Page 35 of The Sun He Buried

Runa looks delighted.

Good. I regret nothing.

Baldr turns his head. He waits, then grins.

“I brought my own audience.”

“She hit the target.”

“I saw.”

“You weren’t reacting enough.”

“Should I jump too?”

I look over his bare chest, then up to his face. “That seems unsafe.”

One of the older boys makes a choking sound.

Baldr’s gaze moves toward him.

The boy examines his bowstring.

Runa pulls her arrow from the straw and runs back to the line. “Can Lady Solveih come every time?”

“Yes,” I say.

Baldr is still looking at me. “We’ll discuss her fee.”

“Apple pastries.”

“Expensive.”

“I offer a specialized service.”

“Loudness?”

“Support.”

He laughs and sends Runa to the end of the line.

I climb back onto the wall. Baldr’s shirt has shifted closer to the edge. I fold it once more and set both hands on top of it.

Asta would tell me to stop touching the shirt.

Asta is inside the hall with three packing lists and no authority over this yard.

Excellent.

The next girl sends her arrow into the middle ring. The boy after her hits the post holding the target. Everyone winces.

Baldr checks the split in the wood.

“Did I kill it?”

“It may recover.”

“Should I apologize?”