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Noora got up from her knees, dusting her breeches, two wet patches, and a few stones embedded into the cloth.

“What was it you said at the end?” Raphael spoke into the silence but Noora did not bother to answer. Taking the shovel into her pulsing hand, she made her way out of the forest.

Raphael followed her and in no time they reached the edge of the forest. The sled was still in place, waiting for them.

“You should tell your king that his land is rotting, decaying every second as we speak.”

Raphael’s steps hesitated for a moment. “How do you know that?”

She turned to look at him. “Because the Yggdrasil told me.”

Chapter 27

Nikolai

The door closed with a soft click but Nikolai did not turn in his chair. “Is it done?”

The moon had risen to its pinnacle, shining bright and ominous in the night. Nikolai felt it was mocking him, looking down at him and judging him for every wrong decision he had made that day. And there were plenty to choose from.

“We buried the wolf just thirty minutes away from the palace at the trunk of a world ash, Your Majesty. She insisted upon it,” Raphael said.

Nikolai’s lips twitched, of course, she did.

“Well, then you can take the night off, we have an early start tomorrow and I have no further use of your skills tonight.”

“Your Majesty—” Nikolai turned, shutting up Raphael pretty quickly, his shoulders straightening slightly now that the king was looking at him. “Yes?”

His royal guard took a step forward, the dark wooden oak desk the only thing standing between them. Urgency shined in his hazel eyes. “I fear that I have to tell you that Noora knows of the lands. She told me that a tree—a tree—told her that the kingdom was dying.”

Nikolai smiled lightly but it was devoid of humour. “Why would she not know? She is a witch, Raphael, the way she and her ancestors are connected to the kingdom’s lands is not different from the way the royal family is connected to it. Not the sole of her boots or armour made out of iron could cut the connection she has to these lands. It is what they draw energy from.”

“Why are you not more concerned by this?”

Nikolai shrugged. “There is nothing I can do about it, really. Our kingdom is dying, Noora is not the first one to notice andshe will not be the last. As long as no one knowswhythe kingdom is dying, we still have time.”

Raphael still looked concerned and he was not afraid to voice that concern.

“Sir, with all due respect—”

“Starting a sentence like that and then still disrespecting me with your opinion does not save you of your sins, Raphael.” Despite his words, a slow smirk took place upon Nikolai’s lips.

Raphael put his fists down on his desk, making Nikolai raise a brow. “You are not grasping the seriousness of this, Kai. If Noora finds out the real reason why you are holding the tournament, she will be a great problem in our plans.”

Nikolai rounded the desk slowly and clasped Raphael’s shoulders, so he looked at him. Despite them being the same age there was still a barrier between the two men. Raphael was one of the only people the king trusted with his whole life, the sheer obedience and loyalty this man had to him was admirable and Nikolai did not take it for granted.

“Raphael, have I ever mistrusted your skills?”

“No, Your Majesty,” Raphal replied.

“Have I ever come forward with concerns that you are not fit for any task that I have given you?”

“No.” Raphael’s shoulders sagged under the weight of Nikolai’s penetrating gaze. A soft blush covered his olive skin, his lashes striking his high cheekbones.

“Then why, my dear friend, are you doubting yourself?”

“I am not doubting myself, I am calculating the threats that may obstruct our way.”

Nikolai nodded, finally letting go of his shoulders. “If there are threats in our way we will eliminate them.”