Winter Spell

by Claire M Banschbach

  Tonya pressed her hands over her eyes. “I don’t really have many friends.” Her voice hitched over the words, making it hard to get through. “So thank you. For everything.”

  Diane’s arm draped over her, squeezing tight in a hug. “You’re welcome.”

  The pressure eased and the bed shifted again as she sat up.

  “And I think you should talk to Dorian.” Diane nudged her shoulder, tugging the blanket down. “Avoiding people you like isn’t the answer.”

  Tonya sighed, propping herself up on an elbow. “Know this from experience?” She wiggled an eyebrow.

  Diane poked Tonya’s stomach, sending her falling back on the pillows with a smirk.

  “Believe me, the first thing I’m going to do when I get back is talk to him. If I don’t lose my nerve first.” She offered a wry smile.

  “I’ll freeze your feet to the ground so you can’t run off.”

  “I doubt I’ll need any help with freezing when it comes to admitting certain things.” Diane pulled her damp hair over her shoulder and began braiding it.

  Tonya straightened. “What’s it like for you?”

  Diane’s fingers paused.

  “With Ralf?” She lifted a shoulder when Tonya nodded. “I don’t know. I miss him when he’s not there. I like seeing his smile come through, because I know that it’s the real him coming out.” A shy grin curved across her lips. “He’s never been afraid to tease me, to push me to be better.”

  Tonya drew her knees up to her chest, rubbing a fold of the quilt between her fingers.

  “Maybe that’s what it is. Dorian’s been one of the first to help me try to be more than what I am now.”

  “Then give him a chance. Forget what anyone else says or thinks. Their opinion doesn’t really matter, does it?” Diane finished her braid and tied it off with a bit of ribbon she pulled from the pocket of her dress.

  “Maybe I’ll wait until after we find the Lights,” Tonya said. “I don’t want to mess it up.”

  Diane’s mouth twitched downward in quick disapproval. Despite Diane’s words, her fears couldn’t be quelled so easily. She wanted to see who she was after the warding was gone before doing anything.

  Diane scooted to the edge of the bed. “Just as long as you tell him.”

  Tonya leaned forward, resting her chin on her knees. “I will.”

  “Good. Now go take a bath before dinner. You smell like caribou.”

  Tonya gasped in mock outrage and shifted to prod Diane’s side. The princess dodged with a laugh. Tonya crawled out from under the quilt. She pulled out fresh clothes from the chest at the foot of the bed and headed to the wash room.

  After bathing and dressing, she placed her dirty clothes on the bed and reached for her boots. She froze at the sounds of masculine voices in the common room. She tiptoed over to peer through the partially-open door.

  Dorian and August were fresh back from the training court. Dorian had folded his coat over his arm. August’s was slung carelessly over a shoulder.

  Sweat streaked both their shirts and plastered their hair. They both seemed more relaxed and at ease.

  Diane sat in the window seat, writing in her journal. She greeted them both with a smile, drawing them into a conversation. Tonya watched Dorian, taking the chance to study him without the coat and weapons.

  His shirt couldn’t quite hide his muscular build. His shoulders were broader than August’s, fitting with the overall compact strength of his frame. She’d forgotten how smooth his movements were, how quietly he walked like a snow fox stalking its prey. How does anyone think he’s just a healer?

  He half-turned to the door, as if knowing that she stood behind it.

  Tonya backed a step away from the door, flushing a little at peering through the crack like a timid fish. Her heart leapt at the sound of his light laugh. It dropped in her chest just as quickly as she remembered the way his smile died when she’d pulled away at the pier.

  She closed her eyes. I’ll tell him after. Once I figure out who I am with the warding gone.

  Tonya waited until their footsteps receded and the common room fell silent before slipping out to join Diane on the window seat. Tonya stared out the window, watching figures walk or fly through the courtyards and town as Diane journaled.

