King Arik held his hand up to silence the young man, his eyes still on his game.
The young man waited only a moment before continuing.“My father.I know he is here.”
This confused me because I’d thought we were talking about his captain, but after a few more phrases, it became clear that his fatherwashis captain.Normally, I had trouble understanding when people spoke in an emotional state as they tended to talk more quickly and roundedly.They would return to words and then skip ahead, leaving others out.But I understood this young man’s father, his captain, had been held by the king for moons.That a man named Sigver the Big-Red had come to ask after him, and then a man named Finnjer who was a healer.The captain’s name was Flojer, and I didn’t get that confused with Finnjer even though a lot of the sounds were the same.
King Arik told the young man that his captain wasn’t in the palace.That he must be mistaken.Some of those present in the hall exchanged looks.There was far less laughter than the last time someone had come to collect a captain… and then I recalled in more detail the last man I’d seen come to ask for a captain.Sigver the Big-Red.That had to have been the man I’d seen.He’d been so very large…
“I do not want this to become a pile of clams,” the young man said.
“And if it does?”King Arik said, pulling his gaze from his game for the first time and raising his brows.
“Fight,” Vigdis whispered beside me.“He is going to strike.”
“No…” Reedman said, pulling Layf out from under the table and handing him to Dania.“He does not look that stupid.”
“Here,boy,” King Arik said, using the belittling word for young, life-thrower, not the neutral one.“I will let you have first swing.”He tilted his head back, revealing his throat beneath his beard.“If you would like.Here it is.”
Everyone was silent.My heart beat hard against my ribs.
“I would like my father back,” the young man said, his voice so earnest that it hurt a little to hear.“You called him here.He came.You have given him first pick of the raids four times before.He has never done anything but serve the gods and you and his crew.Where is he?”
King Arik looked at the young man for a moment before sighing.“He is probably obeying the orders of the gods as we speak.You know him, as do I.If he was not told to share something with you, he would not share it.I also have not heard from him.If I do, I will send word toThe Fearsome Beast.It is still docked, yes?”
The young man nodded.
“Take some barrels of mead back with you, to keep his crew occupied while you wait for him,” King Arik said.
The young man hesitated before nodding to himself and walking out of the hall.
Quickly, conversation erupted among the court.I didn’t join in immediately.I knew I should be pleased that I understood such a complex conversation without any of the history, but I was weighed down by the young man’s voice.
I wanted to say that he feltforlornto me, but I didn’t know that word in Norsern.There was one… I was sure of it… It was just out of my reach.I rubbed my temples as I strained.
“You need more mead,” Dania said, pushing a cup toward me.
I shook my head.“He was so… so… there is an Islish word for it… for this kind of sadness… but gah, I cannot?—”
“Just say the Islish, you aresoten, there is nothing The Bard King can do to you.”
Several memories settled over my mind at once, and I sat up straight.Iwassoten.The only person I actually had to listen to was Fell.The king himself had told me so, had told me to saynoto anyone who did anything I didn’t like.I looked up at the king, at his bright smile, feeling as though he’d tricked me terribly, and it was all the worse because I’d let him do it.
Surely not…
I had three more drinks before my courage bloomed, and I marched up to him.
He smiled.“Gentlewoman.”
“You told me to say ‘no’ to things I do not like,” I said.
His eyes gleamed.“I did.I think it would be good for you.”
This cannot be.I’d seen pranks and jests in his court play out, always going nine times further than I felt was fair or kind.But three moons felt absurd.
“No,” I said.Instantly, my heart was speeding.
The corners of his mouth lifted ever-so-slightly.
“I want to be able to use Islish with people, with you and Dania.No to this… this…” I waved my hand as I tried to recall the word.“Ruleyou have made.”
