“I don’t know.” I touch my chest. “My own well of magic feels so small. I don’t think I could do much more than that.”
“If only Caspian wasn’t sucking all the magic from Castletree,” Ezryn growls.
“At least we know how to kill them,” Rosalina says perkily. She still has her arms all over me and I pull her close, breathing her in. “I bet we could figure something out. Maybe there’s a way to channel your magic.”
“That’s a good idea,” I say. “Autumn has many old spellbooks. I wonder if one of them contains—”
“Hey, I hate to break up the party,” Dayton calls. He’s standing up at the top of the hill away from the wood. “But you should get up here.”
We all exchange a look, then run up the hill, joining Dayton at the very peak.
“Oh my god,” Rosalina breathes.
“Yeah,” Dayton says. “I think we’re going to need some more fire power. And fast.”
At the very edge of the horizon, a shambling line of glinting white hobbles over the rolling hills.
An entire herd of frozen corpses, bringing the deathfrost with them.
38
Ezryn
Iinhaledeeplyandswing my arms, taking in the comforting sounds of metal against metal, grunting soldiers, and the smell of sweat and steel. I haven’t trained with other warriors in years, and I’ve forgotten how good it feels.
As High Prince of Spring, I’ve practiced with some of the greatest warriors in the Vale, but the fae men and women in the Autumn troops are a force to be reckoned with. A crisp wind wisps past the slight bit of bare skin between my helm and the loose black tunic I’m wearing. The open-air training grounds in Keep Oakheart are well-kept but harsh. The ground is hard, reddish-brown rock, and a wrong fall could crack a fae’s skull.
Dayton and Kel are at my side, along with Farron’s little brothers, Dominic and Billagin, and a handful of specialized magefighters selected from the army. There’s an excited buzz in the air, and even I find myself unable to stand still.
It’s been two weeks since our discovery of the winter wraiths. After our report, Princess Niamh sent out scouting parties to patrol the villages and dispatch the wandering wraiths. But no matter how many we kill, more keep coming. Though we now have a source of the frost, we still can’t figure out where these wraiths are coming from: they’re all over the Autumn realmlands. And Niamh still isn’t convinced Keldarion doesn’t have something to do with it.
Tomorrow, Farron begins daily expeditions to visit the villages destroyed by frost. The hope is he can unfreeze the villagers the same way he did the boy and dog two weeks ago. And in his absence, we must be prepared to protect Coppershire with our greatest weapon.
Fire.
So far, regular soldiers have been successful at killing the monstrosities by using torches and oil-coated swords and arrows. But fire magic is in the blood of the Autumn fae.
And none wield it quite so powerfully as the holder of Autumn’s Blessing.
“Is he even going to show up?” Kel asks, crossing his arms. “I can figure it out myself.”
Dayton claps him on the back. “Give him a chance. You know how he gets about public speaking.”
Those who are gathered in the training grounds today are here to learn from Farron. Most of the magefighters from Autumn can already cast some innate form of fire, but hopefully Farron’s lessons will teach them to wield it with deadly purpose.
The High Rulers have always had the ability to create all the elements in one sense or another, though certain skills lie dormant. I know the three of us have never wielded flame in the way Farron has. Dayton and Kel are here to learn how to do it.
I’m here to watch.
Boisterous laughter and grunts sound from the corner of the training ground. Farron’s father, Padraig, has been mentoring George in the ways of the sword. There’s a playful air to their sparring as the two large men clash wooden blades against one another.Rosalina’s a lot like her father, I think.Adaptable. Resilient.
Speaking of Rosalina… I hear her in the doorway leading into the grounds, voice tinged with that distinctive stubborn tone she occasionally gets. She’s pushing Farron hard, urging him inside. When he’s too far out and everyone turns to see him, Rosalina gives a satisfied smirk and disappears, leaving Farron standing sheepishly in the forefront.
“Oh, uh, hello. T-thank you for coming for training. I’m here to, uh, teach you.”
Pained silence follows before Dayton bellows, “Hail the High Prince! Bestow your great knowledge upon us, my liege.” He bows low with that signature shit-eating grin. Kel shakes his head.
Stars, this is painful. Farron looks like he might throw up.
