Chapter 18
“Oh, thank heavens, you’re well.” He pulled me into an embrace before I could think to back away.
His grip felt like iron, his squeeze a little too tight as my body felt more fragile than usual.
He pulled away, his hands still wrapped snugly around my arms like the chains he left me in once upon a life ago.
“I can’t tell you how worried I’ve been ever since you left. ”
The soldiers all met me with cheerful smiles, rejoicing as they spread the news that their princess-to-be was safe. Except I was in more danger than ever.
“I find it hard to believe that you’d worry about anyone,” I snapped, pushing him hard in the chest until he released me. The celebration halted as the soldiers noticed my frosty response, but Blamore didn't bat an eye. He did, however, curl a fist.
I looked past the unsavory prince, my attention fixated on the men whose hearts I needed to sway. They had to know about the king that was waiting for them.
“Listen to me,” I called out across the rows of men, my lungs aching from the cold air the volume required. “I'm not here for Prince Blamore. Instead, I come on behalf of your king.”
I could feel the entire sea of men shift, the snow feeling warm compared to the chill that ran through them. The entire mountain seemed to go quiet just at the mention of the snow king, their eyes all glassy like I was only speaking to a reflection of the people who used to know him.
“The snow king?” One of the soldiers spoke, his question seeming to come from everyone as he scratched his long, tangled beard. “Princess, that’s who we’ve come to rescue you from.”
“Rescue me?” I repeated. “You speak as if he kidnapped me or something.”
“Dear princess, he’s done so much more than that.
” Blamore approached me cautiously, but the second I heard the snow crunch under his boot I moved back another arm’s length.
He paused his pursuit, his jaw tight but his smile loose.
“It became clear to me after you left that the king had placed you under his curse. You’ve been a prisoner to him in both body and mind. ”
What? That’s ridiculous.
The idea held no validity, yet the glimpses I caught from the soldiers were full of fear and pity. They believed Blamore far more than they trusted me.
“I can assure you that I left completely on my own accord,” I said clearly, biting my tongue enough that I didn’t rip into Blamore’s character in front of the men who supported him.
I needed to prove myself trustworthy before I could claim Blamore wasn’t.
“The king has no ill will toward me, or anyone else for that matter. He has sent me here to tell you that he wishes to cease this endless winter and rule in peace. His only request is a chance to be your king again.”
“Peace?” Blamore scoffed, addressing the soldiers now. “The monster doesn’t know the meaning of the word.”
“He’s not a monster,” I said in clipped tones, half-tempted to give him a taste of one of Douglas’s brothers.
“Oh?” Blamore faced me, his perfect features looking far too fake today. “How many homes has he already destroyed? How many lives has his winter already claimed? Safara, do you even hear what you’re saying?”
“Do you?” I stomped forward, my anger building up too much to contain. “This is your brother you’re speaking of! The rightful king of Averglas, and the man that you unfairly curse—”
He snapped a hand around my mouth, the taste of his glove earthy and bitter as the wool stuck against my tongue. I tried to scream against his hand, or at the very least fight to pull him off me, but he was too strong for me to fight against in my state.
And not a single soldier came to my rescue. They all simply watched, eyes wide and hearts closed.
“The poor princess is burning with illness,” Blamore said, pretending to sound soothing as he pulled me to his side. “She must be mad with fever. Spouting nonsense about some rightful king or brother.”
What?
“Yes, her memory does seem to be struggling,” the soldier with the scraggly beard said, his eyes still wide like an owl. “There is no king here.”
“That’s right,” Blamore smiled at the soldier. “Averglas has no king.”
“There’s no king,” another soldier said as Blamore dragged me past him.
“Prince Blamore never had any brothers.”
“The princess must be ill.”
“That snow king had her for far too long.”
I felt like I was walking through a nightmare, my heart stilled as their glassy eyes haunted me. Their mumbled words didn’t sound like their own as they mindlessly agreed with the prince.
What had he done to them?
“Blamore...what other curses have you placed on this kingdom?” I barely breathed the question, my stomach turning as I watched his painted smile melt away.
“You’re not feeling well, Safara,” he said in a steely tone. “Let’s get you in front of a fire.”
I tried to pull away, but there was no hope of escaping him even if I was capable of running. My legs were barely able to keep up with his pace, and the soldiers clearly weren’t going to let me leave on my own.
Cassian, I think I failed.
He thrust me into a burlap tent that had an opening in the roof for smoke to vent out. A tiny fire crackled in the middle of the spacious shelter, and my eyes stopped exploring when I spotted a familiar face kneeling by the fire already.
“Lea?” I gasped, my eyes locking with those of the little robber girl.
“Welcome to the sick tent,” Blamore said. “You two can keep each other company.”