A castle dominated the landscape, nestled in among the hills. Tall white towers reached towards the sky, their tops the same color as the achingly blue sky. The entire structure glistened in the sunlight, making it look made of ice. A causeway stretched out from the stone walls toward the bay.
Several figures paced its length or knelt at the water’s edge. One daring faery jumped from burg to burg, wings stretched wide for balance.
Lilja urged Jyri on and they clopped towards the castle. Tonya whipped her head from side to side, taking it all in. Women in dresses of bright reds and greens and blues, the edges and belts embroidered, mixed with men in trousers and tunics of the same colors. They all had the same dark hair and lightly-browned skin.
Some, like Lilja, had streaks of cold white in their hair, but most looked too young for it to be from age. The men wore their hair short on the sides and longer on top, the edges spiked and sometimes tipped in white.
A few children dodged about the corners of the longhouses, pausing to wave at the riders or stare in open curiosity at Tonya and her companions. One male faery landed in the street in front of them, taking a moment to furl his black-spotted wings before stepping out of their way.
Tonya stared at him. The coloring of her wings wasn’t so strange after all.
Pelts stretched on frames, caribou lowed to each other, small foxes in patchwork fur of white and brown chased faery children around. A grey wolf peered around a longhouse corner, staring at August with curious amber eyes before it whisked away.
A honking bark drew Tonya’s attention back to the causeway. A sleek spotted figure hauled itself from the water onto the stone, slapping flippers against the surface before rolling to its back to soak in the sun.
They clopped across another stone bridge spanning a narrow inlet of water that bobbed its way in front of the castle and up to the hills. Two male guards in the same deep blue coats as their escorts stood on either side of the open gate, spears in hand and axes on their belts.
An eagle fluttered its wings from its perch above the faery on the left, peering at them with the same intensity as the guard.
“Commander Lilja.” The guard on the right nodded, his gloved hand gripping the spear a little tighter as he scanned them.
“We found them on the southern tundra today,” Lilja said. “They seek an audience with King Birgir.”
The guard nodded again and waved them in.
Grey stone paved the courtyard, with lines of white sweeping through in a pattern that made no sense to Tonya. Lilja and the guards handed off the caribou to other faeries in simpler coats of grey.
“Come.” Lilja waved her hand and strode up the steps to the doors carved with the relief of polar bears facing each other on hind limbs and surrounded by geometric shapes of fishes and whales and seals.
More guards opened the doors at their approach. Lilja didn’t stop in the wide hall, leading them on to another set of high wooden doors. Carved creatures arched over each doorway they passed. Thick furs lay on the floor by wooden benches placed below windows of clear ice. More faeries in blue coats walked the halls, weapons in hand, standing out of the way of any approaching faery.
The faeries in the castle wore finer clothes than those outside, a more refined elegance to the embroidery and subtle differences in the shades of the standard blues, greens, reds, and greys.
Many stopped in their tracks and stared at the travel-worn companions and their clothes which seemed strange in comparison. Tonya ducked her head against the scrutiny. Most seemed intrigued, but she knew deep down that it would turn to disinterest or disgust as soon as they found out what she was.
The doors swung open before them, allowing Lilja to keep her purposeful stride as she entered.
Wooden columns, draped in evergreen garlands, stretched up to the arching ceiling. More carvings took up every visible space on the wood and even leapt across the ceiling as birds and swirling ribbons. Tall icy windows lined both sides of the hall and inset the ceiling, allowing a clear view of the sky.
A raised dais stood at the end of the hall. Colorful banners draped the stone behind the wooden chair covered in thick white fur.
“Wait here.” Lilja paused a few steps from the empty dais and strode off.
Tonya rubbed at her sleeves, turning back to her companions who looked around the hall in wonder.
“This place is amazing,” Diane whispered. “I’d live here if it weren’t so cold.”
“I don’t think it’s cold year-round. They did say it was summer here too.” August tilted his head back to regard the windowed ceiling.
