Page 53 of The Last Valkyrie

“Varus, he is scouting our eastern borders.”

I frowned. “The Eastern Crossing is my usual jurisdiction.”

“You have not been here. Vesryn has taken command of your post in your absence,varus.”

The man was not disrespectful in his tone, yet I noted the hint of contempt he held for me abandoning my post.If only he knew what I’ve been doing to try and keep all of Alfheim safe.

The man cleared his throat and stood a bit straighter. His eyes darted over my shoulder, to Magnus and Chief Jhaeros. “Your business here,varus?”

“I have come to speak to theMaltor.”

I saw a moment of suspicion on his face, which melted into indecisiveness. “Erm, Prince Corym, you have a human and a Skogalfar at your side.”

“Astute, soldier. I am aware of the company I keep. They are allies.”

“We’ve been directed not to allow anyone foreign to Heira entrance into Alokana. Given the . . . circumstances.”

Magnus asked, “What’s he saying, Corym?”

I grunted. “Thecircumstances, soldier?”

“You have not heard? The Ferinosk tribe has been getting wily and unmanageable on our eastern flank. It’s why Prince Vesryn is there as we speak.”

I contained my sigh, glancing over at Magnus. “Other Ljosalfar are at war with my people, the Heirans. He doesn’t want to let us in.” Then, to the soldier, I lied, “TheMaltoris expecting me. I guarantee what I have to say to him is crucial, not just for Heira but for all of Alfheim.”

The man looked guilty when he droned in a rasping tone. “Varus . . .”

I was putting the youngster in a bad position. It couldn’t be helped. Staring down my nose and slightly dipping my chin, I said, “Don’t make this come to a fight. I understand your orders, but I am a Company-Prince, and you will listen tome.MaltorVaalnath made those orders against the people we are at war with. We are not those people.”

He opened his mouth to argue, some paleness coming to his cheeks—I held up a hand and cut him off. “Do you not remember what I did last time I was here? I broughtAnvariback to our golden shores. I brought the Ancient One peace.”

A few soldiers behind the leader saluted, nodding gravely. What Ravinica and the rest of us had done was no small feat, and it was greatly respected among the elves.

Finally, at mention of Elayina, the soldier stepped aside.

When I nodded and moved to pass him, I put a hand on his shoulder. “You’ve done a great service backing down, soldier. I will not forget your loyalty, and I will take full responsibility of my group’s actions inside Alokana.”

He nodded, giving me a clipped, “As you say,varus,” before letting us pass.

MaltorVaalnath was a tall, regal elf. Though they looked in their prime, with alabaster skin that radiated a golden sheen, and braids of pure silver reaching down to the small of their back of their long red robes, Vaalnath was centuries old. One of our eldest statespeople, the ruler of the Nation of Heira.

I gave my liege a proper salute, kneeling and touching my forehead to the glassy floor of the assembly room before getting to my feet. “Father,” I said in a reverent tone. “It has been too long.”

I would always be attached to Vaalnath through my name. I called them “Father” because I was born from their seed, rather than “Mother” from being born from their womb. That small difference would have called me a Court-Prince, and my entirelife would have been different. I would have been doted on as a whelp, rather than rushed into training of war and alchemy at Brightdawn Academy.

It was no secret Company-Princes and Court-Princes—male, female, andin’kylinalike—did not hold each other in the highest regard. That was why the womb-born Princes stayed in court, while the cock-born Princes went to fight theMaltor’sbattles.

Vaalnath glided toward me from their seat, over an ornamental blue carpet as if their feet did not touch the ground.

I was an inch or two taller than them, with their pretty, androgynous face twisting into a shining smile. Vaalnath typically wore their elegant hair in many styles, to denote how they wished to be perceived that particular day. Today, they had a stately male bent to their clean face and sharp features.

They took my cheeks in their hands, planting a kiss to my forehead. “My fair son, returned to me. I am grateful for what you did for Lady Elayina. She was the best of us.”

I grunted and nodded, trying to contain my frustration. “Are you aware whatAnvariuncovered with the Runesphere before we rushed out of Alokana?”

Vaalnath’s face shifted with something like guilt and sadness. “I have heard through Handmaid Zentha of your exploits, yes. I wish I could have seen it myself. Sounds a remarkable feat.”

I bowed my head again. “The feat was Elayina’s, Father.”

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