Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“I apologized at least five times already,” Freya grumbled, rubbing her arms in the small cave I’d managed to locate.
It was too shallow to properly keep out the cold, but it was better than being completely exposed to the elements.
Luckily, we had supplies to build a fire and it was working wonders to ward off the chill that had entered our bones.
During the day, the temperatures had been freezing.
Now that it was nighttime, it was beyond freezing.
It felt like a few steps outdoors would turn us into witch-cicles.
What I wouldn’t give for my cloak right about now.
I could think of at least three potions that would warm us.
But no, we were stuck in an icy cave rubbing sticks together like … like Neanderthals.
“‘Sorry’ hardly covers it,” I said, pacing back and forth before the fire.
“We left our friends back there to face the Ember King alone, and of all the places for you to teleport us, you bring us to the Ice Queen’s backyard.
” Narcissa could handle herself, I had no doubt, but Auggie …
what must he be up against? I sincerely hoped the Ember King wouldn’t broil him in an oven. I chewed on a fingernail.
Freya crossed her arms. “You try to create a portal with only a second’s notice.
It was so sweltering, the first thing I thought of was someplace cold, and Greenland gets quite cold in winter.
Nothing like this, though. This is definitely the Ice Queen’s doing.
” At my look, she threw up her arms. “I didn’t realize she’d grown so powerful over the past decade. I’ve clearly been out of the loop.”
I continued to pace, but with less fervor. I put a hand to my head. “Yes, I … I know. I’m just frustrated. This is a terrible predicament. But I’m still very glad my organs aren’t currently molten puddles in a river of lava.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I think you meant to say, ‘Sorry I pulled you through that hole after me.’”
Freya rolled her eyes. “Yes, well, I could have let you plummet to your death, you know. I thought quickly and saved us both, didn’t I?”
I shook my head, chuckling. “Very well. Thank you for not letting me fall to my death after putting me in the situation.”
“You’re welcome.” Freya smiled, showing her teeth.
“And as soon as you feel up to it, we’ll just have to teleport back. Hopefully our friends will still be alive.”
Freya released a sigh. “The Ember King hardly seemed reasonable. And he was very adamant about cooking …” Her voice trailed off as she met my steely gaze. “I mean, they could be alive.”
I stopped pacing and sat before the fire with a loud exhale. “I just don’t—I don’t know if I can do this. This was supposed to be an easy task, and it’s been one thing after another.”
“You can do it, Mr. Witch,” Therese said, pushing her head up through my shirt collar.
She’d been icy cold by the time I’d dragged Freya to the cave, and frogs being cold-blooded, I knew I would have to keep her warm somehow.
Body heat worked nicely. Although now that I had a nice roaring fire, thanks in part to a flask of whiskey from my bag, I scooped her out of my shirt and set her down before the flames.
I worried that her body might not be able to stand the wind that kept sending icy blasts into our backs, but Therese seemed content with the fire for now.
We really would need to find a more hospitable shelter soon, however, if this was to be an extended stay.
“You can accomplish anything with friends.”
“That’s a rather optimistic view,” I said.
“It’s completely unrealistic,” Freya agreed.
“But not with this group of friends,” Therese insisted. “You’re all so fierce and tenacious.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Tenacious? What has your father been reading you? You’re like five years old.”
“I’m seven,” she corrected, puffing out her throat with indignation.
“And I’m always so bored during the day, I’ll read whatever I can get my hands on.
I even read one of your books once. Eighty-Six Uses of Carnivorous Plants in Advanced Potions.
It was a fascinating read, Mr. Witch. But do some of those plants really get big enough to eat people? ”
“Only if they’ve been spelled to eat snooping little girls.” I narrowed my eyes. “I’ve been looking for that book!”
“I returned it just the other day,” she said. “Next, I was going to read up on demon incantations.”
“No, you’re not.”
Freya chuckled. “I don’t know, Callum. Many witches have had human assistants.”
“It’s bad business,” I sniffed. “David does just fine. When he has a mind to.”
“But he doesn’t have a mind.”
I waved her observation away. “And anyway, Narcissa wouldn’t stand for it. She likes to fill that role and feel useful.”
Therese nodded. “Narcissa is rather territorial.”
“Exactly.”
I asked Freya, “How long do you think you’ll need before you can create another portal?”
