The carriage had left them at the footbridge into Winter and they needed to cross the rest of the Court on foot. Sera’s eyes wanted to wander in every direction, but poor Seth had everycoat and blanket at their disposal heaped on top of him and needed to be guided. North walked several paces ahead, enough distance for them to keep up but not to be heard if they tried to speak to him. Sera led Seth by the sleeve while observing what she could. There really was a sort of majesty in the bleakness of winter.
Cottony drifts of snow softened the angles of buildings. Since fae embraced nature in their structures—and preferred to keep the rest of Unity at a distance—there weren’t proper roads or sidewalks. Dirt paths were lined with a mixture of silvery rocks and more of those cold blue-green jagged slivers of stone that kept the atmosphere here… what did North say? A few degrees below the freeze point?
Critters with snowy white fur bounded across the paths without fear. Rabbits and ermine. Woolly, thick winged moths that Sera couldn’t name fluttered over bright red flowers. Deep, earthy tones of color from the evergreen and brown trees to the glittering snow in blues and silvers. The pine scent of North’s coat extended all around her, though the fabric swaddling her held notes of fresh linen and mint. She may have to figure out who did his laundry and get herself some of whatever soap they used.
The further in they walked, the larger the homes until they reached a row of mansions—multiple stories, larger plots with fences and gates, opulent decorations and family crests. She teetered between awe and resentment. Awed by the quirky structural choices but resenting the grandeur.
North’s home was one of the largest. Three stories with rounded, tower like rooms and thick, wood beams connected by masonry. As they approached the front door—she’d climbed through the gardens and in a window on her first visit—Sera couldn’t resist reaching out and running her fingers over therivets supporting the over-large beams of solid wood that made the gabled roof of the porch.
She expected the metal to be freezing to the touch, but it was barely cool. A special coating that protected the metal from cold? Her heart raced. Of course the fae had techniques to adapt their structures to the temperatures. Sera needed to get her hands on some. She looked up and Seth had already ambled into the foyer. A woman with kind eyes held the front door for her.
“Welcome, Miss.”
Sera scooted inside, cheeks burning. That was a great first impression. Lingering on the porch while she felt up the house.
“Your things will be brought in separately,” the woman said, clearly a maid of some kind. Sera wasn’t used to having servants attend her. The proud progressive in her wanted to be offended by the idea of a person waiting on her. The opportunist, however, was louder and welcomed a bit of pampering.
North strode through his home, no longer out of place, but perfectly suited to the grand, open foyer and the other-ness of the fae touches in décor and function. There was a glow to the room, not from lanterns like Sera was used to, as the light didn’t flicker or shift. It was more of that steady blue-tinted glow from stones smooth as river rocks. Not as bright as flame, but she guessed infinitely more efficient as these didn’t appear to have a power source. No fuel or notable reaction. Self-sustaining? Perhaps it absorbed the energy it needed from the surroundings, converting it to some kind of potential energy to be emitted as light?
Natural elements like these were the only remains of the magic lost long ago, back when fae could wield it as easily as their gifts. Or that’s what Seth claimed. To her, a magicless human amongst the supernatural, magic of that sort sounded more like folklore than fact.
“I will see that you are given proper accommodations in the morning. For now, you’ll have to make do with the guest rooms as is—I don’t get many visitors. Do you need me to escort you?” His eyes slipped to Sera, his voice pulling her from her thoughts and he added without a single change in inflection, “Or do you remember? Perhaps your map is still intact?”
She did not find the jab amusing.
“Very well,” he relented, when she only answered by pursing her lips and glaring, “follow me.” He spun and proceeded like he expected them to fall into step behind him.
Which, they did because it was either that or have to find their way on their own. He led them up the stairs, which were stable and solid, no tilt or wobble to navigate.
She looked for paintings or personal touches, but those seemed to be reserved for the first floor.
“I had two rooms—”
“We can share,” Sera interrupted.
North paused in his steps, glancing over his shoulder.
Sera batted her eyes. “We’re fine sharing a bed too, if needed.” She pressed her palm into Seth’s face to stifle his gagging.
North’s face was droll as he shrugged. “It’s your choice, though one of the rooms does have two beds if you change your mind.” He turned and continued walking.
Seth yanked on her hair. “Two beds!” His whisper was a sharp hiss. “Are you kidding me? I’ve never had my own bed before. If you don’t take that room because of some stupid game Iwillsmother you while you sleep.”
“Obviously we are taking the two beds,” she returned, her voice actually a whisper, “but he doesn’t need to know that. Any chance to keep him guessing is better for us. Trust me.”
“Good. Cause I’ve let you drag me into a glacier’s asshole but you will not take away my bed.”
“Look,” Sera snapped, “I did what I had to do. It was this, or, you know, death. Where’smythank you?”
“Listen. Every single muscle in my body has been spasming since we got here. I can’t tell if I’m cramping or if my body is literally fracturing into pieces. Forgive me if I’m a little on edge.”
Sera set her hand on his back, the coats and blankets sticking out a good few inches from him so it was unlikely he felt the gesture. “I know. It’s not ideal for me either. But it’s a safe bed for the night. We can figure out the rest later.”
North stopped outside a door and pushed it open. “Your one room and bed.” The way he watched her, even without a hint of expression, Sera was sure he had overheard their entire conversation. “Enjoy.”
He started to leave and Seth’s hand clawed into her palm. “Smother. With extreme prejudice.”
“Wait,” Sera called, glaring at Seth and unable to meet North’s sardonic gaze as he turned back to them. “Would it be too much trouble to see the…otherroom?”
