Page 13 of The Daughter of the Scarred Elf

When Kolfinna passed her, Herja whispered, “Looks like the murderer has some bite to her.”

Kolfinna didn’t respond as she left the dining hall. Away from the stares. Away from all the people and their confusing reaction to her. She was used to the horror and disgust, but not the other things.

She pressed a hand to the forearm Bjarni had injured. She hesitantly peeled back the bloody sleeve to reveal the smooth skin and the tiny pink scar that had been gushing blood just five minutes ago. Another wave of uneasiness washed over her. That was new.

Something similar had happened after she had left Hilda’s torture cabin. And again after her fight with Yrsa. Although she was grateful for the healed wounds, concern filled her.

Why was this happening?

This wasn’t normal for a fae or a human.

Was it maybe … her body subconsciously using rune magic? That had to be it, she decided. It wasn’t due to elf blood or elf magic.

She could hear Revna’s voice in her mind.The commander will come for this kingdom, and he will set our queen free.

She banished those thoughts—she wasn’t part elf.

She couldn’t be.

4

Kolfinna dreamedthat night of the Eventyrslot ruins. Of the voices that had whispered to her. Of Revna in the desert dimension as she taught Kolfinna how to use runes. Of the entire party as they ventured through the crumbling, ominous halls of the castle. But mostly, she dreamed of Blár. Of his ice-blue eyes that shone like a frozen lake. Of his wickedly handsome face, his sharp tongue, and his lean body. Her dreams shifted from the ruins to other mashed up memories that seemed clear but were strange at the same time. Her body pressed against his as they danced to random tunes during the ball. The feeling of nestling against his chest.

He was so beautiful, even in her dreams. And even in her nightmares, he was so wicked. So beautiful. So very muchnothers.

It was that thought that woke her. Or maybe not because a glaring light burned her eyes from the window above her head, annoyingly streaming sunlight directly over her. Kolfinna slung an arm over her eyes and cursed softly.

She could almost still feel Blár’s hands on her waist from the dream, and her face flushed with color.

Damn the stupid sunlight.

Pushing herself into a sitting position, she stared at her new room and her new roommates.

Inkeri slept to her left and Herja to her right. It was still strange waking up in a military base, instead of at her cozy home back in the capital.

Kolfinna slipped off the bed and quietly cracked her trunk open. The worn, wooden top creaked with the motion. Dressing herself as quickly as she could—so the two women wouldn’t catch her partially naked—she put on the common military uniform. Dull gray pants and a long-sleeved gray top. It fit for the most part. The pants were perfect, but she struggled to button the top of her shirt. The material strained against her bosom and she hated how fitted it looked. How it drew attention to her.

“You’re up at the ass crack of dawn.”

Kolfinna whirled to face Herja, who was sitting upright in the bed. Her blanket lay over her lap and she yawned loudly. Her wild reddish-orange hair appeared even more like a mane as it stuck out in every direction. Herja scratched the nape of her neck and yawned again.

“You’re up too,” Kolfinna said, yanking on a pair of wool socks.

“Unfortunately.”

A powerful, blustering wind howled beyond their window, momentarily distracting Kolfinna as she brushed her hair and braided it. At least winter was slowly pulling back. It wouldn’t be long before she’d have full control of her nature powers again.

Herja began dressing herself as well, except she had no reservations about stripping herself down to her underwear and then donning the military uniform. By the time they were both dressed, Inkeri stirred.

“You—” Inkeri rubbed her eyes and stifled a yawn. “Is it morning already?”

“Sure is, princess.” Herja detangled her hair with her fingers before working it through a wide-toothed comb.

Kolfinna washed her face with the basin water in the corner of the room and wetted down the frizzing parts of her hair. Today would be her first official day as a soldier; she had no idea what to expect. Would Sijur throw her in a forest and tell her to hunt a magic beast? Would she have to sit around the walls of the fort and wait for an attack?

“Let’s get breakfast,” Inkeri said after she stretched, slipped on her uniform, and washed her face. Her silken smooth hair tumbled over her shoulders effortlessly, not a single strand of hair out of place. When she caught Kolfinna staring, she smiled.

Neither of them had spoken about what had happened yesterday, and Kolfinna was thankful for that. She wasn’t sure how to feel herself.

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