“Oh!No!”Dania pointed at someone and shouted in the sea dog words.The man had been shouting himself, and looked at her as though very offended.She continued shouting until King Arik took notice of her and waved the crowd quiet to hear her.She spoke with wild gestures and the king spoke and the man spoke.
In the end, the king nodded, and the man scoffed.
“What is happening?”I said, gripping Dania’s arm.
Dania laughed.“He was Islish once.He offered to guard you, but I have told The Bard King it must not be.That he will figure you for a gentlewoman and be bitter toward you for it.He may not be able to treat you fairly.The king has agreed it is too great a risk.”
I stared at her, my chest warm.“Thank you.”
“Ugh, don’t look so softened by it.I can’t possibly spend time with you if you’re going to look at me like that.”
Farwatcher shouted, and people quieted.Maybewoman nodded and spoke, and people quieted further.
Fell laughed and covered his face like a bashful child.
Arik growled like… I don’t even know what.My bones were afraid of the sound.
“They say Hyrold visited in lightning form.Vanuerim also visited?”Dania grasped my shoulders and turned me to face her straight on.“Did you see her?”
“Dania, I have no idea?—”
“Was there a woman in the sea on your voyage?”
I shook my head.
“Did you see any children?Imagined or in front of you?”
I shook my head again, and she frowned.
“They say… or—” Dania turned away, listening as Speartooth tried to speak, and Fell held his hand over the man’s mouth.I curled my fingers into my fists, thinking Speartooth might bite Fell’s fingers with his sharpened teeth, and feeling a little anticipatory pain myself.
“Sigyn says Fell has a… scar from the lightning… it will convince everyone?—”
Arik bellowed, and Fell shuffled forward from the crowd, grinning and saying something that had many laughing.
“He says if The Bard King wanted him undressed, he need only have asked.”
Fell reached behind his head and tugged at his tunic, pulling the cloth off sloppily.I saw a glimpse of hardened chest stained with blue-green tattoos before I averted my eyes.I knew what he was going to show everyone, for I had a few similar marks from when I was just learning how to direct the vault’s sting.Dark purple streams—almost like veins risen to the surface of the skin.It wasn’t from the lightning strike, but from the vault’s sting.I’d caused it when I released it upon him in the carriage.
Hushed whispers coasted through the hall, and I was vaguely aware of King Arik and Jorn the Calm approaching Fell to take a closer look.
I wanted to weep, to run, to tremble into nothingness.It was one more thing I couldn’t explain without giving away my order’s secrets.
King Arik’s voice was something I had already learned, despite having known him for only a short time.I could tell it was him speaking.
“The Bard King says he will consult with Jorn and the lesser readers in private.He bids us drink and eat and wait for him.”
I waited what felt like ages before glancing back up, giving Fell ample time to redress before risking meeting his eyes again.I was successful in my aim, only there was great treachery hidden in the success, for I hadn’t seen him approaching.I looked up, and he was nearly upon us, meaning I had little time to prepare.He walked slowly, dragging his feet, which I’d never seen a grown person do.And then he smirked just the smallest bit—an embarrassed smirk if anything.
“He says your colour is improved.He is glad to see it.”
I was swarmed with the overwhelming confusion of not knowing what to do.He was still looking at me… the way that he looked at me… I had to look away.
“He says, not to be embarrassed if that is what you’re feeling because of Egil’s wildness while you were ill.He says everyone in this hall has done far more humiliating things with the aid of ale.He says Sigyn once pissed in the corner just there because he was too drunk to know where he was.”
Again, I felt like crying.Everything was rough.The sound of their words, the linen wrapping my sore-covered body, the creaking wood beneath our feet.
Fell spoke, and still I kept my eyes on the floor, my cheeks burning.
