Magni
A breeze of cold air made me pull my covers higher. Cracking an eye open, I saw Boulder opening the window.
“What are you doing?” My voice was rusty from sleep. “You’re letting out the heat. Close the door and the window.”
Boulder sat down on the edge of the windowsill and looked at me. “I’m letting in some fresh air. It stinks like a brewery in here.” He was wearing a thick jacket and crossed his arms. “Wanna tell me what happened last night? I thought you’d stopped that shit months ago.”
Flashbacks from last night had me groaning and rubbing my face.
“Do you remember telling Laura not to come back?”
“Close the fucking door,” I mumbled and reached for my clothes. This time Boulder complied.
“I might have said some stupid stuff to her,” I admitted. “I was upset.”
“She thought you were getting yourself killed.”
I pulled a thick sweater over my head. “Why?”
“Because you told her you were about to fight some random jerk who had talked trash about her. According to Laura, she had to guess half of what you said in your drunken state. She was convinced you wouldn’t be able to fight.”
“The guy was drunk too.”
“I know, I saw him.”
After putting on my socks, pants, and boots, I looked at Boulder. “Wait a minute. When did you talk to Laura?”
“She called Finn, who called me. That’s why Archer and I showed up and brought you back here.”
Running a hand through my shoulder-length hair, I gathered it on top in a messy bun. The sides were shaved short, and I loved the convenience of this hairdo.
“I’m hungry,” I said and reached for a tooth cleaner. The small rice-kernel-sized device began polishing and cleaning while I looked myself in the small mirror and groaned. My jaw was yellow and when I touched the skin it hurt.
“Laura is here.”
My hand froze mid-air and I slowly turned my head to look at Boulder. “What did you say?”
“Laura came early this morning. She’s up at the school.”
My blurry brain kicked into gear. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I just did.”
I flew out of the cabin with Boulder next to me. “Is she okay?”
“Laura is fine, she’s been waiting for you to wake up. We figured you needed time to sleep.”
My wristband told me it was half past ten in the morning, and I cursed softly. By now my Huntsmen would be wondering why they hadn’t heard from me.
“Did you tell Khan about my visit to the bar last night?”
“No.”
“Good, I’d rather he didn’t hear about it.”
“He told me about you two arguing yesterday. You shouldn’t have gone after Pearl like that.”
I spun around and grabbed Boulder’s jacket. “She’s manipulating him and he can’t see it.”
“You’re upset about the Council’s demand for her to be Khan’s co-ruler.” Boulder pushed me back in a gentle way. “I get that.”
“It’ll be over my dead body,” I swore.
He frowned. “Don’t fucking say that.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I’d rather die a free man than be tamed by a Momsie like Khan and you.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Boulder’s face scrunched up. “If anything, Christina makes me a better man.”
“Yeah, but you have to admit that Pearl is like a spider waiting to bite the head off her mate.”
“That’s crazy talk. The Pearl I know is kind, wise, and generous. Khan used to be unpredictable and moody. I’d say she’s been a good influence on him.”
“The woman is manipulative and dangerous,” I claimed. “You just wait until our people learn that the Council has Khan by his balls, making a woman our ruler.”
“I agree that most won’t like it at first, but these are times of change, and many welcome it.”
“Do you?”
Boulder shrugged.
“Do you?” I repeated.
“I think Pearl is a good influence on Khan.”
“You can’t mean that.”
Boulder shifted his balance from one foot to the other. “I know you hate the Motlander women, but we have a lot to learn from them.”
I snorted. “Like what?”
Boulder looked around. “It’s hard to explain, but Christina asks me questions that no one else does. She connects me to a part of me that I hardly knew myself.”
My eyebrows drew close. “What part?”
“How I feel about things and what’s going on inside of me. It’s like I’ve been sailing my whole life on this amazing ocean where the coolest things were happening under the surface. She’s encouraging me to jump in the water with her and go explore.”
My head hurt, I was thirsty and hungry, and the last thing I needed was to lose another friend to the enemy.
“You’re as bad as Khan. Who the hell talks about their emotions and feelings?”
