“For when the kid is older,” he clarified. “I mean, if the kid ends up staying here. When it comes to halflings, there’s always like a quarter chance they end up fully human. In that case, she’ll probably drop the kid off on the doorstep of whoever its father is.”

Something struck me from our previous conversation. “You never did tell me how many siblings you had.”

Rose turned to his boyfriend. “Yeah, how many siblings do you have, anyway?”

“The ones currently alive and in the Permafrost that I personally know about?” Seppo said. “Maybe twenty-three. I’m sure there are some fully human ones and some who’ve died considering my mom’s age.”

“And here I thought having six older sisters was a lot.”

As fascinating as I find the conversation, you should really find Donnar. I gritted my teeth at Lydian’s voice in my head. I’d talk to Donnar on my own time. Lydian was probably pissed at hearing about all the kids Satu had with men that weren’t him. Ugh, the fact he tried to court her was disgusting.

Rude.

“Fuck off.”

The others looked at me for a moment. “Lydian again?” Rose asked.

“He’s still bothering you?” Seppo said.

“Does literally everyone but Soren know about this?” I groaned, feeling the urge to throw my hands in the air. And also maybe punch something.

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed,” Rose said, “considering how close you two are, but Soren is relatively … how do I put this … obtuse.”

“He lacks emotional intelligence,” Diaval added.

“You really need to spell things out for him,” Seppo piled on.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, already feeling a headache coming on. In that weird shadowy part of my brain, Soren’s feelings took over my own, and I watched as the annoyance grew to anger. Whatever was going on with the svartelves, he was not enjoying it. In fact … I pushed further into that part of my mind, trying to make out actual images instead of feelings. I closed my eyes, trying to concentrate, before immediately snapping them open again.

“What is it?” Diaval asked, noticing the look of concern on my face.

“I need to go stop Soren from murdering Tibra. Look after the horse for me, will you?” I didn’t give her the chance to answer before I broke into a full sprint, hoping to get to the reception hall before Soren did actually murder someone and start a gods damned war.

2

THE MAN IN THE CAVES

A WAR WAS averted, but it was a close call. I got into the throne room in time to see Soren launch himself at Tibra. The female svartelf gave a high-pitched giggle and disappeared from sight, Soren crashing on the marble of the floor.

He pushed himself up, snarling. “Where did she go?”