Chapter 15 – Neve
NEVE
At dawn, we rode for Riis Tower. Our safe haven. There, I could continue to search for clues as to where the Ice Scepter might be. I had to believe that, at the very least, I knew more than King Magnus, who might not even know that Roar was dead.
I gazed past Vale and his horse. Ahead was an arch of stone that clung to the side of the mountain. From so far away, the passage appeared large enough for horses and their riders to go beneath one by one.
Somewhere on the other side of that arch, we’d exit the Red Mist Mountain Range.
According to the Fellhelms and a musician Caelo spoke to the night prior, once we were out of the mountains, the road would run along a river that fed a lake so colossal that some called it a small sea.
Vale claimed that body of water was the same lake where House Vagle built Staghorn castle upon.
I blew out a plume of white breath. The temperature had dropped again overnight, making it so cold that my thick fur cloak was barely enough to keep me lukewarm.
I cast a furtive glance at Anna, riding third in line.
She was not a winter fae, and if anyone would be the worst off in this weather, it would be her.
For that reason, my friend wore thick clothing, a gift from the dwarves, and two fur cloaks.
One down her back, the other cascading down her front, leaving only the smallest of slits for her to expose her arms to hold her reins.
Judging by how her teeth chattered, her furs weren’t doing the job either.
I swallowed as I turned back around, not wanting her to catch me staring. I coddled her, or so she claimed. But humans were so delicate and this kingdom so cold, so happy to take a life and bury it deep in snow.
But we only needed to last until tonight. In the nearest city, Vitvik, I’d been told, we’d once again have a fire and a warm bowl of stew. There, I could buy more clothing for Anna. Perhaps hire a sleigh enchanted by a fire fae to keep it warm?
I’ll ask Vale. It won’t slow us down that much . . .
The tunnel through the mountain was now upon us, and Vale held up a hand.
“Let me check the inside first.”
Now that we were closer, it was clear that this was no short passage through. Darkness indicated the tunnel was of some considerable length and that meant many creatures could be within. They might simply be taking shelter from the winds, but they could also be hiding for more nefarious purposes.
“Neve, let Caelo take second position.” Vale twisted in the saddle and waved his friend forward. “Just in case.”
“I can fight.” I patted my sword, Sassa’s legendary blade, and felt the dagger on my other hip shift as I did so. Vale insisted we all travel armed to the teeth, and I did not disagree.
“Of course you can fight. That’s why you’re the rear guard,” Vale replied with a grin that warmed my heart. “We very much need you to watch our backs, Force.”
“Flatterer.”
“Desire to compliment you burns inside me. After seeing you dance with that youngling last night, I worry about our future.” He winked.
His jest pulled a laugh from me. Vale had allowed a bashful teenage faerie to dance with me as long as only our hands touched. The entire time, the gangly lad’s face was so red, but he smiled broadly, telling me that though he was embarrassed, it was a night he wouldn’t forget.
“He’s a bit young for me, but he danced well enough.”
“It’s too bleeding cold for all this flirting.” Caelo rode by me, though there was a twinkle in his blue eyes. He enjoyed seeing Vale happy.
From the depths of their cloaks, they pulled glass faelights about half the size of my fist. Gifts from the dwarves, the tools were wrapped in metal to protect the illuminated portion.
Upon lighting them, my mate and the knight allowed the lights to float at their shoulders as the pair drew their weapons. A second later, Vale, then Caelo, had disappeared into the tunnel.
My breath tightened in my chest as the fae lights got smaller and smaller. The light disappeared and still I heard no sounds of fighting emanating from the tunnel. After two minutes of waiting, one fae light approached again, and Vale emerged from the tunnel.
“Nothing. Caelo is waiting on the other side. Come along, ladies.”
I urged my horse forward after Anna’s and shuddered when the rock covered us. Even with the faelight, the tunnel was dark. Colder, too, than the outside somehow.
“How long is it?” I jumped when my voice echoed through the stone.
“Longer than I thought,” Vale replied. “We rode through quickly after we realized that if someone was hiding in here, they’d have to move, or we’d run into them. It’s narrow.”
“Can we just get on with it?” Anna said before I asked another question. “I’m sweating.”
Right. She had a fear of enclosed spaces.
“Go faster, Vale,” I said, for my friend’s benefit.
“Follow close. And watch your head just up here. There’s an overhang.” He picked up his pace.
When he reached the rock protruding from the ceiling, Vale had to hunch over not to hit his head. Anna, being the shortest among us, dipped her chin. My turn came, and I ducked, raising a hand to touch the stone for guidance.
A jolt of frigid cold, an icy zing, seemed to stop my heart and the hum of my magic. I yelped and pulled my hand back, and the sensation disappeared.
“What happened?” Vale asked as Anna simultaneously whisper-shrieked. “Neve! Are you well?!”
“Fine,” I said hurriedly. “I’m fine.” I didn’t want to scare Anna any more. So we continued on and when we exited the tunnel to find Caelo waiting in the sunlight, a wider road stretching before us, I sighed.
Vale’s eyebrows pulled together as he caught my gaze. “What was that?”
“I touched the rock, and it was so cold. It was like it froze everything inside of me. Even my power. That didn’t happen to you?”
“I didn’t touch it.” Vale’s eyes narrowed before he added, “but I have a suspicion I know what caused that.”
My spine straightened, and I shifted in my saddle. Stars, my rear would be sore tomorrow. “What?”
“Many dark creatures live in the mountain ranges. Most stay away from towns and villages, but they lurk in the wilds, like here. You might have sensed the magic of a banshee’s song, or maybe an ice spider is to blame.”
