Chapter 65
“Queen Gloriana,” Marshen said, kneeling with a lowered head before his queen. She lithely sauntered our way, two servants in tow mirroring her pace as if they were her shadows.
I offered her a courtesy bow as best as my body allowed me to. It seemed that I was the only one with rattling teeth and a mouthful of misty breath. My body still trembled, despite the warm air that suffused the castle’s great hall.
The chandelier above our heads shimmered in light blue, reminding me of glowflies.
Marshen blurted out the words, “My Queen, I found them! We found them, the people of Ilma. We have to inform King Ryvar.”
She looked my way, assessed the whole of me from head to toe, and in a flat tone said, “You smell exactly like him.” Then she turned her gaze back to Marshen.
“I’m afraid my husband took our son on a hunting trip.
He won’t be back until tomorrow. But considering the mess of a state you’re in, I will offer you shelter and food for tonight. ”
Queen Gloriana stared at me. I felt as if I soiled the beauty of this magnificent hall with my damp, shivering presence.
Whereas she gracefully blessed it with a head towering with ice-white hair, and light blue eyes, the same colour as the excessive gem bound at her throat.
Attached to it was a light blue gown that trailed from neck to floor, complementing the marbled tiles.
Finally, her gaze moved on to one of her servants. “Set a guest bedroom for each. Light the hearth and prepare a hot bath for her. Give food to both.”
“T-Thank y-you,” I managed.
The servants also fetched me clean clothes, all warm and fuzzy.
But more importantly, they brought food, water, and wine.
I decided to have dinner on the furry carpet, in front of the hearth.
I was starving, yet every bite took a great deal of energy to chew and even more effort to swallow.
Not to mention the concentration required to keep it all down.
I was in Silch, in Nivaria, lounging in one of the guest bedrooms of King Ryvar Hailin’s castle. His castle. His home.
Gods, how is it possible to run away from someone only to end up ensconced in the comfort of their home?
Me being here, the thought itself, had my stomach ache in longing, then in turmoil. I decided I needed a distraction.
I reached for the bottle of red.
Marshen was already holding a wine glass when he opened the door. The little bit of red residue at the bottom of it told me we were on the same page.
“Oh, perfect timing,” he said. “Mine just finished.” Then he snatched the bottle from my hand.
We sat on the carpet. I lay sideways, a fluffy blanket covering my lower body. Marshen rested his back against the bed frame, hugging his knees.
He took a few gulps, then handed me the bottle.
“Sooo, Delia. Will you tell me how it is that you are claimed by him, yet you decided to venture to Ilma on your own, and then all the way up to the other side of the continent?”
“As you already know, I sought answers about my family.”
“Yes, but we were in Ramel, for Boreas’s sake. We could have gone to him.”
I latched the bottle to my mouth, then wiped my lips with the back of my hand.
“I know. I know that’s what we should have done.
But he hurt me, all right. I just…couldn’t bear to see him.
” I couldn’t bear it, even if his choice meant that the Ilman hostages were a step closer to their freedom—my lifelong wish.
“It was that bad, huh? Bad enough that you had to separate yourself from him?” Marshen’s open stare beckoned me to answer him.
“He—” I let out a long huff. “He chose another woman. One who is noble and beautiful and perfect for him. I needed to do something for myself.”
His mouth curved sideways and his brow wrinkled.
“I don’t want to put salt on your wound, but Delia, it doesn’t seem to make any sense to me.
Not that I don’t believe you, of course.
But first of all, I’ve never met anyone more suitable for him.
I mean, it’s—let’s see…stubborn, check, arrogant at times, nay, most times, check, determined, check, crazy, definitely check…
and secondly, he slept with plenty of women before you, you know. ”
Jealousy clamped its sharp teeth around my stomach and pressed. “That’s very reassuring. Thanks.” I took a few more gulps before passing it on.
“What I meant is…he didn’t claim any of them. You’re the only one he slept with and claimed.”
