“The snow is completely gone. People are dancing in the streets.” She turned, her face pale in the weak morning light. “Is it wrong that I feel conflicted?”
Understanding washed over me. For decades, the snow dominated our land. Surely the people would wonder if supporting a new ruler was wise when King Magnus had finally bent Winter’s Realm to his will.
Most fae understood little about the Ice Scepter, and less about the other Hallows. They only knew the magic and weather of the kingdom was controlled by some intricate balance between the ruler and the Scepter. But some said there were additional forces beyond anyone’s control. Godly forces. Almost no one knew that the king had not possessed the Scepter untilrecently. That he’d allowed them to suffer while he’d searched for the Hallow.
“At least marching north will be easier.” Isolde let out a long breath.
I kissed her as she joined me and perched on the edge of our bed. “Did you sleep well?”
“Enough.” She played with the hem of the quilt, then a gasp punctuated the air and my mate faced me. “You won’t believe what I saw last night. Before you came in!”
I stayed up until the second morning bell, and Isolde had been fast asleep when I returned. “What’s that?”
“Thantrel was watching Thyra bathe. And they’ve kissed three times!”
I laughed. “Thantrel has seemed happier of late. More like his old self. That explains why.”
She caught me up on what her sister had said, then what the ladies had spoken of. I did the same, sharing anything I thought would bring my mate delight. Eventually, the worry of the snow melting left her face.
“I’m ready to break my fast,” she said. “Should we dress and join the family?”
“Good idea. The rebels are set to arrive today. I’ll need a big meal to get them settled in.”
Isolde and Thyra would continue practicing with their shadow magic, but the rest of us would make sure the vast majority of the rebels were welcomed to Myrr and given housing. Later, the twins would visit.
“Let’s go,” Isolde said. “I’m starving!”
The rebels arrived three bells later.
“I understand we can’t all stay at the castle,” a rebel asked as we made our way through Myrr, “but why are we so far from it?”
Many of these fae were used to being in the same castle as Thyra at all times, some having her steps down the hallway. They hadn’t enjoyed learning that they’d be separated from her, and I suspected that any distance short of across the street would not be suitable.
“These three buildings have many little homes inside,” Bac replied. “They will house all of you in the same place, which is the best we could do.”
“You? Not us . . . you’re not staying with us, are you, Bac?”
I cringed. We’d thought that such news would be better coming from Bac. He was one of their own. Perhaps we’d been wrong.
“I’m not,” Bac replied. “Nor are Brynhild or the three Valkyrja who accompanied you. They’ll be advising and protecting the princesses. However, I’m here almost daily checking in. And the princesses have visited.”
Once and only briefly. They wanted to come down more often, but magic and combat practice took up most of their time.
Grumblings sounded off and rippled through the throng of traveling rebels. Things weren’t going well, and not just with those new to the city.
As we made our way through the snow-free streets, I couldn’t help but notice many of the citizens of Myrr were watching us. Precious few with welcoming smiles on their faces. No, these looks of dislike were born from turns of rebel actions towards the Myrranese and other outlying towns. Of word spreadingfurther and wider of exactly who was being allowed to live in the city.
I did my best to ease the anxiety choking the streets, waving and smiling at some fae, and when we reached the buildings where the rebels would stay, I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the experience was over. That soon the rebels would be safe and the citizens of Myrr would not see them as a threat.
Things will be fine,I thought, just as the first rotten apple soared into the crowd behind me and slammed into a youngling’s head. She cried out, and rebels burst from the group and towards the supposed offender. So fast. As if they’d been waiting for an attack.
“Stop!” Sian shouted as he and Filip darted toward those in this city. Fae they had influence over. “Everyone stop!”
Luccan, Bac, and I veered for the rebels, who were the only ones armed since they’d had to walk for days through the kingdom. The fae Valkyrja joined us, sandwiching themselves between my line and that of Sian and Filip.
Bac thrust his hands toward the few rebels who had surged out of the protective bounds of the Balik soldiers. “Where will you go if the high lord throws you out of Myrr?”
“They started it!” a female, the mother of the struck youngling, if the way she clutched the crying child to her was any sign. “We’re trying to get to safety.”
