“You can’t keep asking cryptic questions and storming off to sulk without giving me answers that I know you have.” Vhalla was no one, and yet she fearlessly made demands of the crown prince.
Aldrik just sighed and let her. “Fine, stubborn woman.” He placed her repaired armor off to the side. “Do you not think it strange that you are suddenly capable of besting soldiers with years of practice?”
“We’ve been training.” It was a cringe-worthy excuse when Vhalla actually thought about it.
“You were sloppy, at best.” When Aldrik was honest, he held back nothing. “I was beginning to fear for what we would need to do to keep you alive when we reached the North.”
“So, what happened?” Vhalla pressed.
“You fight as I do.” Aldrik met her eyes.
“Of course I do.”
“No, Vhalla.” He shook his head. “You fight exactly as I do.”
“Why?” she whispered.
“I can only assume it to be the Joining,” Aldrik mused.
“But, we’re not Joined anymore.” They had not attempted it either since that first night weeks ago.
“No, but the Bond was widened, our minds were—” Aldrik paused, closing his eyes with a soft sigh. “Our minds were linked. It was a reckless thing to do on my part given how little is known about its effects.”
“So, then,” she fumbled, her words struggling to find the source of his discomfort. “Why don’t we close it?”
“Even if we could, I would not.”
“But ...” It seemed to be causing him so much distress, why not end it?
“Because now I can have some measure of security that you will make it through this war alive.”
Vhalla was stunned into silence. She couldn’t take the weight of his gaze and engaged in a quick staring contest with his table. “I know,” she began her confession. “Larel told me about Bonds. That, if I die, you’ll die.”
“That’s just a theory.” Aldrik brushed away the thought easily. “And not by any reputable scholars.”
“But—”
“I want you to worry about yourself.” He sensed the remaining fight in her. “Vhalla, please, promise me that.”
The firelight played tricks on her eyes. It made the man who was nearly seven years her senior look like nothing more than a frightened child. Vhalla moved without thought, taking his hand in hers. Aldrik gripped her fingers tightly, and she erased all thoughts of doubt.
“I will promise you, if you promise me that you will stop running away and hiding these things. I don’t want to feel shut out from you.” Vhalla’s voice had dropped to a whisper, and Aldrik nodded silently, sparing her any further explanation.
“We should practice your Projection.” He broke them out of their trance.
“Oh, right.” Vhalla had completely forgotten they’d actually planned to work together that evening.
“Let’s put magic aside, for now, and focus on seeing how far you can go.” Aldrik situated himself before the table, adjusting his papers.
“Sure,” she closed her eyes.
“Would you care to lay down first?” Aldrik reminded her that her physical body went limp the last time. He grabbed one of the pillows and propped it against his leg.
Vhalla hesitated, the invitation clear. The prince feigned attentiveness to his paperwork, clearly apprehensive of whether she would accept or reject him. Prince Baldair’s words of caution frustratingly replayed themselves in Vhalla’s mind and she lay down quickly, her head resting on his leg. She would not let the younger prince and his games get in her way.
Vhalla slipped out of her body shortly after closing her eyes. It was surreal to see her physical form so still, as if barely breathing. Aldrik watched her closely, waiting for any signs of trouble.
I think it’s easier, Vhalla said with a thought.
“It seems so,” he agreed.
Can you hear me even if I’m far away?
“One way to find out. Go slowly,” he cautioned, but didn’t tell her to stop.
Vhalla passed through the canvas of the tent flap. There was some resistance, but nothing unmanageable. People walked about from one campfire to the next, but no one noticed her.
Can you still hear me?
“Without a problem.” Aldrik seemed excited by her progress, and it encouraged her onward.
She progressed forward in a straight line and discovered that it was only uncomfortable when someone walked through her. It was a strange chill, and the world became disoriented for a moment. But after the third time, Vhalla was beginning to adjust her magic accordingly, recovering faster.
“Are you all right?”
Yes. I’m on the edge of camp now.
“Go a little farther.”
Vhalla walked into the desert until the sun had dipped below the horizon. She called out to him regularly, but the link was consistent and strong. By the time she returned back to her body, there was little question that she’d begun to master the art of Projection.
Returning was simple; she listened for the pulse that had guided her back the first time and let go of her magical hold. But when her real eyes fluttered open Vhalla let out a soft groan at how the world spun.