Her cheeks are still red, and she doesn’t respond. I gulp, then give one heavy nod. “I should leave you to it then.” I gesture towards the water, offering her the entire river as if it were my own. She’s staring at my body. Her eyes glisten, and I remember that save for the thin linen fabric wrapped around my waist, I’m naked. A laugh rolls off my tongue, and she joins in before lightly saluting me with two fingers to her forehead and making her way to the river. When her back is to me, I realize my heart is racing, and for a second, I could swear it beats in unison with her song.

Torrent struts to the table that evening. “How do I look?” He asks. His heavy blond hair is slicked back with oil, and his beard is trimmed so closely that I can see skin. In all my years of knowing him, I’ve never glimpsed a trace of his chin.

“I hardly recognize the brute,” Lin scoffs, licking sauce from his fingers. The Idunns have prepared us a massive dinner, and it’s all I can do not to kiss every one of them. I’m clean, and I’m in fresh clothes. Idalia is wrapped in a white, oversized tunic. I can catch the sweet fragrance of peonies mixed with gardenias from it even across the table. Periodically, she drapes her sleeves over her hands, presses them firmly to her face, and breaths in the scent deeply.

“I think he looks wonderful,” Nuri sings, grabbing and shaking Torrent’s chin as he sits next to her on the bench. “Although, I didn’t mind the untethered look either, Stoneman. Beard kept or unkept; you exude a rugged force I can’t keep myself away from.”

“Oh, temptress…” Torr croons. They must’ve passed a wonderful night in her large bed, though I stop myself from imagining any of the details for my own sake.

Rianne sits down between Lorna and Lin and pours herself a healthy glass of wine. Music fills the air, and the orbs begin to glow with the coming of night.

“Is it always this happy here?” I ask.

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Nuri’s smile stretches from ear to ear.

I shrug as Breto pours ale into my mug. “It’s hard to believe, is all. It just seems a little too good to be true.”

Nuri blows an exasperated breath and releases Torrent’s hand.

“How sad you people are! The misery that binds you is a powerful spell indeed! You haven’t yet been here two full days, and you already assume the joy you feel must be running out.”

“That’s not it,” I protest.

“No?” She probes. “Then what is it? Do tell.”

“I only mean it’s odd. Everyone’s always smiling; music’s always playing, and the food is delicious. It doesn’t seem possible...”