Page 103 of Winter Gods & Serpents

For a week now we have been travelling on patrol all over south of Isjord. The cities were forts of rock and frost, impenetrable. There were manufacturers and manual workers, but not much to work with considering their lands. Their livestock was boosting but considering they grew nothing they had to import hay and feed for them. Fishing, wood, and forgers were their domain, spread wide all along the cities, they were skilled beyond extent; their craft of steel on par with ours, they were only lacking the black steel to manufacture first-rate quality weapons. I began to understand part of Silas’s desire to propose the agreement, with our help he could fulfil the empty gaps and make living much easier for his people.

Last night we returned from Arynth. The princess had enjoyed her patrol there, she even stayed longer than her usual walk down city walls and the casual meeting with the lords. Around Lord of Venzor she teased and spoke politics, with the Lady of Grasmere she scowled and offended, with Sebastian she struck in concentration and interest, but with the Lord of Arynth she smiled and laughed, her eyes rounded all warmth, and she took in every story and word of his. All I knew of her was her anger, but now that I saw more, I wished I could still only see her anger.

“She still has not spoken to you?”

I shook my head, stealing a glance at her. “Not a word since that day. She doesn’t even come out of the bedroom at night anymore, I suppose whatever happened worked out for well.”

“She got you to react to her, twice. It is more of an achievement form her side if you think well about it.”

“You know Mal, you have become less annoying to my ears since coming here, she is making you work for your spot, maybe even challenge you for the pesty throne.”

He patted my shoulder all amusement. “Bringing the jokes out of you, I have to congratulate her again, triple win.”

She brough many other things too, but no one would be able to congratulate my overthinking.

“Stay back, I don’t need you dozing off on the horse,” she ordered strongly, sliding past me to Memphis.

After a week, she’d spoken to me again.

“No.” Her squadron was to patrol in Brisk today and I had seen something unusual flash in sight that had not been present for a whole week—eagerness, flaming and eye burning eagerness. What was in Brisk that had her up earlier than usual?

“Fucking gods and burning heavens.”

“Don’t be disrespectful.”

“My, pardon me. Fucking gods and burning heavens… respectfully,” she repeated, raising her smug brows at me in challenge.

“Dahaara.”

She halted and turned around again, narrowing her eyes in distaste. “Klaghne.” Idiot, she spat back in Calgnan.

“Is it only us three?” Caiden asked, throwing an arm around her neck. “Was that one not on night guard, again?” He turned pointing to me.

“He is insistent on coming.”

“Another fan of yours,” he asked and then rubbed the crown of her head. “Don’t go flicking those lashes everywhere, you have the Adriatians glued to you now.”

She threw an amused glance over to me. “Can’t help it, the murderous wiles seem to be the star attracter lately.”

He clicked his tongue pinching her nose playfully. “And Nia?”

She rubbed her nose. “Staying behind, going through some stuff with Sam. She is to attend the meeting this evening too, I promised Freja I would not leave her alone.”

“We plan to be there till then?” Mal jumped in surprise sharing a look with me, he had doubted something strange in her as well.

“However long it takes, Mal,” Caiden answered for her.

The air as we reached Brisk was warm, even though lands radiated white in thick snow. The frost was blessed, warmth could not melt it.

The princess halted forward speaking to the wall guards before she signalled us to follow onto the city.

Quiet—completely dead quiet, people moved about as silent spirits, they did not look the typical Isjordians. Their eyes fixed on us, swells of disdain shadows towards our party. I did not understand their reaction.

We deviated further away from the city toward north, houses grew scarce as we were led onto further hollow silence. She dismounted afront a large wooden three floored house, the Isjordian crest above its entrance. It stood lonesome amongst trees and afront a thick tall forest. Empty looking from the outside, there were no lights, not even a sound.

Caiden and the soldiers drew their swords as if in command. What was going on? This was not the typical patrol as I had thought.

“Empty?” Caiden asked her and she did not answer.