“I didn’t know that the fae studying at the House of Wisdom were so weak,” Thyra muttered, but waved her hand at the flames, indicating I should throw on another log.
I did so, and the fire caught. Heat wafted into the room, driving out a bit of the cold.
I sat again and stared down at the book I’d chosen. The subject was dry: Weather patterns of Winter’s Realm over the last two centuries.
“Missing those adventure romance novels you love so much?” Clem asked. “Remember the enormous trunkwe packed full of them for our trip to Avaldenn? Truly over the top.”
I looked up at her. “I miss them all so much. You?”
She sighed. “Riis Tower didn’t have the best collection. It seems like an age since I read something scintillating.”
“You’ll have to tell Luccan that their library is lacking.”
“Oh, we already did,” Anna laughed. “Arie was appalled that we both prefer romances to the histories.” Her face straightened. “Not that I haven’t been reading the histories. As I told you, Neve, I’m serious about learning more of Winter’s Realm.”
I cut a glance to Thyra, but she didn’t seem to care about our conversation. Thank the Fates. I did not want it to come up that I’d offered Anna an advisorship when the subject of who would sit on the throne was unresolved.
“The selection at the House of Wisdom would disappoint you ladies greatly,” Duran smirked. “There’s much knowledge, a lot of it interesting, but nothing of the sort you’re referring to.”
I had no doubt. I’d been inside the House of Wisdom once and found the place of knowledge gray and drab.
“Count me out,” Anna said. “But I do need to get through this passage before dinner.”
Taking my friend’s example, I pushed aside the yearning for a good story and continued reading about the weather. Where it got cold. How cold and for how long. How much snow had fallen. Few patterns emerged, but shockingly enough, one interesting pattern seemed to persist around Eygin.
I delved deeper into the material and had just discoveredanother promising passage relating to Eygin, when Thyra groaned, pushed her chair back, and stood.
I exchanged covert glances with Anna and Clem and tried not to laugh. Sometimes, when few people were present, Thyra becameverydramatic. Perhaps it made me a bad sister, but her mood swings amused me.
“Something wrong?” I asked.
“This is all for naught!” She paced the length of the room. “What if we find the Ice Scepter, and it doesn’t work for either of us? My use of the Blade is weak, and the Crown is a trickster if ever I saw one.”
“That’s a possibility,” I said softly, attempting to calm her, “but we have to try. The Scepter is said to be the one item that can warm the cold.”
Thyra’s cheek puckered. She had a habit of chewing the inside of her cheek when in thought. “Of course you’re right.”
Seeing as she’d already given me an opening, I asked, “I take it the Crown still hasn’t responded?”
Thyra stored the Frør Crown in her quarters. I’d not seen it since yesterday, but as Thyra’s mood was foul, I was sure she’d used the Hallow again. Or attempted to anyway.
“Nothing of note.”
So complete silence.
“It’s temperamental,” I hedged, and with a soft sigh added, “I could try it on again and see what it does?”
I’d not worn the Hallow since the day I’d taken it from the Falk vault, though the vision had played over and over in my mind. I did not know what to make of what I’d learned.Nor did I really want to wear the Hallow again. Not unless it made Thyra feel better.
Thyra shook her head. “It doesn’t like me, and Sassa’s Blade—well, I can’t use it. Not without nearly killing myself.” Her face twisted. “I need more time with them,” Thyra added, as though she hated to admit such a thing. “Might I have the Blade for a bit?”
I swallowed. I felt protective of the sword, and although I admired Thyra’s bravery, she pushed the limits in a way that I didn’t care to.
“It’s in the annex,” I said, knowing that it would not do to deny my sister. “I can retrieve it after we finish here. You can use it, and I’ll watch and make sure nothing goes awry.”
Thyra looked like she wanted to tell me to get it now, but she sat back down.
Relieved that was over, I was about to return to the book but caught Duran’s eye. Maybe he, with his scholarly mind could make better sense of my hunch?
