Britta nodded, straightening her hair in its two usual braids on either side of her head. “Your clothes are in your green pack.” She paused, her tone coming out strained. “You and Jens had a fight already?”
“I know. He’s being a real pain today. Picking on Charles isn’t cool, and I told him exactly that. Why can’t he just get along with him?”
Britta smiled with her gentle grace when I came out from behind the partition. “Oh, that’s exquisite on you. Just how I pictured it. And Jens isn’t prone to making friends easily. I do know he cares about you a great deal.”
I tried to fasten the dress, but doing a corset from behind is confusing. I fumbled with the lacing. “Lucky me. That means I get yelled at five minutes after I wake up from the worst flu of my life. Do you know if there’s anything to eat? I’m starving.”
“May I?” Britta began lacing up the dress in the back for me. “Jens doesn’t know how to be vulnerable. That’s what makes him such a reliable guardian gnome. I’m sorry he’s been coarse with you.” She jerked me with surprising strength to get the corset tighter. “Hold on to the door,” she suggested.
I grabbed the knob to steady myself against her tugs, holding my breath while she finished lacing up my dress and pinning up the bustle. When she was done, I looked down at myself in awe. “Whoa. I’ve never worn anything this sexy before.” I stretched my arms over my head to make sure my breasts didn’t pop out spontaneously. I never had reason to wear strapless floor-length gowns back home. I’d never been asked to a school dance, and generally covered myself up pretty appropriately. Plus, you know how I feel about dresses. This one, though… This one I liked. I actually felt like a woman in it. Beautiful, even. I’d never seen a flannel ball gown, and wouldn’t have thought one could be so flattering, but there I stood, Lucy Kincaid in a pretty dress. And I wasn’t cringing.
“Lucy, you look lovely,” Britta marveled, her eyes wide at my display of visible cleavage.
“Do you think so?” I asked, my insecurity poking through. “I kinda like the dress. You really made this? You’re incredible.”
“It’s absolutely breathtaking on you. Would you like me to do your hair?”
I nodded and sat on the bed while she twisted and fastened my blonde waves into a complicated updo with many braids and knots to make the hair match the dress in its elegance. “How did you do that?” I wondered aloud when she finished. “I could try to do your hair like this if you can talk me through it.”
Britta blushed as if I’d asked her what her bra size was. “Oh, that’s okay. I don’t need to look impressive to the Nightdwarves. I’m not representing an entire kingdom.”
I shrugged, my bare shoulders moving through the warm noontime air. I patted a spot on the bed in front of me. “Then look impressive for yourself. We can be matching. C’mon. I miss having a girlfriend.” Britta complied with a gleeful grin, and I set to work.
There was no mirror, so I couldn’t tell if our hair matched exactly, but she talked me through enough of it. When I finished, she looked more youthful and feminine than she usually did with her tightly wound braids and white Amish bonnet.
“Man, you’re pretty. You should do your hair like this more often. Wait till Jamie gets a load of you.”
Britta looked down at her hands in her lap. “Jamie’s path is set for him.”
My heart lurched in my chest for the poor girl doomed to love a man she could not have. I wrapped my arms around her from behind. “He hates his path, though. He’s madly in love with you.”
She leaned into me and spoke with great sadness. “I only hope the king doesn’t find out. His father… King Johannes doesn’t always have the best intentions for Jamie. It doesn’t matter that he loves. His fate is sealed.”
I kissed Britta’s cheek. “Try not to think about all that right now. Today you’re a woman with fancy hair and a new dress. Prince Jamie’s in love with you, so enjoy making him work for it tonight.”
She pressed her cheek to mine and giggled softly. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”
“Oh, you’re a minx, and you know it.” We laughed together, sharing in the breath of fresh air the levity brought us.
“And what about you?” she asked as I pulled away.
“What about me?” I stood and straightened my dress, still enthralled with the gold thread and the dainty stitching. The bold pattern of the dress clashed with the elegance of the fit, making it my new favorite thing.
