The Last Princess by Shelley Wilson

Author:Shelley Wilson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: teen and young adult fiction, vikings, norse and vikings, myths and legends, european historical fantasy, fairy tales and folklore, teen & YA historical fiction
Publisher: BHC Press
Published: 2022-01-09T00:00:00+00:00

I SMOOTHED DOWN the fabric of the dress with my hands and spun in a full circle so Baldred could give me his honest opinion. It felt strange to be wearing something so fancy again after such a long time. I’d grown used to the woollen dresses, and the trousers and leather tunic of my shield-maiden’s wardrobe.

‘What do you think?’

‘You look beautiful, my lady. Like a proper princess again.’

I giggled and brushed out my hair, letting it fall in long ringlets rather than my braids. The last time Baldred had seen me, I was wearing a wedding gown, and he was walking me up the aisle. I’d been wed to an old man so that Aelle could get me out of Bamburgh, and it only dawned on me after Baldred’s revelation that my uncle and Elderman Parish probably set the bandits upon Elderman Wood’s estate in a bid to finish what they started. Now I was an orphan, a widow, a shield-maiden, and a queen-in-waiting.

There was one finishing touch I needed to make before I could leave. I dug into the small pouch I’d discarded with my servant’s dress and tipped my mother’s amulet and bracelet from the bag. Running my thumb over the precious stone, I remembered with fondness the moment my mother had given me the gift.

I put the bracelet on and slipped the amulet over my neck so the stone sat close to my heart. Now I was ready.

‘I’ll be back as soon as I can to check on you,’ I said, making sure he had water and food to hand. I hadn’t left Baldred’s side since dragging him away from the slave trader, and I was nervous to be leaving him now.

‘From what you’ve told me about Ingrid and the jarl, it’s important that you attend their celebrations tonight. Do you know what you’re going to say?’

I shook my head. Ingrid’s task was to convince Jarl Aaric to invade England to help me claim my crown rather than to take treasures, and before we’d spoken, I’d been troubled about how I could take on such a mission without compromising my soul, the people of Northumbria, and my friends’ lives. All that had changed now. My only remaining friend was here with me by some twist of fate, and although I cared deeply for the fate of my people, I held no regard for the witan who managed the kingdom with my uncle. In truth, I didn’t care about the damage a Viking army might cause if we invaded. Buildings could be rebuilt, and crops replanted. I only wanted revenge. My mind was consumed with rage at Aelle and Elderman Parish and the many ways I was going to make them both pay for what they had done.

There was a light tap on the outside of the barn, and my pulse raced. Ingrid had told me to make my way up to the hall after darkness had fallen and everyone was inside. She didn’t want the people

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