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Chapter 19
The room was much smaller than my dressing room at the palace, but there was something cozy about it. A fire was crackling in a rock fireplace, herbs and jars with pickled vegetables filled the wooden shelves, and in the corner of the room, there was a bed and a table with four chairs. Alrick frowned at a bundle of dried frog legs that was hanging off one of the wooden beams. I hoped with all my heart that it was not all the food she had. But as hungry as I was, I’d take it and never mention a word about it again.
“You hungry, ja? So what you got for me?” the old woman said.
Henrike and I exchanged looks. We literally had nothing but the horses, and they were out of the question.
“Do you need any fixing around the house?” Alrick asked. He was inspecting a chair with one of its four legs missing.
“No,” the old woman said. “Nothing broken here.” I could feel her eyes turn toward me. “What pretty golden hair,” she said.
“Hmm?” I played innocent.
“Your hair. So shiny. As golden as the sun.”
“Thank you.” I looked away again.Please don’t say it...please don’t say it...
“It would fetch a nice price at the market. This color is rare in the North.”
I tried to stay calm, avoiding Henrike and Alrick’s gaze now as well. My hair was my pride. It was the only thing I had left of my mother.
“It would...but unfortunately—” I couldn’t even finish my sentence before Henrike grabbed my arm and pulled me into the corner of the room next to the fireplace.
“She wants your hair,” Henrike whispered, irritated.
“I know that, but she won’t get it,” I countered. Like usual, Henrike’s face hardened, her black brows drawing together.
“How can you say no? We are starving!”
I jerked my arm out of her grip. “This woman isn’t right in the head. She thinks I’m my mother. If she asked for my finger, would you offer it to her as well?”
For a moment, Henrike looked as if she was seriously thinking about it.
“I said no!”
“You talk to her,” Henrike barked at Alrick, throwing her hands up. “I will tend to the horses. They need water and hay.” She stomped out.
“Hay will cost you too,” the old woman said, following after Henrike.
The room grew quiet again, the fire hissing softly in the hearth. Alrick looked at me as if he didn’t know what to say.
“Please tell your sister that we won’t cut my hair for trade.”
Alrick said nothing.
“Or do you agree with this mad idea?”
He sighed. “There is nothing mad about it. Women have sold their hair in the North for hundreds of years.”
“So, you agree with her.”
Alrick scratched the back of his head. “I don’t like it any more than you do, but—”
“Any more than I do?” As if he knew what it felt like to lose the only thing your father might like about you. “Oh, please do tell me how it affects you so much, Alrick. I’m the one who will look ridiculous, not you! My father—”
My voice broke off.Won’t want to see me ever again.
“Your father what?” Alrick asked.