Boulder and I had reached the kitchen inside the school and I went straight for the coffee. “You’re even talking in metaphors like the Momsies now.” I shook my head and mumbled under my breath. “Fucking ocean talk.”
“You understood what I meant.”
“Yeah. I understood, but it’s fucking depressing to hear my last friend left here talk like a sissy.”
“I’m not a sissy, and I’m not your last friend here.”
I threw up my hands. “Finn left, remember?”
Boulder bumped my shoulder with his own to get to the coffee. “I think Archer would be offended to hear that, since he helped drag your ass back here last night.”
“Archer did?”
“Uh-huh.” Boulder sipped on his coffee. “It’s funny with you, Magni. I’ve known you for more than ten years and all those years I’ve seen men circle you, trying to become your friend. Great men look up to you and admire you, but you never let any of them in.”
I shrugged. “Trust doesn’t come easy to me, that’s all.”
Boulder scoffed. “That’s an understatement.”
“Besides, I have Finn and you.”
“Yeah, but you don’t talk to us about things.”
I put down my coffee cup and found some leftover breakfast to eat. “Of course I talk to you. We’re talking right now, aren’t we?”
“Sure, we talk about politics, sports, and how annoying Khan is, but we don’t talk about all the stuff that’s under the surface.”
Rolling my eyes, I stuffed a piece of apple in my mouth. “I’m not jumping into the fucking ocean with you.”
“Why not, are you scared of what you might find?”
I scoffed. “I’m just smart enough to stay in the boat. You might have seahorses and mermaids under your surface, but I guarantee that my ocean is full of sharks and rip currents that will drag me down.”
“And here I thought you were fearless,” Boulder challenged.
I snorted and stuffed more food into my mouth.
Right then, Archer walked in. “Could you two keep it down? The kids are meditating in the other room.”
“Is Laura with them?” I asked Archer, who snatched a roll from my plate and took a bite.
“She went to the lake with Kya. They should be back soon.”
“Hey Archer, can I ask you something?” Boulder said.
“Sure.”
“Would you consider me your friend?”
“Sure. Why?”
“How about Magni? Would you consider him your friend?”
Archer looked from Boulder to me with a thoughtful expression. “Sort of.”
“What makes you hesitate?”
Archer scratched his arm. “I don’t know.”
“Is it because you’re not sure if Magni sees you as a friend?”
“I guess.”
“He does!” Boulder lifted his cup. “And he’s very grateful that we saved his ass last night.”
“No problem.” Archer smiled. “Gotta get back to the class.”
When the door closed, I frowned at Boulder. “I can speak for myself.”
“You haven’t made a new friend in ten years; it was time.”
“I don’t need you to find me friends.”
“He was already your friend, you just couldn’t see it.”
The sound of voices from outside made me look out the window to see Kya and Laura walking back to the school.
“How are you feeling?” Laura asked when I walked outside to meet her.
“Fine.” My mind was analyzing every little signal from her. She didn’t look hurt, but she avoided eye contact and seemed guarded.
“Hey, Magni,” Kya greeted me and smiled at Laura. “I’ll see you later.”
I waited for Kya to enter the school before I spoke. “You came back.”
Laura met my eyes briefly before she looked down. “I did.”
“Are you staying?”
“No.”
Boulder had talked about an inner ocean and in that moment, I was sucked down under by a huge wave. “Laura.” My voice was ashy and it hurt to speak. I couldn’t remember our conversation from yesterday but I knew I’d been in a bad state. Laura wasn’t like Christina or Pearl. She wasn’t interested in my feelings or emotions. Northlander women wanted their mates to be strong and tough. Not whining in a drunken state. “You didn’t have to call Finn,” I managed to say despite the huge knot in my throat.
“I had to do something.”
It was another stab to my gut. My woman shouldn’t feel that she had to save me. I was the protector, not her.
“I would have been fine.” It came out harsher than I intended it to.
For a few seconds, we stood opposite each other in a tense silence until the door opened behind us and the children came out.
