Page 82 of The Daughter of the Scarred Elf

Inkeri’s face fell, as if she was thinking the same thing. “Are you … going to do that?”

“No.” Herja frowned. “I don’t think so. I think I’d rather avoid him.”

“Who, Blár?” Kolfinna asked. “Or this new guy?”

“Both, honestly.” She rested her hands on her lap. “The more I think about it, the messier things are, you know?”

“It’s not really messy, though, is it?” Kolfinna asked slowly. When both of them turned to her, she quickly explained, “I mean, Blár rejected you and that’s a clean break, right? And this guy, it’s not like you’ll see him again anytime soon, so you can just cut off ties with him, tell him you don’t want him to send you letters, and then you can start anew? So it’s not really messy?—”

“It is.” Herja gave a sheepish grin. “Because, the guy I’m, uh, involved with is … Haakon Lykke.”

Inkeri inhaled sharply while Kolfinna looked between the two of them in confusion. Was she supposed to know who that was? Judging by Inkeri’s shocked expression, she supposed she was.

“Haakon Lykke?” Inkeri opened her mouth to say something, closed it shut, and opened it again. “Herja, what were youthinking?”

Herja rubbed the nape of her neck. “Hey, hey, I was lonely and he was there, and so …” She lifted her shoulders. “One thing led to another, and now I think he’s obsessed with me.”

“How long were youinvolvedwith him?” Inkeri shifted on her bed until she was facing them.

Kolfinna started to feel like an intruder or an eavesdropper the more the conversation continued. She racked her brain for information on Haakon Lykke but came up with nothing. She had never been extremely interested in important people in themilitary, the Royal Guards, or the nobility, so unless he was extremely famous—like Blár or Fenris or Hilda—she didn’t know him.

Herja tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Uh, two months?”

“You were sleeping with that man fortwo months?” Inkeri’s voice rose an octave.

“Who is Haakon Lykke?” Kolfinna looked between the two women.

“A soldier.” Herja shrugged.

“A soldier who’sverydangerous.” Inkeri shot Herja a look of disbelief. “He’s a lightning elemental. Very powerful. On the verge of becoming a black rank.”

Herja didn’t look pleased. “There are four people who are said to be close to a black rank, give or take a few years. Haakon Lykke, Ivar Heddle, Lova Voll, and me. Out of those four, Haakon is said to be the closest.”

Kolfinna didn’t know what to make of this new information. Ivar and Herja were close to becoming black ranks? They were powerful, no doubt, but she didn’t realize they werethatpowerful. But then again, Kolfinna had only seen Fenris and Herja use blue flames, and she had never seen a water elemental use water so viciously like Ivar did. So there must have been truth in their ranks.

“And he’s also the most dangerous,” Inkeri repeated. “Herja, how can you involve yourself with him? He’scrazyandsadistic.”

Herja frowned. “I can handle myself fine. I’m also close to a black rank, remember?”

“Close, but not as close as him.” Inkeri turned to Kolfinna. “I met Haakon when we were at the Southern border. He’s vicious. Terrible guy overall. He’s also said to do the military’s dirty work from time to time.”

“What makes him vicious?” Kolfinna asked. Blár Vilulf had a terrible reputation too, so this guy couldn’t bethatbad, right?

Herja gave another sheepish grin. “He likes to fight. A lot. I think he’s killed a few people too … Like assassination stuff. You know, that sorta thing.”

Kolfinna blinked. “Assassinations?”

“I thought it was kind of attractive at the time.” Herja laughed nervously while Kolfinna and Inkeri pinned her with anare-you-seriouslook. “But now …”

“Are you still talking to him?” Inkeri asked.

“He sends me letters.” Herja fiddled with her pillow and smoothed down the creases along the linen pillowcase. “But I haven’t responded to any of them.”

“What does he say in the letters?” Kolfinna asked, and she wasn’t sure she wanted the answer.

Herja flashed her a mischievous look. “Oh, you know, some private stuff, but mostly he wants me. Obsessively. I’ve never responded, but … maybe I should? I mean, isn’t the best way to get over a broken heart to go on a new adventure of romance?”

“Absolutely not.” Inkeri leaned forward. “You can’t be involved with that freak just because you’re heartbroken.”

---