“Line up,” Farron calls. “We begin training now. Nobody departs the grounds until I’m satisfied. Understood?”
Kel and Dayton stand to attention. But one of the magefighters rests against a dummy. “Can’t you get High Princess Niamh to train us?”
A beat of silence passes, and I hold myself back from thundering over to the bastard and taking out his tongue.No. He must do it.
Farron leaps down and strides over to the warrior, and there’s something in his gait that makes the hair on the back of my neck rise. The magefighter crosses his arms and smirks.
“Have you seen what we’re facing out there, soldier? Have you looked into the eyes of a winter wraith and felt the frost creep over your bones?” Farron asks cooly.
“No,” the soldier says. “But I’m sure I could—” Then he looks down, and fear floods his expression. “W-what are you doing to me?”
An icy frost creeps over the soldier’s boots, inching up his legs. This is a familiar crystal white, different from the frost in the fields. I smirk, noticing Kel seems entirely too interested in a wooden sword.
Farron gives a dark frown as his eyes trace the frost’s path up the man’s shaking body. “This cold will claim your home; your family turned to frozen monuments; your very blood becoming ice. And the only way to stop it—” He slams his palm into the man’s chest. His skin radiates with an orange flame. “—is to embrace your inner fire.Iam your High Prince, and you will learn from me, or you will be lost to the frozen abyss.”
The frost melts away under Farron’s fire, and he turns, leaving the soldier a shivering mess.
Up on the ramparts, Rosalina looks at me and winks.
Thenextfewhourspass quickly as the soldiers listen with rapt attention to Farron’s instruction. Even Dom and Billy have shaped up, staring a little doe-eyed at their big brother.
Kel and Dayton are the best students of all. In fact, I think their competitive spirits have assisted them, both eager to produce a bigger and hotter flame than the other. Keldarion’s flashes a brilliant sapphire blue as he spirals fireball after fireball at the rock wall, while Dayton juggles several turquoise flames and yells for everyone to watch him.
Farron walks over to me. Once I saw he had everything under control, I went about my own training with sword and dagger.
“So, who do you think is going to need burn healing first?” He smirks toward Kel and Dayton.
“Oh, definitely Dayton. If someone doesn’t praise him for his performance, he’ll start juggling heads.”
Farron chuckles, but then his expression turns serious. “Why didn’t you join in the training?”
I hold my weapon up. After the wraith destroyed my sword, Paddy gifted me his old longsword, a gorgeous blade the color of brass. While no weapon could compare to a sword made by Spring, I have to admire the fine craftsmanship of Paddy’s. “Don’t worry about me, Fare. I’ll coat the Windscythe with oil and be twice as deadly as any magic user.”
Farron holds me in his golden gaze. “Ezryn… Are you afraid?”
I stifle a laugh. “I don’t like new magic. You know that.”
Quickly, I swing my sword hard at the dummy, embedding the blade in the wood. I need to fill my head with action, with thoughts. Otherwise,he’llstart talking.
“Ezryn,” Farron says and puts a hand on my arm.
I shudder as memories pass in my mind. The beautiful green dress, so soft compared to the harshness of her metal helm. The sound of blood rattling through lungs. Weeping willow trees drenched in red.
Farron takes my hand and smiles up at me. There’s something so strong within the softness. “You’re always telling me I don’t have to do this on my own. Neither do you.”
A tremble shudders up my body. Because I want to believe Farron. I want him to train me like he has the others.
But all I can picture is him lying on the ground beneath me, a charred and bloody corpse, as Kairyn whispers, “You’ll kill him, too.”
39
Rosalina
Donotbeafraidof the fire within. My father’s words replay in my mind. Today marks one month since we’ve arrived in the Autumn Realm, and it feels like there’s been nothing but fear.
I walk behind Dayton and Farron as we investigate the Emberwood for any signs of the winter wraiths. The brilliant glade’s trees bristle with berries. Some still shine bright orange, while others glitter with frost.
Farron and I have spent the last couple of weeks riding out to villages frozen by the wraiths. My heart flutters as I think of Farron thawing the homes people thought were lost, his touch both gentle and powerful. But word keeps coming that as soon as we free one village, another falls. Kel, Ezryn, and Dayton aren't making much progress either. The frost is spreading faster than we can contain it. And the closer it gets to Coppershire, the more on edge Princess Niamh becomes.
