Earth's End

“—and move the archers’ wall using your magic, as was discussed,” the Emperor finished, deftly ignoring his son’s outburst.

Aldrik stood.

“Where do you think you are going?” Emperor Solaris asked. “I think it obvious.” Aldrik drew his height. “She is too valuable to go unprotected.”

“I need you this morning.” The room temperature seemed to rise as the current and future Emperors locked eyes in a staring match.

“I would rather go with Vhalla.” Aldrik threw the gauntlet. The Emperor’s eye twitched. “Your brother’s Golden Guard will be sufficient. Won’t it, Baldair?”

“Yes, we’ll look after her.” Baldair was quick to stand—quick to flee, more like—and he joined Raylynn and Jax.

“Father, this—”

“My prince,” Vhalla dared to interrupt. “I think, you must be tired still from your long sleep.” She tiptoed delicately with her words. “Your concern on my behalf is beyond what one like me deserves.” Vhalla lowered her eyes, hating herself immediately for the necessary act of humility. She wasn’t beneath Aldrik any longer, and the last man she wanted to humble herself before was the Emperor. “But I understand you have other duties. Please, consider them.”

“What a day, when the crown prince is reminded of his duties by a low-born girl,” the Emperor sneered. “Now sit, Aldrik. We have much to discuss.”

Vhalla watched Aldrik sink onto the bench. His shoulders were heavy, but his eyes were aflame. She let Baldair usher her into the sun. Vhalla searched for Aldrik’s image even as the door closed, praying he would continue the necessary dance. Her stomach tightened.

“So what needs to be done?” Vhalla asked no one in particular. One of the Golden Guard, Elecia, someone around her would know what was next. Her brain wasn’t working properly, she was so tired. All she could think of was Aldrik and his father alone in that overwhelming room.

A man pushed off from where he leaned against the side of the building next to the door. “I’ll show you what we need moved.”

Vhalla tensed instantly. Daniel. His dark brown hair was tied at the nape of his neck today, stray pieces floating around the stubble on his jaw. Vhalla’s lips pursed into a thin line. No one else spoke. Jax, Baldair, Elecia, Raylynn, half the army could’ve been standing there, but none of them saved Vhalla.

“Not you,” she breathed.

“I’m sorry.” Daniel took an unwelcome step toward her. “Let me apologize.”

Vhalla bit her lower lip to keep it from quivering in frustration. She wanted so badly to hate him. It would be so much easier if she could hate him for his petty jealousy.

“No one else knows?” Vhalla sought help from Baldair and

Raylynn. Jax and Elecia had already vanished—the traitors. “Daniel?” There was a whole language of words around the man’s name from Baldair’s mouth. The prince peered at the guard, apparent concern in his eyes at Daniel’s continued involvement with Vhalla. Raylynn seemed to hear the meaning as well, gazing expectantly at the Easterner.

“I know what I’m doing,” Daniel asserted to his friends. “I’ll show her what the majors decided to move.”

“I leave you in his care,” Baldair said after a long internal debate.

Vhalla wanted to scream at the prince’s back as he walked away. What did he think he was doing? She was going to find Baldair, sit him down, and make him tell her everything that went on in that confounding head of his.

But, for now, Vhalla’s attention finally returned to the inevitable: Daniel. His eyes shone with earnest remorse. She crossed her arms.

“Let’s talk as we walk,” he suggested.

Vhalla nodded and dragged her feet half a step behind him, focusing on the ground.

“You were right,” Daniel began. “I was the one who presumed.” He tilted his head up to the sky, watching the cloud wisps drift through a canvas of endless blue. “You owe me nothing for spending time with me. You can do so without it meaning anything, or, well, anything that you don’t intend for it to mean.”

His apology was both justifying and guilt inducing. “

Truthfully, I think we both wanted the same thing: forgetfulness of the holes in our hearts left by others.” Daniel paused briefly, glancing down at her. Vhalla met his eyes. Their hazel colors were nothing special; pull any ten Easterners and nine of them would have some variation of the shade. But the way they shone then, the way the sun hit his raw honesty and sincerity. He was stunning. “I can’t fault you for seeking something to fill the void when I was doing the same.”

“Well, that doesn’t make it right,” Vhalla finally spoke. She brought her hands together, paying attention to her feet more than the soldiers around them, the camp, or wherever it was he was leading her to. “You just said so yourself. I was using you for something.” The confession was barely a whisper.

“Just because something isn’t right doesn’t make it wrong.” Daniel’s tone shifted, and it sent a small tingle up Vhalla’s spine. “Tell me something. During all this ‘using’, were you unhappy?”

“No, but—”

“Then it couldn’t have been wrong,” he spoke with confidence. “I was happy, you were happy. Let’s not worry so much over what it was or is. Let’s not try to make it into something it’s not. You can make your own decisions, and trust that I know such. You can do what you wish and—” he faltered briefly, but long enough for Vhalla to witness, “—with whom you wish. So, let’s put it all behind us?”