Kiss Of Snow (Royal Hearts Book 2)

by Elizabeth Briggs

  Seventeen

  Lily

  I would have liked my sisters to be at the dinner with me, but no matter how often I closed my eyes and wished the most fervent of wishes, neither sister materialized at the table. They’d both declined the invitation, saying this night was for me and my suitors to get to know each other better, and they would only get in the way.

  I looked around the seven men. Each of them had reverted to type. Grumpy Theund had one meaty hand wrapped around a clay tankard, scowling at anyone who dared so much as glance at him. Sleepy Covack had his eyes closed as his head bobbed up and down. Every so often an amused grin flickered across his face or he woke himself with a half-snort. He really was fascinating to watch, even if I was starting to grow worried about him. Danzin aka “Doc” kept trying to discuss plants with Sneezy Hirth, who blew his nose into a handkerchief the entire time. Dopey Vasso knocked over his water glass, while Happy Lasloe told a funny story to Bashful Gusten, who smiled awkwardly the entire time. I tried to imagine any one of them as my husband…and failed.

  “Your Majesty,” Theund leaned toward me, surprising me. “May I serve you a drink?”

  “Thank you.” I inclined my head in acknowledgement as he lifted the carafe of wine and poured some into my glass. Perhaps I’d misjudged him—although his voice still growled from his bushy beard, so I couldn’t tell if he was truly being friendly or not.

  Danzin tapped the side of his glass, quieting the chatter in the room. “May I propose a toast? To our beautiful host, Princess Lily. Long may she rule Talador with whomever she chooses as her king by her side.” He lifted his glass and each of the other men did the same.

  My gut twisted at the reminder of why we were here, and how little time I had left to choose a husband. I took a polite sip of my wine and changed the subject. “How is everyone enjoying Talador?”

  “It’s cold here.” Vasso rubbed his hands together like the roaring fire he had his back to hadn’t managed to penetrate his body to heat the front of him. Possibly there was such a thing as too muscular.

  “Yes, those of us from Talador like to curl up together to keep warm.” Lasloe laughed as he spoke and winked at Gusten, who blushed in return. I’d have to remind Lasloe not to embarrass Gusten with his attempts at humor too often, or the poor man’s face would be permanently red. Lasloe nudged him and Gusten giggled, but he shot me a quick glance like I might be unhappy at his amusement and his smile faded.

  “Yes, Talador is cold…” I hesitated. How could I finish my sentence? I thought it was beautiful, but I wasn’t actively trying to sell my country to the men. They either wanted to be here or they didn’t.

  “I find it fascinating. So many plant specimens.” Danzin spoke up and concealed my discomfort beneath his pleasure at the plants growing in my kingdom. His face glowed, but not with embarrassment. It was either with the heat from the fire or sheer excitement at his favorite subject.

  Hirth laughed mirthlessly. “And so many new allergies for me to explore.” As if to punctuate his sentence, he sneezed loudly into the ever-present handkerchief he pulled like a magician from a voluminous sleeve.

  Servers and footmen walked around the table, spooning vegetables and meats onto our plates and refilling our glasses. For a while, the conversation at the table dwindled as everyone began to eat. The food was plentiful and beautifully prepared, one of my favorite meals with turkey and gravy.

  “We don’t have anything like this at home,” Vasso said as he reached for the gravy boat. He sloshed the gravy over the sides and it dripped onto the white tablecloth below. “Sorry about that.”

  “Seems you are particularly good at being clumsy, Vasso,” a nasally voice said.

  It was Covack, awake for once, and regarding everyone through narrowed, beady eyes. He reminded me of a bird—ready to peck at anything he decided he didn’t like, and I shuddered at the sudden image. I preferred him when he was asleep. His disinterest was infinitely better than any degree of scathing commentary on the gentlemen who could actually be bothered to stay awake. Although, I didn’t say anything in Vasso’s defense. If he couldn’t survive Covack’s random pecking, he’d never survive the backstabbing of court.

  “What’s the other castle like?” Vasso settled the gravy boat back down on the table with another wobble and a large pool of the brown liquid feathering into the white linen.

