The Valkyrie's Bond (Halfblood Rising Book 1)

by Lucy Roy

  “Lady Balthana!”

  Freya spun at the sound of a male voice calling to her from down the hall. She’d just left Civics and had split off from Laz moments ago for her literature course. Frowning, she stopped and waited for the owner of the voice to appear, then smiled when she saw Lord Jarrison, one of Florian’s unsuspecting victims from her first day.

  “Lord Jarrison! How are you?”

  “Gareth, please,” he said with a quick grin. “Lord Jarrison is my father. May I walk you to your next class?”

  “Oh!” She glanced around the crowded hall, then nodded. “Of course. I’m heading to Literature next. You?”

  “History, but it’s along the way.” He held out a hand for her to proceed. “So, tell me. How are you enjoying Aldridge? It must be a change from Watoria, no?”

  “Quite,” Freya said. “It’s certainly different than what I’m used to, but I’m enjoying myself so far. You?”

  “I miss my home in Caelora, of course, but the warmer weather of the capital certainly agrees with me,” he said with a laugh. “It’s much quieter here than what I’m accustomed to.”

  Freya grinned. “The silence has been quite a change, I’ll agree. Did you live in Caelora’s capital?”

  “No, Kildin was about two days’ ride from my home. My family is from Greyonne, a mining town toward the north.”

  “Your family were miners, then?”

  “My family owns a steel mill there.” His smile was proud, but not arrogant. “We produce nearly half of the steel in Caelora.”

  Grinning, she gestured toward her steel-tipped leather boots. “I suppose I have your family to thank for my boots, then?”

  He laughed. “Yes, we’ve got partnerships with some of the best leatherworkers in Allanor. My uncle married a leatherworker from Watoria and…” he pointed toward her ankle. “I believe that’s her maker’s mark just there by the heel.”

  “Well, please tell your uncle and his wife that these boots have gotten me out of more than one bad predicament in recent months.”

  He grinned. “I’ll do that, my lady.”

  “So, have you given any thought to what you might focus your studies on next year?” she asked as they turned down the hall toward her literature class.

  He shrugged. “Economics, most likely. Family expectations and all that.” He smiled at her. “I’m sure you can understand what that’s like.”

  She laughed. “More than you know.”

  They exchanged small talk for the rest of the short walk to Freya’s literature class, then paused outside. Freya cocked a brow when Gareth’s face flushed a bit.

  “I was wondering… will you be attending the ball this weekend?” he asked.

  Her heart clenched a bit at his question. “I am. You?”

  “Yes, with a few friends.” He scratched his head nervously. “I’m assuming you’ll be going with Lea, Lazarus, and Collin, but the rest of us have planned a small gathering for when we return. Would you—”

  “Ah, my lady Valkyrie!”

  Freya closed her eyes and huffed in annoyance at the sound of Aerelius’ voice.

  “I’m so sorry about this, Gareth.” Pasting on a smile, she turned to face the prince, who was being shadowed closely by his two hulking guards. “Yes?”

  “I seem to have lost my way,” Aerelius said with feigned confusion. “Would you mind showing me how to get to my Toxins class?”

  “We can speak later,” Gareth murmured, touching Freya on her arm. He gave Aerelius a nod. “Your Highness.”

  She sent him a wave, then faced the prince. “Really, Aer? You’ve gotten lost?”

  Aerelius shrugged, then rested his shoulder against the wall and gave her an easy grin. “I saved you from a great deal of annoyance.” He lifted a brow. “So, will you be walking me to class, or will I be left to fend for myself in these wretched halls?”

  Freya laughed and patted his cheek. “No, my prince, I will not.”

  Without another word, she brushed past him and into her classroom, where Collin was waiting in the back row. When she approached, he grinned.

  “Fighting off the males already, Freya?”

  Freya rolled her eyes and sat down, dropping her bag to the floor beside her. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

  He laughed. “I’d expect a few more of the likes of Gareth Jarrison to come sniffing about now that you’ve been deemed approachable.”

