Page 60 of Blood of Wolves

The Sels were coming. The war was starting.

Revna turned away from the open trunk at the foot of her bed and clasped her hands around both of Tessa’s, which were knotted together and squeezing in time to her pulse. Tessa stilled, dragged in a breath, and met Revna’s stern gaze.

“Tessa. Breathe.”

“I am breathing.”

“Not very well, lamb. Come on. With me. In, and out. In, and out.”

The dark spots at the edges of Tessa’s vision receded.

“There. Keep breathing. Whatever happens, I need you to keep breathing.” Delivered as a command, one that left no room for disobedience.

Tessa jerked a nod.

Only minutes ago, up on the ramparts, Revna had turned at the sound of their approach, loose hair whipping across her face, Bjorn’s hands big and sturdy on her shoulders – seemingly all that held her upright.Are they…?She’d wondered, only briefly, because the tiny fairy lights of torches down at the harbor had chilled her to the bone. Coming, they were coming.

But then, as a low roar like waves had started up in Tessa’s ears, Revna had seemed to shake herself, and taken her hand. “Come with me. We have to prepare.” And now here they stood in Revna’s bedchamber, with its rumpled sheets, and two wine cups on the bedside table, and a trunk spilling gowns and undergarments all over the floor. And Revna, the lady of the house once more, fierce and regal.

“Now, let’s see,” she said, surveying Tessa’s dress: the thick wool one with the high collar she’d worn for archery practice. She still wore her fur-lined cloak over it, its hem heavy with melting snow. “Yes, that will do. But we need” – she turned and rummaged through the trunk again, flinging out gloves, and caps, and – “ah, here we are.” She turned back with something made of soft brown leather held between both hands. “It might be a bit big, since it’s mine, but we should be able to cinch it up tight.”

Above them, even through layers of timber and stone, she could hear the running footfalls of the guards, the muted shouts of commands and questions.

Breathe, Revna had said. She had to keep breathing, no matter what.

“What – what is it?” she asked, taking the thing into trembling hands. Now that she looked, it resembled a corset, with its laces in back and stiff panels in front – but one that would cover her breasts fully and which fastened at the back of the neck with a stiff collar set with flat metal studs.

“Armor,” Revna said, then made a face. “Of a type. Better than nothing, and lighter than mail.” She motioned with a finger and Tessa turned around and unclasped her cloak. Revna took it from her, and then reached around to position the corset on top of her dress.

Tessa held it in place while Revna did the collar and laces, the rush of waves back in her ears.Breathe. Keep breathing.

She wet dry lips with a drier tongue and said, “I don’t have a sword of my own.”

Revna paused, the pressure of the laces slackening. “No,” she said, slowly, voice one of confusion. “You don’t. But I hardly think now is the time to commission a–”

“Then I’ll have to borrow one.” Swallowing took effort. “So that I may fight.”

Strong hands gripped her shoulders and spun her around. Revna tilted her head down, blue eyes wide and serious. “Tessa. Darling, no. You won’t be fighting.”

The words sent a surge of relief through her.

And a slap of shame.

She didn’t want to fight…but how could she hide indoors when the women here were so strong? So fearless and willing to take up arms alongside their men.

“But–”

“No, listen to me.” A gentle shake. “You are to be the next princess of Aeretoll. Your place is by my side, in the great hall, watching over our people.”

Our people.

Breathe. Keep breathing.

“The armor is just…” Revna hesitated, wincing. “It’s just in case. Theywill notbreach these walls, not even if I have to man the murder holes myself. But. It’s better to prepare for something that won’t happen than to be taken by surprise.” Her brows lifted expectantly.

Numbly, Tessa nodded.

“Good girl.” She urged her to turn back around, and then finished lacing up the armored corset. A leather skirt that reached her knees, and a heavy, tooled leather belt came next.

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