Unless Sander is also Jaspar’s wolf. That would change things.
I clench my fists in an effort to contain the curse-fire. Then I step from the shadows.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Sander freezes when he sees me emerge from behind the outcropping. I inhale the thick night air, wishing for a cold wind to blow the stink of cooked flesh out over the water.
Sander’s short, dark hair flutters as the breeze gusts over him. He squints at me in the darkness. “Are you bleeding?”
I glance down at my tunic, the collar of which is stiff with my blood, dried under the heat of my curse. “Just a little.” I whip out one of my own daggers. “I lost my footing while I had it unsheathed.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “And nearly cut your own throat?”
“The trail is treacherous in the shadows.”
“Such truth,” he says, his voice thick with suspicion. “Have you seen Aksel?”
“Not since he went away to pout like a child.” The heavier my conscience, the easier the lies flow, it seems.
Sander chews on the inside of his cheek for a moment. “Any chance he slipped and fell onto your dagger too?”
My laugh is ugly and loud. “He always was a little clumsy.” My stomach turns as I catch a whiff of him. “But I’m sure he’s around here somewhere.”
Sander steps toward me like he means to go around the outcropping, and I move to block him. “He’s definitely not back there. I’ve just walked along that stretch. I was the only living soul for miles.” I smile and tuck my arm—the one Aksel sliced as he attacked me—behind my back. “Why are you looking for Aksel? Thyra sent me to find him.”
“I was concerned for him. He acted very rashly by the fire.”
I squint at his face, trying to read it in the dim light of the winking stars. “I think Thyra would rather have such things said to her face than whispered behind her back. Though it seems there’s quite a lot of that going on.”
He doesn’t take my bait. “Of course she prefers open challenge, especially from someone like Aksel. It allows her to prove her mettle in front of everyone, at his expense.”
I scoff. “What would you have done?”
“Avoid the need to prove myself in the first place.”
“Are you still doubting Thyra? Has Jaspar drawn you into his nest of intrigue?”
“Jaspar just wants what we all want. Victory.” Sander’s chin juts out. “If our tribes are united, we’ll be able to attack Kupari in the spring.”
“And no doubt he sees Thyra as a barrier, especially now that she’s gained the loyalty of Edvin’s closest comrades.”
“You said that. I didn’t.”
My fists are tight balls, holding the flames inside, but just barely. “But you’re thinking it.”
He sighs. “I don’t know what I’m thinking, Ansa. Everything has fallen apart. I just want to be part of something powerful again. And I’m not one for intrigue. I like things simple. Don’t you?”
“Of course. But that doesn’t mean I’ll cozy up in the arms of a traitor.”
“Jaspar told me there’s more to that story than we were told.” He carves a divot in the sand with the heel of his boot. “He hinted that Thyra was involved.”
I groan. “You sound just like Aksel. Maybe Jaspar’s simply trying to sow doubt among us, to undo the work Thyra has done.”
“Or maybe we were lied to!” He shakes his head and turns to look out on the water. “Don’t you ever wonder if Thyra’s hiding something from us? Nisse is a strong leader, Ansa. One of the best strategists we’ve ever had. Lars listened to him.”
“Lars listened to Thyra, too!”
“Thyra was always trying to poke holes in their plans, though. Nisse and Lars weren’t at odds.”
“But Nisse wanted the chair for himself.”
He turns to me, regarding me quietly for a moment before saying, “Or someone wanted Lars to believe he did.”
“This is dangerous talk, Sander. You’d better be sure before you repeat it.”
“I’m only sure of one thing, Ansa. I want to be strong again. I want Kupari blood on my weapons. I want them to suffer for what their witch queen did. I want to see her head on the end of a spear.”
“So do I,” I say, remembering her terrible white face. It’s her fault that Hulda and Aksel are dead. Killing her may be the only thing that can set me free.
“And I’ll serve the chieftain who can deliver me to her threshold.”
“We already do.” I hope.
“What if Thyra doesn’t have the stomach for it?” he asks, speaking my fear aloud. “Every time it comes up, she’s the one reminding us of what happened, instead of planning to change the outcome next time.”
“She’s never said she didn’t want to defeat them. She’s only urged caution so we don’t get decimated again. Jaspar and Nisse should be grateful.” I stare at his sharp profile in the moonlight. “And so should you. It’s only by the grace of heaven that we survived the first invasion.”