VALKYIRE LOST: VALKYRIES RISING | BOOK TWO by SHANNON PEMRICK

Author:SHANNON PEMRICK [PEMRICK, SHANNON]
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter Eight

Astrid

Leif paced back and forth behind me. I plucked another spiky leaf from a sprig and dropped it in my mortar. Normally I’d pick faster, but this was the only thing keeping me calm as my brother continued on about his worries with Frida’s condition. She was in her last month and, as I anticipated, Leif had grown more unbearable.

“Are you even listening to me?” Leif asked.

“Nope,” I admitted. “You’re repeating yourself for the fifth time. If I listened anymore after the second, I’d have thrown you out of this house.”

“You can’t throw me out,” he snarled.

“Watch me.”

He groaned and paced some more. “Please, Astrid.”

I whirled on him. “What do you want me to do, Leif? I’m making her a tonic to help ease her discomfort, but that’s all I can do. She’s pregnant. She’s not going to be comfortable. This is what happens to all pregnant women right before the baby comes.”

I may not have come into my magic until last summer, but that didn’t mean I hadn’t been learning anything. I had always found myself drawn to medicines, and dedicated my time learning herbs and medicine around it. Mother had also taught me all there was to know about midwifery, and I’d assisted several women through their pregnancies and deliveries. Frida’s wouldn’t be any different.

The woman in question waddled into the room. “Leif, I told you to stop pestering her.”

“Why are you up?” He rushed over to his wife and fussed. “You should be lying down and resting.”

She rolled her eyes. “If I lay in bed any longer, I’ll get bed sores. Besides, I need something to do.”

Leif wouldn’t let this go, and my patience reached its limits. I couldn’t put up with his behavior a moment longer after all these months of suffering.

“Leif, shut up and sit down!”

The two of them stared at me.

“I’m sick of dealing with this. Your fussing is only making things worse, and you’re being absolutely ridiculous. Enough already!”

To my surprise, Leif dropped down on a chair with a heavy sigh. “I’m sorry I’m worried.”

“Yes, you’ve made that abundantly clear for the last eight months.”

He flinched.

I hated yelling at him. Leif and I rarely fought. We’d always gotten along since we were little. But sometimes we just pushed each other a little too far.

I focused on the tonic so I wouldn’t say anything more. When I finished, I made sure Frida drank it all and sent her to rest a little more so Leif would stay off our backs and to ensure the tonic took effect. I wanted her to go out for a walk after. It would be good for her.

“What’s this?” Leif asked.

My cleanup paused, and I took a deep breath to handle my brother. It wasn’t about Frida’s condition, so I couldn’t yell at him. I turned around to face him and my stomach dropped. No…

My brother had pulled out a basket I’d stored by his chair. Inside was a piece of clothing I’d been working on.

“It’s nothing.” I tried to sound as casual as I could.

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