  August reappeared first, nodding a greeting to her before flopping on one of the benches and closing his eyes. Tonya sat a little taller, waiting for Dorian.

  The dinner bell rang through the castle as he emerged from the room. He came up short when he caught sight of her. She swallowed hard, her tongue twisting at the sight of him. Diane prodded her hip with her foot before setting her journal aside and joining August at the door.

  “Dorian!” Tonya blurted as he neared the door. Dorian half-turned, hand still on the latch.

  She swallowed hard, not sure what she was going to say. He waited, caution in his stance.

  “I—thank you for going down to the pier with me today.”

  It wasn’t what she’d meant to say at all. I’ll tell him later, she promised herself again.

  Dorian’s face smoothed, and he offered a small smile. It wasn’t much, but it was better than the mask that had fallen over his face earlier.

  “You’re welcome.”

  He opened the door wider in an invitation for her to go first. She hurried forward, flashing a quick smile before ducking her head as she passed him. His smile stretched a little wider before he followed her.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  “Good luck!” King Birgir pressed Tonya’s hands between his own.

  “Thank you.” She smiled.

  His expression never faltered. He turned to the others standing in the stable courtyards, wishing them well by name. How could I have doubted him? Tonya shook her head. The king exuded friendliness and cheer like the small pups that bounded around the stables.

  Steinn waited beside his caribou, checking the leathers and turning a glance up at the early morning sky.

  “We should be off,” he announced.

  Tonya went to her caribou, patting its nose. Ransu snorted, breath pluming in the chill. Diane swung up onto Raakel, tugging the collar of her coat up a little higher against the light breeze. Dorian mounted, keeping Arvo still with a touch. He’d kept his distance since the night before.

  It left a curious ache in Tonya’s chest, but it gave her the space she’d wanted.

  August mounted last. Lilja pulled him aside, their heads bent low together. The murmur of their voices was barely audible, but August nodded a few times. His serious expression melted back into something more carefree as he turned to them and vaulted onto his caribou without using stirrups.

  “Show off,” Dorian muttered, his movements stilted at first as Arvo stepped out.

  “Safe travels and may the Lights guide you.” Birgir lifted a hand. He turned another smile to Tonya. “See you in a few days, Tonya Freyr-dottir.”

  Lilja stood beside Birgir, arms crossed over her chest, a frown remaining in the corner of her mouth as she swept one last glance over them.

  “Stay cautious,” she said. “The ice has thrown things into disarray.”

  “I’ll make sure they stay safe.” Steinn lifted a hand in a salute. Lilja lifted her hand as well, her frown unwavering.

  He led the way through the town at a brisk trot. Hooves clattered over the stones, echoing loudly in the empty streets. The few faeries already awake and outside watched them ride out with either curiosity or disinterest.

  But Tonya still saw a few sneers thrown her way.

  She ducked her head, keeping her eyes on the road until they passed out of Konungburg and into the hills beyond. Unlike Csorna Hold, the town and castle didn’t disappear when they left the valley. It seemed the northern faeries were less concerned about being found by anyone who would happen to wander by.

  Steinn turned north into the hills. They spent the morning winding through hills at a walk, then sprinting across flatland between.

  The sun
hovered at its midpoint when Steinn finally reined in. They’d stopped at the base of a large rise. A shallow valley stretched out before them. Tall fir and spruce trees marched their way down the hills, stretching into the valley like long green fingertips that parted only for a meandering frozen river.

  Dark bulky shapes with broad horns paced slowly through the valley, stopping to paw at the ice and snow before moving on to nibble at the low-hanging boughs.

  “What are those?” Diane shielded her eyes to look at the animals better. Even from that distance, the creatures were obviously taller and broader than their caribou.

  “Moose,” Steinn said. “We’ll give them a wide range. They can be territorial. But first, I think it’s time for lunch.”

  Diane’s stomach growled audibly in agreement and she flushed. Tonya giggled as she slid down from the saddle. Her legs swayed underneath her and she grabbed hold of the leathers to keep her feet.

