“My grandfather, yes.”
All fell silent between the two of us. I tried not to grimace, but it was all so strange.
“And what of the maidens now? The ones your father brought to Ravensong through the years?”
A small smile crossed Elden’s sculpted face, “The maidens have all found companions. Work. Fulfillment. Even happiness here in Ravensong. I had hoped that you…”
Hoped that I, what? I waited for whatever words would follow with bated breath. But several excruciating moments of silence stretched on until the sentence was left unfinished, hanging in the air like raw noodle dough, never to be dried by the sun.
Dark clouds swirled around the edges of the brilliant stars, blotting them out one by one. Something cold and wet touched my cheek. One, then another fluff of cold. I wiped away the water and looked out into the dark of night. I could just make out drifting flurries of snow in the sliver of a moon.
“It is snowing,” Elden stated the obvious.
“Yes,” I agreed with the obvious.
“We should turn in for the night.”
I stood and stretched. “Will we be warm enough with the snow?”
“These tents are weatherproof, remember. They were made to do more than just keep you warm. You will be safe and comfortable.” Elden hopped up and turned his face up to the growing storm clouds.
I nodded, not quite believing as the snow began to fall in earnest, but I pet my horse, making sure her rope was tied securely to the tree in the center of camp. I made my way into the dark tent, lit only by a small glowing amethyst gemstone. I took off my boots and jacket, then snuggled into my surprisingly soft and comfortable bedroll. It had to be enchanted by the fluffy eyelashes of adorable snow bunnies or some other odd elvish thing because I was intensely comfortable.
I wiggled down into my bedroll as thoughts of the first queen, Elayna, rolled through my mind mixing with maidens, and last of all, Elden: Too much of Elden’s beautiful face, his rugged features, his dark stubble, and braided black hair. But it was the true him, with his white hair like the snow falling in wild spirals outside, that filled my mind at last.
I was warm in my bedroll as the snow flurries turned into a howling storm. The sides of my tent shook and fluttered as the wind lashed in wild bursts. I trembled, pulling my blankets well over my head to hide from the wind that threatened to topple the tent with every rush. Those poor horses. Elden said this tent was enchanted to do more than just keep me warm and invisible. Could the magic work in a similar fashion as my saddlebags? Would the tent grow to fit the horses inside? They must be freezing out there.
A howl split open the night. I jolted upright in my sleeping blankets. Fear speared through me. My heart pounded in my ears as the complete silence of the wood pressed in. A predator prowled these woods. My heart hammered in my throat and ice roared through my veins.
I didn’t have a choice. My ridiculously giant beast of a horse was as good as dead out there exposed to the wolves, or worse, that shade monster. Another howl sounded, this one louder, closer, than the last. I didn’t think; I bolted out into the night.
I can’t believe I am risking my neck for that overgrown beast.
My bare feet crunched on cold snow as I stepped out of my tent, my hot breath puffing from my mouth. My ears pricked at the sound of footfalls not too far from where I stood. Was it the other shadow beast? My horse was barely visible through the haze of thrashing snow. A blast of cold air struck me with the power of a full-body slap. I stumbled backwards. I hadn’t taken the time to put on my jacket or boots.
Another howl shrieked through the night. This one closer than all the others. Not the shade monster then, but wolves, real wolves…and they roamed in packs.
I ran toward the large dark shape in the distance and prayed it was my horse. Through the stinging snow, I realized there was only one. One horse. Where was Elden’s? Sapphire reared on her hind legs; her eyes wide with fear. She snorted puffs of hot breath into the frosty air.
“Shh.” I whispered. “Quiet, Sapphire, I’ve got you.”
But as I worked to pull the large creature towards me, she was yanked in the opposite direction.
“No!” I cried, my blue hair falling into my eyes with frozen icicles. Terror sliced through me, fearing that she was in the maw of a wolf.
“Silence, Noelle.” Elden’s voice broke through my terror as his warm hand clamped down on my forearm. “Follow me. Now.”
Elden yanked me along after him. I followed with my horse, both of us running toward the dark blob that must be Elden’s tent.
My horse pushed through the tent opening and I followed behind as the jaws of a wolf snapped and growled near my leg. I screamed as Elden pulled me into his arms behind the flap of his tent.
Silent tears streamed from my eyes as I sat, enveloped in Elden’s strong arms. I sat on his knees as he knelt on the canvas floor. We froze, ears perked, as our tent was surrounded by sniffing wolves, all howling, and scraping claws only inches from where I perched tensely in Elden’s arms, wet snow dripping down my shoulders and back. Somewhere in the tent, I registered our two horses, both blasting hot air from their nostrils. Stomping not too gently. But instead of going to quietthe horses, Elden held me tighter, closer. I could almost make out the pounding of his heart beneath his thin shirt.
An eternity passed as Elden held me in his warm arms, frozen, neither of us wishing to move an inch. Elden’s scent of sage and crisp pines enveloped me as his black hair tickled my cheek and shoulder. After some time, the horses settled and the wolves finally lost interest. My feet stung numbly with exposure to the snow, and my body was wracked with cold, even in the warmth of Elden’s embrace.
“You are freezing,” Elden said in shock. “Are all humans this delicate?”
“Only the ones stupid enough to go out in the snow barefoot.” I grumbled through shivering teeth.
