Grovewarden… Which was essentially their king.
“It’s a pity you have chosen today to come all this way,” I replied coldly. “But as you can see, I am quite busy at the moment.”
I gestured toward the Frostdrakes circling the skies above us and the buildings devoured by blue flames.
Halwyr’s gaze didn’t waver, and he continued on as if I hadn’t spoken.
“Your soldiers slaughtered one of our nomadic tribes as they fled from frostbeasts that made their way into our territory,” he said flatly, resignation rather than fury bleeding into his words.
Ice tightened along my spine. I remembered the expression Eryx wore as he handed me the parchment. Remembered his question before I read it… if I wanted to keep the order to kill them on sight.
“They were mistaken for a hostile force,” I explained tightly. “My soldiers were given orders to protect Winter from?—”
“Children?” Halwyr asked, his brown eyes brimming with accusation. “Fawns? Elders? A group of unarmed fae who were seeking refuge?”
I bristled. Frost curled along my skin, a little more with each word.
Golden mana stirred at the Grovewarden’s feet, sinking into the earth like it might just coax life from the frozen ground.
Around him, the other Thornharts shifted as one, their movements fluid and controlled, as they waited for my reply.
“Entering a kingdom at war comes with inherent risk,” I said coldly. “That truth does not change because the travelers were weary or afraid. The borders between our peoples exist for a reason. And hesitation in chaos like this is what gets my people killed.”
The words tasted like iron, but I didn’t take them back. I wouldn’t.
Halwyr’s jaw tightened, though his voice remained steady. “And so you deemed them acceptable losses.”
“I deemed them unknowns crossing from one armed territory to another during an active crisis,” I replied. “I cannot afford mercy that endangers Winter.”
A murmur rippled through the Thornharts. Not outrage as much as grief.
The Grovewarden drew a slow breath, grounding himself. The golden mana at his feet brightened, threading through the snow in root-like patterns.
“Thornharts are not blind to war,” he said. “We know what it demands. But we are not your soldiers to spend. The tribe only crossed your borders becauseyourmonsters first crossed into our lands and chased them there. They came to you believing Winter would offer shelter.” His gaze hardened. “You taught them otherwise.”
Anger flared to the surface, cutting through the unease clawing at my chest. Fate hadn’t given me the luxury of a kingdom at peace. It hadn’t offered me anything but war and bloodshed, and I adapted to survive.
Panic pulsed through the bond, and my thoughts raced back to Everly. I didn’t have time to debate the morality of choices I had already made when there were armies at my gates and my wife was in danger.
“My laws protect my Court… They protect my family,” I said. “And I will not dismantle them for a handful of outsiders—no matter how tragic their fate. Now release me. Because I will not ask again.”
Halwyr’s expression finally shifted. Not to fury, but something that might have been worse.
Acceptance.
“Then you leave us no choice,” he said quietly.
The barrier surrounding me shimmered. Several Thornharts stepped forward, passing through it as if it were mist.
Ice surged instinctively down my arms, frost racing over my skin as Winter coiled tight and ready beneath my ribs.
“I have never set out to kill your people, but I will not hesitate if you bring the battle to me.”
Golden mana rose in answer, bright and grounded, nature bracing itself against the cold. The Thornhart warriors took theirpositions with measured grace, either with antlers dipping and hooves raking at the ground, or as weapons were drawn—staffs, blades, living wood bound with metal and carved with runes.
Above us, Frostdrakes screamed, circling lower with each pass and practically frothing at the jaws at the power gathering between us.
With a growl, I drew Winter fully into myself, ice blooming along my forearms until it took shape between my fists, unfurling like a great, frozen blade.
