The city of Valemont hit different in the morning light. Way bigger than he'd expected. Like, seriously massive. So many shops, attractions, local culture regarding the sandships, some local cuisine… and yeah, that was definitely sewage. Cities.

"So," Freya bounced on her heels, "where to first?"

"Food," Juliana said simply.

"Always practical, our Jules," Freya grinned.

Theodore watched his sister's jaw tighten at the nickname. She didn't say anything though. Just started walking. That was Juliana for you. All princess dignity on the outside, but Theodore caught the way her eyes lingered on a street performer juggling flaming torches. The tiniest lean forward, like she wanted to stop and watch regardless of how mundane it was and whatever more she could do herself.

"Let's check that out," Theodore said, nodding toward the performer.

"We have things to do," Juliana said.

"We have all day. Ship doesn't leave until tomorrow morning."

She hesitated. Theodore could practically see the internal debate.

"Come on," he nudged her elbow. "When's the last time you just watched a street show?"

"I don't—"

"Oh for the love of—" Freya grabbed them both, dragging them toward the performer. "You two overthink everything!"

The juggler was actually pretty good. Kept up a running commentary while tossing the torches higher and higher. Theodore caught Juliana hiding a smile behind her hand when the guy pretended to almost drop one. Afterward, they wandered deeper into the market district. Freya immediately got distracted by a weapons stall. Of course she did. Started examining every blade like it held the secrets of the universe.

"This craftsmanship is terrible," she announced loudly. The vendor looked offended. "Look at this! The balance is completely off. You'd tire out in minutes trying to use this in actual combat."

"It's decorative, miss," the vendor said through gritted teeth.

"What's the point of a decorative weapon? That's like... like having decorative food. Completely missing the purpose."

Theodore left her to traumatize the poor merchant and followed Juliana to a food stall. She was staring at these little fried dough things covered in honey and nuts. The vendor was calling them honey-drops or something.

"Want some?" Theodore asked.

"No. I was just—" She straightened up. "We should find proper food. A restaurant."

But she kept glancing back at the stall as they walked away. Theodore rolled his eyes. He doubled back without saying anything, bought three small bags of the things. "Here," he shoved one at Juliana when he caught up.

"I said I didn't—"

"Just eat the damn honey things."

She glared at him but took the bag. Shoving her hand inside the bag, she took one out and threw it in her mouth. First bite and her expression completely changed. Like a kid discovering candy for the first time. Theodore bit back a laugh. He forgot she'd spent most of her life eating formal dinners and proper meals. Probably never had cheap street food before.

Freya appeared out of nowhere and snatched the third one. "Ooh, what's this?"

"Honey-drops, the guy selling called them" Theodore said.

"Mmm. Sweet. Sticky." She stuffed three in her mouth at once. "I love them."

They kept wandering, no real destination in mind. Valemont was one of those cities that had grown in layers. Old stone buildings squashed between newer wooden ones. Narrow alleys that opened into huge squares. Theodore noticed how Juliana relaxed the further they got from the main thoroughfares. They found themselves in what looked like an artists' quarter. Painters with easels set up on corners. Someone sculpting... was that supposed to be a dragon? Looked more like a lumpy dog. Music drifting from open tavern doors.

"Oh!" Juliana actually stopped walking. Just froze, staring at this little shop tucked between two larger buildings.

Theodore followed her gaze. A bookshop. Of course. Should've known.

"Go look," he said.

"We don't have time to—"

"Juliana. Go look at the books."

She bit her lip. "Five minutes?"

"Take twenty. Hell, take an hour."

She practically ran inside. Theodore and Freya followed more slowly. The shop was cramped, exactly what you'd expect. Books everywhere. Stacked on shelves, piled on the floor, probably holding up that wobbly table in the corner. Juliana had already disappeared into the stacks. Theodore could hear her moving around, occasionally making these little excited noises when she found something interesting.

"She's adorable," Freya said.

"Don't let her hear you say that."

"Why? It's true. All that pretense typically and she turns into a puppy in a bookshop." Freya picked up a random book, flipped through it, put it back.

"Everyone needs something that makes them forget who they're supposed to be."

"Yeah. Guess so."

They gave Juliana her time. She emerged eventually with three books clutched to her chest and the closest thing to a guilty expression Theodore had ever seen on her.

"I'll pay you back," she said immediately.

"Don't be stupid. Consider it an early birthday present."

"My birthday was two months ago."

"Then a late one. Whatever."

They found food eventually. Proper restaurant this time, though Theodore noticed Juliana had finished her entire bag of honey-drops. Freya ordered enough for three people and somehow ate all of it. The woman's appetite was genuinely terrifying. After lunch, more wandering. The city had this massive fountain near the ship district. Some old king or hero or whoever, water spouting from his sword. Bunch of people sitting around the edges, killing time.

"I'm getting more of those honey things," Juliana announced suddenly. "Anyone want anything?"

Theodore stared at her. She was voluntarily going back for street food?

"Uh. Sure. Get extra."

She nodded and walked off, back straight.

"She's loosening up," Freya observed, stretching out on the fountain edge.

