Laughing together, they entered Hallmar’s private chambers. The room was exactly as she remembered it. Warm, cozy, and filled with earth-tones that immediately set her at ease.
A large fireplace was inlaid in the wall. Cracking logs burned low. Embers scattered around them. Furs covered the four seats around a small table where someone had set tea and scones, while a thick tapestry hid the four poster bed from their sight.
Sigrid couldn’t remember Hallmar ever having someone who stayed in the room with him. He’d always been a king who ruled without a queen. Never entertained those who would have spent a night with him, as far as Sigrid knew.
The man in question strode to one of the chairs with antlers for a back, and poured himself a cup of tea. “Would you like one? I’m afraid I don’t remember how you take your tea.”
Camilla opened her mouth to direct him, but Sigrid couldn’t stand the sight.
She let out a frustrated sound, then took the teapot from Hallmar’s grasp.
“That’s hot—” he began, then shook his head with a laugh. “I forget so easily.”
Sigrid cupped the base of the teapot with her bare hand. It was likely hot and filled with boiling water, but that wasn’t something which could stop her. Her lips twisted into a wry grin, one he couldn’t see, and then she began to pour them all tea.
“It’s been a while since we’ve been here, and I’m certain there are more important things for you to do than think about the days when we roamed your halls.”
“But I have been thinking about it a great deal,” he replied. “This castle is far too quiet without your people. I regret to say that I miss them, even though I know you’re creating a life for yourself.”
Camilla dropped into one of the chairs, legs sweeping up over the arm as she dramatically hung off the other. “Why did you let us go so easily, anyway? The Beastkin have always been something of a security for you. And you just… let us go?”
“When a full-grown dragon lands in your castle yard demanding something of you, there isn’t much choice.” But his voice was filled with humor. He blew on his teacup and tried a sip before responding. “The Beastkin have always been a temporary addition to the castle. I knew this from the first moment I became king.”
Sigrid poured herself a cup and sank down gently next to him. “You were the first king to think that then.”
“Perhaps. My father always thought that a war would come from Bymere, and that we would need to use your people to protect ourselves. I thought it too cruel for a king to order people to fight for him when those people weren’t part of our kingdom at all.”
“Perhaps,” Sigrid mimicked his response. “But our kind was forced to fight before, and no one felt any regret.”
“No, I suppose they didn’t.” He lifted the tea to his lips and fell into a comfortable silence.
She’d missed this. Hallmar had been the one to first teach her about proper etiquette. He advised on how to hold her teacup, how to pour the tea in a way that wouldn’t insult anyone, even how to sit so that she was still viewed as demure but also powerful.
He hadn’t ever made her feel as though she were a pet. Perhaps that’s why she managed to capture so much time with him as a child. He’d always taken the time to make her feel like a person. To respect her as so few others did.
She sighed and put her teacup on its saucer. “I’m afraid we don’t have a lot of time for niceties, Your Majesty.”
“Please. You’ve long past earned the right to call me by name.” His eyes twinkled with mirth. “Hallmar will suit just fine.”
“You’ve always called me Sigrid, so I cannot return the favor.”
“You could take off your mask.” He watched her with an intense stare that made her sweat. “I haven’t seen your face in a very long time, dragon. So long ago you likely don’t remember me even seeing it.”
“I don’t.”
“All the other Beastkin I’ve seen no longer wear their masks. The Bymerians never did in the first place. Why do you?”
She didn’t have a good answer for that. She didn't want to wear it, not really. It still felt stifling, and it was physically uncomfortable to place on her skin. But she also didn’t want to lose the armor that covered her face. For some reason, she was far more nervous to have people see that than anything else.
With a sigh, Sigrid reached up and unhooked the pieces in her hair that held the mask in place. Gently, she tugged it away and set it on her lap. Looking back at Hallmar, she steeled herself for what he would think.
His gaze softened, his lips curved into a smile, and his shoulders relaxed. “You look like your mother.”
“You saw her without her mask?”
“There are still a great many things you don’t know, Sigrid. Some things I will tell you. Others, you need to find out for yourself.” He shook his head. “But you could be her if I didn’t know she was put in the ground long ago. From your forehead to your chin, there’s not an ounce of you that doesn’t look like her.”
The words heated in her chest with pride. “Why did you call us here, Hallmar?”
The relaxed expression wiped off his face immediately. “There’s going to be a war, which you know already. I’m going to Bymere myself to see if I can stop it, but I don’t have high hopes for that.”
“You’re going to Bymere?” she repeated. “They’ll kill you on sight.”
“Maybe. But that is a risk I have to take for this kingdom. Wildewyn cannot fight without the Beastkin, and the Beastkin are no longer part of my kingdom.”
“Then we will fight.” Sigrid ignored the breath Camilla sucked in.
“I won’t ask that of your people. Not after everything they’ve fought for. This Earthen King will give your people a chance to start.” He waved a hand in the air. “Besides, that piece of land has been rotting for ages. If you can make it into something better, then perhaps someday we’ll find a way to trade.”
She eyed him, thoughts whirling in her mind. Was there any reason for him not to command them to fight? Not that she could think of. Hallmar was well within his right to be asking favors, and yet, he wasn’t.
“Why aren’t you asking us to fight?” she finally voiced the most pressing question. “Honestly, please. I don’t care about the politics nor do I wish to read between your words. Tell me plainly, Hallmar.”
He sighed, leaned forward, and braced his forearms on his knees. “If you haven’t figured out why yet, Sigrid, then I won’t explain it yet. Go back to your people. Tell them that a war is coming, and if they wish to fight, I will not stop them. But I will not ask, nor will I dictate what you or your people do. I asked you here to warn you that there will be Bymerians coming to our doorstep if I don’t try and stop them.”
“Then I should go with you.”
At that, Camilla’s feet fell off the arm of her chair and thumped hard on the ground. “No, you won’t.”
“The Beastkin have many more leaders than just me.”
“But you are the symbol of their freedom, not to mention the dragon that just attacked Bymere. You think they’ll kill him on sight?” She pointed at Hallmar. “They’d hang you in the square and set your body on fire, Sigrid.”