Chapter 8: Meeting Aurik

FREYA

Above the tops of the trees, Freya could feel the warmth of the sun as it began to rise for the day. She’d made her way into the depth of the forest while it was still dark and cool. The heat of summer was getting steadily stronger with each passing day, and Freya didn’t want to miss any time she could get to herself.

In the silence, she could think of her sister and remember the happy moments they’d shared growing up. Freya tried not to think of her mother now withering away in bed. The sunlight kissing warmth on her face brought back the childhood joy she needed to hold onto.

A flash of gold alerted Freya to Aurik overhead in the sky. For the past few days, they had begun to meet almost daily. He’d insisted he would get to know her, and she’d agreed.

In the beginning, it had been awkward. But he was kind, and he’d even started taking her flying. She hadn’t flown with her father in years, and she liked the feeling of wind on her face. Now she looked forward to their visits. They were the only fun she had.

In the two full moons since they’d first met, Freya was now feeling at ease with the crown prince. She had the sense he meant it when he said he wanted to be her friend. And she needed a friend. Maybe he did as well. Probably he was surrounded by people who stared at him and talked about him behind his back. She was starting to get comfortable with him even though he was nobility.

Aurik landed, sat down, and leaned back against the base of a tree. “I won’t be able to come tomorrow. The Council wants to meet early to discuss the Vargar. I think they mean to send an envoy to talk with the beasts.”

Freya gasped in surprise. The market had still been buzzing with talk of declaring war and needing revenge. She’d even heard rumors that the battle that took Raga away had been bad enough to make the Adaryn consider some form of peace. Did that mean her people were too weak to fight the beasts? She didn’t want war, but she didn’t know what the other option was.

“Are you even allowed to tell me about this?” She inquired gently, not wanting to get in trouble.

“No, but I trust you.” Aurik chuckled at Freya. He did that a lot these days. “Besides, I know you won’t tell anyone. Even if you do, I’m sure it will be known when any decision is made. The Council meetings are every day, and I can’t bear to be there the whole time. I duck out to come see you. But if this is the decision they decide to go with, I’ll have to be there tomorrow.”

“Will you need to be a part of the envoy they send to the Vargar?” Freya asked with concern. She was starting to think of Aurik as a friend. She hated to think of the monsters taking her only friend after she had so recently lost her sister.

Aurik’s golden hawk-eyes locked with Freya’s. He gave a short solemn nod.

“There is always a chance. Everyone has been so riled up since that day. Some want war, and some want peace. A decision will be made tomorrow, and as a member of the royal family it would likely fall on me to lead the envoy. The Vargar will need a leader present to be reasoned with.” He shrugged. “Not that we have much experience of whether they can talk, or reason.”

“This is all if the Council decides on peace?”

“Yes, they could still decide war. Although our Valkyrie numbers were reduced on that day, we could still have the upper hand if it comes to bloodshed. We have many warriors and new Valkyrie in training. There is no absence of younger sisters stepping up to take the place of their loved ones that fell.”

Freya’s shoulders stiffened. Aurik knew Freya couldn’t step up to replace her sister. Valkyrie had to be able to fly. No matter how good she was with an arrow, she would never be able to take Raga’s place.

If the Adaryn and Vargar went to war, she might as well be offered to the beasts for their dinner. She was useless for what her people needed.

Part of Freya hoped for war. It didn’t feel right for her sister and others to have died for nothing. Even if they were monsters, she still wanted them to suffer. They should have to feel as bad as her family did.

“You’re scowling, Freya. Revenge is not attractive on you. Especially someone as readable as you are.” He leaned forward to poke her forehead.

With a deep breath, Freya forced her shoulders to relax. As much as she did wish for revenge, Aurik was right. Focusing on those feelings only made her feel worse. Like a hot coal was burning inside the hole in her chest.

Aurik looked to the sky to judge the time of day. He furrowed his brow. “I’ll be horrendously late if we don’t part ways now. The council is as passive aggressive as an Adaryn elder can get. I don’t want them starting at me this entire meeting.” He held his hand out for Freya to stand back up.

“Please go. I’ll want to hear the gossip the next time we meet. War or peace is something that concerns us all.” She took a long drink of the waterskin Aurik offered up.

“It’s not something I’d like to be a part of. I want nothing more than for my people to keep their lives. I never want to lose someone in a bloodbath. Yet, at the same time, I am hungry for revenge. That same look I’ve seen in your eyes for your sister, I feel reflected so often in my own. However, I don’t imagine I can bring myself to sacrifice others…” He trailed off as he looked to the sky again.

“Aurik, don’t put the entire decision on yourself. You’ll have the entire council and your royal parents there in this discussion. Whatever you help to decide on, I will stand behind you and support your decision.” Freya smiled timidly up at him with the thought she could never begin to understand the weight of his responsibilities.

The prince smiled warmly down at her, seemingly relieved.

Maybe her words had helped to comfort him, if only a little. She wanted to support him. He was trying to be kind to her, by befriending the colony outcast. She had to give him something that was worth his time.

Then Aurik placed his hands on Freya’s shoulders. The air around him changed in intensity. He leaned in close to Freya and kept his eyes locked with hers for several long moments.

She stilled completely with her eyes wide as she just stared at Aurik, waiting to see what he would do next.

There seemed to be something in the air he couldn’t bring himself to say. He looked down at the ground and kicked at the dirt.

“If I’m not here the day after tomorrow, don’t wait for me. I don’t know what will happen with the council.”

“Of course, I will. I wish you luck tomorrow, Aurik,” Freya took a step back out of his reach. Her heart was pounding from him being so close, face to face. It was intense, but part of her liked it.

With a nod, golden wings spread wide and lifted him into the air.

Freya watched as Aurik got farther through the gaps in the trees until the speck of his body disappeared into the distant clouds.

She envied him for being able to fly. If she could only fly, she would step up to replace her sister. She worried she’d lose Aurik next. What if this was the last time she’d see him?