Page 102 of The Ruins of the Heartless Fae

“I recognize that painting.” Magni pointed to a shredded painting at the end of the hall. What was left of the painting revealed a young woman’s face, an ornate crown glinting on her head. “We passed that before we got to that room with the coffins.”

Kolfinna didn’t recognize it, but all the paintings looked the same to her. “Are you sure? Because there are paintings like that at every level in this place.”

“Yes, because this woman has a mole below her eyes.” He looked at Kolfinna like it was obvious. “And she has red hair. The other paintings don’t have that. Also, if you look closely, you can see the details of her dress show a different color scheme than most of the other paintings. Also, every painting tells a different story.”

Kolfinna raised an eyebrow. “Color scheme? How is it any different?”

“The others followed a lighter theme to their colors. Beige, soft browns, pastels—they were lighter and more neutral. This one is more colorful and brighter. See the green in her dress? Of course, it could be the deterioration of time that pales the other paintings, but I digress.” Magni frowned, as if realizing he was going on a tangent. “Anyway, I’m quite positive that’s the painting we passed.”

She tried to see what he saw—a woman in vibrant colors with astoryto tell—but it didn’t look as interesting as he made it out to be. It looked like any other old painting she would gloss over.

Truda squinted at the painting and gave it a once-over like Kolfinna had done. Whatever vulnerability she had shown in the prior room was now gone. She sniggered. “I didn’t realize you were into painting. SoundsveryRoyal Guardsy if you ask me.”

“What is that even supposed to mean?” Magni stepped on a pile of brittle, off-white bones that splintered beneath his boots. “I’m no artist. I just dabble.”

“I didn’t realize you were into painting,” Kolfinna said.

“I dabble.” He shrugged, walking to the end of the hall.

“So it’s a hobby?” Truda used her air magic to brush away the scattering of debris out of her way and pointedly in front of Magni, who barreled through it like he didn’t notice. “I shouldn’t be surprised. Don’t Royal Guard snobs like youdabblein all artistic avenues to diversify your hobbies? And, let’s not forget, you love to rub it in people’s faces that they’re not classy enough to know what you’re talking about. I mean, let’s be honest. Us regular folks can’t spend time on the arts when we’re too focused on our next meal. Did your rich mommy and daddy put you in art classes?”

It wasn’t like every Royal Guard was wealthy or came from an affluent family, but if what Truda was insinuating was right—that Magni came from a well-off family—she wouldn’t have been surprised.

Kolfinna expected Magni to go off on Truda and snap at her with the same ferocity and pride he had shown just a week ago, but he remained calm.

He rolled his eyes. “No need to sound so bitter. Did I strike a nerve?”

“Oh you certainly did,” Truda said as they reached the end of the hallway with the painting. “There was a kid in my class who was just like that. Acted like he was on top of the world because he had so many advantages over everyone else. But what pissed me off the most was that he acted likehewas the reason he was there in the first place—not because he was born lucky.”

Kolfinna glanced at Magni. “Are you a noble?”

“He comes from the Helvig family,” Blár said. “They’re pretty rich and influential. And snobby. Let’s not forget snobby.”He paused at the painting. The frame was rotting and split in various areas; at one point, it must’ve been painted a rich gold color, but now even the paint had peeled away. The painting itself was dull and ripped.

Magni narrowed his eyes at Blár, then at Truda. “You both sound awfully jealous.”

“Are you kidding me?” Truda huffed. “I’m not jealous, just annoyed. I make enough money to be happy, so I’m not jealous.”

“Soldiers don’t make enough to behappy.” Magni smirked, and he must’ve known how to get under Truda’s skin because the look she gave him could skin grown men alive.

“Not true,” Truda said hotly. “I probably make more than—”

“No, you certainly donotmake more than me.” He spoke so confidently that Kolfinna believed him, even though she knew nothing about the true finances of either the military or the Royal Guards.

The hallway split into two, one hall leading to the room with the coffins, and another leading elsewhere. Their group followed the former hallway, and Kolfinna couldn’t stop the rise of goose bumps spreading over her body as they drew closer. The others, however, didn’t seem as nervous, because they continued their banter.

“Hey, I’m pretty sure I make ten times more than all of you combined,” Blár said with a laugh. “So no, not all soldiers make pennies.”

“You don’t count—” Magni started.

“Can we stay focused?” Kolfinna skidded to a stop and cast a wary glance at the three of them and then over her shoulder. Mímir and Revna weren’t here, but who knew when they would show up? She cleared her throat. “We’re about to have a big battle pretty soon, and you guys are talking about unimportant stuff. We need to focus.”

To her surprise, Magni was the first to nod. “She’s right.”

“I’m surprised you agree with her. I thought your agenda was to go against everything she says and does,” Blár said.

“You’re really starting to piss me off,” Magni said hotly.

“Guys!Focus,” Kolfinna said. Straight ahead, at the end of the hallway, she could make out the open archway that led to the coffin room. “Revna is planning on freeing her sisters, so she’ll have to go to that room at some point. I’m guessing she’s jumping into different dimensions to free them. The others are probably locked away with runes like Revna was.”

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