  Covack immediately brightened, his handsome face taking on an easy smile that almost made me wonder if such a pleasant-looking man really did snore quite so loudly. “Is it bigger?”

  I opened my mouth to reply, but Keane shifted behind me. Of course. He’d be worried about security while my sisters were still in residence there. “Winton has some very similar features,” I answered, smiling as pleasantly as I could manage. “This stone, for example, is only found in Talador, and you’ll see the same wintery views outside the castle windows. All of the forests in the kingdom wear an almost permanent coat of snow or frost this time of year.”

  Covack’s mouth twitched with disappointment, as if he’d hoped for something a little more detailed. Many of the others looked downright bored with the conversation.

  “I see, and do the same herbs and plants that grow here also grow closer to the other castle?” Danzin asked.

  I dabbed at my mouth with a napkin before I answered him. “I believe there would be. The climate is colder—we’re south of it now, you know—but not vastly different.”

  Danzin smiled and nodded. “Very interesting. Those are forests I’d definitely like to see some time.”

  As dinner finished, I felt a little uncomfortable at the amount of food I’d consumed. It had been a long time since I’d been treated to such a feast, and the temptation to try everything had been a little too much. Meanwhile, Vasso looked up and down the table at the empty platters before slumping dejectedly in his chair.

  He perked up when the servers formed a procession from the kitchen, each with a round silver plate held above their head, balancing on their palm. The aroma of warm spiced apple filled the dining room, and I sniffed appreciatively, but as soon as my dish was served, I knew I couldn’t eat it. My stomach roiled as I struggled to digest what I’d already eaten, and there was no way I could add anything further to that.

  Each of us had a plate with an apple that had been expertly carved into a beautiful lily, the petals opening in the steam that lifted from it. Delicate folds of pastry surrounded the apples. It was possibly the most beautiful pie I’d ever seen, and though I considered trying it, I felt I might explode if I consumed even a bite.

  I pushed it away before looking around the table, observing my suitors in turn as they ate. When my attention landed on Vasso, I noticed he’d already finished his pie and was sneaking hopeful glances at my discarded plate.

  I nudged it to him. “I’d consider it a great personal favor if you’d eat this, Lord Vasso. I’d hate to insult anyone in the kitchen by returning a dish untasted.”

  He nodded with enthusiasm and had his mouth open before he’d even plunged his spoon into the pie. He almost inhaled the second pie, and I smiled at the speed with which he made it disappear.

  “I’m very glad you enjoyed it,” I said.

  He grinned, and he reminded me a little of a loyal dog. He was kind, if nothing else. “Thank you, Princess Lily. It was very…” He broke off and gasped, then clutched his stomach. “I’m sorry,” he panted between heavy breaths. “I suddenly don’t feel at all well.”

  I stood from the table, my chair screeching backward over the stone floor. As he wobbled to his feet, I reached out toward him. “Are you all right? Can you manage?” I turned to Keane. “Can you help Lord Vasso to his room?”

  As I spoke, Lord Vasso gave a startled cry and crumpled back into his chair.

  “My head,” he wailed. “It really hurts. It’s pounding and I…I can’t see.” Fear took his volume up a notch. “Everything’s black.” But his speech was slowing, slurring, and I looked again for Keane, who stepped
forward to kneel at Vasso’s side.

  Almost immediately, Danzin took a knee at the lord’s other side and reached for his wrist, pressing his fingers over Vasso’s skin in search of a pulse.

  He looked at me. “It’s very weak, Your Majesty.”

  Confusion buzzed through me. “But whatever could…” I stopped, hesitancy finding its way into my voice before I remembered my position. I swallowed down the fear and tried for something that resembled calm leadership. “What could be wrong with him? Lord Lasloe, send for help from the kitchens, and Lord Gusten, please bring pillows and blankets. We may need to make him comfortable.”

  Danzin stood. “If you’ll allow me, I’ll fetch my medical kit from my room. I have a selection of herbs and tinctures that might help.”

  I nodded. “Yes, go. Quickly.”