“I don’t know.” Freya rummaged in my bag for some bread and tore off a piece before popping it into her mouth. “I feel like a horse kicked me in the stomach, and I can barely stand. I was already exhausted before I did that. It took a lot out of me.”
I glanced toward the cave entrance. “Well, the smoke won’t draw too much attention in the dark, but during daylight hours, it’ll be a different story. I don’t want to be ambushed out here, not when I don’t have my ingredients on me.”
“I should be mobile in the morning at least,” Freya offered. “But there’s no way I’m going to be able to teleport us out of here for a few days.”
I would just have to hope Auggie lasted that long. There was nothing else for it. “Fair enough. We’ll rest up for the night, then try to find some better shelter in the morning.”
I lay down and waited for sleep to find me.
It took a good, long while. I kept shivering despite the warmth the fire provided, and I couldn’t stop worrying about Auggie.
If he lived, our time together was still going to be finite.
Lucifer was going to very likely claim him at the end of this journey.
I rolled over, exhausted by tension. Eventually, the crackling of the fire and the sound of melting snow dripping onto the cave floor lulled me into an uneasy slumber.
We trudged through the icy landscape, wrapped in what little extra clothing I’d stored in my bag. It wasn’t spelled as thoroughly as my cloak had been, but there were a few pockets lined with necessities that came in handy, gloves for one. They were gardening gloves, but they were something.
My mind kept returning to Auggie and Narcissa at the mercy of the Ember King. I tortured myself with scenes of them being pushed into ovens or lowered into the lava moat. I had to work to push the intrusive thoughts from my mind. If only things hadn’t happened so fast.
“Are those the caves?” Freya asked, teeth chattering as she spoke.
I leaned into her, savoring the small amount of warmth I found there.
There was no wind, no snow, just an icy landscape that was impossibly cold.
I shuddered to think how horrid conditions would be if it were snowing.
There had been little promise of shelter in the directions of the mountains or plains, and while I’d been hesitant about walking toward the Ice Queen’s castle, I’d spied what appeared to be caves in the rocky foothills leading up to the intimidating structure.
If we could wait out Freya’s fatigue in a comfortable cave before teleporting the hell out of there, I wouldn’t mind getting a little closer to the castle.
It wasn’t like we could put much distance between ourselves and the castle in this wasteland, anyway, hoping to find some shelter before freezing to death.
We had few options, and this looked like the best. If we came across some of the Ice Queen’s minions, Freya was a more skilled fighter than I.
Fighting the Ice Queen herself seemed a little frightening, given how our run-in with the Ember King had gone.
Squinting against the snow that was blindingly bright in the sun, I nodded, making out openings in the frozen rock. “Yes, I think that’s them.”
“Thank the Gods,” Freya murmured. We summoned extra energy and began racing toward the openings.
Sure enough, they were caves, and we picked one that had a narrow-enough entrance to keep out the snow, yet was deep enough to stretch out comfortably.
As we slipped inside, I was surprised to find that it went much farther than I’d expected, although it was too dark to see just how far it went.
The sight I’d had from the eye of newt had long disappeared, to my chagrin.
Freya sidled up to me and stared toward the back of the cave. “Do you think it’s safe here?”
I considered, cocking my head to listen for anything making noise. But all was silent. “I don’t think I’ll feel safe until I make sure there’s nothing hiding in this cave.”
Freya hesitated. “I do know a rune that would reveal anyone.”
“No. You need all the strength you can gather right now for the portal. No need to waste any.”
Freya nodded. “All right, but I’m coming with you.”
“Just stay close.”
Feeling along the walls with one hand and holding on to Freya with the other, I ventured deeper into the cave. After walking in the dark for nearly five minutes, the wall began to feel damp through my gloves, and I removed one to confirm that the stone was wet.
“It’s warmer here,” I said, wondering if we’d found a hot spring. Freya blew out a breath. “Good. We could use some luck.” Feeling optimistic, I picked up my pace but was surprised to see light coming from around a bend ahead. I paused, considering.
“Is that natural light?” Freya asked softly. “Otherwise, it will mean people.”
“Let’s be cautious. We don’t want to reveal ourselves if we’re not alone here. But if we can stay warm, I’d welcome it.”
“If someone else is here, we leave—no questions,” Freya pressed.
“Agreed.”