“Hey Magni, are you gonna work with us today?” Storm, one of the boys, asked. He stood in a large group of boys that all looked hopeful.
“Don’t you boys have school?”
“It’s Saturday, and we already did the morning run, breakfast, and meditation. Now we’re free to have fun.”
I had forgotten what day it was and drew in a long breath. “Maybe I can spar with you boys later. Right now I have to talk to my wife.” I met Laura’s eyes and saw them widen when a pair of small hands snaked around my waist from behind.
Only one child would hug me like that. “Mila, come meet my wife, Laura,” I said and twisted my body to reach for her. I had forgotten how shy Mila used to be when she first arrived at the school. With Laura being a stranger, Mila had reverted to being shy. Looking down, and staying close to me, she kept her hands around my waist.
“It’s okay, I met the children this morning.” Laura smiled at Mila. “Magni told me nice things about you.”
Mila looked up at me and I nodded at her to go on.
“I’ve heard about you too,” she said in a soft voice. “And I asked Magni to call you so I could hear your voice.”
Laura gave Mila a small smile. “You did?”
“Yes, I wanted to know if you saw him at the funeral when he was in love with you.”
“I wasn’t in love with her,” I corrected Mila. “Laura was a child back then.”
“But you liked her,” Mila insisted.
“It’s getting cold out here. Maybe we should go inside.” I didn’t wait for them to agree but walked back in.
“Laura, can I show you my favorite part of the school?” Mila asked behind me.
“I would love that.”
Other children moved around us and one of the boys bumped into Laura.
“Hey, watch it,” I warned him with fire in my eyes.
“I’m sorry.” Hunter held up both hands and hurried away.
“Take the running outside,” Kya instructed. “Marco, Archer, and the other boys went to play soccer. Anyone is welcome to join them. How about you, Raven? You like soccer.”
The room emptied out as most left to either watch or play soccer.
“This is my favorite part,” Mila said and pointed to a door that seemed to be the broom closet.
“Why?” Laura asked.
“It’s where the instruments are.” She opened the door and we could see different musical instruments in boxes. “We used to have them out here, but some of the students can’t keep their hands off them, and it’s distracting.”
“Which instrument do you play?”
“I sing.”
“Oh.” Laura smiled.
Mila pulled out a box. “I love to play with the pitch box.”
“What does it do?” Laura reached out to see the box with her hands.
“It gives singing lessons. I have to follow a song and if I’m off key, the box shows it. If I remember all lines and sing the song in a perfect pitch, I go on to the next level.” Mila’s dimples came out when she smiled. “I’m the only one who’s at level thirty-one.”
“Wow, that’s great. Maybe you can demonstrate how it works,” Laura suggested.
Mila moved closer to me and I placed my hand around her. “It’s okay, Mila, you don’t have to be shy with Laura – she can’t sing for shit. She’ll be impressed with your voice.”
Laura crossed her arms. “Says the man who makes people’s ears bleed when he sings in the shower.”
“I hum in a low baritone,” I corrected her and squeezed Mila closer. “So you see, honey, it really won’t take much to impress the both of us.”
“Okay.” Mila took the box from Laura and pointed to the cozy corner. “You can sit there.”
I arranged my seven-foot body on the floor next to Laura, who picked a large orange pillow to sit on.
“Magni, you should use that pillow. It’s my favorite.” Mila gestured to a heart-shaped fluffy one in purple.
“Nah, I’m good,” I said and shook my head.
But Mila wanted me to be comfortable and brought it to me. “Feel how soft it is.”
Laura studied me when I took the pillow. She might think me a softie for caving but there was no way I could reject Mila’s kindness. I took the fluffy pillow and sat on it. Good thing my body was large enough to cover most of the damn thing.
When Mila began singing, Laura gave me a look that said, I didn’t expect this. The girl had a beautiful voice and the machine showed that she was right on pitch.
“Do you want to try it?” Mila asked Laura when she was done.
Laura tilted her head and looked at me. “I’ll do it, if Magni does it.”
“Will you?” Mila's eyes became pleading. “It would be so much fun.”
“Sorry, hon, but my singing voice is best when I’m drunk.”
