"You're under Nils's roof, not free on the docks. You watch, you learn the marks, you don't start a fight with a coastal crew because their form looks different from Johan's. If Harald asks why Frostfang sent a young wolf instead of a captain, you tell him I don't waste captains on education I can buy with someone who still has room in her head for new routes.".
Astrid's face opened. "I won't waste it."
"You'd better not. Sigrid will put you on ash-hauling until spring if you do."
"I will," Sigrid confirmed.
Astrid went—fast, before I could add conditions. Sigrid watched her disappear down the stair and then looked at me.
"You're softer with her than with the Hauge boy."
"Astrid doesn't swing on pack-mates when her feelings are hurt. She brings me satchels at dawn." I rubbed my eyes. "If she turns this into theatre, I'll take the softness back. Until then she gets the road."
