Page 14 of Kingdom of Embers and Ruin

Maude studied the city layout and her route to the palace, as she often did on nights when sleep was ripped from her grasp. She went over how shewould go from roof to roof, as the thieves of the night did, and make her way to the city square. From there, she would skirt between shop stalls and acquire a disguise that would allow her to reach the nobles district, where she would take to the roofs again. Bounding from building to building, she would make her way to the same wall she had crouched on when she had escaped on that fateful day ten years ago.

Copper hair as bright as a living flame, a beautiful, harsh face with light hazel green eyes, and a strong, confident presence burned into her mind before she could banish the memory of her sister. Bryn’s eyes lingered, though, betrayal and acidic hatred burning there. She hadn’t thought of her in months, but she supposed that being around Herrick and Hakon had rekindled her own longing, so Maude’s waking mind began punishing her with thoughts of Bryn.

She closed her eyes and tilted her face up to the full moon in the sky, praying to Freyr for some peace that night, even if she didn’t deserve it. Maude felt an overwhelming sense of calm for a moment before she felt someone sit next to her.

“Both you and Herrick are restless tonight, it seems,” Hakon said quietly, facing the city she had been looking out on just moments before.

“Most nights aren’t the easiest for me,” Maude replied quietly.

She didn’t understand why she felt so at ease sitting next to Hakon, as if they were old friends.

“Nor for my brother, but he manages.”

They didn’t speak for some time, the silence of a sleeping city resting comfortably between them. Hakon broke the quiet after a little while.

“Herrick is the best person I know. I trust him with my life. I know he comes off as an unconventional and rash person, but everything he does, he does for the people of Ahland,” Hakon paused. “There are a lot of things I could say about him, but the bottom line is that he’s a good man.”

“Why are you telling me this?” She asked as she turned to look at Herrick’s older brother, their faces so similar and yet vastly different.

“Because I think you need to trustsomeone,and that someone should be Herrick.”

With that, Hakon placed a tentative hand on her shoulder as he half smiled at her and stood, walking back to the stairs. Her thoughts drifted back to Bryn, wondering what words she would have to say about Maude. She knew they would not be kind. With thoughts whirling more viciously than before, Maude sat on the roof until the pale rays of dawn shone in the east.

Once the sun had risen fully in the sky, Maude finally made her way back into the house. She had remained dressed only in the harem pants, boots, and band across her chest. Opting to keep her only shirt clean from the training she had planned to put herself through that morning, Maude made her way downstairs.

She had just reached the second floor when she heard the front door open from the outside. She edged her way over to the stairs to listen for who might’ve entered. Heavy booted footsteps made their way to the kitchen, and the sound of bags being settled on the counter made their way up to Maude. The rustling of things being unpacked followed quickly after, and Maude decided to see who was awake. She had not noticed if Herrick had returned to the house, but all the bedroom doors were still closed.

Unsheathing her dagger, Maude silently made her way down the stairs. When she rounded the corner into the kitchen on the first floor and saw who stood at the counter unpacking food from the early morning markets, she almost dropped her weapon. His broad back to her, the silver hair belonging to Sigurd was twisted into a bun at the nape of his neck, anda heavy cloak hung on his shoulders as he continued to place fruits and vegetables in their rightful places.

Her mouth was still partially open with shock when Sigurd looked over his shoulder, no doubt sensing that someone was staring at him, and said to her, “Are you going to help me or just stand there?”

Maude continued staring for a moment before she found her words.

“What are you doing here?”

Belatedly, she remembered what Herrick had said about an earthvitkiwho had lived here with his family before the Kingdom of Flame’s soldiers took them. He had said she’d known him, and she had dismissed the idea because she didn’t know anyone. She had been wrong. She had one constant in her life, and that was Sigurd.

“I think you know the answer to that question, Maude. Now, help me unpack this food before those fools sniff it all out and gorge themselves.”

He must’ve seen the realization on her face. She only sheathed her dagger and moved forward to help him. Working in companionable silence, they unloaded his packs quickly. Maude walked to the table and sat on the edge of it once they were finished. With nothing left to do, the silence grew awkward and heavy.

Finally, she said, “I didn’t know you had a family.”

“You never asked.”

No, she had never wanted to know. She had kept everyone at more than arm's distance these last ten years, including the only person she could consider a friend. Sigurd wiped the surface of the counter down with an old rag before placing it in the wash basin in the corner of the kitchen. He crossed his arms and leaned against the counter, facing Maude.

“Would it have mattered to you?”

She wanted to argue, but she stopped and realized that would’ve been a lie. She would’ve shut down the conversation for fear of triggering her ownemotional spiral, selfish as she was. Maude looked at how he seemed to be bracing himself for what she was going to say. Apparently, she had done a thorough job of making herself into a difficult and unpleasant person to be around. Just like her father had said she’d be.

Shaking the thought away before it settled too deeply in her, she said to Sigurd, “I’m sorry that I never asked, but I’m sorrier that they were taken from you. I don’t know how you can stand to be in this house.”

Sigurd didn’t relax like Maude thought he might; his tension only increased. Was it so unbelievable to people that she could apologize? She dug that grave for herself, she figured.

“I grew up in Logi; it’s always been my home. I came here from the northern town of Hallifell, which borders the Lamenting Woods, when I was very young. This whole block consists of the townspeople from Hallifell who came here looking for work and instead found a city where theirgalderwas illegal to have because they were lowborn,” Sigurd said as he shook his head and let out a hollow laugh.

He looked behind him toward the hidden oasis. Maude didn’t dare interrupt his story. She had done enough damage to their relationship.

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