  “Deemed approachable? You make it sound as though I’m some enigma. I’m no different than the rest of you.”

  “That’s not true, and you know it.” Collin lowered his voice as Professor Viridian walked in. “You’re rare, you’re beautiful, and you smell good. That kind of thing—” he inclined his head toward the door “—is going to keep happening, Freya.”

  Jaw clenched, Freya faced the front, her expression stony. “I’m just here to learn, Collin. To get to know people,” she murmured, then forced a smile. “Thank you, though, for the compliments. It’s nice hearing that from someone who isn’t trying to stake some sort of claim.” She frowned. “Although it is a bit odd to hear you say I smell good.”

  He grinned and tapped his nose. “Wolf, remember? And I wouldn’t say any of it if it weren’t true. Just make sure you let them down easy, otherwise you’ll end up with a load of aggravation.”

  “Entitled fools,” she muttered, although, even as she said it, she realized she didn’t think it was true of Gareth. “It makes you wonder if some of them have ever been told no in their lives.”

  “Unlikely,” Collin agreed as he looked around the room at their classmates. “A fair few assume their name alone will open every door for them, and rightly so, in some cases.” He nodded toward a small group at the front of the room, where two high-born females were chatting with two working-class males. Freya recognized the females as Myria’s followers from their encounter at lunch. “There, for example. Ladies Leston and Morcin. I went to school with them in Caelora, and they are the epitome of entitled. In exchange for completing assignments and running their errands, they both allowed members of the lower strata to associate with them.” He gave Freya a flat look. “They use those students they deem beneath them to do any kind of work that requires the least bit of effort, all so they can focus their attention on socializing, climbing the right ladders. When they’re told no, they do all they can to ensure that person is ostracized so badly they’ll never recover.”

  “And the students they use? Do they simply discard them?”

  He nodded. “Once they’re no longer of use, they’re cast to the side, social pariahs.”

  “I just can’t fathom being so vicious,” Freya said quietly. “The students I went to school with in Watoria were always so supportive. There was never so much competition for the opposite sex or anything, really. I just assumed it was normal.”

  “It’s a different world out here,” Collin replied. “It can be hard to get used to. But your ignorance is your own sort of privilege, Freya, in both good ways and bad.”

  She eyed him curiously. “How so?”

  “You haven’t had the chance to view much of the world outside of your place in Watoria,” he explained. “Here, you’ll be forced to change the way you see things, but you’ll be able to use your knowledge of the lower classes to better your position.”

  She sighed and stared down at her desk. “I suppose you’re right. I hadn’t really thought of it that way.” She ran a hand through her hair in annoyance. “I wish my father hadn’t sent me away.”

  “I wouldn’t be too upset with him. Yes, you might’ve been a bit blinded when you arrived, but now that you know what you don’t know, you’ll be alright.”

  She frowned, not quite convinced.

  “Really, Freya. Byrric knew better than to throw you to the wolves, and he wouldn’t have sent you to live in Watoria without good reason. It gave you knowledge the rest of us simply don’t have. It makes you better than those other girls without even trying, and not just because you can kic
k all their asses ten times over,” he added with a grin. “Your future will be better for it, trust me.”

  Freya laughed and flushed at the compliment. “Thank you, Collin. That means a lot to me. Truly.”

  Smiling, he patted her on the shoulder. “Like I said, I wouldn’t say it if it weren’t true.”

  Chapter 17

  The following day was the Commencement Ball for the students of Aldridge, a much-anticipated event that was meant to help students kick off the new academic year on a high note. The annual tradition hosted by the palace provided a fun atmosphere for students to get to know one another outside of classes and away from the pressures of school. It was also the first official gathering of the year where many students, both male and female, would truly start sizing up any competition they might have when it came to finding a mate. Many of the females, Freya knew, would bat their eyes as males strutted around them like peacocks in a silly dance that said little about the individual and much about their aspirations.

  Lea arranged for Kallan to come to her and Freya’s dormitory for their final dress fitting after breakfast, so after they left the dining hall on Saturday morning, the two rushed back to their room, eager to see his final creations.