  Ransu tilted a look back from the corner of his eye, snuffling a question. She scratched under the chest strap and he stretched his neck low, wiggling his antlers back and forth in appreciation. Dorian briefly caught her gaze across the backs of their mounts, but she looked away quickly.

  Later, she promised herself again.

  August stood beside Niko, feet braced wide and fists on hips as he stared out across the valley.

  “I wouldn’t mind getting lost out here.”

  Steinn paused to follow his gaze. “Aye. Once the ice is gone, then you will surely never want to leave. The mountains to the east and north are even more beautiful.”

  The frank honesty in his voice calmed Tonya. The derision from the night before had been absent all morning. Maybe I imagined it.

  “What’s past the tundra?” August asked.

  Steinn lifted his chin as if to see farther. “More mountains, more tundra, then freezing ocean and shifting ice. Not many creatures live past the mountains on the other side of the tundra. We very rarely go there ourselves.”

  “How much longer are we in these hills?” Tonya dug out a treat for Ransu.

  “Such impatience!” Stein chided. “We’ll reach the tundra by tonight. The sun sets later out over the tundras, so we’ll ride longer today.”

  A strange eagerness lit his eyes. The prickle teased along Tonya’s arms again. She rubbed her hands over her sleeves, unable to shake the feeling of unease that had been lurking since the night before.

  I’m just anxious to get to the Lights and am seeing things. She glanced to Dorian again as the urge to tell him reared up. She pushed it away before her storm-tossed emotions could overwhelm her.

  Steinn insisted on letting the caribou rest for at least an hour. After the food had been packed away, Diane took out her journal and began writing. August strode off down the hill with a caution from Steinn not to go too far. Tonya took one sideways glance at where Dorian sat and hurried after August.

  August tilted a curious look at her, but didn’t question. A brief flicker of amusement touched his face as he looked past her up the hill, before turning into the forest. She imagined Dorian sitting slightly apart from the others, waiting patiently.

  She followed August into the trees, inhaling a deep breath of crisp spruce. Small flakes of snow fluttered to the ground as they brushed past branches. He didn’t appear to have any destination in mind, just wandering through the forest and letting her walk in silence beside him.

  “Do you miss your home?” she finally asked.

  He reached up to knock a drooping branch free of a heavy casing of ice. It sprang back to its former height. Tonya caught its shiver of gratitude from the corner of her eye.

  “I do. I spend a lot of time walking the forest back home. It’s my duty to look after the forest animals, but it also has plenty of quiet places to spend hours.”

  Tonya flushed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude if you wanted some peace and quiet.”

  He quirked a grin at her. “It’s all right. I never thought I’d have a plains faery to thank for showing me that it’s all right to talk about things.” He tipped a nod at her. “Or just be quiet with someone because you can’t hoard your silence and space forever.”

  Plains faery. Where once there had been animosity in August’s voice at the term, there was nothing but friendliness.

  “Thank you for coming to the tundras with me,” she said.

  “Like I said, I wanted to see this finished through to the end.” His grin returned. “And the rest is purely selfish. I want to see those Lights up close.”

  Tonya laughed. “I’d ride all night to get there if I could.”

  August’s chuckle quieted as he half-turned his head. He stood poised like a cautious animal, chin tilted slightly up as his gaze swept the forest.

  “What is it?” Tonya whispered, hoping it wasn’t some angry moose about to charge through the trees.

  “Not sure,” he murmured back, lifting one hand with fingers spread wide to feel the breeze as it swept in around them. Then he blinked and his posture shifted.

  “But look.” He crouched and pointed into the underbrush.

  Tonya knelt beside him, looking under the bush where bright eyes peered back. August murmured something and a small fox cautiously stepped out. A smile broke over Tonya’s face as the fox tiptoed its way to August, stretching out its nose to sniff around his hand before nuzzling his fingers.

