I lifted a brow.
“If I had the time to go roaming the city, I would have gone to your door, my jewel.”
That had me flushing.
“I sent someone to gather the information for me. He went to the Argaiv community.”
“Rian, what will they think?” I whined. “Those are my new friends. I'm still getting to know all of them and here comes some uniformed man from the castle, asking about what food I like?”
“I'm sure they were impressed that you'd won my interest.”
I snorted. “There's that royal confidence.”
Rian scrunched up his face.
“Yes, yes,” I muttered. “I know it's valid. Still, that sounded cocky.”
“I didn't mean it to. I was trying to reassure you that you wouldn't be thought less of.”
“I know.” I snorted a laugh and shook my head. “I'm just flustered, I guess. This is fantastic, Rian. Thank you.”
“Well, don't let it get cold. Eat, my jewel.”
I grinned at that, and then my grin got even larger when he pulled out a carafe of hot pear cider and poured me a mug.
Chapter Twenty
After lunch, Rian and I rode back to Vagasof and through the snow-covered streets. But not all of them were covered. We passed by a few streets that had been cleared of snow. I angled my head to look at them, and Rian noticed.
He glanced down a street, then said to his knight, “You'd best hurry or we won't make it back in time.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” The knight slapped the reins, and the horses whinnied as they put on speed.
“Back in time for what?” I asked.
“The blowers are coming through,” Rian said.
“The what?”
“There. Look.” He pointed down a street on our right. “I told them to leave the area around the castle and the main road for last. I hoped it would give us enough time to get back, but then we were delayed.”
I cocked my head to see a group of men on horseback, going steadily down a road. A whirlwind blew before them, picking up snow and sending it over the city walls. The road was left clear in their wake.
“Argaivs?” I asked. My people required Air Magic to fly, our wings weren't enough, but we could also use it for acts such as this.
“One is an Argaiv. He directs the snow outside the city. The rest are employing enchanted air tubes.”
“Ah.” I went silent, contemplating how Air could be utilized in so many applications.Air tubes to cast snow off the ground. Ingenious. What else could I do with it?
“We made it,” Rian said.
I looked up. Rising before me was the Royal Castle of Sken, its stone towers adorned with a web of rose vines, all gone black and dusted with snow. The tracery was still beautiful, softening the stern facade of rock and iron. Snow made the sharp tips atop every tower into a gentle curve and undulated over the straight edges. Still, my stomach clenched as the sleigh stopped before the daunting steps that led up to the castle's main doors.
Those steps were already cleared of snow, and uniformed men came rushing down them to set a stool beside the sleigh and open the door for us. Rian went out first, then held his hand in to me. I took it absently, my stare returning over and over to the display of power. Absolute power. At least in this kingdom.
My stomach quaked.
“It's about time I showed you my home,” Rian said as he hooked my hand around his upper arm, then bent his elbow to hold me in place. He leaned in as we climbed the steps and whispered, “It will be your home soon.”
