Brum seemed to thaw a bit. “It is a dangerous time. For all of us.”
“But maybe that will change,” said Ylva. “Through their kindness and piety, Hanne and Mila earned Prince Rasmus’ true regard today. He wishes to see them again. That favor can only be a good thing.”
“I’m not so sure,” muttered Brum, pouring himself a tiny glass of br?nnvin. “The prince is capricious. His health has made him unpredictable and secretive.”
Hanne bristled at this. “He is in pain, Papa. Perhaps that’s why he isn’t always in good temper.”
“Perhaps.” Brum sat. He was choosing his words carefully. “He’s not fond of my advice. It’s possible he may take it out on you.”
“If that’s the case, there’s nothing we can do about it.” Hanne’s tone was matter-of-fact. “He is the crown prince. If he wishes to string me up by my toes, he may do it. If his mother the queen wishes to send Mila out into the snow barefoot, then she may do that too. But for now, all he has done is command us to join him for lunch, and I hardly see how we can refuse him.”
Ylva was smiling. “She’s right, you know. We’ve raised a very sensible daughter.”
Brum’s expression remained unyielding. “Just be on your guard, Hanne. And you too, Mila. The Ice Court is a sorry place for soft hearts.”
Niweh sesh, Nina thought as she and Hanne said their good nights.
I have no heart.
* * *
Two days later, Hanne put on one of her new gowns of sea-foam silk and Nina dressed in more modest rose wool. They’d been too deluged with invitations since Maidenswalk to do much more than try to keep up, but now Nina fastened a necklace of blue topaz around Hanne’s neck and said, “Your father was right.”
Hanne laughed. “Words I never expected to hear from your lips.”
“This is a dangerous time. You were healing the prince when we spoke to him the other day. You can’t keep doing that.”
“Why not? If I can offer some small comfort, I should.” She hesitated. “We can’t just abandon him. I know what it’s like not to measure up to what Fjerdans idealize. That’s a hurt that never goes away. And he has thousands of people staring at him, judging him. What if we could help him heal, help him become a better prince and someday a better king?”
Now, that was interesting. A tonic to Brum’s warmongering, someone who might guide Fjerda in the direction of peace. All of Nina’s instincts told her this could be worth the risk, a perfect complement to her gamble with the Grimjer queen. It just felt different when Hanne was taking the risk too.
“If he were to find out what you are—”
Hanne picked up her wrap. “How would he find out? I am the daughter of Fjerda’s most notorious witchhunter. I attended the G?fvalle convent under the watchful eye of the Wellmother—”
“May she rest in misery.”
“As Djel commands it,” Hanne said with theatrical primness. “I healed the crown prince before the entire royal court and no one has discovered what I am. Besides, isn’t this what you wanted? A chance to get close to people who might know something about Vadik Demidov?”
“Not this close. A nice count. Maybe a duke. Not a prince.”
Hanne grinned. “Why settle?”
Her eyes were sparkling, her cheeks were flushed. She looked happier than Nina had seen her in weeks.
All Saints, it’s because she’s helping someone. Grisha always looked and felt healthier when they used their power. But this was something more.
“You are too good, Hanne. You get the chance to help some spoiled royal whelp and you light up like you’ve just seen a three-foot-tall stack of waffles.”
“I’ve never actually had a waffle.”
Nina clutched at her heart. “Yet another thing this cursed country has to account for.” She paused, then fluffed a bit of pale green lace that had gotten caught on Hanne’s neckline. “Just … be careful. And don’t get carried away.”
“I won’t,” said Hanne, rising in a cloud of rustling silk. She glanced over her shoulder. “Anyway, that’s your job.”
* * *
This time, they were brought to a larger, circular receiving room, ringed by columns, a fountain at its center—three stone sylphs holding a pitcher aloft in their slender arms. There was some kind of party or salon going on, and murmured conversation filled the echoing space.
“What exactly do we do here?” whispered Hanne.