Brumenhildr’s eyes glittered the color of uncertainty.Riven was not sure how he knew that, but he did.
“Brumenhildr?Your thoughts?”
“I did not think you would use the loophole.I did not think a human could love a frog.”
“I told you Bella was different,” Tilisandre said, elbowing her sister.“She figured it out the day she returned home.”
“She did?”
“Aye, clever that one is.”
The mist swirled and shifted a bit, allowing Riven to study the scene beneath them.Bella, his mother, and Henriette all huddled around a frog carcass.Dozens of peasants and villagers rested on their shovels, hats to their chest.“It appears they grieve for me.”
“It appears so,” Brumenhildr said, her voice flat in the still air.
“Since my sister did not honor the terms of her curse, we felt it only reasonable to give you a choice,” Tilisandre said.
“Honor the terms?”Riven echoed.
“Yes,” Tilisandre said, leveling a hard look to her sister.“I watched Bella profess her love to you, yet you pushed her away, though the action cost you mightily.But when you used your last breath to return her affection, Brumenhildr was obligated by her own spell to return you to human form, but she didn’t.”
“I didn’t see her profess her love,” Brumenhildr argued.
“You were supposed to be watching her.Neglect does not make it right.”
“I know, I know,” she said, waving a placating hand in her sister’s direction.
All this was truly interesting, but Riven was stuck, floating in a gray mist.“What do you wish of me, Great Ones?”
“Well,” Tilisandre said, her voice light and singsong.“What do you desire?You have labored hard and have earned your reward.The way I see it, you have three choices.”
His body bobbled backward and then forward as he hovered before them.“And they are?”
“One: You may say goodbye to this realm, for you are good and truly dead, courtesy of my negligent sister.You have earned eternal peace.Say the word, and you shall be set free.”
He glanced down at the crushed amphibian’s body.That must have hurt terribly during the moment he passed, but Riven in this form had no recollection.
“Option two?”
“Return and marry a woman of your father’s choosing.He will see how you sacrificed yourself for the good of your people and will find you a quality wife.You will marry a wealthy countess, have three children, and continue to rule in your father’s name.This path will eventually lead you to a kingdom of your own.”
“Will I be happy?”
“Happiness is overrated,” Brumenhildr said.
“You will find happiness in ruling your people fairly and kindly,” Tilisandre added.
“With no love shared between this wealthy wife and I.”
“That is correct,” Tilisandre agreed.
He stared at Bella, who leaned heavily on her friend’s shoulders.In this form, Riven held no emotion, yet he knew his soul was tied to hers.“Option three?”
“You return and marry Bella.Your father will fight you on this, naturally.For marrying a commoner, you will be forced to leave your family and your home.You will suffer great personal sacrifice before you finally settle into your new life in a new land.”
He considered his options.“Have Bella and I not suffered enough?Must we continue to struggle before being happy?”
The Great Ones exchanged looks, and for some reason, Riven knew they had an entire conversation between their minds, for their long glances were punctuated by gestures and irritated expressions.