“I guess I really did freeze the whole world.” Tonya crossed her arms across her chest.
“Not the entire world,” Diane said. “Just the ocean and nearby landmass.”
“Oh, that’s so much better.” Tonya tried to bite back her harsh words.
She was treated to three concerned stares. She dropped her gaze to the patterned floor for a moment, taking a deep breath.
“Sorry. I think I’m just a little too nervous to finally meet my father’s people, and—and…” She couldn’t finish.
Diane wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “It will be fine. They’ll love you.”
Tonya sniffed, embarrassed at how obvious her desire to be accepted by some form of family shone through.
“Thanks.”
Diane released her, and a hand nudged into hers. She looked up to Dorian. He offered his quiet smile. The sight helped drive away the worst of the doubt and fear, leaving it to linger in a back corner of her mind. He loosened his grip and she reluctantly let him go, turning back to the dais.
Brisk footsteps announced Lilja’s return. She strode over to them.
“The king is coming to meet you.”
Tonya brushed at her coat in sudden anxiety. Voices sounded and a male faery entered from a side door flanked by two guards in blue coats. A slender silver circlet sat around his forehead. He wore a sleeveless knee-length robe of the same blue, edged in white fur. Silver swirls embroidered the length of the tunic and Tonya picked out caribou, eagles, and bears in the designs before they shifted to something else.
His fitted dark grey tunic and trousers showed a surprising bulk compared to the more slender guards who stood with him.
Lilja pressed a clenched hand to her chest and bowed. Diane swept into a curtsey and the boys bowed. As she still wore her sharkskin trousers, Tonya settled for a bow as well.
“King Birgir, may I present Tonya Freyr-dottir, and her companions, Princess Diane of Myrnius, August of the Forest Folk, and Dorian of the Plains Folk,” Lilja announced in a crisp voice.
“Greetings!” King Birgir’s voice boomed throughout the hall.
Tonya darted a glance up to meet his curious gaze.
“Commander Lilja tells me you are responsible for this ice?”
Tonya swallowed hard. “Yes, Your Majesty. It was an accident.”
A smile quirked at the corner of his mouth. “I’d hate to see what you could do on purpose.”
Tonya relaxed a fraction. So far, he didn’t look too mad.
“Not much, sire. My magic is trapped.”
He nodded. “Yes, the commander mentioned something about that as well.” He stared at her again until Tonya nearly squirmed. “Creator’s Lights, you look so much like Freyr.”
Tonya’s eyes widened. “You knew him?”
The king’s features softened, much like Lilja’s had when she first saw Tonya.
“He was a good friend. And because of that, I’m welcoming you to Konungburg. I want to hear the entire story of what happened. I’ll have our strongest ice casters meet here in an hour, which should give you enough time to refresh yourselves. Lilja.”
Lilja bowed again. “I’ll see to it, sire.”
“Tonya.” King Birgir’s voice halted her. “You should know that there are many who didn’t approve of what Freyr did, marrying your mother. I would have spoken against it had I not seen how much they lov
ed each other. I am welcoming you, but there are many who won’t.”
Tonya bobbed her head. “Thank you, sire. But it’s nothing I haven’t faced among my mother’s people.”
His blue eyes softened, and he tipped his head in a slight bow to her. “I’m sorry it’s like that for you. I’ll see you in an hour.”
He turned and left the hall, with Tonya staring after him. Her father had been friends with a commander. Had been friends with a king.
“Lilja.” Her voice wobbled a fraction. “Who was my father, exactly?”
“Here we have a king, and we have other noble families that carry some royal blood and more powerful magic along with it. Your father was the second son of the Ísbjörn family.”
Tonya staggered a step, her knees threatening to buckle beneath her. Royal blood. Her father was a noble. I have noble blood?
Chapter Twenty-one
A steadying hand closed about hers and Dorian stood by her side. The same surprise showed in his eyes, but he said nothing, only offered his quiet support. Tonya drew a breath.
