Sapphire and Steel by Violet Froste

Author:Violet Froste [Froste, Violet]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter XI

Aster the Nobody

Byram reappeared into the great hall, flanked by Svagnar and his guards. Aster felt as though she might suffocate on the breath she held.

Her eyes flitted from one man to the other: Byram’s dark eyes were troubled, his countenance solemn. Svagnar was impassive, his scarred features indecipherable. As usual, his faint half-smile hid his true feelings as surely as a visor of steel. If Byram had revealed the truth, then would he not be furious? Would he not be advancing upon Aster and seizing her by the throat? But Svagnar leaned indolently against the doorway, mutely observing his guests.

Aster’s heart heaved in her throat. She had spent the night forcing herself to breathe, forcing the trembling in her hand to cease. But she could contain herself no more. Diving through the merry-makers, she rushed towards Byram. His eyes widened when she grabbed his arm, but he let her lead him away, out of the hall and into the inner courtyard.

The night had fallen, and the icy blue calm of the mountains crystallised the world. The sky was black and strewn with stars; the air perfumed with the smell of pines and frost. Though Aster could see her breath in front of her face, she could barely feel the cold. Facing Byram, she met his eyes with all the force of her anger and frustration:

“Why are you here?”

She had to stop herself from shouting at him, but her question still came out in a bark.

“I have been helping the people of Arkavik to find peace for their land. The jarl invited me here.”

“Why did you never speak of this?” Even as Aster questioned him, a dull realisation descended heavily upon her. “Did you tell Svagnar about Adrienna’s marriage? About her travelling?”

“Yes,” Byram made no effort to lie, answering with no hesitation. “I knew he would never harm her. But you are not Adrienna, and our plan has gone awry.”

“Yes! It has, Byram! I took Adrienna’s place, I’ve been lying to Svagnar, I-” Aster felt sobs grab her throat like a vice, strangling her. She stopped, breathing deep and hard, forcing herself to swallow her distress, her anger, her resentment.

“Svagnar intended to take Adrienna and leave the Princessguard behind. I never intended you or the princess to come to any harm. You know this, Aster.”

“Why - why are you doing this?” Aster’s voice broke. “Why would you not tell me?”

“I knew not your thoughts on the matter of the war. I’ve long hated the barbarity of the king’s attacks upon Arkavik, you know this. Telling you would have compromised a plan I believed would work.”

“But it hasn’t worked! I’ve ruined your plans - you should have known I would do anything in my power to keep Adrienna from harm.”

Byram cast her a wry look, shaking his head: “It is not the first time I’ve underestimated your unwavering loyalty to the princess.”

A sudden anger suffused Aster, and she slammed into Byram, grabbing him by the collar.

“She is the only thing

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