My stomach twisted. I did not wish to meet either. “What do the banshees do? Besides sing of death?”
“In Winter’s Realm, I think it’s different in the Autumn Court, where they originate, some banshees can freeze their prey. Their songs can also lodge into natural materials. You said it froze you?”
“Yes, sort of. Magically, it did. Physically, I could move.”
Caelo nodded. “Likely ice spiders in the area, then. The web was probably connected to the other side of the rock you touched, and you felt it freeze, or stall, your magic.”
Prince Rhistel wore ice spider silk gloves. Was that how his powers always felt?
Bleeding skies, it was almost enough to make me pity the foul arse.
“Ice spiders can get quite big, can’t they?” Anna asked, her voice wobbly.
“They can,” Caelo replied. “They start as small as frostflies but over the course of their lives, which can be hundreds of turns long, they can grow as large as white bears.” He cleared his throat.
“Can you talk to them, Caelo?” Anna asked. “Reason with them if we find one?”
The knight gave her a sympathetic smile. “You could speak with an ice spider yourself. They’re not normal animals, however, so I doubt any of us could reason with them.”
“Which is why we best get moving.” Vale turned his horse forward.
Our foursome continued on our way, but not before I cast another glance behind us. Though the sensation of bone deep, bitter cold leaving a void in me was gone, I couldn’t help but think there was a different vibration coming off the rocks, something dark and powerful in the air.
I hoped I was wrong, and if I wasn’t, I prayed that it didn’t follow us.
Amidst the trees and creatures of the dense forest, somehow the coldness of the rock lingered, if only within me.
Everyone else seemed to have forgotten the experience within minutes of it happening.
Finally, sick to death of thinking about it, I decided to make the announcement I’d been holding close to my heart.
“So,” I began, thankful for the cover of pine boughs, which somehow felt like a comforting blanket, “I’ve been doing some thinking and have an announcement.”
The road through the trees was large enough for us all to ride side by side, so the others glanced over.
“Such an important tone! Should we roll out a golden carpet to hear it?” Anna teased, and as I’d done so often in childhood, I stuck my tongue out at her.
Vale and Caelo chuckled, and Anna grinned.
“No carpet necessary,” I retorted, secretly glad her jest had loosened me up a little. “Soon I’ll officially claim my name—Isolde.” It still felt odd coming off my tongue, but the moniker, more regal and powerful than the one given to me by a vampire, was growing on me.
“Shall we call you that from now on?” Caelo asked.
“No!” I blurted. “Not yet. Maybe when we reach Riis Tower, I can send out a proclamation and the Riis brothers can secretly distribute it in Avaldenn? I don’t want to rush it in case we need to return to Avaldenn for some unforeseen reason.
I might also like to wait until I have the Scepter.
Though I’ve been considering when the best time to do so will be for days, I’m still not sure.
All I know is the timing has to be right, or we’ll be in danger. ”
Luccan’s gateways meant we’d be able to speak to the Riis brothers more often. I looked forward to it, and to seeing Clem again.
Vale hadn’t looked at all surprised at my talk of me claiming my name, and thus a crown.
He’d known of the war waging within me, just like before our mate bond snapped into place, I’d been sure he’d been battling feelings of unworthiness.
We’d both allowed the other space to work through their thoughts and feelings.
“I’d ask, when I make things public, that you three be my council.”
Though it had been many days since I fantasized over living a simple, free life, deep inside me remained some lingering nostalgia for that dream.
Once I announced to the world who I was and what I intended to do, I’d never be free in the way that I’d once dreamed.
I’d be royal, a queen—that was, if I defeated King Magnus, who I was certain would not step down without a fight.
“At Gersemi Mine, I said I’d be in your queensguard,” Vale spoke first. “I meant that.”
“I know you did. And I appreciate that, but you’re my husband, my mate, and it is only fitting that you will be my king consort. That’s quite enough, don’t you think?”
He laughed. “I suppose so. I’ll defend you with my life, anyway. I meant it when I said until the stars fall.”
A lump rose in my throat, and I reached out a gloved hand, taking his and squeezing it before letting go.
“Caelo?” I asked.
“I’m more suited to a queensguard than an advisory position.”
“I’m not sure I agree,” I replied. “But isn’t the head of the Clawsguard an advisor? Aren’t they on the Royal Council?”
Sir Caelo could be more than a sworn knight. He should be more, for his many gifts were too valuable to waste and they would be shunted aside if he were to be merely a guard.
“The head Clawsguard is an advisor,” Vale affirmed. “And Caelo would be perfect for such a position.”
A blush crept over Caelo’s dark skin. “You two honor me.”
“Accepted?” I asked.
“Accepted.”
I looked across Caelo to Anna. “And you, dearest friend?”
Tears shone in her narrow, upturned eyes. “I’m human.”
I feigned a shocked expression. “How dare you hide it all my life!”
A strangled sob left her throat. “You’re sure? Others won’t like it.”
“Then they won’t like much of what I intend to do as queen. I’m not sure of what your title will officially be yet, should you accept, but it will come with privileges and responsibilities to help others who have been enslaved.”
Under my rule, not only would human slaves be getting rights, but I’d do my best to discover a way for them to return to their home realm—if they so wished to.
No one had ever discovered a means, but I did not believe they’d had a proper incentive either.
There had to be some way. If it took many turns, decades, centuries even, I’d find a way.
“Then I accept,” Anna said. “Stars! I better read the histories of this kingdom thoroughly! I—”
My best friend’s delight turned into a scream of horror as orcs barreled through the trees, their weapons at the ready.