“That’s—unexpected.” A nervous laugh broke from her.
Lilja chuckled. “Aye, I suppose it would be. Follow me, and I’ll show you to your rooms.” She waved them on and nearly left them behind with her brisk stride.
Tonya nervously freed her hand from Dorian’s for the second time in only a few minutes and tugged at her sleeves as she hurried after Lilja.
“I wish she’d slow down,” Diane whispered as she half-jogged to keep up. Tonya nodded, still distracted by the recent revelation about her father.
Lilja took a staircase off the main entrance hall, taking them up another broad staircase and corridor, where it wound up into one of the towers. Two turns around the tower and Lilja halted at a door.
“Guest quarters that should suit the four of you. I’ll send one of my guards to escort you down in an hour.”
And she left them standing at the door.
“Well!” Diane said briskly and opened the door.
They stepped into a circular room with carved wooden pillars around the edges that branched into a latticed pattern along the domed ceiling. Benches and low couches were placed around an inset firepit and furs spread over the stone floor. Large windows took up the wall opposite the door, allowing a view of the snow-dusted hills. Arching doorways opened off into three other rooms.
Diane took charge, peering into each room.
“Looks like there’s two bedrooms. You two take that one.” She pointed the boys to the room on the right. “And Tonya and I will take this one.”
“Sounds fine to me.” August shrugged out of his pack with a groan, rubbing his injured side as he headed towards their room.
The chamber next to Tonya and Diane’s appeared to be a dining room with a heavy table and four chairs. Tonya followed Diane into the bedroom and sat down on one of the two beds.
“How are you doing?” Diane unbuttoned her coat.
“You mean after finding out that my father was a noble and there are plenty of faeries here who might hate me?” Tonya slowly pulled her arms out of her pack. “Fine, I suppose.”
Diane huffed and came to sit by her. “Even if anyone gives you trouble, the king formally welcomed you, so they’ll have to be nice.”
A smile quirked at Tonya’s mouth. “I’m not so sure that’s reassuring.”
Diane giggled, and nudged her shoulder. “And you’ll have a princess on your side, so there.”
Tonya relaxed into a full smile. “Thank you.”
“Now.” Diane pushed to her feet. “Washroom’s through there. You can go first this time.”
Tonya pulled her hair out of the pins, letting it tumble free. She undid the laces of her bag.
“Dress this time, probably?”
Diane nodded. Tonya sighed and dug out the dress.
A low pool of water, gently steaming, was inset in the floor of the tiled washroom. Fluffy towels sat on a low bench. She likely didn’t have enough time for a full bath, so she knelt at the edge of the pool and splashed water over her face and neck, plunging her arms into the pool and scrubbing with the block of soap. Later, she promised herself.
Tonya pulled on the dress, grimacing at her boots in distaste as she picked them up and headed back to the bedroom. She plopped onto her bed and combed her hair out while Diane went to wash and change.
Once finished, she reluctantly did up her boots again and tiptoed into the common room. Dorian and August already waited on the benches in fresh clothes. August’s hair was damp and on end, and he sat slightly hunched over.
“You all right?” Tonya took a seat next to him.
His hazel eyes crinkled a little around the edges as he nodded. “It’s just started hurting a bit now that I sat down.”
“If you’d let me help it along, it’d feel better,” Dorian grumbled.
August pressed his hand against his side as he straightened. “I’m fine. How are you holding up?” He raised an eyebrow at Tonya.
“I’m fine.” Tonya deepened her voice, mimicking his short reply.
A smirk flashed across his face. “Would it help if I start bowing to you?”
She shoved his shoulder. “Don’t you dare! Besides, I’m only—half noble, or something.”
He righted himself with barely a wince, his smile still twinkling in his eyes. “How’s the north holding up to your expectations?”
Tonya wrapped her hands around her knees, glancing around the room and out the window.
“I don’t know. Some parts of it feel familiar, almost like coming home. The rest is me panicking about everything.” Her smile spread in response to August’s chuckle. Across from her, Dorian’s eyes crinkled, and she relaxed more.
