“By Odin,” she whispers. “Sit still.”
“I did eat well. Ari is a great cook.”
“Is he?” Eidunn sounds surprised.
“Yes, but your rabbit stew—a competitor, no doubt.”
She leans forward, shaking my head.
“Just a competitor?”
“I meant better, by far,” I giggle.
“Good.”
“But really, you are a great cook.”
“You say that now, when your hair is at my mercy.”
We both laugh.
“No, that stew was amazing, with the thyme—so good.”
“The stew sat overnight, while you were passed out on the floor. Always makes them taste better.”
Eidunn’s fingers move down, nimbly weaving my hair. She will style me to match her look from yesterday. My request.
“Thanks for laying furs over me, by the way. I just blacked out.”
“No worries.”
“But yeah, yesterday’s stew is always better,” I agree. “You know your way around a kitchen.”
“Had to learn, with Ausveig hounding my ass.”
I snicker.
“She can be tough, but it feels like she cares.”
“She’s a good woman.”
I nod again—or try. Eidunn punishes me with three rapid tugs on my braid. She doesn’t blink an eye at inflicting pain.
“Sit still, woman. Do you have worms in your rump?”
“My mother always said that to me,” I say, wincing.
“Mine too.”
We sit in silence, reminded of a life that used to be our own, of loved ones we had close to our hearts. All ripped from us by men with weapons. Ruthless men. Men—it’s always men.
“There,” says Eidunn. “Was that so hard?”
I stand, a huge grin on my face.
“How do I look?” I ask, touching my braid from all angles. It feels perfect, no strands hanging out. Tight.
“Not as ugly as usual,” she says with a shithead grin.
