Page 66 of Soul of Fire

“I think Stein is too terrified to come out here again.” He placed a loaf of warm, crusty bread on the nearest table, along with a hunk of cheese and a jar of jam. “It’s not much, but I hope it helps. And the attic is small, but it’s warm. Not as warm as the kitchens, of course. I sleep in there with Leif.” His cheeks pinked at the mention of the bakers’ son, and Arik gave me a knowing look.

“Is there a washroom, Anders?” I asked, gesturing to the pile of clothing in my arms.

He nodded and pointed toward the kitchens. “Through there. There’s a privy and a washbasin and—“

“Thank you. I’ll be back.” I made my escape as he began to babble. The boy was nearly bouncing on the balls of his feet, and I knew he was working up the courage to ask Arik an annoying number of questions.

The thought made me smile.

The kitchen smelled of bread, and even my twisted stomach rumbled at the aroma. A tray of loaves cooled on the counter, and it looked like more were baking in the ovens. Another staircase led to the second floor, and I supposed this was where Hilde and Stein had disappeared. They were fairly well-to-do by the looks of the bakery, and I gave silent thanks to Revna for finding this place.

It was gloriously warm in front of the ovens, and I spent a moment just basking in the heat as I looked around for any sign of Sigrid.

Maybe she slept upstairs?

It is only the family upstairs.How Idunn knew this, I had no idea. But she spoke it with such certainty I knew she must be telling the truth.I can feel their heartbeats.

Another drage power?I stripped off Jorgen’s wet shirt and hung it in front of the ovens to dry, then headed to the washroom.That would have been useful when we were trying to steal the Book.

There was too much other noise in the castle,Idunn grumbled, affronted by my implied criticism.

It’s all right, dearest. It wasn’t your fault.I knew it must have been my ineptitude at spycraft that gave us away.

We will try again.

I nodded. I hadn’t had time to talk to Arik about the fact that the Book had felt somehow wrong to Idunn. Add it to the list of many things we had to discuss.

A small stack of linen rags was piled neatly beneath the sink in the washroom, and I said a prayer of thanks to the Hearthmother, hoping Hilde wouldn’t mind if I took a few.

She had given me a linen serk and a wool overdress similar in style to the ones worn by the servants in Stormhold. The overdress was a touch too loose in the bust, but it would keep me warm and covered, and it was far nicer than anything I’d ever owned at Henrik’s.

The pain is back,Idunn growled as I donned a pair of worn leather slippers. They were a touch too tight, but Arik would have more need of his boots than I if we were flying any time soon.

Yes. It will be for a few days, I suspect.At least it wasn’t a crippling pain anymore. I could handle the sharp ache, especially if shifting gave me some reprieve. I supposed if I had to suffer through a cycle from time to time, at least the worst was over quickly.

Human bodies are so inefficient,Idunn grumbled.Feed me now.

When I returned to the main room, feeling dry for the first time in almost a day, I found Arik and Anders sitting across from each other, the loaf of bread between them, and a long-suffering expression on Arik’s face.

“And when you shift, what happens to your organs? Do they get bigger to match the dragon, or are dragons just sort of hollow?”

Arik cast me a pleading look as Anders continued to rattle off his questions, and I thought it prudent to intervene and rescue my mate. “Anders, where is Sigrid?”

“Sigrid?” Anders’ eyes widened, and he looked nervously between me and Arik.

“Mormor,” I clarified. “You know, the woman who helped raise you? We need to talk to her.”

“Oh.” Anders fidgeted with the hem of his tunic just like he used to do when he was trying to hide a broken glass from Henrik. “I’m sorry, Eisa.” His big blue eyes met mine, and I felt my heart sink. “Sigrid’s gone.”

Chapter twenty-one

Eisa

“She’snotdead!”Anderswas babbling reassurances, looking horrified as I sank into the nearest chair. My face must be paler than usual, because even Arik looked concerned.

To be fair, he always looked a little concerned.

“She’s not dead. At least, she wasn’t when I last saw her. She just left—“