Sage
I thought about the butterflies' words, over and over, "You want her dead, you just don't know it yet." I scraped at the lush grass with a stick as I pondered. I looked up to see the fox, followed by my mother marching down from the bar. They both looked heated like they had just had an unpleasant conversation. The fox made a left turn into the forest, while my mother came straight for me. I stood to face her as she grabbed hold of my arm to pull me along with her. "I hear you have been having quite the conversations with my old friend, Lester." She said, without making eye contact. "Lester?" I asked, confused. Was that the fox's name? I only realized now that I didn't know it...
"A pet name." She murmured off into the distance, as she stopped us at a private clearing. Her face was hard to read. Her lips moved from side to side, her teeth chewing into them. "Oh." I replied. "What did you tell him? Your life story?" She snorted, looking at me finally.
"I came to this place looking for my friend. He had run away, looking for a mermaid, and I thought he had come here. Instead, I was greeted by everyone accusing me of being the runaway princess. Do you know how hard that was? Do you understand how much your actions have fallen onto me?" I was starting to get heated, and I did nothing to stop the feelings from erupting.
"What friend?" her voice was only slightly interested.
"What?" I gaped. That's what she got from my confession?
"Who was the friend that you came here looking for?" She turned to me now, searching my eyes.
"Bear." I stated, watching her expressionless face as her eyes seemed to stare through me.
Now her face changed again, her eyebrows knitted together like she was thinking, "That little boy that you used to play with? The king's son?"
"Yes. He was like my brother. His father raised me." I said slowly, not taking my eyes off her.
"Hmm." She was processing. "You said that. I didn't put the two together. Why was he here?"
"I don't know." I paused. "Well, he was on a raid and was bitten by a dark mermaid. He told me that a good mermaid came to him and sucked out the poison." I scoffed at the ridiculousness of it all.
"Do you find that amusing?" she asked me quizzically.
"You don't?" I looked at her the same way.
"Not really." She looked so confused and I didn't get why.
"Why not?"
"It is a very likely situation." She informed me.
I pulled back, in shock, "You don't think he was lying?"
"I can't say for sure, but vikings in Västerbotten aren't as worldly as other nations. Especially not young vikings like you and Bear."
I raised offended brows at her and she laughed.
"Don't take offense, daughter. Have a think about it. How many times do your people go to war?"
"Everytime somewhere in Europe is unguarded and they can raid without being overpowered." I explained, trying to see where she was coming from.
"Humor me, how often is that?"
"Maybe once or twice a year."
"And how many raids has Bear been on?"
"Two."
"And you?"
"None." I admitted, embarrassed.
"And why is that?" She narrowed her eyes.
"Because women aren't allowed to fight."
"Agh." She nodded knowingly. "And that is one of the many reasons I left the place."
"You wanted to fight?" I was a bit taken aback by her confession. Obviously she was a fan of magic and blowing things up, but a viking war?
"Of course. What woman wouldn't want the chance to fight alongside men, proving her worth and getting to kill some people along the way?" She smiled fondly.
I watched her closely. She looked young when she dreamed. She had a youthful beauty to her. "Where did you go between here and Västerbotten?"
She let out a deep sigh, "To a place so barren and empty, it made Västerbotten seem lush, never assume daughter, it will be your downfall. It was a good place to practice magic." She interrupted me. "It was a good place to strike mountains and watch them fall. A place to kill the most fierce of animals with a zap of energy and eat them for supper."
"You can do all of that?" my mouth was now gaped open in disbelief.
"You can too." She looked at me seriously.
"No, I can't." I snorted. "I can only make little zaps. Pathetic really."
"Now. But you can absolutely wield your power to be as good as me if you have the right teacher."
I stayed silent. Not willing to beg her to teach me. I would never do that. "Will you let me have another go at teaching you?" she offered, so I didn't have to ask, for which I was thankful.
"Will you be a bitch if I do?" I countered.
"Probably."