  “It’s funny, you know,” Lea said as they hurried across campus. “When we met, you didn’t strike me as the type to be excited about ball gowns. Quite the opposite, actually. I thought I might have to wrestle you into a gown, to be honest.”

  Freya sent her a shocked look. “Just because I enjoy the occasional messy slaughter doesn’t make me an animal.” She sent a wave toward the group of students who were congregated in the small common room before starting up the stairs, eager to see Kallan’s final creation. “I also enjoy a custom ball gown just as much as you.”

  “Ah, at last!” Kallan exclaimed when they walked in. He spread out his arms, showing them the boutique he’d turned their room into. Freya grinned when she saw Rini and Tyna hovering in mid-air beside him.

  Lea clapped her hands excitedly. “Oh, this is so exciting! I haven’t been to a ball in so long!”

  “Don’t be so dramatic, Lea,” Aer spoke from behind them as all three males appeared in the doorway. “You made it to my nameday celebration four months ago.”

  “Ugh!” Lea groaned. “Go away, all of you!”

  Freya scowled at the prince. “You’ll see our dresses tonight, highness.”

  Aerelius went inside and sat down on her bed, reclining back against the headboard and crossing his legs at the ankles. His eyes crinkled at her annoyance. “Laz and Collin informed me they were coming here, and as the crown prince, I thought my input might be worthwhile, as well.”

  “And we’ve heard enough about these dresses that we found it imperative we offer our opinions,” Lazarus said, grinning cheekily at Freya.

  “Apologies, Kallan,” Collin said, sitting down on the floor against Lea’s bed. “I tried to convince them otherwise.”

  The dressmaker let out a suffering sigh. “Very well.” He held a hand toward Lea. “Lady Calliwell?”

  “Isn’t there a tradition against this?” Lea whined. “No one can see a lady’s dress before the event?”

  “That’s in regards to weddings only,” Aerelius said. “Noble effort, though.”

  She sent him a withering look. “Fine.” She looked at Kallan. “Some privacy?”

  Kallan sent an exasperated look at the three males, then waved his hand, creating a shimmering curtain that separated the dressing stand from the rest of the room. With one last haughty look toward her cousins and Collin, Lea stepped behind the curtain so she could undress.

  “You three are insufferable,” Freya grumbled.

  “I thought you wanted our opinions?” Laz exclaimed.

  “No, we merely suggested that, in your opinion, our gowns would be perfect.”

  “Semantics,” he said with a wave of his hand. “And Aer has already seen yours, so it’s only fair that those of us whom you actually like get to see, too.”

  “Freya likes me, don’t you?” Aerelius said with a sly grin.

  “That depends,” she said airily, folding her arms as she waited for Lea to reappear.

  “On?”

  “Are you playing pranks or showing me the new secrets you’ve discovered in the castle?”

  “I’ve long outgrown my prank-playing phase,” he replied. “So I suppose the latter.”

  Freya pretended to ponder his response for a moment before replying. “Then I suppose I find you tolerable.” She walked over to the bed and shoved his feet over the edge, nearly causing him to tumble to the floor. “As soon as you get your filthy boots off my quilt, that is.”

  Collin laughed and Laz snorted. “You two are a match made in the heavens, aren’t you?” Laz said.

  Aer laid a hand over his chest and smiled. “If only Freya would see it that way.”

  Freya rolled her eyes. “Lea, hurry up!”

  “Coming!”

  A moment later, Kallan appeared, then waved his hand to dissolve the curtain.

  “Oh, Lea!” Freya sighed. “You look perfect!”

  “So very lovely, my lady,” Tyna gushed. Rini nodded in agreement.

  Lea gave a small curtsy, setting the beads that were scattered across her dress dancing. Kallan had paired it with delicate beaded slippers that matched the beadwork on her bodice perfectly. “It is lovely, isn’t it?”

  “Come on, give us a spin,” Collin said, making a twirling motion with his finger.

