‘That’s why I went out. I sent a message to my father, threatening to reveal that the daughter of the Seneschal is whoring herself out in Dagome if Nirsen continues harassing me.’
‘Daughter of the Seneschal? Wait… Nirsen? You are the wife of the Lumivitae herald?’ I had trouble processing that the woman I knew so well, who’d stood beside me through so many trials and tribulations, was a fae noble.
‘Yes. My father was so eager to marry me off that he forgot to check if his chosen groom even liked women, or at least treated them well.’ She stood up and walked to her wardrobe, pulling on a thick house-gown. ‘I suspect Nirsen’s known about me for years, but since the king of Dagome started frequenting the House of Lillies, and I visited the court, he can no longer pretend his fragile wife lives in seclusion at the family estate.’
‘Just ask, and he’s gone,’ I said. ‘It won’t be easy, but between Irsha and me, we’ll ensure he never bothers you again. Just say the word.’
It was a reckless promise. There was a vast difference between removing a scorned lover and killing the Lumivitae herald,whose prowess as a warrior was whispered of in taverns the world over.
I looked at Lily, my eyes hardening. She had knelt at Reynard’s feet, begging for my life as a powerless courtesan who had nothing to bargain with. Court politics be damned. I would tear down the sun and moon to protect my heart’s sister.
‘No, Sana, let’s see how my father responds. It’s just… I like this life. I built it with my own two hands, have helped…’ She stopped by the mirror, her shoulders slumping in defeat, making my heart tighten in my chest. ‘Irsha… I just wanted him to hold me. Please don’t tell him about this. I want to tell him myself.’
‘Of course. Lily, this is Irsha. He won’t hold this against you. We all have a past that–’ I stopped before I said too much. Whatever was growing between them wasn’t mine to fix, but I knew how to nudge my Blade in the right direction.
‘Really?’ she asked, her voice a vulnerable whisper as she readied herself for bed. When she was done, Lily picked up a pillow and buried her face in it. ‘He slept here, didn’t he?’ When my eyebrows shot up, she chuckled. ‘Since you told me how crazed Reynard was about your scent, I started noticing things. Irsha always smells like burnt caramel… even if it’s occasionally tainted with blood. The pillow smells of him,’ she murmured, and I looked at the dishevelled lounger.
My friends were circling each other like two hedgehogs, both acutely aware that the other could hurt them, but even a blind person could see how deeply they cared for each other.
‘You should rest. Cuddle your pillow, and I’ll ensure Irsha is knocking on your bedroom door first thing tomorrow, even if I have to drag him here bare arsed and cursing,’ I said, and her eyes brightened.
‘Just don’t let any parts get frostbite.’
I came closer and sat on the bed, wrapping her delicate frame in a hug. ‘Sleep well, Ice Queen. And don’t worry; whatever troubles are brewing on the horizon, I’ll be there to help you.’
She sighed, her body relaxing against mine as if a heavy weight had lifted from her shoulders. I understood this feeling, but I knew how to fight off my enemies. How many years had my friend lived in fear, always looking over her shoulder, expecting her good-for-nothing husband to turn up on her doorstep? Yet she’d survived and even thrived, building her little empire, helping me to keep my sanity, despite all the trouble.
I needed more information – needed to discover how a delicate fae noble became the Ice Queen of Truso, but that could wait. There were two things I knew for certain: first, that I trusted Lily with my life, and second, that Blade only acted like a fool when he was in love.
Chapter 5
Reynard
‘The scouts are back, sire. The road ahead is clear.’ The officer stepped forward, hunching over the fire as soon as I gestured for him to approach. Frost clung to his moustache, but when his fingers spread over the blazing coals, the trembling lessened. There was little warmth to garner from the small metal brazier, but it was a luxury many soldiers didn’t have.
I joined him, enjoying the brief respite from the maps and ledgers. ‘Have the mages anything to offer for this damn weather?’ I could plan everything, except the weather. It was becoming the harshest winter in decades, and at this rate, half of my army would be crippled by the winter cough or frostbite before we reached Wiosna.
‘Not yet, sire, but I don’t think we can wait any longer. We’re running out of coal and dry wood, and I don’t think the horses can withstand another night in these conditions,’ the officer said, and I ground my teeth.
Mlot, you stupid, belligerent bastard.I could be in the palace pressed against my woman to keep warm, but no… why not freeze my arse off on a winter campaign?My thoughts driftedto Sana, and I felt it again. The shadow of amusement, as if something… someonewas observing me. That, or I was losing my mind.
I shook my head, focusing on the task at hand. ‘Fine, prepare to move out, and tell the trackers to go ahead and alert the nearest village; we’ll set up camp there.’If the village is still standing.I didn’t say it out loud. I didn’t have to; my officer’s expression told me he was considering this possibility as well.
Two days ago, we’d encountered the first settlement I’d planned to camp at, heavy snow almost burying us as we marched. Only the combined efforts of the mages and our ever-resilient infantry saved the army from freezing to death between the charred, ruined buildings and enormous snowdrifts.
After digging ourselves out of the snow come morning, we’d searched the ruins. While everything was mostly buried, there was still evidence of fighting, and despite the crisp morning air, we could detect the acrid stench of smoke and blood, leading to an almost intact barn. At first, I hadn’t understood what we were looking at. The snow obscured everything, yet at a young soldier’s broken sob, we’d soon learned exactly what it was.
It had started with a blood-soaked mitten, small, fit for a child, and untouched by the fire. Then an arm, charred but recognisable, large and masculine, wrapped around a much smaller corpse. A man protecting a loved one until the very last moment. The grim discoveries continued until hardened warriors struggled to hold back their tears.
Nausea rose in my throat, filling it with the bitter taste of failure. These were my people, and when they’d needed me, I hadn’t been there. I knew the brutality of war, but this… for this, Mlot would pay a hundredfold.
‘Let’s go,’ I said, standing up and nodding to the guards. ‘Pack the tents. We march as soon as everything’s stowed.’
I stood outside my tent, the icy wind whipping my cloak wildly, trying to steal the warmth of the fire preserved under the fur lining. The camp smelled of smoke and roasted meat, and I watched my men huddle around the firepits, the damp wood giving off more smoke than warmth.
I was going to win this war. Mlot’s treachery was enough to take drastic measures, but he’d made it personal, targeting the innocent, the defenceless.He’ll never know what’s hit him when I descend on him with all the power of Dagome’s army and the dragons I still have in my service.
‘Sire, your horse is ready.’ The stable boy was leading Kary, my stallion, who offered a friendly neigh when he saw me, then pushed forward with such force that he dragged the young man off his feet. ‘Oh, for Perun’s sake, what’s gotten into you today?’ he said, landing face-first in a snowdrift.