“Jens is going to have to work very hard to cause problems with you tonight.”
I frowned. “Oh, I’m sure he’ll find a way.”
Three.
Foss the Boss
Nik and Foss met us outside the hut Britta had slept in. There was no sign of Jens, and I couldn’t decide if that was a good thing or a bad one.
The two men wore red kilts matching the pattern of the material of my dress and Britta’s kilt. Nik escorted Britta. The poor girl was hit with story after story of wild boars he’d slaughtered in the name of border patrol.
You’re amazing, Nik. We get it.
Foss offered his arm to me with great reluctance. “Let’s get this over with.”
“I can walk by myself. I wouldn’t want you to be seen with a rat like me.”
He scrutinized the sass I usually didn’t bother him with. Whatever. I hadn’t eaten in days. I didn’t feel like pretending with him.
“The Nightdwarves think you have great value, so you’ll walk in with me. Your gnome’s nowhere to be found, and my standing is higher than his, anyway.”
“I’ll do no such thing. I don’t need someone who hates me putting on a show for strangers. Pass.” I picked up my skirts and rustled past him. He moved in front of me, which only fueled my anger. I glared up at him, my scowl matching his. “You might be ashamed to have to work with me, but did it ever occur to you that I’m ashamed to be seen with you? You’re horrible to me and Britta. I have a kingdom to represent. I won’t be seen with your small brain and your bigoted attitude. Unless I need a jar opened, you’re useless to me in this situation.”
I saw Britta’s head point down as she bit back her delight at Foss being put in his place.
Foss looked like, given the option, he would very much like to tear my head off. He certainly had the bulk to do it. “They need to see your kingdom’s protected so they’ll respect it. I’m the one for that.”
I tried to don a more polite tone, since honesty wasn’t getting me anywhere. “Thank you for the offer. Really, it’s super nice of you, but I’m alright on my own.”
Foss waited until Nik and Britta turned the corner ahead of us before he jerked me around, slamming me against wall in the mud hallway. His voice came out a forceful whisper. “You helped kill the Were, so I stand corrected. You’re not completely useless. I’ve killed many, so I know it’s no easy task.”
I was shocked that he’d manhandle me so blatantly. “Get away,” I growled, slipping out from his grasp and shuffling down the hall in my swishy gown.
His palm found my back and pushed me roughly forward.
I tripped over my gold sandals and pitched down onto all fours. “Ow! Do you have to be so rough? Honestly!”
Foss yanked me up off the ground, which almost hurt more than falling had. “Do you have to be so clumsy? You’re infuriating. I can’t believe you’re supposed to represent the best of your species.” He gripped my arm and shook me as he spoke.
“You’re hurting me!” I whimpered, fighting to extract myself from his control. “You would never pull a stunt like this in front of Alrik. Let go!” My pulse was racing when I finally wriggled out of his grip, rubbing the sore spot on my arm.
Foss cast around for Jens, scratching the horizontal line of tattoos on his forearm. “Have you really not seen your gnome? He can handle your mouth better than I can.”
My arm was red, and my dress disheveled. “Jens was being extra charming last I saw him. I’m taking a breather so I don’t get swept off my feet.�
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“Your problem is that no one’s trained you. They let you do whatever you want in your world.” Foss gripped my elbow in a way that chilled the blood in my veins. In that moment, I could tell he was capable of murdering more than just a bear.
He rammed my back against the wall again, one hand pressing my shoulder into the mud-packed surface, and the other coiling around my throat. I thrashed in panic, but he was so much stronger. He pressed his body to mine, lowered his head and whispered through his teeth, “You may be the queen here, but wait until we get to my territory. We keep rats in their place there. Let’s see how your pretty mouth fares with the Fossegrimens.” He touched one of my curls. “They’ve never had a blonde to play with.”
My heart thudded as I tried to struggle out of his grip, clawing at his meaty fingers. “Let me go!” I choked out. I built up a good scream, but Foss released my shoulder and covered my mouth with his massive mitt.
