Chapter 20

The weeks passed, and they spent their days in the kitchen. As winter approached, they were tasked with preserving the year’s harvest and spent several days bottling vegetables brought to them in large sacks. It was harder than Aislin had thought, and far from her stay in her castle at home, but at least they were in safety. She had tried to talk to Sami again, but the kitchen mistress had separated them, assigning them to different groups, and there hadn’t been time.

At least she hadn’t seen the Lady since the feast, so it seemed like she hadn’t found a reason to revoke her decision to let them stay. Even Eru was slowly finding her place, and Aislin had even seen her trying to sign to one of the other children working in the kitchen.

One evening, as the day drew to a close, they made their way up to their room. She could feel the cold setting in, and she shivered in the unheated fortress. Aislin hoped they would be able to ask for more blankets, but she hadn’t dared to raise the topic in case the Lady would object.

As they arrived at the top of the stairs, she halted. The Lady’s daughter was standing on the platform, seemingly waiting for them. Aislin had only seen her at the feast and sometimes as she came down to the kitchen to talk to the kitchen mistress, but she had never spoken to them. Freja, she’d heard, was her name. Now, she stood there, blocking their way. Aislin bowed.

“I…”

Freja hesitated, and Aislin glanced at Sami, but she stood silently by their side.

“I will show you around the fortress tomorrow. I will talk to Agnes that you don’t need to attend your duties.”

Freja glanced at them, waiting for their response. Aislin knew they couldn’t say no, even if she didn’t understand why she had offered it. She bowed.

“Of course”

Seemingly relieved, Freja smiled.

“I’m glad. I will see you tomorrow”

She turned and left without another word, and Aislin glanced at Sami. She wanted to ask her what she thought about it, but didn’t want to scare Eru in case she understood her reply, so they continued to their room in silence.

The next morning, before breakfast, there was a knock on the door. A soldier stepped inside, announcing that Freja would see them in the courtyard shortly. Aislin helped Eru get dressed, and they walked together down to the court. Just as the soldier had said, Freja stood waiting for them, and she smiled as she saw them.

“I’m… happy you could come”

Aislin bowed, not sure if she should act as a servant or a member of another Nation. Freja didn’t seem to notice, though, and after a moment of silence, she gestured for them to follow.

“I… wanted to show you the outer walls. You’ll have a good view of the valley from there.”

Eru clung to Aislin’s hand as they followed her over the courtyard and to the stairs leading up to the wall. She wondered why Freja was doing this and if it was on the Lady’s order or her own decision. She wished she could have spoken to Sami about it, but she knew there hadn’t been a chance. They climbed the stairs, and Freja halted as they came up to the wall. Below them, the plain where they had first arrived could be seen, and to the side, the valley with its forest spread out. Even though their two nations shared friendship, her Father had never taken her North to see this wilderness.

Freja led them along the wall, pointing out landmarks in the distance that related to their history. Aislin tried to be attentive, listening and commenting as she saw fit. After a while, Eru dared to let go of her hand and leaned out to get a view of the landscape. Only Sami stayed silent, following them behind. Maybe she didn’t want to draw attention to herself if the Lady still was suspicious of her, Aislin thought.

As lunch approached, Freja took them to a small garden. She gestured for them to sit.

“I… will bring you lunch. Tomorrow, I’ll show you more”

She hesitated for a moment, as if wanting to say something else, before turning and leaving.