‘I love you too.’

She took care putting the feather into a pocket inside her cloak. Then, gathering the garment about her, she left the Ring of Brogdor and rejoined her travelling companions.

30

‘What was it like?’ Lann asked Astrid once they were on their way again.

‘What was what like?’

‘Living with a father like Mirvar Rivengeld?’

She took a few moments to consider her answer. ‘Exhausting. He was so good, so … loved, that we were terrified to let him down in any way. Erik and I couldn’t really be ourselves unless we were alone, and we hardly ever got to be. That’s why I wanted to become a shield maiden. The maidens were not interested in who I was. The only thing they cared about was whether I could fight.’

It wasn’t the answer Lann had expected. He’d always thought it would be the greatest thing to be born into a family like the Rivengelds, to have everyone look up to you and admire you.

‘The woman who left me this …’ She gestured at the armlet. ‘Your mother. What was she like?’

‘I never knew her. She died giving birth to me. All I know is she was a witch, like Fleya. Last night, in my dream, was the first time I’d ever laid eyes on her.’

‘And the woman who brought you up? Who was she?’

‘Lae Fetlanger.’ A memory of her came to him. She was standing outside the farmhouse, laughing at his attempts to catch a chicken that had escaped the coop. The sun was on her face and she looked beautiful. ‘I couldn’t have asked for a better mother.’ As the words escaped him, he realised just how true they were. Lae had loved him like her own son.

‘I sense a “but”.’

‘She was married to a man called Gord – the man I thought was my father. He never liked me, and I could never understand why. That is, until I found out the truth.’

‘It is not in some people to give their love freely.’

‘No.’

‘You were lucky to have Lae. Just as I was lucky to have Mirvar. We were loved by good people.’

They rode in silence for a short while, taking in the landscape of this new kingdom.

‘Do you think the rumours about the new Queen of Vorneland are true?’ Lann asked. ‘That she killed to take power?’

Fleya, having caught up with the pair, answered. ‘It would not be the first time a blood-drenched monarch has sat upon a throne of the Six Kingdoms. Favner Lurvald is a woman obsessed with power.’

‘You know her?’ Astrid asked.

‘I met her once, although she was young at the time. Her ambition was evident but I sensed something more dangerous lurking inside her. Marrying a king was not enough for her – she wanted to rule. It seems she has achieved her goal now.’