“Here’s how this’ll play out, rat. You’ll walk in on my arm because that’s how it’s done here. You’ll smile and be polite, follow the customs and impress the Nightdwarves with your ability to wear a dress. I’ll act as your escort to show our kingdoms are united, and you’ll say nothing about it. Nod if you understand.”
I nodded, too afraid to cry. Despite the warmth of the day, my body was cold all over. The hairs on my arms stood to run from Foss. I felt disgusting and disgusted and very, very small. Oxygen was hard to come by as his grip tightened around my throat.
“Are you afraid?”
I nodded, fighting to suck down a portion of a breath, wishing more than ever for my dad to rescue me.
“Are you scared enough to obey without causing me any more trouble?”
I closed my eyes and nodded as the world grew a little foggy and my knees felt weak.
In the next second, Nik was on Foss, shoving him off of me. Foss released me, and I whimpered as I collapsed to the earthy ground, feeling my throat and hugging myself to shake off the grip of Foss in all of his violent swings.
“What are you thinking?” Nik shout-whispered, so as not to draw attention to the madness. Foss came back at him, but Nik surprisingly held his ground. “You could’ve killed her!”
“You can see she still breathes.” Foss glanced over his shoulder toward Britta, who tucked the knife back into the pocket of her dress. She was fuming as she helped me to stand. Foss glowered. “She breathes, but now she won’t speak out of turn.”
“This is not the way. I told Alrik it was a mistake to bring a Fossegrimen on the journey. He’ll hear about this, make no mistake.”
“I don’t fear Alrik,” Foss lied, his bravado in full swing.
Nik scoffed. “Then you’re a fool.” He moved toward me, fingering my neck to check for damage. “Are you alright, Queen Lucy?”
I nodded, bottling up any tears that threatened to spill over. “I’m fine.” I shrugged away from Nik and Britta, whose sweetness was a danger to my composure. I touched the heart that held my brother’s ashes on a braided rope around my neck, hoping it would calm me.
Foss pushed Nik out of the way. “I can handle her. Be on your way. We’re already late, which doesn’t bode well for her rule.”
Nik made eye contact with me. “I’m just up here. Shout for me if he tries anything like that again.”
“Okay.” I knew if Foss tried anything like that again, he was likely to kill me. But sure, I’ll try for a scream.
“I trust Jens walked you through what’s expected of you?” Foss inquired, offering his arm like a command and a dare to disobey.
I took it, hating him and myself with every step we took. “No.”
“Excellent,” Foss grumbled. “If I were you, I’d request a transfer from King Johannes himself. Can’t rely on a junkie to come through every time.” He took a deep breath as we walked into the tunnel, encouraging me to do the same. I got the impression that as we moved forward, we were also going down further into the earth. The dirt walls and ceiling were lit with hanging jars that had glowing bugs inside them, casting shadows that made me jumpy in my already frightened state.
My arm was looped through his as he leaned low to talk to me on our walk. “Nightdwarves are much like Tor. They’ll expect you to prove yourself somehow. They drink a lot of Gar, so be prepared to join them for as many shots as it takes.”
“I don’t have much experience with drinking.”
I could tell this was the wrong thing to say by the silent alarm in his eyes. “I take back any mention of you being useful to us.” He ran his hand down his face. “No time like the present to learn to down a shot. Try not to let the drink hit the front of your tongue. We can’t have you blanching like a child and insult them.” He thought further, scratching his short black hair. “Don’t let them bully you. They only respond to strength, so don’t let them talk for you or over you. You are the most important person they’ve ever met, as far as you’re concerned. If you don’t go into this like that, they’ll walk all over you, and the human race will be the butt of jokes for centuries to come.”
“What?” All of this was making me very nervous. The absence of Jens, an empty stomach and the beginnings of a headache in the back of my brain all made me want to run and hide. “Foss, there’s no way I can walk into a roomful of Tors and make them think I’m amazing. I can’t even get Tor to think I’m halfway useful! This is a bad plan!”
