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I found myself laughing too.Volka.I hadn’t heard that nickname in a long time. It meant wolf.
His smile dimmed. “I asked Aya Olene about her, and their dancing and laughing stopped. They wouldn’t say what happened, but I know. The Gutter took her,” he rasped. “Like it takes us all in the end. It’s terrible because out of everybody, I always thought she’d be the one to make it out.”
I did, Riordan! I made it out. If only I could tell you.My hand fell to my side.If only I could tell Mama and my siblings they don’t have to stop smiling. Everything’s going to be all right.
“My lady.”
I turned to Eadaoin, who pointed at the flickering orblight. It was only recently I was informed they flickered every hour, onthe hour, to help the Lumenfellians track the time in this land of dark and ice.
“Goodbye, Riordan,” I said, “and thank you.”
I LET MYSELF INTO THEwar room, causing Alisdair to raise his head. He glanced at me, then to the man behind me.
“What do you want?”
The leopard faeriken bowed. “I am here at my lady’s request.”
“This is Fintan,” I broke in, saving him. “I remembered you saying how busy you are, dear husband, and what a waste it is having to teach me. It was unfair of me to demand you teach me to read runes too when you already have so much on your plate.” I gestured to him. “Hence, Fintan. He will take over my runic lessons.”
“No,” Alisdair replied. “Get out.”
I laughed. “You’re so silly, my lord. Come, come, Fintan, it’s all right.” The guy was already halfway out the door. “My lord makes these jokes all the time.
“You just continue working,” I told Alisdair, “and we’ll be over here.”
I herded Fintan to a small table in the corner. Under Alisdair’s watchful, narrowed eyes, I gathered parchment, inks, and quills, and brought it back for us to begin.
“Okay, uh...” Fintan tried not to look at his glaring king. “How much do you know, my lady?”
“Nothing. You’ll have to start at the beginning, and teach me absolutely everything you know.” I winked at him. “But a smart, clever guy like you? You’re just the man for the job.”
He started. “Oh. Th-thank you, Lady Ana.”
“You are most welcome,” I said, brushing back my hair to reveal Emiana’s pale throat and ample cleavage.
Aeris didn’t know when she chose my blue silk gown with the plunging neckline, she was helping me and Eadaoin complete the next step in my plan to make Alisdair fall in love with me.
I couldn’t tumble the man in front of Alisdair—and I also didn’t want to—but I could give him my full and adoring attention.
“Let’s begin.” Fintan grabbed a quill and parchment and began writing out the runes. “There are six thousand five hundred and seventy-eight runes in total, but you only need to know four thousand for fluency.”
I nodded. That much I knew.
“Let’s begin with the twenty most common ones. This is the rune for water and—”
“Actually,” I broke in. “I was hoping we could begin by learning my marriage runes. They’re bound to my soul. I should know what they say.”
“Very sensible, my queen. Which one would—?”
I slipped my sleeve off my shoulder. A deep, furious growl smothered the room.
“Princess.” The warning in his voice was loud and clear.
I ignored him. “This one.” I pointed. “What does this mean?”
“It— Uh— It means—” Fintan flicked back and forth between me and Alisdair. “It means fidelity.”
Of course it did. “Would you show me how to write it?”
