Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
We came upon a small fishing village an hour later. My face was numb by the time we arrived, and I was ready to collapse from exhaustion. When the first houses appeared, I let out a delirious laugh and slowed, my weary legs feeling leaden.
“We should be safe here,” the boy said. “If we hadn’t been so careless last time, I could have hidden here and would never have been run down by the Ice Queen’s creatures.” He waved a hand. “It was all Manny’s fault.”
“Manny?” I echoed, still gasping for air from the trek.
“Yes. The man in the other cell.” He looked pensive. “I take it he wasn’t … salvageable?”
“Salvageable?” Freya wrinkled her nose. “That’s a funny way to put it, but no, he would not have survived those wounds for much longer.”
“I figured as much.” He didn’t seem too affected by the loss as he trained his blue eyes on me.
“Who are you, anyway?” Freya asked, stopping to lean forward, hands on her knees, and to catch her breath.
He frowned at her. “Don’t stop now. Your blood will freeze quickly in this cold.” He nodded encouragement as she began walking of her own accord. “Let’s find shelter, then we can talk.”
Watching Freya continue after the boy, I doubted she would be able to open another portal for a while yet, which was disconcerting. My mind kept drifting to Auggie. It might be days before we were able to return to him. I had the sinking feeling that would be too late.
“Freya,” I said slowly, “do you think the Ember King can be reasoned with?”
“Hardly. You’ve seen him. I think he’s too far gone at this point.
” At my dejected look, she amended, “But you never know. Whatever he is now, he’s clearly been motivated by greed.
He wants more land, more power. He wants to control witches who step onto his domain.
There might be a way to talk to him through that. ”
“Hmph.” I didn’t see how.
The closer we drew to the village, the more it appeared that something was wrong.
No one was outside, for one thing, but given the extreme weather, I couldn’t really fault them there.
However, the houses themselves appeared off, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on what was odd about them until we drew much closer and more of the village came into view.
Then I saw it, and we walked along the streets of the village quietly, staring at the scene with disbelieving eyes.
The entire village was covered in ice. The thick coat of ice on the rooftops glistened brightly in the sunlight but stubbornly refused to melt.
Icicles, thousands of them—some over a foot long—dangled from everything, from the sides of buildings, from carts and wagons.
Dark shapes cowered in the corners and in doorways, also covered in ice, and I soon discerned that these were people, frozen in fear quite literally, mouths hanging open in silent screams, eyes large and unblinking.
It was like they’d been preserved in a wave of horror, testament to a disastrous occurrence.
“What a waste.” The boy sighed. “If only Manny hadn’t bungled things.”
He was staring around him, taking in the horror of what used to be a village willing to take him in and protect him when he’d needed it.
“There are still some buildings untouched,” Freya said, pointing toward the ocean, where boats were pulled aground near tiny structures the size of closets.
One was about twice the size of the others, but with the doors hanging open, facing the village, it was apparent that no survivors would be found within.
Our companion led us to the structure and quickly gathered kindling for a fire, attempting to pry the wood from the frames of other small buildings. In the end, he required our assistance, and we smashed a dinghy to pieces.
Once a fire was going in the small room, he pulled the door closed and slid open a panel in the ceiling to give the smoke somewhere to go.
Then he sat silently, feeding the fire with his cache of wood every so often.
I didn’t mind the silence. It gave me a chance to rest my weary limbs, and I felt my body thaw gradually from the intensity of the fire.
I gently tucked Therese into the collar of my shirt; her body felt like little more than a cold lump.
“How are you doing?” I asked her.
“I’m tired,” Therese sighed. “And cold. I never thought I would miss the Ember King’s domain.”
“Neither did I.”
The boy squinted at Therese. “May I ask why you’re carrying around a talking frog?”
“Oh, she’s not really a frog. She’s a little girl.” I continued, “There was a bit of an accident. But I’ll have her back to normal in no time.”
“Have you tried kissing her?”
“Kissing her?” I snorted. “That’s not a thing.” Then I leaned toward Freya and lowered my voice. “Is that a thing?”
Freya rolled her eyes. “In fairy tales. But in those stories, she would have to be kissed by a prince to break the enchantment. And there is absolutely nothing princely about you.”
I straightened. “Nothing princely about me? I’m a refined gentleman of a witch.”
She smiled tightly. “You may have the arrogance of a prince, but that doesn’t make you a gentleman.”
Therese giggled, which only irritated me further.
