In Ice We Burn (The Liftsal Guardians Book 1)

by Alexandra Moody

  Sloane approached her new dress with an ounce of trepidation. She’d never worn anything so formal, and it intimidated her slightly. The dress was surprisingly light, and the material seemed incredibly delicate. The way it shimmered in the firelight was so beautiful it was like the dress had been spun from moonlight. A part of Sloane felt excited to be wearing such a gorgeous piece.

  She put the dress on carefully, touching it lightly as she slipped it over her body. Looking down at it, she felt like a princess all dressed up to go to the ball. She wanted to laugh at the idea. She’d never felt so ridiculous in her life.

  The boots she wore underneath the dress were the only problem with the outfit. She hoped Orelle wouldn’t notice them because she’d probably make her change them straight away. They couldn’t be easily seen under the long hem of the skirt that ballooned out over her feet though, and there was no way she was wearing anything else when she had to walk up to the castellum. The Unfaih may be fine with the cold, but Sloane was definitely not okay with walking through the snow in anything but boots.

  She considered tying her hair up for the occasion, but she much preferred her hair down. It was so long and thick; it usually just looked silly if she tried to do anything with it anyway.

  She walked out of the bedroom to talk to Orelle. There was a problem with the dress. ‘It’s beautiful, but there’s nowhere for me to put my dagger,’ she complained, moving the layers of skirt, hoping to find a hidden pocket. After being caught outside the castellum during a Braky attack without a weapon, Sloane never went anywhere without it.

  Orelle laughed and turned to face Sloane. ‘Oh, you look beautiful,’ she said, as she saw her. Orelle looked incredible herself in a long, flowing black dress. Sloane wished she looked as natural in her outfit, but her years of training had left a certain heaviness to the way she walked. She felt a little like she was playing dress up and would have been much more comfortable in a shirt and slacks.

  ‘You look stunning,’ Sloane responded, returning the compliment. ‘Who made the dresses?’

  ‘A village out on the eternal plains make them,’ Orelle said, smiling. ‘Are you ready to go?’

  ‘Yes, in just one minute,’ Sloane said, as an idea hit her.

  She dashed back into the bedroom and picked up the two daggers she’d stashed in her clothes. She lifted her skirts to slip one in each of her boots. A girl always needed to be prepared.

  She walked back out to Orelle, feeling more confident than before. Tonight was going to be eventful, that was guaranteed, and she couldn’t wait to see how pissed Rhyn would be when he saw her there.

  As they approached the castellum, Sloane’s confidence began to fade. So far the night had felt magical. All the people from the village had walked up the steps to the castellum in a line, with everyone holding a glowing crystal in their hands to light the way. They created an iridescent trail of winking lights that could be seen snaking along the goat track from the village and up the steps to the castellum. They all softly hummed the same tune, which was solemn, yet hopeful in nature. Their voices carried on the wind and filled the night air that surrounded her. It was a moment Sloane wouldn’t forget quickly.

  When she reached the plateau, Sloane’s eyes widened and her lips parted with awe. Glacies formed a guard of honour, the large, majestic creatures watching on as the Unfaih proceeded across the plateau towards the castellum in the distance. The castellum itself was like a vivid beacon in the night, its softly glowing walls illuminating the sky around it. While she’d seen it lit up at night before, she’d never seen it sparkle like this. It was like the castle had been sprinkled in glittering fairy dust, and it shone with pure and exuberant joy.

  The closer they got, the more Sloane regretted her choice of outfit. It was beautiful, yes, but it made her feel bare and vulnerable in a way she’d never felt before. A small part of her wished she was in her regular training clothes. She wasn’t one of these people; not even close. She was a prisoner there, as Rhyn so often liked to remind her. She didn’t deserve to wear such finery and wasn’t even supposed to be going to the choosing. She didn’t belong there and it struck her now, more than any other time since she’d awoken in the foreign world.

  She looked up at the stars that shone so brightly overhead. One shot across the sky, and Sloane instinctively closed her eyes and thought of Rowena. With her eyes tightly shut, Sloane wished with all she had that she would find the way back to her sister. All she wanted was to see Rowe’s face again and make sure she was okay. She wished it so strongly and passionately; she felt certain that whoever was up there listening would have to hear her plea.

  When she opened her eyes though, they still looked upon the dazzling castellum. There would be no magic wishes granted tonight, and no escape from the choosing.

  The gates to the castle were wide open, and people from the village poured through them. They all made their way across the courtyard and went directly to the castle, but Sloane hesitated before she went through. Was this really a good idea?

  ‘Are you coming Sloane?’ Orelle asked. She could see excitement burning brightly in Orelle’s eyes. It was easy to forget Orelle was hundreds of years old when she looked so happy.

  Sloane nodded to Orelle and gave her a small smile. She would go through with tonight, and she would make the best of this opportunity. She fell into step beside Orelle, and they walked through the grounds to the entrance hall, which was already packed with people.

  ‘Have you seen Kai today?’ Sloane asked, as they slowly shuffled along with the moving crowd.

  ‘No, I haven’t spoken with him in days. He’s been locking himself away in his hut and not talking to anyone.’