  While the suitors all gathered around Vasso, Keane picked up the plate that had held my pie and sniffed it. Then he picked up the plate that Vasso had eaten the first pie, his own, from and sniffed that one as well.

  “What are you doing?” I asked him quietly.

  “Something’s wrong,” Keane said in a low voice. “The plate that had your pie smells bitter.”

  Fear whispered through me at what that could mean. “Poison?”

  Keane nodded. “It might be. And coming so soon after the previous two attempts on your life, we can’t rule it out.”

  Servants entered the room, ready to clear the table, but I grabbed the two pie plates and stacked them on the floor behind Vasso’s chair.

  “Please take the plates to the kitchen and push the table to one side.” I gave a clear, steady command as I tried to prevent my hands from shaking by holding them in front of me.

  Gusten, Hirth, and Lasloe laid Vasso on the floor, and Danzin arrived back from his room, a little out of breath with a medical bag clutched in one hand. I gave a sigh of relief. He looked the part of a doctor, at least.

  “Go and tell him what you suspect,” I said to Keane.

  Keane looked at me and then at Danzin, while Vasso’s pale face was losing color by the moment. “Is that wise? For all we know, Danzin could be the poisoner. He certainly has the means.”

  “Go,” I urged him, pushing him forward. “We could be saving this man’s life!”

  Keane picked up the two plates as the servants pushed the table aside, and spoke quietly to Danzin, while the nobleman removed things from his bag. Danzin nodded gravely, while I kneeled beside Vasso’s head. His eyes were closed, and I feared we might be too late already.

  I touched his hair softly but he didn’t stir. “It’s all right. We’re going to help you.”

  Danzin approached, his mouth set into a firm line. “I only have very little of the herb we need. Just pray it will be enough.” He drew an amber liquid into a narrow glass pipette and moved it toward Vasso’s mouth.

  “Are we sure this is safe?” Covack’s nasal voice filled the room. “Lord Danzin could kill Lord Vasso with whatever he’s about to administer.”

  Annoyance flickered over me, but I brushed it aside. “I trust Lord Danzin’s intentions and knowledge. A medic has been sent for, but might not arrive in time if Lord Vasso’s pulse continues to weaken. What would you have us do?”

  Covack stepped back. “My apologies, Your Majesty.”

  I nodded to Danzin to continue, and he dribbled the tincture between Vasso’s barely parted lips, waiting between drops. When the pipette was empty, he sat back on his heels, two spots of high color on each of his cheeks. “That’s all I can do for now. We must make him comfortable until the medic arrives. Recovery could take a while if it’s the poison I suspect.”

  I rose to my feet and turned to Keane. “Please get a guard to stand with Vasso until the medic arrives. I’ll make him as comfortable as I can, but I’d like to retire to my room as soon as possible.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.” Keane beckoned to one of the servers and issued rapid instructions as I returned my attention to Lord Vasso. He’d taken the poison meant for me, and my guilt mixed with fear at being targeted again. I hadn’t realized that simply by being near me, all of these men would be in danger too.

  Eighteen

  Lily

  Rose closed the door to the small sitting room. The sun had barely peeped above the horizon and the sky was still a chilly gray, but we’d gathered in this room of faded colors and duty furnishings before the rest of the castle woke.

  Keane raked ancient ashes out of the fireplace then craned his neck to look up the chimney. “I can see daylight. That’s always a good sign.” He reached to the pile of logs, cobwebs crisscrossing them, and lifted one off the top before placing it in the grate.

  I cocked my head at him. “You don’t have to set our fire, Keane.”

  “You have more important things to do this morning than worry about being cold,” he replied.

  Rose sat in front of me. “You know this is necessary now, yes? You have to be able to protect yourself. Whoever is trying to kill you wants you dead badly enough that you won’t even see the danger coming. You need every advantage you can get. We need to use your magical abilities.”

  I nodded, but my lips pulled tight instead of smiling, my skin frozen not by cold but by fear.

  She touched my knee as Keane blew on his fledgling fire, nursing the tiny crackling flames in the kindling. “I know you’re scared, but you don’t need to be.”

