I expected the ice fae soldier to argue, but he snapped to attention. “Right away, my lady,” he said, his cheeks pink from being chastised. He spun on his heel and strode toward a cluster of buildings, where I suspected the horses were kept.
The other soldier remained behind, staring curiously at me. “I heard some rumors about the attack on Kaipei too,” he said. “That you’re the daughter of our beloved late Princess Olette and that dragon prince she married. Is that true?”
“It is,” I said.
He nodded. “If that’s the case, then don’t pay Diren any mind. Olette was as much an ice fae as I am, which means you’re one of us. You’re welcome here in Bala Oighr.”
“Thank you.” Relief swept through me, and I gave him a grateful smile. Not everyone in Bala Oighr seemed to be against me, which had to mean that there were others in Ediria on my side as well. I wondered what the villagers in Fenwood thought, if they would hail me as a hero if I ever returned, but somehow, I doubted it. I'd been forced to flee, since half the village had tried to turn me in to General Slaugh. I wondered if the other half who had defended me, including Mavlyn’s parents, regretted their choice after learning I’d killed their beloved king.
The sound of hooves crunching on snow distracted me from my thoughts. I turned toward the sound, expecting to see Diren leading a trio of horses toward us, and a gasp flew from my mouth. It was Diren all right, and he’d brought us mounts—but the two massive creatures following him weren’t horses. They were stags, their shaggy white coats and enormous crowns of antlers branching out from their magnificent heads a dead giveaway.
“They’re gorgeous,” I gushed, closing the distance between myself and the magnificent creatures before I could stop myself. “Can I pet one?”
“Sure,” Diren said gruffly. He held out the reins he clutched in his left hand toward me. “This is Silas. He’ll be carrying you and your dragon.”
“Silas,” I cooed, stroking a hand down his great snout. The beast’s thickly lashed eyelids slid to half mast, enjoying the attention. “It’s lovely to meet you.”
“If it’s all the same,” Einar said from behind me, “I think I’ll follow you two from the air.”
I glanced over my shoulder to see him eyeing the stags warily. “Are you afraid?” I asked, a little incredulous.
“I’m notafraid,” Einar protested. “It’s just, I’ve never ridden a stag before.”
I glanced back at Silas, eyeing the saddle and harness strapped to him. “Seems like it would be the same as riding a horse,” I said.
“I’ve never ridden a horse, either.”
I swung around to face Einar, the stag forgotten. “Are you telling me that you, Einar, the fearsome general of the dragon army, have never received horseback riding training?”
He scowled, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m a dragon,” he said, as if that explained everything. “Why should I ride a beast of burden when I can ride the skies instead?”
Tamil snorted as she swung herself up onto her own mount. “That’s a lot of words for ‘I’m afraid of riding’,” she said.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Einar huffed, his wings snapping out from behind him as he transformed into his half-dragon form. “I’m not afraid. Flying means I’ll be able to monitor any potential threats from the skies.” He strode over to me as if to prove he was unafraid of the stag, then dropped a kiss on my forehead. “I’ll see you at the fortress,” he murmured against my skin.
“Okay,” I agreed. “But it’s okay to admit you’re afraid.”
“Maybe.” His lips brushed against my ear, and I shivered. “But only to you.”
He took a few steps back, then launched himself into the pearlescent sky, leaving me to stare after him. Dazed, I shook my head a little to clear it, then mounted Silas.
“Are you ready?” Tamil asked as I settled into the saddle.
I nodded. “Let’s go.”
We urged our stags into a trot, heading for the ice fortress looming in the distance. The fortress sat at the top of a mountain, and beneath it lay a sprawling city about an hour’s ride away. The city was called Whitecrest, Tamil explained as we rode, but while it was the heart of Bala Oighr, it was hardly the only settlement in ice fae territory. We passed several smaller towns and villages on our way through the snowy landscape. Many of the dwellings were crafted from blocks of ice and snow, though there were a few log cabins. The villagers were all pale and snowy haired like Tamil, but while they did wear fur-trimmed cloaks, the fabrics of their tunics and dresses were quite thin considering the freezing environment.
“We don’t actually need thick layers except in extreme temperatures,” Tamil told me when I asked about it. She tugged at the fur trimmed sleeves of her own coat and winked at me. “I wore these furs to Usciete for show."
“I wish we had more time to explore,” I told her as we passed by a colorful hot spring tucked behind a cluster of boulders. I could just make out the silhouettes of three fae reclining there within the clouds of steam. My tired bones and aching muscles cried out in protest as we continued past them. We’d passed three such hot springs, as well as majestic frozen lakes, incredible ice cliffs and formations, and other dazzling wonders. We’d also seen silver bison, white wolves, and snowy eagles, and once I thought I glimpsed a yeti peeking at us through a copse of trees.
“I’ll give you a grand tour of the Bala Oighr once you’ve completed the ritual and defeated Nox,” Tamil promised. “Your mother and I spent countless days exploring the many treasures of the ice realm. I’ll tell you all about our adventures together.”
“I’d like that,” I said. A soft smile curved my lips as I looked at Tamil, and I added, “I’m glad I met you, and not just because you helped me escape. It’s nice to meet someone who had a close relationship with my biological mother.” Someone who could fill in the gaps and help me feel more connected with the female who’d given her life to bring me into the world.
Einar coasted through the skies above us, following closely so he could swoop in to the rescue in case any of the beasts or fae we encountered tried to attack us. But we ran into no threats, and he joined us on the ground when we reached the outer walls of the fortress. Someone had been alerted of our arrival, as a groomsman was already ready and waiting to take our mounts. We dismounted, then went inside, where a servant took Tamil’s half-frozen cloak and offered the three of us hot mead to warm ourselves.
“Thank the Radiants,” Einar groaned, taking a sip of the piping hot golden liquid. I nearly did the same before I remembered I was fasting, and reluctantly handed him my glass, which he downed in one swallow. “Sorry,” he said, looking a little guilty as he set the glasses aside. “But I needed that.”