All too soon a knock sounded at the door, and a serious faery in a blue coat announced he’d escort them to the audience with King Birgir. August edged forward on the bench. Dorian stretched a hand down and helped him to his feet.
August frowned. “If I make you hate me again, will you stop hovering?”
Dorian rolled his eyes and shoved him towards the door. August laughed as he left. Tonya pursed her lips and followed.
“Is he really all right?” she asked Dorian.
“He will be with a few days’ rest. Don’t tell him, but I’ve been slipping in a little bit of healing magic whenever I change the bandages.”
“Good.” Diane pursed her lips as she stepped up beside them and shut the door.
Tonya tried not to stare like an ignorant puffer fish at every new sight as they trod down the stairs to the chamber where the king awaited them. More faeries paused in the halls as they passed, some in the grey coats appearing to be servants, others in the blue coats that marked the soldiers. Some female faeries paraded with their spotted wings proudly trailing behind them, casting shy glances at August and Dorian.
Diane rolled her eyes and looped her arm through August’s as he winked back at a young faery, who fell into a fit of giggles as they passed.
“You know, for being snobbish about Tonya’s parents, they certainly seem eager to flirt.”
Tonya ducked her head to hide a grin when Diane tilted her nose up in the air as they passed a murmuring group of faeries who cast sharp glances at Tonya. Somehow, surrounded by her friends, the familiar looks didn’t sting quite as much.
Although I’m sure they will later. It’s not like they’re going to stop even after meeting with the king.
They followed the guard through the main hall again and down a smaller corridor to a private room. He rapped once and opened the door, stepping aside to let them in.
A firepit took up the center of the room, flames crackling merrily. Cushioned benches sat around three sides, brightly-colored blankets tossed across their backs. The king sat on the bench directly opposite the door. Tonya bowed again, along with the others.
“Please, take a seat. Food should be along shortly.” Birgir waved them to the benches.
To Tonya’s pleasure, Dorian t
ook a seat beside her. The door opened again, and Lilja entered. A bit of red crept into the commander’s cheeks at the smile the king directed her way.
“We’ll have a more formal council meeting later, but I wanted to hear it all from you first. Lilja and I were some of Freyr’s closest friends.” Birgir looked to Tonya. “From the beginning, if you don’t mind.”
She swallowed, rubbing her hands along the smooth fabric of her dress.
“I’ve always lived in the ocean among my mother’s people,” she began haltingly. “I’ve never been able to use my magic, except in tiny bursts.”
She paused, expecting a protest as the ice and snow surrounding them told a different story. But Birgir leaned forward, elbow on one knee, chin propped on hand, staring at her intently.
Tonya forced another swallow. “I can’t stay longer than a tide underwater without having to come up for air. There’s a small island on the reef where I’d go for a few minutes every tide. Many tides—I mean days—ago, I was sitting on the island, dreaming about the north.” She gave him a faint smile.
“Then I saw a shadow behind me. I thought it was my teacher and told him I’d be back down shortly. There was deep voice that just said ‘No,’ and then—” She faltered. “He said something else, and everything became cold, like all the warmth was sucked from me, and I passed out. When I woke up, the waves and island were frozen.”
She stared down at her dress, pilling the fabric between her fingers.
“Interesting.” Birgir sat up and looked to Lilja, who sat with her arms crossed over her chest. A frown puckered the corner of her mouth.
“And then what?” she asked.
“They blamed me for it and tried to draw out my ice magic.” Tonya twisted her fingers together. A snort drew her attention up to the look of disgust on August’s face. She darted a glance at Dorian, taken aback by the bright bit of anger showing in his eyes.
“But they couldn’t?” Birgir guessed.
Tonya shook her head. “No. They couldn’t figure out why, or how, it came from me. At least until we went to Myrnius to King Edmund’s council. Dorian was the one who found the warding spells on me.”
Winter Spell Page 18