"About time. She's wound tighter than... I don't know. Something really tight."

"A garrote?"

"That's morbid."

"But accurate." Freya tilted her face up to the sun. "She reminds me of my eldest sister. Morgana. Not in personality, but in... pressure, I guess."

Theodore sat down next to her. "Didn't know you had sisters."

"Three. All older. Morgana, Lyanna, and Cassandra." She smiled, but it was different from her usual manic grin. Softer. "Haven't seen them in... five years? Six? Hard to keep track."

"That's a long time."

"Mm. Morgana would be... twenty-seven now? No, twenty-eight. Damnation, that's strange to think about." She laughed, shaking her head. "She was always the responsible one. Took care of us after mother died. Acted more like a parent than a sister."

Theodore stayed quiet, sensing there was more.

"Father was... well. You know how northern chiefs are. Great warrior, terrible parent. Always off fighting something. Morgana basically raised us. Made sure we ate, studied, didn't kill each other during training." Freya's expression went distant. "I was the baby. The wild one. Drove her absolutely insane."

"What happened?"

"I left. Couldn't stand it anymore. The expectations, the responsibilities. Being the chief's daughter meant marrying whoever would bring the best alliance. Popping out warrior babies. Being... proper." She said the last word like it tasted bad. "Morgana understood, I think. She helped me leave. Though I had to fight every sense of the word. Every day."

"She sounds nice."

"She is." Freya picked at the fountain edge. "I send her messages sometimes. Let her know I'm alive. Don't know if she gets them."

"Where is she?"

"Married off to some guy."

"So why do you want to suddenly become the leader there, leading the coup and all? You don't sound like you like that kinda life."

"I don't like it. My brother's an ass, though. And, well, I want my sister back."

"Knowing you, I'm surprised you haven't barged in wherever she is, kicked everyone's ass, and brought her back."

"I'm not a brute!" She looked offended.

Theodore gave her a dry stare, and she held it with a glare.

Theodore sighed.

"Well. I don't want a war." She said, finally. "Her husband's a butthead. I need some power."

"You're strong."

"He's stronger. And I didn't mean that kinda power."

"I see. Well, I'm sure you can do it."

"Maybe." Freya shrugged, but Theodore caught the hope in it. "Anyway. That's my sob story. Very dramatic."

"Why'd you really leave?"

She looked at him, surprised. "What makes you think there's more?"

"Because you could've just refused the marriage, fought people, I don't know, smashed some heads in. You're not exactly the type to go along with things quietly."

"Ha! True." She leaned back on her hands. "I killed someone. During a training match. Accident, but... I enjoyed it. The fight, I mean. The moment when I realized I was stronger, faster. When I knew I could end them if I wanted." She paused. "And then I did want to. So I did."

Theodore waited.

"He was my cousin. Good warrior. Kind person. Didn't deserve it. But in that moment, none of that mattered. Just the fight. Just winning." She looked at her hands. "Morgana covered for me. Everyone believed her. But she knew. And I knew she knew."

"That why you left?"

"Partly. Mostly because I realized I'd do it again. Maybe not on purpose, but... the line between sparring and killing was getting thinner. Figured it was better to leave before I murdered my way through the family tree. Now I realize how foolish I was. I've changed since then, I no longer care. I'd murder my way up there if that's what it takes."

They sat in comfortable silence. Theodore thought about violence, about that conversation they'd had before their spar. How she'd said violence was honest. Made more sense now.

"For what it's worth," he said eventually, "I think your sister would be proud of you."

"For killing?"

"For recognizing the problem and removing yourself from it. For finding a way to be who you are without destroying everything around you."

Freya turned to look at him. "That's..."

"I have my moments."

"Clearly." She bumped his shoulder. "Thanks. For listening. Don't usually tell people that story."

"Then why tell me?"

She grinned, and there was the Freya he knew. "Because you beat me in our spar. Earned some honesty."

"I didn't beat you. You were holding back."

"Was I?" Her grin widened.

Before Theodore could respond, Juliana returned with enough honey-drops to feed a small army. She froze when she saw them sitting close together, talking quietly.

"Am I interrupting something?"

"Just sharing sob stories," Freya said cheerfully. "Want to share yours?"

"I'll pass."

"Spoilsport."

They spent the rest of the afternoon by the fountain. Eating honey-drops. Juliana actually laughed when some kids tried to pickpocket Freya and she caught them by their collars, lecturing them about proper theft technique.

"You're not supposed to encourage crime," Juliana said.

"I'm encouraging skill development. Completely different."

Theodore found himself relaxing. Tomorrow they'd be back on the road. Well, on the sand. Back to whatever chaos waited in the capital. But right now? Right now they were just three people eating too much sugar and watching the world go by.

Not bad for a day off.

"We should head back," Juliana said eventually. "Early morning tomorrow."

"Five more minutes," Freya said. "The sunset's too pretty to waste."

And because it was Juliana's turn to be surprising, she actually agreed. Sat back down, pulled her knees up to her chest like a kid, and watched the sun sink into the horizon.