  ‘He is still coming, right?’

  Orelle glanced at Sloane. Her youthful expression from moments ago was gone, and a hint of worry had replaced the joy in her eyes. ‘I should hope so. These women have travelled a long way to meet him, and I can’t imagine Kai ever disgracing our family in such a manner.’

  ‘No, you’re right, he would never let you down,’ Sloane reassured her.

  Sloane’s hands were getting clammy as they approached the great hall. She’d never been in this section of the castellum and had always wanted to explore it, but her curiosity seemed to be buried far back in the depths of her mind right now. Instead, she found herself more concerned about making a fool of herself tonight at the ceremony.

  They had nearly reached the doors, when Sloane felt a hand on her shoulder and her body was wrenched around to face Emha’s mother.

  ‘What is she doing here?’ the woman cried, yelling more at Orelle than Sloane. The whole crowd around them seemed to turn and stare.

  Orelle was the picture of calm as she responded. ‘I invited her.’

  ‘But she’s not one of us.’ Sloane saw Emha’s head peak out from behind her mother’s skirt. She chewed on the corner of her bottom lip, as she considered the situation. Back on Earth it would be odd to see such an expression on a young child, but Sloane was already well aware of how incredibly smart Emha was.

  ‘It’s okay, Mother,’ Emha said, stepping out from behind her mother. She gently took hold of her mother’s hand and stroked it. ‘Sloane is a friend.’

  ‘Stay back, Emha.’ Her mother pushed Emha behind her and turned to glare at Sloane.

  ‘Vilya, this really isn’t the time or the place for this,’ Orelle said. ‘I understand you are apprehensive about Sloane’s presence here, but I am vouching for her and she is very welcome to my son’s choosing ceremony.’ Orelle held such authority in her voice as she spoke; there was no arguing with her.

  ‘Come, Sloane,’ Orelle said, refusing to allow Vilya the chance to continue her verbal attack. ‘I want to be there when all the women arrive.’

  The excitement was back in her voice and she appeared to have already forgotten the argument. Sloane couldn’t manage to find the same enthusiasm though. Vilya’s display reminded her of a very important fact—she wasn’t one of these people
and she never would be. Orelle often made her forget that fact, and she needed to leave before she got any more comfortable in this world.

  They stepped into the great hall, and Sloane paused to appreciate its splendour. Overhead hung garlands of frosted winterberries that were intertwined with long strands of sparkling crystals. They gathered in the centre of the ceiling and long strands of them were draped out to the far corners of the room like a canopy. As people entered the room they placed their glowing crystals down in small pockets that had been grooved into the ice walls. The ice seemed to amplify the light, and it made Sloane feel like she was back in space and surrounded by stars.

  There was an orchestra playing on a podium, and Sloane was surprised to see several members playing instruments similar to those on Earth. The beat of the piece they played was slow, yet it created the perfect backdrop to a room that looked so romantic.

  It was hard not to admire the hall, but Sloane found herself distracted when she caught sight of Rhyn standing on the dais next to Kai. They both looked so handsome in their formal uniforms, and Sloane smiled as she watched them. She felt certain Kai would find someone tonight.

  Rhyn’s eyes lifted and he gazed over towards where Sloane stood with Orelle. Sloane took a quick step backwards so the door hid her. She’d been looking forward to seeing his reaction to her arrival, but for some strange reason she suddenly couldn’t stand seeing his disappointment in her.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Sloane had never attended an event so extravagant on Earth, and she felt uncertain how she should be acting. The great hall was slowly filling with people and many were already dancing to the slow and steady melody played by the orchestra. She couldn’t dance to save herself and intended to avoid it at all costs tonight.

  She retreated to the shadow of one of the alcoves in the room. From there, she had a good view of the rest of the room without feeling too exposed. The people in the village had seemed slightly less hostile towards her recently, but most still eyed her with some level of suspicion.

  She watched Orelle as she went to greet her sons. Seeing them all together, Sloane noticed how similar they all looked. They all had the same eyes and the boys had the same chiselled jaw, but she’d never realised that all three of them also had the same warm smile until then. Wait, Rhyn was actually smiling? Sloane wished she was standing with them so she could give him a hard time about it, and the thought made her smile herself. He would hate that she’d seen him so relaxed and happy. It just wasn’t his thing.

  Kai and Rhyn both looked at Orelle with so much love and respect as they talked, and Sloane felt enthralled watching their interaction. She’d never seen them all looking so bright and happy, and she felt oddly envious of how carefree they looked. Orelle was the closest thing Sloane had had to a mother since her own died, and a part of her wished she had the same kind of love and respect within her own family. Sloane’s throat restricted at the thought and she swallowed tightly. She wasn’t supposed to feel anything towards these people. She would be leaving the first chance she got, and she couldn’t let herself feel this way.

  The music paused and, in the moment of silence, the room seemed to hold its breath. When it started again, in a more ceremonial tune, people moved into action. Couples who were dancing parted ways, and a pathway cleared through the centre of the room, leading to the dais where Kai waited. There were whispers of excitement from the crowd, and the room heaved with a feeling of anticipation. The door at the far end of the room flung open, silencing the whispers, and a man entered carrying a cushion with a white orb balanced in the centre of it.