  Its brown fur stood out in stark contrast to the white around them. Summer coat. Patches of white still lingered, perhaps trying to change back to its winter camouflage.

  It gave a small bark and trotted back to the brush, emerging a moment later with four small kits pouncing along in her wake.

  “Hold out your hand,” August instructed. The fox performed the same cautious assessment of her before allowing Tonya to stroke her soft fur. The kits sidled forward, jumping up against August’s knees, tumbling through the snow, or snapping at the trailing edge of her sleeve.

  “Is the ice giving them too much trouble?” Tonya fondled the ears of one of the kits.

  “Not too much. She’s just glad to hear that it’s going to be fixed soon.” August gave her a reassuring smile.

  Tonya sat back on her heels with a sigh. “Tell them sorry.”

  August did, then kept murmuring to the fox. It replied in barks and yips and tail swishes. It went on longer than Tonya thought a simple apology should take. One of the kits clambered up into her lap, distracting her from the myriad expressions crossing August’s face as he listened.

  He rose to his feet, no trace of snow on his trousers or coat. Tonya shooed the kits away and stood, brushing her knees off.

  “What was all that?” she asked.

  August shrugged, his expression clearing once again. “Nothing. Just asking what life in the north is like.”

  Tonya didn’t believe it for a second. “Anything interesting?”

  “Apparently it gets cold here.” August grinned before beginning to walk back the way they’d come.

  Tonya rolled her eyes and jogged the few steps to catch up with him. “What did Lilja want to talk with you about before we left this morning?”

  He gave another shrug. “Just telling me to keep an extra eye out with Steinn for any trouble. They’ve had some problems with the bigger animals out here since the ice has disrupted normal summer hunting and feeding routines.”

  Tonya hummed a noise of understanding. Her fingers rose to rub her sleeve. If that’s the case, why did it have to be a private meeting like that? She didn’t like the fact that August might be keeping secrets from the rest of them.

  But before she had a chance to question him any further, they’d come within earshot of their companions. Steinn and the others had the caribou ready by the time they’d walked back.

  “We’ll run across the valley. The ice on the river is thick enough that we’ll be able to ride right across without stopping and continue up into the hills.” Steinn glanced over them. “Ready?”

  Tonya mounted Ransu an
d gathered up the reins. Her muscles already felt sore and they still had hours to go. She nodded and Steinn clucked to his caribou. It sprang forward in a spray of white to thunder into the valley. They followed two by two, forced back into silence by the clicking and pounding of hooves.

  Moose barely glanced at them as they passed. An eagle hovered on the breeze before wheeling away. A young wolf darted alongside them for several bounds, sending Ransu skittering to the side with a nervous snort.

  Steinn barked something to the wolf and it leapt away with a cheerful bay, rejoining other wolves lounging in the distance.

  Once in the hills on the other side of the valley, they stopped for a few minutes to let the caribou catch their breath before continuing on at a walk for half an hour. True to his word, Steinn pushed at the same quick pace all afternoon and the miles fell away under hooves as they passed over hills and streams and another valley.

  Tonya shook her head at her earlier optimism of wanting to ride all night when they finally stopped on the edge of the hills. A wide expanse of white stretched before them. The sun hung low in the sky, painting it in vibrant splashes of pinks and purples and darker blues.

  “Is this it?” Diane staggered forward a few steps.

  “No. We still have miles to go. Nearly to the foot of those mountains.” Steinn pointed ahead.

  What Tonya had initially mistaken for darker clouds or sky shadows was a low line of mountains, ragged points barely visible in the fading light.

  Diane grimaced and pulled her packs from behind Raakel’s saddle. “I’m not moving for the rest of the night.”

  Steinn chuckled and helped her ground tie Raakel. Tonya reached for her bags and paused as a whisper of something caught the wind as it teased around her face.

  She froze, searching out on the tundra. A movement caught her eye—a lumbering shape that nearly blended into the white around it save for the long shadow that stretched towards them.