Chapter Forty-Eight

Sigurd was waiting for a woman, though not in his usual place. He had not idled there for some time. This was different in any case. Not even Orm knew what he was about.

He felt like there had been an almighty shift in his feelings since his adoptive sister came back into his life and breezed out again, even if he had been the one pushing her away. His liaison with the Queen was both dangerous and exciting, though it seemed as if she were on the point of unravelling yet again.

Lateness was a given, owing to the nature of her role within the castle. Maybe she would not turn up at all. It really wouldn’t matter. If even the village was off limits, they were bound to run into each other again. There really was no place to hide.

Sigurd hoped his news would meet with some sort of approval. You never could tell with a female like this, outside his normal scope. If he had to liken her to anyone, it would be Miriam. Her sweetness, her sense of justice, the awkwardness around him. He was hopin