Dawn of Cobalt Shadows (Burning Empire Book 2) by Emma Hamm (best e ink reader for manga .txt) 📕

Turning back to the ice mountain, she hauled herself up and over the lip of ice. Rolling a few times, she finally laid on her back and stared up at the clouds in the sky. There might be a storm tonight by the looks of it. And she could remain up here, screaming with rage back at the sky which seemed to understand her mood.

Aslaug had said remaining here would help her find who she was. That she would understand her purpose if she remained with the ancients who knew what the Beastkin were first created for.

But they didn’t feel like all-knowing people. They lived in harmony, together with themselves and the land. They were a perfect people, certainly, but that didn’t explain where she’d come from or what her purpose was.

All she’d done was help them. And Sigrid liked helping people. It made her feel as though she was giving them back something for hosting her when they hadn’t expected another mouth to feed in this never-ending winter.

They’d given her clothing, the same she wore now. Furs that covered her from head to toe. Some of them sheep, the ones closer to more sensitive skin were clearly rabbit. She didn’t know who had given up their clothing for her to wear, or if they had more to share with themselves and their families.

She appreciated it all. Gods, she did. The ancient civilization here was more kind than any other she’d ever met. They wanted to keep giving and have her give in return.

It felt like a utopia. But nothing was perfect, especially in this time.

Every corner she turned was as if she were waiting for something to go wrong. Like someone was going to suddenly turn on her, shifting into a bear or lion and attacking her just for disturbing their peace.

Of course, it hadn’t happened yet. Likely wouldn’t. Aslaug and her people knew how to be generous with their hosting.

And yet, she still didn’t know why she was here. What she was learning, or why she was spending so much time with them when her own people needed her back at home.

A cloud drifted past in the shape of a bird. Her heart clenched hard. She missed her sisters, and Camilla most of all. What would her sister say if she were here?

Probably that Sigrid wasn’t listening. She was going through the motions of being a good guest, but she wasn’t trying to learn what the ancients were teaching her.

Taking advantage of the situation was one thing, but actually taking the time to listen? Sigrid had never been very good at that. She was a woman of action. She made snap decisions, remained silent so she could hear what other people were saying. But had she ever actually let it soak in? Hallmar always said there was meaning underneath the words people said. Actions were stronger, that she could draw judgements based off of what people did, not what they said they wanted to do.

She was thinking herself in circles now. How was she supposed to stay here and learn when her own brain wouldn’t shut up?

A shadow crossed above her face, far too close for comfort. Flinching, Sigrid blinked up at the wooden mask that stared blankly back at her.

“Eivor?” she asked.

“I said we’d meet again, didn’t I?”

When the strange medicine woman stepped back, Sigrid rolled onto her hands and knees, pushing herself to standing. “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask the same of you.”

“I wanted to see what the brave trails really were. Aslaug said I have no need to train how to fight when I have a dragon in me.” Sigrid brushed snow off her furs. “I disagree.”

“As do I. But one doesn’t question matriarch when she’s teaching a lesson.” Eivor danced back, her feet barely leaving impressions on the snow. “So. What is the lesson?”

“I haven’t the faintest idea.”

“Sounds like Aslaug. She doesn’t particularly like having to tell someone what they need to know. It’s better for them to learn it the hard way. Lessons like that stick.” Eivor tapped her mask with a finger. “Sometimes the mind needs to be punished for bad thinking.”

“Is that how she trained you?”

“No one trained me. Medicine women aren’t allowed to be touched, remember? We have to find our own way in the world. That’s where the magic comes from after all.”

What a lonely existence this woman had. Sigrid felt a small surge of pity for the creature who danced back and forth from foot to foot. She’d been alone her entire life, so it seemed. Except for circumstances like this when she was meant to bring someone back to the matriarch.

No wonder Eivor was a strange creature. She’d made her way in the world with no one to guide her, no one to hold her at night.

Sigrid didn’t know what to say.

It seemed, neither did Eivor until she jerked her arm up, then lifted the rat’s head from her waist. “What is it, Grim? No. No I don’t want to ask her that. You can ask her yourself if that’s what you want, but there’s no reason… Fine.” Eivor cleared her throat, and the mask turned back to Sigrid’s gaze. “He’d like to know if your soul is still intact.”

“I don’t see why it wouldn’t be.”

“Well you—” Eivor hesitated then gesture between them. “You touched me, you see. The soul is bound to be a little uncomfortable after that. It hasn’t affected you? A pulling sensation, perhaps, in your naval?”

“No.”

“Now, strange dreams at night or wandering about the plains as soon as you drift off?”

“Not at all.” Sigrid smiled. “Really, I’m fine.”

“Strange.” She lifted the skull to her ear again. “Yes, well I suppose we could, considering.”

She was talking to the rat again. Sigrid had her concerns that the “soul” inside that skull wasn’t real at all. It made far more sense that this was a woman who had suffered greatly, and whose mind reached out for whatever companionship