Freya cleared her throat, eyes swinging to our new companion. “So, who are you?”
The boy looked up, as if startled, and offered a small smile. “Apologies. I am Erik. It appears I am in your debt.”
“Okay, Erik, why was the Ice Queen holding you captive?”
Erik considered for a moment. “Well, an ice giant attacked my men as we were traveling to a nearby village. It may have felt my power, and it brought me to her.”
“You’re a witch,” Freya stated.
“Aye. I can imbue weapons with powers. I can also fortify buildings with wards. That’s the sort of work I prefer.”
I tilted my head. This boy was hiding something. “And what did the Ice Queen want with you?” I asked.
“To imbue her wand with power. It would increase her power tenfold.” He looked away. “I couldn’t let that happen. You’ve seen how destructive she is, as is.”
“So, you managed to resist her?”
Erik looked shocked, as if the idea of not resisting her was preposterous. “She wouldn’t be able to coax me to aid her in any way, whatever torture she might come up with.”
I very much doubted that, given he’d been ready to throw us to her beasts immediately after we’d rescued him.
I watched as Erik fed another piece of wood into the fire, surprised to find that I was rather warm now. “It feels good in here,” I said.
Erik grinned. “We have structures like this where I come from, as well.”
“You come from a fishing village?”
“Fish is our primary food. We also hunt polar bears and seals. In the cold, you have to survive on whatever the land provides.”
I smiled, amused. The only way this boy had tussled with a polar bear and lived was if he’d created a pretty amazing weapon. And one that he could lift.
“I hate fish,” Therese grumbled.
Freya frowned. “Unfortunately, that’s probably what’s on the menu tonight. There aren’t many flies in arctic wastelands.”
Erik perked up. “That’s it!”
I blinked. “What’s it?”
The boy ducked his head. “Fish!” He stood and slipped out of the building quickly.
I hesitated, but followed, peeking around the shelter to watch him push one of the boats into the water and jump in expertly. He swept through the water with the aid of an oar, using long, confident strokes. Maybe he wasn’t completely useless.
I returned to the fire and Freya.
“He seems nice,” Therese said.
“No one asked you,” I said, frowning down my shirt at her frog face. “And there’s something off about him.”
“He’s lying,” Freya agreed.
“Oh, yeah. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s making a run for it in that boat.” I lay down, shutting my eyes. “But if he comes back with the Ice Queen, you have to be the one to teleport him into the middle of the ocean, pretty blue eyes and all.”
Freya didn’t hesitate. “It would be an absolute pleasure.”
“I mean, what an act. Do you even think he’s a witch? Or is he just bluffing because he’s scared of us?”
“The idea hadn’t crossed my mind,” Freya said, shrugging.
“Why do you think it’s an act?” Therese interjected. “Maybe he’s nice but scared. Some people are actually just genuine. Like Auggie.”
“And you’re too gullible,” I told her, lifting an eyelid. “Plus, Auggie has demonstrated his character through his actions. He’s earned my esteem.”
“You?” Freya said, putting a hand to her heart in mock surprise. “Admire a human? I’m sorry, am I speaking with Callum right now?”
I rolled my eyes. “You haven’t been entirely truthful either.”
Freya sat back, watching me. “What does that mean?”
I smiled knowingly. “You really expect me to believe you’re here, helping to keep Auggie safe, out of the kindness of your heart?”
She sputtered. “I owe you. You freed me from over a decade of—”
“Yes, yes,” I waved her words away. “But anyone else working for the Council of Witches would have immediately returned to them, to report back in.” I locked eyes with her. “So, why?”
A muscle in Freya’s jaw twitched. “Very well. Something about Auggie’s situation is … intriguing.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Auggie’s situation?”
“He’s allied with alchemists, clearly. And he has an impressive knowledge of herbalism himself.
But the fact that Lucifer wants to ensure his safety …
and that witches would defy the Devil to snatch him for another individual waiting in the wings …
” She shook her head. “He’s significant somehow. And I want to know why.”
“Ah.” I nodded as it clicked for me. “If you can bring important information back to the Council, you might prove yourself. You wouldn’t have to be a glorified coach any longer.”
Freya cast her eyes downward.
“Is that true, Miss Witch?” Therese asked softly.
Freya grimaced. “Yes.” She lifted her eyes to mine again. “But I would make sure the boy isn’t hurt, whatever truths I uncover.”
“Yeah? Tell me, how would you stop the Council?”