Foss stopped our progression and moved me over to the side of the tunnel, pressing my back to the packed dirt wall in the same manner, but less forcefully. Panic lit me from the inside once more.
Again, his hand covered my scream as I struggled between him and the wall for escape. “You’ll do this because you must.” His body squashed mine to the wall, and I only barely was able to fend off a panic attack.
“Let her go!” Nik sang in full operatic tune.
Just like that, Foss’s arms dropped to the side. He shook his head, clearing it of Nik’s enchantment that was delivered through song. “Don’t try your Nøkken tricks on me.”
Nik shoved Foss aside. “This is not the way, Foss! You cannot scare confidence into her.” Nik’s arms went around me to quell my trembling. “You listen to me, Lucy Kincaid. I’ve met exactly one human, and she can handle a lot more than you’re giving her credit for. You knew nothing about any of this a month ago, and here you are, a queen amongst the common.”
“But I…” My breathing was unsteady as the trepidation thrummed in my vessels.
Nik held up his hand to stave off my protests, posturing at the feel of a woman in his arms. “We’re a team now. You and me and the rest of us famous outcasts.” He cupped my chin and raised it so I was looking into his serious eyes, his white-blue hair sparkling as the bug lights illuminated him in parts. “Hold your head up high for all of us. Do you think Foss really killed hundreds of criminals? Do you think Jens is really worth all the hype? What about Jamie? Sure, he’s got the title, but he’s a leper in his own family. We’re the elite, but we don’t belong with our people. I want you to go in there and let them know you’re worth the gossip. You belong anywhere you put yourself, because that’s how amazing you are.” He pointed further into the endless tunnel, whispering in my ear. “You own that ballroom. You own any room you walk into.” He laced his fingers through mine and brought our joined fist up between us. “Make them beg for a look from you, the great Queen Lucy.” He turned to Foss, giving him a shove. “And you’ll protect her like a man, not abuse her like a beast. This is not your kingdom. She’ll not end up another mark on your arm.” He pointed to the tattooed lines on Foss’s forearm, and I watched as Foss clenched his fist.
Tor was running toward us from up ahead, beckoning us forward and scolding us for being so late. Nik kissed my knuckle, nodded once he was certain of my resolve and handed me to Foss, who led us down into the earth.
Four.
Headaches and Voices
I had gone to exactly four social parties in my life. One was an obligatory slumber pa
rty that every girl in the first grade class had been invited to. Rachel, the birthday girl, had gotten my name wrong. She called me Lacey all night, and until we moved a few months later, that was my name at school. The teacher even began referring to me by the name that was not mine. Two had been parties that Linus had been invited to through sports teams, and the last was one that Tonya took me to for a friend of hers that thought I was trying to steal her boyfriend, who I’m still not sure I ever met.
This was different.
The underground tunnel led to a massive dirt grand hall, bigger than two football fields and with grass ceilings so high, I was shocked that we’d gone so far underground. The notion of being spontaneously buried alive if an earthquake happened occurred to me, further impeding on the calm Foss tried to scare into me. In the four corners of the grand room sat four golden boar statues the size of a rhinoceros. They gave off a golden glow, illuminating the room along with the hanging lamps that had those lit-up bugs inside. They were the same as the golden boar I’d seen in the painting at the palace in Elvage, only these were motionless statues.
Foss held my hand that was wrapped around his arm and led me all the way up to a raised platform.
Tor bowed and introduced me, quieting the room of thousands to hushed whispers. “Mighty King Dane and Queen Lovisa, allow me ta intraduce ya ta Queen Lucy of the Other Side.”
There was a grand table where two red-haired and red-faced dwarves with crowns greeted me with a skeptical eye. “Aye, human female,” the king said by way of a hello. He was a whole inch taller than Tor, and I wondered if that was some sort of sign of being elite. He had a big bulbous nose with a giant mole on the side that I tried not to address directly when I spoke to him.
I dropped Foss’s arm, raised my chin and stared him down with a cool calm covering over the fear that was coursing through my veins. “My friends call me Queen Lucy, not ‘human female’.”
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