Iron Seas 03 - Riveted

her daughter.
    Hildegard would forgive her. Annika would never forgive herself.
    “I can’t,” she said. “I won’t, unless Hannasvik is discovered. Unless you need me.”
    “To fight?”
    “Yes.” That might be inevitable, too.
    “Let us hope it does not come to that.” Camille squeezed her hands. “And I will tell Hildegard of Inga’s son as quickly as possible.”
    “He’s in Smoke Cove?” Valdís frowned, as if trying to remember seeing him. “Describe his appearance.”
    “He only arrived today—and he looks much like Källa. He has the same black hair, the same coloring, and he’s taller than most men. He doesn’t wear a beard. He will be in a dark blue overcoat, which fastens crosswise over his chest with brass buckles. His shoulders are broad, and he is lean rather than fat, though you wouldn’t know it from his clothes. His trousers aren’t so bad, though the seams are roughly sewn and the fit over his ass isn’t as snug as I would like, but his jacket looks to be made for an unshorn sheep, and his waistcoat is loose even when buckled. You will likely not notice, however, because if you see him outside, that overcoat covers it all.”
    “I wouldn’t notice, anyway,” Valdís said.
    “You will notice him. He looks very serious, at first, but he has three smiles. One is for anyone who reacts to his appearance with fear—though that is not even a smile, I think, but something he does because there is no other response to give. One is for when he is uncertain, and that is only half his mouth, on the side without scars. And there is one that he saves for friends, which moves all of his face, and makes you want to smile, too.”
    A smile that she hadn’t seen since he’d revealed his mother’s runes. The realization started a dull ache beneath her breast. She wanted to see that smile again before he left Phatéon .
    The others were quiet—waiting for more, perhaps. There was too much more. She could go on and on, but Annika remembered one thing that would interest her blacksmith aunt in particular. “Oh! And he has the most marvelous hand. You would be amazed by it, Camille.”
    The others stared at her. Then Valdís laughed. “May the gods be merciful to you, girl.”
    Heat rose in her cheeks. Perhaps she had gone on a bit long.
    “Annika, the way you speak of him…” Camille shook her head. “Should I tell Hildegard more? Should I say something to your mother as well?”
    “No.” Though it hurt to say so. “I won’t see him again after tomorrow.”
    “Can you be so certain? He has family amongst our people. After Hildegard seeks him out, you may see him again.”
    Annika hadn’t thought of that. Though David couldn’t come to Hannasvik, Hildegard might travel to visit with him—and Annika’s mother would probably go with her. If she’d found Källa by then, Annika would be free to accompany them as well.
    “Does he know about Hildegard? About Källa?”
    “Only that I search for her. I’ve said nothing of their relationship.”
    “There can be no harm if he already knows everything but the location,” Camille said.
    Lisbet leaned forward, added with a wry smile, “And if you don’t find Källa, return to Hannasvik in twenty years and we’ll be old maids together.”
    Is that what their choice would be? If it was, Annika couldn’t think of anyone else she’d rather be stuck with—but she wouldn’t give up so soon. “I’ll find her.”
    “You will,” Camille said, then gave her daughter’s bottom a slap. “And you will not be old in twenty years.”
    “I’m old now, and in twenty years I’ll be dead.” Valdís scooped the fish into the stew pot, gave a pointed look to Annika. “And house elves aren’t coming to unload that sled. I’ll open the storeroom. No, Lisbet, you stay and help your old mother finish putting out this supper.”
    Which meant that Annika was about to get a talking-to. She followed Valdís down the stairs, preparing herself for whatever the woman had to say.
    In the darkened shop below, Valdís stopped and gave her a shrewd look before asking, “Why don’t you go home now?”
    Aside from every reason that Valdís already knew? Aside from Hildegard’s disappointment, aside from Lisbet’s hopes? Aside from her own need to take the blame of her mistake instead of allowing Källa to pay in her stead?
    “Can you imagine the stories they’d tell about me? I don’t know that I could lift my head up again. I am already