  “You were never scared.” My statement of fact came out a little like an accusation, but Rose simply shrugged.

  “Maybe I should have been. I don’t know. I do know I wouldn’t still be alive now without it. It’s certainly scariest when you don’t know what you’re doing.”

  I sighed. “All right then. Where do we start?”

  “With the basics. We can do that while Keane checks on the investigations into what happened last night and gets an update on Lord Vasso. Is that all right with you, Keane?” But she’d already moved to open the door and was looking at him pointedly.

  Apparently, Rose wanted this to be a private tutoring session, which I understood, but I missed Keane before he even stepped from the room.

  “Someone will be stationed outside this door,” he said, before stepping out with one quick glance at me.

  “I believe Lord Vasso is recovering but weak,” I said as Rose closed the door with a firm click.

  “I’m pleased to hear he’s recovering but your concentration needs to be in this room with me. Stand up.” When I did so, she came to stand before me. “Now, can you do anything with runes?”

  “I froze Malren. Somehow.”

  She nodded, but she always seemed to know my very thoughts. “Yes, you did…. But if he came in here, could you freeze him right now?”

  I bit my lip as I considered her question. “Maybe?”

  She clapped her hands together, her amber eyes dancing with excitement. She loved magic in ways I would never understand. “Back to the start, then. You froze Malren, so let’s begin there. I’ll show you a frost rune. You cast the runes by drawing them out with your finger in the air. Eventually you may be able to draw them in your mind, but that’s a more advanced move.”

  “Should I draw them on paper first? That way you can correct me if I’m wrong.” If I was going to do this, I wanted to do it right.

  She laughed and shook her head. “Half the battle is going to be getting you to lighten up. No, in the air is fine. The runes have a basic shape, but really every person will draw them slightly differently because the intention is what matters. And then the runes can be expanded to include extra flourishes based on your will.”

  I shook my head. “Intentions? Extra flourishes?”

  She grinned like my spark of irritation annoyed her. “When Raith first taught me, he told me ‘the runes are simply a way for you to channel your magic into something more specific and precise.’ That’s how you need to see them. As a tool to protect yourself. You need all the tools you can get right now. Magic is an invaluable asst to your arsena
l.”

  I nodded, unable to deny that fact. If it took magic to protect myself, then magic it was. The fire crackled and reminded me of Keane. I had his approval in practicing my magic, and that approval meant more than I expected.

  “Raith covered my eyes to help my focus, but…” Rose trailed off and studied me, her eyes narrowed, like she was deciding whether or not to blindfold me.

  I held up a hand. “What a husband and wife do privately is of no concern of mine. I want to see how to form these runes. I want to get it right.”

  “Very well.” Then she held up her hand and pointed her index finger, using it to draw a delicate silver shape in the air. When she finished, a beautiful crystalline snowflake hung in the small sitting room, each frosted point detailed and precise. “Is this the rune you used to subdue Malren?”

  I shook my head. “I’m quite sure I used nothing so fine as that.”

  Rose rolled her eyes. “If not, it would be a similar one. Now watch the movement of my finger and see if you can do it too.”

  I concentrated, watching every flicker and movement of her hand and did the exact same thing half a dozen times until I had my own, slightly wobbly snowflake hanging in the room.

  Rose clapped. “Perfect!”

  I pressed my lips together. “Far from ‘perfect,’ but it’s a start.” And it was a start that made me want to do better. “Again,” I murmured, as I drew the rune another time.

  “Remember it’s not just the movement. It’s intent.” Rose drew her own rune again. “And you can change that intent to whatever you desire.” As she finished the rune, she added a flick or her finger giving the shape a long tail, and suddenly snow fell delicately from the ceiling.

  I gasped as the flakes kissed gently against my face before melting away. “Your magic has come a long way since marrying Raith.”

  She shrugged as if that shouldn’t be unexpected. “Ilidan allows magic and Raith is a wizard king. But Talador could allow magic too…” She looked at me, but anxiety flickered in my stomach at the thought of overturning Father’s laws.