“What’s that?”
Laura was quick to explain. “Here in the Northlands there’s something called alcohol. People who drink it become silly and irrational. Sometimes they think they have amazing singing voices when they don’t. Other times they think fighting someone is a great idea even if they see double.”
“That’s right,” I pitched in. “You wouldn’t know about it since alcohol is forbidden in the Motherlands. Just like most other fun things are forbidden there.”
“I had a lot of fun back home,” Mila pointed out.
“Yeah, but that was before you knew what it’s like in the Northlands. I’m sure if given the choice, you’d want to live here, right?”
Mila bit her lip.
“I mean, you wouldn’t leave your husband to live in the Motherlands, would you?” I didn’t look at Laura, but the comment was aimed at her.
“I don’t know.” Mila looked down. “Maybe if he wasn’t nice to me.”
I frowned. “Oh, I’d make fucking sure he was nice to you, sweetheart.”
Mila came to sit in front of us, her body leaning against my knee, and she reached for my hand. I burst with pride, hoping that Laura noticed the girl’s adoration of me.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said.” Mila spoke softly. “About you arranging a tournament for me when I’m older.”
“What about it?” I asked. “It’s the only way to be sure you get a worthy husband.”
“But what if he hits me?”
I frowned again. “Why would he hit you?” Her words triggered me and the thought of any man laying a hand on my little princess had me disliking the idea of her ever marrying.
“It’s just something I heard – rumors that Archer once hit Kya’s behind.” She looked down and fiddled with her hands.
“I know, sweetie, but that was just a spanking.”
Mila’s eyes were large and full of concern, so I explained. “Spanking is not the same as hitting. It’s less painful and doesn’t leave marks.”
“But you said husbands are supposed to protect their wives. Then why would they hurt them? I don’t understand why Archer couldn’t just be nice to Kya. You would never be that mean to Laura, would you, Daddy?”
This conversation had me sweating. “Ehm… no, of course not,” I said, hoping Laura wouldn’t reveal the truth.
Mila leaned in to hug me. “I knew it. Then I want my husband to be just like you when I grow up.”
I patted her hair. Her comment should have made me square my shoulders in pride. But Laura and I both knew that I had always considered it a husband’s responsibility to discipline his wife. If Mila understood that I’d spanked Laura several times, my little pacifistic princess would be disappointed with me.
When Laura spoke up, I held my breath. “If you decide to stay and have a tournament, Mila, I’m sure Magni will explain to your champion that the best kind of marriage is one where both parties respect each other. He would never allow anyone to make you feel like your opinion doesn’t matter or that you’re not equal to your husband.”
Laura was beating me at my own game, and I cleared my throat. “I don’t know about that. Men and women aren’t equal in the Northlands.”
“Why not?” Mila asked.
“Because men are born leaders. It’s their role to take charge and be in control. You wouldn’t want to marry a wuss, would you?”
“No, I guess not.” Mila looked at Laura. “If you could do it again, would you have a tournament?”
Laura took time to think about it. “Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of my tournament. It’s a very special day for a Northlander woman when thousands of men fight for her. My answer would be a big yes.”
“But would you have chosen Magni again?”
I sucked in a deep breath and quickly said, “Laura, you don’t need to answer that.” Mila adored me and I didn’t want Laura to tell the girl what a disappointment I’d been as a husband. “Thank you for the beautiful song. It’s time for me to go and show the kids how to play soccer.”
Mila smiled. “They say you play unfair and that you cheat.”
I got up and stretched my arms in a yawn. “I would never cheat.”
“You picked Plato up from the ground so he couldn’t reach the ball with his feet.”
“So?”
“You can’t do that.” Mila insisted. “You have to play by the rules.”
I grinned and pulled her up from the floor. “I should have known you could never be my biological daughter. There’s no way I would have produced such a wonderful rule follower.”
Mila grinned up at me and turned to Laura. “Will you come and play soccer with us?”
“Sure. But I’m warning you, Mila, I’m no rule follower either.”
Mila shrugged. “It’s okay. Northlanders never are.”