“What do you have there?” I asked, crouching down.
The children looked up, eyes widening. “Prince Bjorn!” the boy holding the pup exclaimed. “Look what my father brought from Smoke Island. A firewolf just like yours!”
“May I?” I gestured to the pup.
The boy nodded and handed the puppy to me.
I lifted him. He already had that familiar glint of mischief in his eyes. He was a tiny thing, all fluff and ember-tipped ears. “Firewolves make excellent companions,” I told the boy. “They’re fantastic bed warmers in winter but tend to singe your socks if you sleep late.”
The boy’s eyes grew even wider. “Really?”
“Oh, yes. And once, when I was younger, Smoke set my formal cape on fire right before a big ceremony. The queen was convinced I’d goaded the wolf into it,” I said with a grin, knowing that wasexactlywhat I had done.
I scratched the pup under his chin, earning a happy yip and a small puff of smoke.
Firewolves were notorious for their ability to breathe fire, their tails becoming pure flame when they were determined to get into trouble. Generally, their magical fire was not dangerous, but they could turn up the heat when they wished. Their dark fur was alive with glowing embers, like coals in a hearth, perfect for the endless winters of Frostfjord. Less ideal for royal wardrobes.
“Do you have a name for this little troublemaker yet?” I asked.
“Cinder,” the boy declared proudly.
“Hello, Cinder.” The pup licked my chin. “That is an excellent name.” I returned him to the boy, who promptly forgot all about me as he and his friends returned to cooing over the pup.
I smiled at the children and then continued on, stopping at the magical confectionery. The shop was full of whimsy and warmth. Every time I stepped inside, I was instantly warmed by the sweet scents. Somehow, the setting was comforting and familiar in a way I couldn’t place.
“Is that you, Prince Bjorn?” Mother Urd called from behind the counter.
The confectioner, an ancient woman whose practiced hands had been wrinkled by time, came out of the kitchen to greet me.
“It is, Mother Urd.”
She smiled. “Ah, you escaped the hall. How did you manage it?”
“With Asa’s help.”
“Which means you are here to keep up your end of a bargain. Peppermint bites, then?”
Chuckling, I nodded.
The woman packaged up Asa’s sweets then handed them to me. “And these,” she added, including a small pack of troll noses. The troll noses, which were cone-shaped confections with a candied shell and a soft, gummy center flavored with elderberries, were my favorite. “I made them this morning. Still your favorite?”
“They are,” I said with a laugh, then reached into my coin purse, but Mother Urd waved me away. “A gift, a gift… Princess Asa has already extorted you. This is my way of restoring balance in the world.”
Grinning, I took her hand and placed a kiss thereon. “Thank you, Mother Urd.”
“You are always welcome, Little Prince Bjorn,” she said, then waved to me as she returned to her kitchen.
