by Den Patrick
Kjellrunn nodded and watched the rogue Vigilant go. Kristofine appeared by her side with a smile.
‘Come with me,’ was all she said.
‘If it’s something to do with Steiner then I’d rather not. I’m not best pleased with him, to tell the truth.’
Kristofine paused. ‘It’s not about Steiner. Are you jealous of him? What with his new-found fame and all.’
‘Not jealous. I just don’t want him getting himself killed.’
‘Well, that makes two of us,’ said Kristofine, and took her hand, leading her back to the stern of the ship.
Before too long they were in the captain’s cabin, where Kimi and Marozvolk were standing by the window with a long tube of leather.
‘What’s that?’ asked Kjellrunn, glad to be inside.
‘It lets you see things that are far away,’ said Kimi. ‘It’s called a telescope. Here, come and try for yourself.’
Kjellrunn approached the window and looked out to sea, squinting through the lenses.
‘Do you see them?’ said Kristofine.
Kjellrunn scanned the horizon and then tilted the tube upward. They looked like birds, dark birds in the pale grey sky.
‘You brought me all this way to see a few rangy gulls.’
Marozvolk and Kimi started laughing and Kjellrunn felt herself blush.
‘They’re dragons,’ said Kimi. ‘Silverdust freed the dragons, just as I asked him to.’
‘I didn’t hear you ask him,’ replied Kjellrunn.
‘I didn’t have to. Silverdust has a way of knowing what’s on your mind.’
‘Where will they go?’ Kjellrunn was suddenly very afraid. ‘Won’t they attack the towns of the Scorched Republics?’
Kimi cocked her head to one side. ‘I don’t think so. They’ve been following us south for the last hour now.’
‘Dragons,’ said Kjellrunn. ‘As if two witches and a Yamal princess weren’t enough.’
‘And a folk hero,’ added Kristofine.
Kjellrunn looked through the telescope and regarded the dragons again. Steiner was right. There was no way he could go back to being a blacksmith after this, any more than Kjellrunn could go back to chopping firewood and preparing fish stew each day.
‘What will we do?’ asked Kjellrunn.
‘Hope they don’t get too hungry,’ replied Marozvolk.
‘And that your brother knows how to keep them under control,’ added Kimi. ‘Though I’m sure he’ll have help from Sundra.’
‘We’re free, Kjell. We’re free.’ Kristofine smiled. ‘Free of Cinderfell and Vladibogdan, free of the Empire.’
Kjellrunn nodded and tried to smile back, but it seemed there were a lot of responsibilities that came with being free, and each of them would take some getting used to.
Kristofine wrapped an arm about Kjellrunn and they both looked out at the Spøkelsea where the dragons glided over the waves. Free.
Acknowledgements
Steiner and gang have taken a long and winding road to reach publication. It would not have been possible without the following people. First and foremost, Juliet, who always championed both the book and myself, even when I was a massive grouch, which was often. Julie Crisp has been everything you could ask for from an agent; steady and wise. Thanks to Jen Williams, Emma Trevayne and Tom Pollock, who have been there for advice on writing and publishing in general. Much gratitude to Lily, Jack and Tash at Harper Voyager for all their suggestions, support, and belief. And also all the people who are forgotten such as the art department, publicity, and copy editor.
And thanks to you, the reader. Welcome to Vinterkveld.
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