“We didn’t—I—it’s none of your business, all right.”
Godsdamned wine.
Marshen barked out a partial laugh. “Wait, wait. So you mean to tell me that he claimed you before you two even—” His laughter grew louder. “And then you mean to tell me that he chose some other random woman?”
“She was not random, and he did. I heard him choose her. I heard him loud and clear. Knowing that it was important that he be with her didn’t make it any less painful.”
His brows moved. “You heard him choose her?”
“Uh-huh.”
“So you mean to tell me that you crossed a continent because of something you heard him say. You didn’t talk to him about it?”
“It sounds different when you say it like that,” I snapped. “But I know what I heard, all right. I heard him say how he truly felt about me and what he said—it was cruel.” I gestured for him to pass on the red.
“And who was he saying these cruel words to—to this non-random, important lady?”
“I can’t say, sorry.”
“Always so secretive. Well, can you at least tell me if Aegir trusted the person he spoke to?”
“I don’t know…I’m not sure. I don’t think so.”
He snatched the bottle from my hand. “And did it ever occur to you that he may have lied to this person to keep you out of the sunlight? To protect you?”
“No, I’ve—that doesn’t change the fact that he chose her!” I snapped. Then my voice lowered to a mumble. “And the way he chose her, the speed of it—no hint of hesitation.”
“Boreas. That’s the most overly dramatic story I’ve ever heard, and I’m almost two centuries old.”
I threw a cushion at him.
“Careful! The wine!” Marshen took a long sip, then sighed. He tilted his head up, resting his nape against the mattress. “I, too, am in love with someone whom I cannot be with.”
“I’m sor—”
“Not just in love. When I first met her, I cannot tell you if it was the sight of her or her perfect scent that made me fall face-first for her. Boreas, that face, that smile. Her laughter brought me a sort of inexplicable joy that I had never known existed.”
“And you cannot be with her?” I asked, my voice low.
“Nope,” he said, smacking his lips.
“Why not?”
“Because I am not worthy of the king’s cousin.”
“Shit.”
“You see now, we are just two peas hanging around in the same pod.”
“Blanca,” I whispered.
“What did you just say?”
“Her name is Blanca, isn’t it? You called for her in the caves.” He stared at me for long seconds, then nodded, pressing his lips. “Does this execution thing have anything to do with her?”
His silence was my answer. But why would the king hang an execution order over his head for being in love with his cousin?
More than in love. Were we in a monster’s castle, or did something else happen?
I didn’t pry. Mostly because of the guilt I felt, but also because I didn’t feel like kicking a dog that was already down.
So instead, I told him, “You and me—we crossed the Depths, and we went through the Unnar Caves. Not many people can say that. I’m sure we can survive this, too.
” Marshen nodded, his eyes heavy with unspoken words.
“Hey, tomorrow, we’ll speak with the king.
I will vouch for you, you know? I want this to work just as much as you do.
I want you to be free and I want them to be found, just like they desperately want to.
We’ll convince him to remove your execution order, and we’ll convince him to help Alma and her people. I promise.”
“I don’t doubt you. Tomorrow,” he said. His laden words had me downing the bottle, and I drifted, half drunk, half asleep. Marshen walked with me—all right, he guided me back to my room.
When he lowered me into bed, I thought about the way he screamed her name. How he wanted to rip someone apart for her. Was that someone, King Ryvar? Was it he who haunted his nightmares?
I woke with a grunt. Each knock felt like a pounding ring that ripped through my skull. “Ugh.” The room spun on itself. I blinked my lead-heavy eyes. Whoever was behind the door was impatient. “Gods’ sakes. Wait a damned second.” I flung the door open. “What?”
“The king is back. He’s meeting us downstairs at noon. Get ready, I’ll be back in an hour,” Marshen said.
We are about to face the Ice King.
Throwing up helped. I wasn’t sure if it had anything to do with the wine. My head steadied as I sipped warm peppermint tea, sitting in a freezing bath.
We are about to face the Ice King.