Page 69 of Soul of Fire

“There’s a kloster in Hovedstaden. A house of priestesses.” His brows drew together in thought. “There are others around the kingdom, but I’m not sure how many.”

“Could Sigrid bethere?“ I asked. A priestess house was asortof a home for the Goddess.

“Possibly. But the way she wrote the letter, I think not.” Arik shifted uncomfortably, as if he didn’t like being uncertain. “She capitalized the word ‘Home.’ I think it was on purpose.”

“Do you think Sigrid is a priestess? Or was, before she came to Henrik’s?”

“I don’t know, Kjære. Sigrid seems to have kept a lot of secrets. I’m almost certain those symbols she drew are völva runes.”

“Völva?” The word was unfamiliar, and I cursed myself for not asking Sigrid more about her past.

“In other parts of the world, they’re called witches. Before the Rift, they were revered as priestesses because of their connection to the Hearthmother and her magic.” Arik sighed, his brow furrowed. “But they were all killed or exiled after sorcery was outlawed.”

“But there are priestesses today,” I pointed out, lifting the tiny blue gem on Arik’s chest to examine it.

“Hearthmother save me, you’re as bad as Anders.” Arik looked down at me, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Yes, there are still priestesses, but none are Völva. Their practices are monitored by the Crown, and their ceremonies are all non-magical.”

“Then how would Sigrid know runes?”

“Another question I’d like to ask her.” Arik sighed, lifting the silver chain from my grasp. “Along with why my mother would have this.”

I gazed at the tiny gem, almost identical to the one Sigrid had placed around my neck. I had a strange urge to reach out and take it from him. To place it around my neck so the gem would hang where Sigrid’s had once. Where a diamond scar sat now.

It belongs with us.It had been so long since I’d heard Idunn that I nearly jumped.Sigrid will tell him so.

“What is it?” Arik frowned at me, and I gave myself a little shake.

“Nothing.” I wasn’t sure why I didn’t want to tell him Idunn’s belief that the necklace should be ours, but it felt wrong to demand it when it was his mother’s. “It’s just…odd.”

“I think we’re beyond odd, Kjære.” Arik tucked the necklace back beneath the blanket, and I let my hand rest atop it. It thrummed once, as if it beat in time with Arik’s heart.

“If Sigrid isn’t at the temple, what then?”

“Pray that she’s on Àsynjaheimr.” Arik laid back against the pillows, pulling me closer to him. “I don’t want to try to sneak back into Hovedstaten to search the kloster. Not with my father hunting us.”

“So it’s, what—a day and a half from here? Two days?” I sighed, thinking about how far we’d have to travel. We’d basically be doubling back, which was annoying, to say the least. “What do you think she meant about the mirror being faster?”

Arik shook his head and scrubbed a hand over his face. “Damned if I know.”

It was strange not having him privy to all of Idunn’s thoughts, and I vowed never to tease him for reading my mind ever again if we got Baldur back.

Whenwe got him back.

“I don’t think we should risk Idunn being seen,” he added, rubbing his chin pensively. “If we fly by night it will take longer, but we risk less chance of being spotted.”

Idunn rustled in annoyance. She still forlornly prodded at the emptiness at the end of our mental bridge, only half paying attention to anything I said.

But she heard that.My magnificence is meant to be observed.

I laughed.

“What did she say?” Arik’s face was impassive, but I could see the sadness in his eyes. The guilt.

“She says people should observe her magnificence,” I repeated as I cupped his face. “And it’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known.”

He shook his head, lifting my hand from his cheek and tucking it once more against his chest. “I should have suspected. Few people know about mistletoe, but I should have realized my father would seek out any weakness he could use against me.”

“You knew about it?” The first I had heard of mistletoe affecting drage was in the throne room.