And now. Alone in a comfy bed, all I can feel is relief.

Relief, and a little fear.

What if Kymora somehow knows where we are? Is she tracking us? What if it’s not safe to close my eyes? There is no mercenary looking out for us now. And I somehow have to make a magical blade for Kellyn. Just how does he expect me to pull that off when he also cautioned me not to mention to anyone that I have magic?

He thinks you’re a beauty.

Ugh.

That thought has a habit of poking its head through my consciousness when I least expect it. I don’t need to be thinking about him right now.

It’s only been a few hours since I last saw him.

There are much more important things to be thinking about than that mercenary.

Like Kymora and the sword. Like my sister and her happiness.

I worry about Temra. I think she’s already attached to Volanna, but should something happen—should Kymora find us—we’ll have to pick up and leave again. Leave what’s left of our family.

And it will be my fault.

Again.

Volanna takes us to all her favorite stops in the city. A shop that sells fruity drinks. A store entirely devoted to hair ribbons and cosmetics. And finally, a dressmaker’s.

“We’ll need to find something for you both to wear to the service. No time for something tailored,” Volanna muses aloud. “What do you have already made in their sizes?”

One of the workers produces two ghastly dresses with strange frills and lace in uncomfortable places.

Volanna is delighted by the dresses and buys them instantly. I turn to whisper my thoughts on the new clothing to Temra.

“You’re just upset you have to wear something fashionable for once.”

We head to the fjords after the dressmaker’s, find a place to sit, and spend time watching the fish through the clear water—and those strange birds swimming after them.

“They’re called penguins,” Volanna explains. “They’re normally found in very cold climates, but this is a special breed found in the fjords.” We quickly learn that Volanna loves animals, and she tells us the name of every fish as we spot them.

We laugh over the birds playing with one another. They push each other into the water, play games of chase.

At one point, Temra excuses herself to find a privy, leaving me alone with Volanna.

“It’s all right,” she says once my sister is gone. “Your father was the same way, you know. Very shy. A man of few words. More comfortable when he was on his own. I didn’t think he’d ever go off and leave me, let alone marry. I’m happy he found someone to share his life with.” She gives me a warm smile. “All I’m saying is, you can say as little or as much as you’d like. I understand and don’t hold it against you either way.”

“Thank you,” I say, and I offer her my first sincere smile.