I’mtravelingnorthwithFhord. We’ll find a place where Astarot can fully heal while Fhord goes back to the Nest to retrieve Tindera—if the Dróttning hasn’t figured out yet that he was involved in my escape. The thought terrifies me, and I’ll need to talk to Fhord about it soon. Not yet, though.
Toffer and I both cried when he and Joralf mounted Hilde to head south. I’m still amazed Fhord had her here waiting for us, but I shouldn’t be. He knew what he had to do to get me out and made it happen. Joralf will take Toffer back home before he goes in search of his mate. Much as I want Toffer with me, his kill-first-ask-questions-later approach to life is too risky while we’re moving through unknown lands. We’ll get settled then I’ll find a way to get him and Thor.
Now, I’m nestled into Fhord’s chest as we ride Sigurd into forests that grow deeper with every step. Astarot’s walking behind us while he can, before the forest blocks his path. We can’t risk him being seen from the air and Fhord has promised he knows a cave we’ll be able to hide in.
I have so many questions. So many thoughts. But I’m tired and hungry and having a hard time putting them into words. Those conversations will come. For now, I’m just savoring this time with Fhord.
“Are you ready to eat something, rabbit?” Fhord’s soft voice breaks into my thoughts.
“I really should. I’m starving. I’m just not sure my stomach will hold anything while we’re riding. Will we be at the cave soon?”
“Another hour, maybe a bit more. I’ll be able to make a stew quickly with what I have waiting there.”
“You planned everything.” I don’t try to keep the wonder and gratitude from my voice.
“I had help. When I went to get Toffer, I checked in with the Ætt. Leif came to get things set up while we went into the Nest. He’s gonna go hide with the others until I can get back to them.”
“I’ll have to thank him, the next time I see him.”
“It’ll be a while, rabbit. We’re not going south again anytime soon. We can’t.”
“I know.” I take a deep inhale, realizing as I do that I’m not as worried about the future—and the drastic changes ahead—as I would have expected. “It’s okay,” I assure Fhord as a peace settles over me. “Did I tell you about my friend, Sagga, and her words for me before we met?”
“No, you didn’t.” Fhord’s voice is so gentle.
“She’s a seer. Always before, she saw little things and I didn’t pay much attention to her predictions. But the last one. That was different. She predicted,” I say as my hand lifts to gesture around us, “all of this. She knew my life was about to change, starting with some big journey, and said it’s all necessary.” I pause, thinking about her message and what it could mean. “Something big’s about to happen, to change life here, and we’re part of it.”
Fhord’s quiet for a long time. “Maybe it is. This world is broken in so many ways. It can’t go on like this.”
We fall into silence again, both lost in our own thoughts. Fhord’s hands, though, are a constant comfort. He’s just holding me, Sigurd’s reins loose as he follows a path he must know well. He’s keeping me centered, even hopeful, in the wake of the chaos I just escaped.
Finally, hours after we separated from Toffer and Joralf, Fhord leads us toward a mountain that doesn’t look like it might have an opening big enough for us. As before, though, we find a cave that’s so well hidden, it could only be found by someone who knows it’s here. It’s exactly what we need.
Astarot shuffles in after us and I can feel his surprise when he sees a sheep tied at the rear of the cave. He spins his head toward Fhord, eyes rich with gratitude, and drops his chin once.
Food, he tells me. He’s as hungry as me and had no idea when he would eat next. He didn’t want to ask and is relieved he didn’t need to.
“Thank you,” I whisper as I lean back into Fhord.
“You can thank Tindera when you see her next. She wanted a goat for Astarot but this was the best Leif could do.”
“It’s perfect. Astarot is grateful.”
Fhord dismounts and helps me down. As I head to get the sheep for Astarot, he steps toward the fire pit to light the tinder that Leif must have prepared for us. When I get back, he’s unpacking Sigurd and gathering supplies to make our meal.
“There’s a hot spring farther into the cavern,” he tells me, gesturing to an area behind the sheep. “Go bathe while I make us something to eat. You’ll find what you need waiting for you there.”
“You really thought of everything,” I whisper, my heart expanding in my chest. “Thank you. Again.”
“Anything … everything … for you, my little rabbit.”
Nodding, I turn before he can see the tears that formed in my eyes. As I walk around a corner I hadn’t noticed before, I see the pond waiting for me, steam drifting up from the surface. Soap and a towel sit by the edge, and I can see a change of clothes farther in. I shrug out of the dirty rags I wore from the prison, tossing them aside as I step into the water.
It’s a glorious feeling to drop into its warmth and let it cover me, start to wash away the grime and filth of my cage. My mind tries to take me back there but I push those thoughts away. Today is about moving forward with Fhord. Tomorrow I can come to terms with the past week, all that happened.
A big part of me wants to soak here forever, never leave to face the demons waiting outside of this cave. But Fhord’s just around the corner making a meal for me. Taking care of me. An even bigger part wants to be with him.
I scrub myself as quickly as I can, washing out my hair as I rid myself of every hint of the Nest and its depravity. Toweling off, I don the clothes Fhord brought—soft night clothes from my own drawer in Revalle—and slide the slippers onto my feet. And then I go to him.
