The Cursed Queen (The Impostor Queen #2)(38)

“I was concerned for him. He acted very rashly by the fire.”

I squint at his face, trying to read it in the dim light of the winking stars. “I think Thyra would rather have such things said to her face than whispered behind her back. Though it seems there’s quite a lot of that going on.”

He doesn’t take my bait. “Of course she prefers open challenge, especially from someone like Aksel. It allows her to prove her mettle in front of everyone, at his expense.”

I scoff. “What would you have done?”

“Avoid the need to prove myself in the first place.”

“Are you still doubting Thyra? Has Jaspar drawn you into his nest of intrigue?”

“Jaspar just wants what we all want. Victory.” Sander’s chin juts out. “If our tribes are united, we’ll be able to attack Kupari in the spring.”

“And no doubt he sees Thyra as a barrier, especially now that she’s gained the loyalty of Edvin’s closest comrades.”

“You said that. I didn’t.”

My fists are tight balls, holding the flames inside, but just barely. “But you’re thinking it.”

He sighs. “I don’t know what I’m thinking, Ansa. Everything has fallen apart. I just want to be part of something powerful again. And I’m not one for intrigue. I like things simple. Don’t you?”

“Of course. But that doesn’t mean I’ll cozy up in the arms of a traitor.”

“Jaspar told me there’s more to that story than we were told.” He carves a divot in the sand with the heel of his boot. “He hinted that Thyra was involved.”

I groan. “You sound just like Aksel. Maybe Jaspar’s simply trying to sow doubt among us, to undo the work Thyra has done.”

“Or maybe we were lied to!” He shakes his head and turns to look out on the water. “Don’t you ever wonder if Thyra’s hiding something from us? Nisse is a strong leader, Ansa. One of the best strategists we’ve ever had. Lars listened to him.”

“Lars listened to Thyra, too!”

“Thyra was always trying to poke holes in their plans, though. Nisse and Lars weren’t at odds.”

“But Nisse wanted the chair for himself.”

He turns to me, regarding me quietly for a moment before saying, “Or someone wanted Lars to believe he did.”

“This is dangerous talk, Sander. You’d better be sure before you repeat it.”

“I’m only sure of one thing, Ansa. I want to be strong again. I want Kupari blood on my weapons. I want them to suffer for what their witch queen did. I want to see her head on the end of a spear.”

“So do I,” I say, remembering her terrible white face. It’s her fault that Hulda and Aksel are dead. Killing her may be the only thing that can set me free.

“And I’ll serve the chieftain who can deliver me to her threshold.”

“We already do.” I hope.

“What if Thyra doesn’t have the stomach for it?” he asks, speaking my fear aloud. “Every time it comes up, she’s the one reminding us of what happened, instead of planning to change the outcome next time.”

“She’s never said she didn’t want to defeat them. She’s only urged caution so we don’t get decimated again. Jaspar and Nisse should be grateful.” I stare at his sharp profile in the moonlight. “And so should you. It’s only by the grace of heaven that we survived the first invasion.”

“Maybe for me. But I think you might have survived for a different reason.”

Everything in me goes still. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do.” He looks at me out of the corner of his eye. “The witch left her mark on you.”

“You’ve gone soft in the head.”

He scratches at the dark, short beard that has grown during our journey. “I don’t want to fight you. But I will if you’ve become our enemy.”

I close my eyes as the fire inside me rages, hungry and hot. I hold it tightly, but my control is slipping again. “If you spread lies, I will kill you.”

Sander’s footsteps crunch on pebbles as he backs away from me. “So you can add me to the list?”

My eyelids pop open, my eyeballs hot and aching. “Is that an accusation?”

“I don’t have proof yet, apart from the fact that you’ve just threatened to murder me.”

“I threaten to murder people all the time. How is that proof?”

“If my concerns are baseless, why would you want to silence me?”

“Do you have any idea what we’re walking into in Vasterut? Any rumor you spread will weaken us, no matter how unfounded. And you’re already doing exactly that—echoing stupid stories to frame Thyra and absolve Nisse, just to make it easier for him to take us over!”

“So I should stay quiet and let the witch’s poisoned dagger inch closer to the throne of Vasterut, and the home of all the remaining Krigere warriors? Does Thyra suspect that the witch has tainted you? Would she want you at her side if she did?”

“I would never hurt our people!” I shriek, cold tears brimming in my eyes as I realize I already have. First ice and now fire. The storm on the Torden was nothing compared to the gale raging inside my body. “Sander, you need to get away from me.”