  Lea obeyed, and Freya’s grin mirrored hers as the layers of her turquoise skirts spun out around her.

  “Lady Balthana?” Kallan said, stepping aside so Lea could step down. “Your turn.”

  With one last look at the three males, Freya stepped onto the dressing pedestal and waited as Kallan replaced the curtain. When he had, she stripped down to her undergarments.

  “Now this should fit just about right,” he told her, pulling her gauzy dress from its hanger. “I may need to adjust the length a bit, but we’ll see. I allowed enough space in the back for your wings, should you need to let them out.”

  Freya braced a hand against the wall as she stepped gingerly into the dress, then held her arms above her head as Kallan hooked the buttons that ran from her tailbone to the bottom of her rib cage, just below where the base of her wings would be. Once they were fastened, she turned and faced the mirror he’d set beside the window. Grinning, she bounced a little on her toes.

  “It’s perfect,” she whispered excitedly.

  It was as though Kallan had spun a sunset from fabric and gems and fitted it perfectly to her body. Already, she could imagine herself dancing alongside her friends, her skirts fluttering out like petals, the gemstones sprinkling across the fabric shimmering in the castle lights.

  The dressmaker spent the next few minutes adjusting the skirts, altering the lengths of the layers to give it a slightly fuller appearance, and her, a curvier silhouette. When he was done, he stepped back and gave her a once over, then nodded.

  “Yes, that will do. Have you given any thought to how you might wear your hair?”

  Freya shook her head, unable to pull her gaze away from the glittering gown. “I thought I would leave that to Rini’s discretion.”

  “Wise choice,” he agreed with a nod. He held up a pair of pale pink satin slippers. “I thought these would complement the warmer shades in your dress nicely, and they won’t pinch.”

  Freya held out one foot, then the other as Kallan slipped them on.

  “Freya!” Lazarus called. “Some of us would like to eat lunch sometime today!”

  Kallan shook his head in amusement as he adjusted a few measurements. “Done!” He took a step back, then pulled aside the curtain.

  “It’s a bit loose,” Aerelius said, narrowing his eyes when he saw her. He waved his hand over his chest. “I think it needs to be a bit tighter in this area.”

  Freya scowled at him. “You’re a pig, Aer.”

  “I’m
joking! You look beautiful, Freya,” he said, his voice full of sincerity. “The emeralds truly bring out your eyes.”

  “Yes, Kallan has worked his magic well,” Lazarus said. “You both look lovely.”

  Collin stood. “Let’s let these two finish getting ready. We’ll have someone bring you lunch shortly.”

  “Thank you,” Freya said. “That’s much appreciated.”

  “Now shoo!” Lea said, laughing. “All of you, go!”

  “We’re leaving!” Lazarus exclaimed. “We’ll see you tonight.”

  After they left, Freya and Lea spent the next several hours getting fussed over by Rini and Tyna. Since Freya had chosen to ignore the prince’s suggestion to wear her hair up, Rini spent nearly two hours setting gentle curls that flowed down her back, making sure each had a mix of pink and brown. When she was done, she spent another hour separating out a handful of the pink strands to create an elaborate fuchsia circlet atop her head that she wove through with strands of gold, dripping with emeralds and rose stones.

  When the pixie fluttered back to examine the final product, she sighed and clasped her tiny hands in front of her. “Oh, my Lady, you look like a dream,” she cooed. “And I’m not just saying that because of all the work I did.”

  Freya laughed, then leaned toward the mirror to get a closer look at the intricate braids and beadwork Rini had pulled off.

  “Well, I think we look positively gorgeous,” Lea said, smoothing a hand across the sleek twist that hung over her shoulder. She grinned at Freya. “I have a feeling we’ll both be paired off by the end of the night. How about you?”

  Freya laughed. “On the hunt for a mate already? The year’s barely started!”

  “It’s never too early,” Lea said. “Unlike those lucky ones who get betrothed when they’re still toddling about, some of us have to find a mate the old-fashioned way.”

  “I believe betrothals are the old-fashioned way,” Freya pointed out.