Stormtide. Den Patrick

don’t tell Mistress Kamalov.’

      Kjellrunn ate for a time and they listened to the shushing sound of the waves against the prow. Stars shone overhead and the ship rumbled and groaned as the timbers moved. The sails billowed from the masts and Kjellrunn felt calm in the presence of the two Spriggani.

      ‘What will you do?’ asked Sundra.

      ‘What do you mean?’

      ‘What will you do in the weeks ahead? We won’t always be on this ship.’ Kjellrunn couldn’t quite believe what was happening. Here was a high priestess of Frejna, representative of a proscribed religion, asking about her future. Here was a woman four times her age if not more, speaking to her as if she were an adult with a plan.

      ‘I don’t know. My family … It seems we’re destined to be pulled apart. I’ll never be able to find them on my own.’ It was tough to admit to such a thing, but the words needed saying.

      ‘It is difficult to be away from the ones we love,’ said Sundra, though Kjellrunn realised the words were intended for Tief rather than her.

      ‘I’m going on to Yamal with Kimi and Marozvolk,’ explained Tief. ‘We’re going to present ourselves to the Yamali king and explain what happened, try and rally the tribes for the forthcoming war.’

      ‘You don’t know they will go to war,’ snapped Sundra.

      ‘Hopefully Steiner will raise such a ruckus the Emperor will be too busy to send an army to Yamal.’ Tief toked on his pipe a moment. ‘But if he does send an army …’

      ‘And Taiga has decided she has to go with him,’ said Sundra to Kjellrunn with a note of disgust in her voice. ‘Everyone rushing off to get themselves killed. Did we escape the island for nothing!’ The old priestess rolled her eyes in a rare display of pique and Kjellrunn almost laughed, though she shared the sentiment entirely.

      ‘And Taiga is coming,’ agreed Tief. He blew out the smoke and cleared his throat. ‘The thing is—’

      ‘The thing is,’ said Sundra, her voice brittle with irritation, ‘is that I am too damned old to go wandering around this continent. I will leave the ship and stay with Mistress Kamalov and the children. I should very much like it if you were to become my apprentice.’ Kjellrunn nearly choked on her apple. She stared at the older woman in disbelief.

      ‘Apprentice?’

      ‘I am getting old and our religion has all but died out. I need someone to carry these traditions and beliefs on to the next generation.’

      ‘But I barely know anything about the goddesses,’ said Kjellrunn.

      ‘As it is in all the provinces of the Solmindre Empire and the Scorched Republics. There was a temple in Virag, you know? Dedicated to my goddess. They boarded up the windows and the doors were locked.’

      ‘All knowledge of the old ways is prohibited in Nordvlast,’ added Kjellrunn.

      ‘But this did not stop you, did it, Kjellrunn?’ Sundra narrowed her eyes with a smile of admiration on her thin lips.

      ‘Well, no,’ Kjellrunn admitted. ‘I always loved the old stories.’

      Sundra clucked her tongue and shook her head. ‘They are not just old stories!’

      ‘Pah! You’ve upset her already.’ Tief gave an earthy chuckle. ‘You’ll make a fine initiate.’

      ‘And what of my family?’

      ‘I’ll be out there,’ said Tief, jerking a thumb towards land. ‘There can’t be too many people rushing towards Khlystburg in the hopes of killing the Emperor. I have hope that I’ll cross paths with your brother before too long. I’ll be sure to bring him back to you.’

      Kjellrunn smiled.

      ‘That’s it, girl. You keep smiling. There’s too much pain in the world and every smile is a rebellion against it.’

      Sundra made a dismissive snort. ‘So says the grumpiest man I know.’

      ‘Nothing to say I can’t be a grump and hypocrite at the same time,’ replied Tief proudly.

      ‘An initiate of Frejna,’ said Kjellrunn, testing the words out. Sundra nodded. ‘And we’ll live in Shanisrond and wait there until my family comes back?’

      ‘We will.’ The high priestess got to her feet, though it took her some time and a helping hand from Tief. Sundra was quickly swallowed by the darkness as she retired for the night. Kjellrunn stood to watch her go.

      ‘Thank you for that,’ said Tief when his sister had gone. ‘I’ll be glad to know someone will be keeping an eye on her.’

      ‘You looked after my brother on the island, didn’t you?’

      He grinned. ‘I did, although Frøya knows he was a pain in the arse more often than not.’

      ‘I’m beginning to think everyone is a pain in the arse,’ said Kjellrunn as her thoughts turned to Mistress Kamalov and the ever-present Trine.

      ‘Maybe you’re right,’ said Tief. ‘But some of them are worth fighting for.’