Chapter 44 New Beginnings
New Beginnings
The town of Frostfire was just beginning to wake and a silent cold hush hugged her limbs. She guided Briar toward the inn nestled at the edge of town, her breath visible in the frosty air. Riona hopped off of Briar, leaving him tethered to a post just outside the doors.
“I’ll be right back,” she murmured, patting Briar’s mane.
Smoke curled lazily from the chimney atop the worn greying house. The windowsills were painted silver, matching the shutters, and a young apple tree stood in the small courtyard. Riona pulled on the worn iron handle and slipped inside.
Small conversations hummed in the dining area, the smell of rich stew hanging in the air. A younger woman was collecting trays when her eyes met Riona’s.
“Mornin’,” the girl called as she waved Riona over to a small counter of oak polished to mirror-like shine despite its chipped appearance. Resting on top was a large book, its engraving worn smooth from time and beside it a pint sized cup of tea.
The girl smiled wide, her eyes shining in the morning light were the color of cinnamon. Riona noticed her freckles scattered across her face and across the bridge of nose when she looked at her and her nose scrunched up.
“What can I do for ye?”
“Do you have a room available for a few days?” She opened the book, scanning the names, dates, times and rooms. After a moment, she brightened.
“You’re in luck, a room opened up this morning.”
She scribbled down Riona’s name and, in exchange Riona, handed over a few coins from her pouch. With a nod, she accepted the key. Riona opened her mouth to thank the woman when a voice called out sharply from the kitchen. She turned quickly as she excused herself and headed toward the voice.
Riona pushed the doors open to leave. The warmth of the inn mixed with the frosty air creating streams of smoke around her as the weight of each step made the stairs groan.
She made her way to the Circle office, there were two.
One in the Keep and the other in Frostfire.
Kael, the officer in charge of Frostfire when Commander General Byrne wasn’t present, was known for his precision and authority.
Riona paused for a moment outside the door, anxiety tightening around her.
She needed this, needed to work and she knew the Circles were always in need of capable officers.
She was good at what she did, and she knew it.
But the idea of working under her father twisted her stomach into knots.
Taking a deep breath, she straightened her posture and knocked loudly.
“Come in,” Kael’s voice rang out.
Riona stepped inside, her boots clicking softly on the wooden floor. The office was pristine, every item down to the quill pens precisely in its place. It was a stark contrast to Commander Nethran’s chaotic workspace in
Lumora, where reports and scrolls were piled high on his desk. Somehow, Nethran always seemed to know exactly where everything was amidst the clutter, but Kael’s space reflected the man himself orderly and methodical.
Kael looked up from his desk, his frosty eyes briefly flickering with surprise before settling into a composed expression. “Good morning, officer. To what do I owe the honor of your visit?”
Riona met his gaze, unwavering and confident despite the nerves buzzing beneath the surface.
“Good morning, sir. I’ve come to inquire about a position in your Circle. I’m transitioning from Lumora to the Keep, and while I’m sure Commander Nethran has already sent his recommendation, I wanted to present myself personally.”
Kael’s eyes scanned her face, and then his gaze shifted to a piece of parchment on his desk. “The Commander did send a recommendation,” he said after a pause. “He spoke very highly of you. Respect and admiration, to be exact.”
Kael leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly as if studying her more closely. “It struck me as odd that a member of Lumora’s Circle would travel this far north. But considering the Commander’s words and the circumstances of your transfer, I understand.”
Riona kept her expression neutral, but she could feel the weight of his scrutiny. His gaze lingered on her.
“Well,” he continued, breaking the momentary silence, “we’ll find a place for you. With a recommendation like this, it would be foolish to let such talent go to waste.”
Relief flickered across her face. “Thank you, sir.”
Kael returned to his papers, his tone brisk. “You’ll begin within three days. By then, your position, accommodations, and wages will be finalized. That will be all.”
Riona nodded, turning on her heel and leaving the office.
Once outside, a smirk spread across her face a rare glimmer of pride and relief.
But the moment was short lived. The thought of her father crept into her mind, smothering her satisfaction.
She had to eventually see them her parents and now was just a good time as any other.
Might as well get it over with it, so Riona made her way to her family’s estate, her stomach twisting with unease.
She wanted to be the one to tell her parents she was back in Frostfire.
She wanted to be the one to tell her father she was now part of the Frost Circle.
Her nerves were frayed, her heart racing with a mix of dread and defiance.
It had been seven years, seven long years, without so much as a word between them.
Neither side had reached out, and the silence had been deafening.
As the estate came into view, memories crashed over her like a tidal wave.
The towering stone walls loomed just as they had in her childhood, but they felt heavier now, suffocating.
She could hear echoes of the past, the yelling, the screams, the shattering of furniture.
She remembered hiding behind doors, under tables, wherever she could fit.
If she tried to stop him, it only made things worse.
Her father’s words still rang in her ears: Discipline is what you need. You don’t know your place.
The first time Riona got into a fistfight, it wasn’t in the streets or with some rival, it was with her father.
She hadn’t been big enough to defend herself back then, and she’d paid the price.
A black eye, a cracked rib, and a missing tooth.
The fights didn’t stop as she grew older.
Each one was a clash of will and rage, and for years, she lost every time.
But she grew stronger, faster and by her teenage years, she could hold her own.
And the moment she overpowered him when she stood her ground and didn’t back down everything changed.
He stopped looking at her like she was his daughter, if he ever did, but now he was looking at her like an enemy.
He avoided her altogether after that, treating her as though she didn’t exist. And in some twisted way, she knew he hated her more for it because she was no longer his prey.
She was an adult now, a grown woman. He didn’t have control over her anymore, at least for now.
In the Circle? That was a different story.
She had to accept that he would oversee everything here, whether she liked it or not. Hopefully, he’d be too busy with meetings and paperwork to meddle in the Circle’s affairs. From what she’d observed so far, it seemed he wasn’t as hands off as she’d hoped.
Riona took a few deep breaths, steadying herself as she approached the iron bar gate in front of the stone wall surrounding the estate.
Behind those walls stood a house built of brick and stone, its etched crystal roof blending seamlessly with the sky.
The vibrant stained-glass window panes caught the light, showing the intricate pictures inside them.
Beside the house was a small stable, followed by rows of apple trees, Blood of the Boyne apples, a variety harvested from autumn through winter.
It was beautiful on the outside, picturesque even.
But it wasn’t home, not to her. Not anymore.
As she reached the door, she knocked three times.
The sound echoed faintly before the door opened to reveal an older woman, short and stocky, her face kind and warm despite her advanced years.
Riona frowned slightly. She’d never seen this woman before.
In all the years she’d lived here, they’d never had help.
It seemed her parents had made some changes in her absence.
The woman greeted her with a polite smile.
“Welcome to the House of Byrne. How may I help you?”
Riona studied her for a moment before answering, her expression softening despite the weight in her voice. “I’m Riona Byrne, the daughter of Celeste and Odhran Byrne.”
The woman’s eyes widened in surprise, her smile faltering as confusion set in. “I’m sorry, Lady Riona, but… they’ve never spoken of having kin.” Her face fell, tinged with sadness.
Riona’s composure remained steady, her voice calm though her words carried an edge. “I’m not surprised. I wouldn’t have expected any different.” She gave the woman a small, tight smile.
The woman hesitated, then offered a kind smile in return. “My name is Myrna,” she said, stepping aside and motioning for Riona to enter.