Even in the shadows, it would take too long to cross all of Mystica to reach Sherwood. Tom might be gone by then, and I would have no idea what happened while I was gone, unless Neve was open to sharing.
Before my thoughts can wander further, Ronnie turns and presses her hand to the wall. We’re in a narrow hallway that I think might be intended for servants; the icy walls and powdery floor probably freeze whoever has the ill fortune to use this route day to day. It’s not a big space, and the top of my head grazes the ceiling in spots. It doesn’t bother the four of us, but a regular person would hate it down here.
As I watch, a door appears. It’s powdery white like the floor, with a snowflake handle, and my eyes dart between Ronnie and the door. When Andor was alive, his magic was closer to the ice Neve prefers. This looks to be entirely snow-based, something Andor was known to lack.
After opening the door, she hurries inside, ushering the two Icebound in, too. I slide through before the door closes, eyeing the room.
This is a hideout, if I’ve ever seen one. There are scrolls and books all along one bookcase on the far wall, a table that’s entirely empty, and a long bench.
It doesn’t look like anything special at first, and when Ronnie drops to sit on the bench like she’s made of stone, the two Icebound kneel. My brows shoot up, having never seen an unwieldy spirit like an Icebound submit before, and certainlynot in private. If Kael or Nyra ever wanted to go against the Queen, this would be the time to do so.
Ronnie rips an item from the sleeve of her gown, and I straighten when I see it’s a seeing stone. I’ve seen more people with these lately than I can remember, but it’s no surprise that the dowager has one. Now I’m curious whether Neve does, too.
She’s breathing hard when she angles the glowing stone toward her face. “What is it?” she asks breathlessly, glaring at the stone. I circle the perimeter of the small room, keeping my distance. I’d like to get closer and see who she is speaking with, but I’m wary of the Icebound. If they notice something amiss, Ronnie will shut down, and I won’t learn anything from following her.
“Your Majesty," a voice says, and I narrow my eyes at the masculine tone. It sounds familiar, but I struggle to place it. “All is set for our arrival tomorrow.”
“Good. Four guards?”
“Four personal guards plus the escorts,” he says. “You’ve made arrangements for us to dock?”
Surprise shoots through me. Usually the waters around the northern border of the Frostlands are too treacherous to bother with. Icebergs and frigid temperatures make it hard to navigate, and most trade doesn’t come to us via the sea anymore. At one point there was a deal with the Court of Cards to use their bays to accept goods, but all trade along the coast ended when the King of Diamonds died. Even before the Mad Queen took over.
“I have my eye on the waters,” she says coolly. “Our guests will arrive through the palace gates and you’ll be our surprise at the ball itself. It will also give us some time to discuss our plans.”
“Yes,” the man says dryly. “I’m sure the Queen is expecting an explanation about her return.”
My brows furrow; do they mean Neve needs an explanation, or is Ronnie wanting information on how her daughter returned unexpectedly? It’s hard to follow, and I chance moving closer. The Icebound don’t turn their heads and I relax a little.
“It was out of my control,” Ronnie hisses. “I have asked Neve, but she doesn’t have any idea how she woke up. I was told so long as I kept using the sand, she would stay under for all eternity. I just needed to keep applying it each quarter.”
I think back. I don’t remember seeing sand in the cabin, but I wasn’t looking, either.
“It is your mistake for allowing her to rise,” the man says, his voice unwavering. “It will make the plans harder.”
Ronnie’s breath catches. “Will she no longer attend? Will I miss her?”
“Plans are unchanged for her arrival,” he says, his tone turning hard. I’m increasingly curious who this person is. If he worked for another queen in some way, he would be more politically polite. Right now, he’s cutthroat.
Unless it’s the Mad Queen I suppose, but why would she want to come here?
“Good,” Ronnie says, breathing a sigh of relief. “I’ve kept everything as she asked. Neve will not be an issue. She is still learning, and her return is quite unexpected.”
“And poorly timed,” he agrees.
“But as far as I can tell, nothing has changed with the girl,” Ronnie goes on. She hesitates, her hands tightening on the stone. “Would it not be easier to use the pool? I might be able to find the spot in the mountains again if given enough time.”
“Without an explanation for how she arrived?” he snaps, and I swear he doesn’t like Ronnie. I almost like him just because of that. “The plan will move on accordingly so long asthere are no other complications before tomorrow afternoon. We have already begun the voyage.”
Well I suppose I’ll get to see who this is soon.
“Excellent,” Ronnie says, quickly bowing her head. It’s strange to witness. She’s almost… nervous during this exchange. But very little formality on her side outside of the nerves, so perhaps the man she speaks with is a messenger and not someone of nobility.
I try to shift closer, and Kael stiffens, his shoulders scrunching. I step away again and while he doesn’t move, Ronnie takes notice.
Damn. I can only get so close, and it’s not close enough to peer into the stone myself.
Ronnie’s eyes dart up, and I sigh into the shadows and lean against the wall. Well, now I won’t get anything else out of her. “I have to go. I think someone is looking for me. We will talk tomorrow once you are in the harbor.”
