Page 37 of Kingdom of Embers and Ruin

Maude noticed his hands on the reins in front of Eydis were tight, knuckles standing out against his skin. She wondered what had been said between Eydis and Hakon in those moments as sparks ignited between them and tension fueled their words.

“I managed to talk our way out of being clapped in chains, allowing us to walk to their base. We only got a few blocks further when the captain of the group looked closer at my face,” Hakon said quietly. He looked atHerrick, dread heavy in his features. “The captain recognized me. I slew him with no hesitation. Drowned him on dry land. We ran and hid in one of the abandoned houses by the eastern gate and waited until the next night to escape again. We ended up having to take a longer route to Engate to avoid more soldiers as they had picked up on our trail. That’s why we took longer to get there, but we couldn’t avoid them entirely. That’s why we had to leave Engate before they caught on.”

Maude didn’t understand why it was so important that he was recognized. He was a noble from the Kingdom of Rivers, which was uncommon, but it wasn’t illegal for them to visit Logi. The remorse for killing the captain on the spot was expected, she supposed, for someone who hadn’t had to fight for their survival their entire life. Herrick had stiffened slightly during his brother’s story, but he relaxed quickly.

“I’m sorry you had to deal with that on your own, Hakon. I should’ve been there with you,” Herrick said, clapping a hand on his brother's shoulder.

“Why is it so bad that he was recognized?” Maude asked, unable to stifle her curiosity.

Both brothers were silent for a moment too long until Herrick spoke first after clearing his throat.

“The Kingdom of Rivers nobles need a permit from King Helvig to enter the city. We don’t have one.”

The reply was a bit too stiff, and Maude could taste the dishonesty in the air between them.

“Okay, now tell me the real reason.” She turned slightly to glare at Herrick out of the corner of her eye.

“You have your secrets, and we have ours.”

Maude watched his expression as he spoke and saw the plea in his eyes not to push further on the subject. She supposed she understood that; she was also withholding information.

“One day, I’ll tell you everything, but not right now. This needs to stay quiet while we are outside of the walls of Veter,” Herrick continued.

“I’m not going to Veter, so I guess you’ll just have to keep your secret then,” she said to him, turning back to face forward.

“You don’t want to see the Kingdom of Rivers?” Hakon asked, relieved to let his story pass.

“I’d love to, but I can’t,” Maude replied, her tone implying she wouldn’t tolerate any further questions on the statement.

They both looked at her curiously but let the topic drop. Herrick slowed their horse down to let Hakon and Eydis take up a spot between them in the rear while Gunnar and Liv rode at the front of their group. Maude watched Hakon absentmindedly run his thumb across Eydis’s thigh, where his hand rested. A small piece of her soul that she thought had been forgotten yearned for a gentle touch like that.

“It can never last between them,” Herrick said sadly once they were out of earshot.

“Why do you say that?”

“He is already promised to another, an arrangement set up by our parents.”

Maude turned to look at Herrick, sorrow shining on his face at the sight of his brother’s fate. The silence of the desert around them made his words seem louder than they were, the only other sound being the sand shifting beneath the horses’ movements.

“Maybe the arrangement can be withdrawn,” Maude said, trying to ease Herrick’s sadness. She didn’t know why she bothered.

“I doubt it. We all have our duties in life, our fates written for us.”

Maude scoffed. “Do you so strongly believe in your fate?”

“Of course. I make my own choices, but I allow my fate to guide my decisions as well, where it can,” Herrick said without hesitation. “It’s part of our culture; the strongest of our people embrace their fate.”

“That is a fool’s response,” Maude bit out without hiding her disgust for the idea. She shifted a bit so he couldn’t feel her anger starting to boil up in her.

“You cannot fight your fate,minn eldr. It is written for a reason.”

“So we can only be what the gods decided for us? You are going along with a plan that did not consider your wants before they inked it into your skin. It is a violation of our free will.”

“Our free will is entirely intact. We all make choices for ourselves, but what we are destined for is already woven by the Norns. We get to our fate by the choices we make,” Herrick argued. “Our parents are present for the drawing of the runes, but they are forbidden from telling us what they are so that we may make our own choices without the influence of them ruling our actions.”

“Yes, well, not all the parents hold their tongues. Some are so swept up in the ‘glory’ of their child's fate that they wish to mold them into whatever monster they choose,” she let slip before she could stop herself.

Herrick pulled on the reins to slow their horse, separating them from the group.

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