The Winter Kingdoms:
The Bear King’s Bride
Chapter One
Girion rarely rode horses, even if many of his men did. Now, everyone in his company was on foot; their massive horses, with their feathered feet as hard as iron and weighty harnesses, were unable to walk on the ice that made up the grounds at the mouth of Tundra Spring.
Even Girion tread carefully in his human form, walking lightly, without his usual fierce stride. If any adversary—by the ice, even an ally—had been in front of him, he would have had a face set like flint, but as he was alone, his face showed an unfamiliar emotion.
Fear.
Tundra Spring, the royal city of Caledon, was named for the singular hot spring that kept the northeast quadrant of the kingdom alive and habitable to non-shifters, as well as made it bearable for visitors from the Spring, Summer, and Fall Kingdoms.
“Blood is thicker than water, and warmer, too. But this...” Girion bent as icy wind sliced through his heavy leather armor and metal breastplate. His hand reached for the stream that usually flowed freely, tumbling through the unforgiving ice, heedless of the desolation around it, bringing life and warmth to the palace, the cities, and the villages dotted across the snowy landscape.
The stream was a trickle. No clouds of steam rose from it, fogging the air. It was not warm to the touch, certainly not its usual pleasant simmer. It was cold. Almost frozen.
“There is news from as far west as Port Hebron and as far east as Hardspire that the hot springs are cooling and shrinking. Overtaken by ice, Majesty.”
Girion nodded. He had heard Cole approaching, but he didn’t fear his Captain of the Guard, and so stayed kneeling, letting the trickle of water wet his fingers. “When I leave my hand in it, it warms. It spreads. See?”
Cole nodded as he looked. “There is a wee bit of steam, Majesty, but you cannot stand in the springs year-round. I hate to agree with a Fox—”
“There are many good Foxes. King Vultate was a wonderful ally, and I do not give praise lightly.”
“Or at all,” Cole dared to mutter.
“Go on,” Girion snarled, staring at the water, willing it to warm, begging it to flow with silent cries. A good king, especially a shifter king with a lethal beast in his core, must always seem in control.
“I hate to agree with Archduke Reynard, but he may have been right.”
“About the trade delegation needing free lodging? No! They stay for weeks, and I have offered lodging at the palace. If they will not be my guests, I will not ask the inns in the city to empty their coffers by putting up a bunch of dainty Foxes.” Girion looked around. “That last bit goes no further, Cole. I do not wish to anger any of my Winter brethren when we may soon lose access to the other kingdoms of Wylding.”
“Majesty, not about that—although I agree with you. The Archduke is sly, and he connives, a foolish action if he wishes to end the stereotypes held against Foxes. But he was right that you have not had a mage or sorcerer in the royal family for three generations. If Caledon’s powers are indeed tied to those with royal blood—”
“And they are. And they ever shall be,” Girion whirled to face him, long silver-white hair whipping back as he felt his Bear raging to break free at the perceived challenge to the throne.
“But without a fresh injection of magic into the royal house...”
Girion swallowed, then let out a sharp grunt through his nose.
Marriage. Again.
The topic had come from his parents before their deaths, from his advisors, past and present, and even from that meddling Fox, Reynard. But coming from Cole...
“Cole,” he whispered. “It cannot be marriage that saves us. It cannot be?”
“What is so bad about a maiden loving you and warming your bed, sire?” Cole whispered back, his tone equally urgent.
Love. Warmth. Things a king must not have if he is to lead and not go soft, especially in a place like this. “We are not soft and sweet like the Spring Kingdoms. I cannot afford to go courting and whatnot.”
“You are the king! Can you not simply request that eligible maidens queue up? I think you could. It’s been done before. Or a ball! A ball, Majesty.”
“No. I... I will not have this turn into some grand show for the entertainment of all. I am not even sure that this is the answer. I will consult with the advisors.”
COLE SHOOK HIS HEADat Girion as he tore through the tundra, heading to Temple Lake, a large body of ice water still on the palace grounds, ringed with a few hardy pines that survived through diligent care and tapping into the royal family’s magic.
“Majesty?” he dared to speak as the enormous white bear shattered the thin skin of ice and then floated on the surface, ripping water plants to shreds.