  The orb was a dull, white colour and didn’t look particularly exciting, but Sloane knew it was important by the way people beamed as their eyes fell upon it. The man holding it walked with slow and purposeful steps along the path that cut through the crowd. He looked as though he carried a great weight upon his shoulders, and his face was a mask of seriousness as he moved towards the dais. When he reached it, the man bowed before walking up the stairs. He placed the cushion down on a tall golden stand, which stood in front of Kai, and scurried away looking relieved his duty had been completed successfully.

  Kai stood tall on the dais, but his face had gone pale and he was fidgeting restlessly with his hands. He seemed torn between looking at the orb and eyeing the door. Orelle gave him a loving smile and Rhyn nodded seriously at his brother, before the two of them joined the rest of the crowd, leaving Kai alone.

  The music changed key and eyes turned away from Kai, back to the door at the other end of the room. One by one, a procession of women entered the room dressed in dazzling silver dresses. There must have been nearly fifty in all, and each of them held a solemn look on their face. On some, Sloane saw a hint of hope.

  They walked through the crowd to line up at the base of the stairs before the dais, making certain not to get too close to it just yet. From what Sloane had been told, the orb would flare to life when two people stood beside it, and it would glow with a colour that represented how close a match they were. She imagined that the women needed to keep their distance until it was their turn to approach Kai.

  When the final girl entered and lined up beside the others, the music stopped. Excitement buzzed through the crowd, and Sloane’s curiosity flared. She’d never seen anything like this before, and she had to admit she was intrigued.

  Kai cleared his throat before he spoke. ‘I would like to thank you all for coming tonight,’ he said in Unfaih, addressing the room. ‘I look forward to meeting all of the beautiful women, and I am extremely grateful for the lengths you have travelled so you can attend. If the first woman would please approach…’

  He took a step towards the orb, getting so close that his elbow almost touched it. The first woman in line climbed the steps to the dais and walked to stand on the other side of the orb.

  While Kai stood alone next to the orb it remained white, but as soon as the woman stood next to him, it began to shimmer. The curling wisps of white fog within it changed, flickering as the colour slowly developed and the orb came to life. It became darker, the colour deepening until it settled on a gloomy shade of blue. The inside of the orb swirled like the depths of the ocean, though Sloane had no idea what the colour could mean.

  ‘Can you see anything?’ a voice whispered. Sloane turned to find Emha standing next to her, craning her neck to try and see over the crowd.

  ‘You’re going to get us in trouble,’ Sloane replied.

  ‘Don’t worry. Everyone’s too busy watching to notice us. So, what do you see?’

  ‘The orb’s turned dark blue.’

  Emha frowned. ‘That’s not even close to a match.’

  ‘Have you been to one of these before?’

  ‘No, it’s my first one, but everyone knows what the colours mean.’

  Sloane glanced back to the dais. The woman looked disappointed as she moved back down the stairs. Sloane noticed her shrug to one of the other women, like it was almost to be expected.

  ‘How about now?’ Emha asked, as the second woman reached the orb.

  ‘It’s a kind of pinky colour, I think.’

  ‘Better, but still not nearly close enough.’

  Kai looked disappointed as he watched another woman leave the dais. It must be bizarre for him, watching these strangers approach, knowing that one of them could be his perfect match.

  ‘What colour would the orb turn if they were a match?’ Sloane asked.

  ‘Well, if they’re a match the orb is supposed to go a glittery silver colour similar to the dresses the women are all wearing. But, if it’s the one, the orb shines brightly like the sun and radiates a dazzling golden colour.’

  ‘Have you ever seen it do that?’

  ‘No. The orb only comes out during the choosing ceremony. I’ve heard it’s incredible when you see it glow for someone who has found their one though.’

  Sloane hoped Kai would find her tonight. She wanted him to be happy and felt like maybe if he found her,
she would only make his world better.

  ‘What does red mean?’ Sloane asked, peering back at Kai, who had another woman next to him now.

  ‘Oh, they would hate each other.’

  Sloane laughed at Kai and the woman’s response. They both jerked back from each other when the orb turned red, and Sloane was pretty sure the woman was now glaring at him. Sloane’s laughter caused a lady standing in front of them to turn and give Sloane a glare of her own, which quickly shut her up.

  ‘How can the orb be so certain?’ she asked Emha, taking extra care to talk a little quieter.

  ‘It can sense the souls of the two people standing beside it. The orb reads them like puzzle pieces, and it sees how closely they fit.’

  ‘But how?’

  ‘It’s connected with the ætherial,’ Emha said, like that explained everything.

  Sloane wanted to roll her eyes, but restrained herself. She’d never trusted in things she couldn’t see. But everyone there clearly believed in the orb’s power, so she should probably keep an open mind.

  The room seemed to quieten as another woman approached the dais. She was smiling softly at Kai, who seemed to be a little overwhelmed as he watched her walk up the stairs. Unlike the Unfaih of the Whispering Cliffs, the woman had striking red hair that framed a face glowing with anticipation.

  Murmurs ran through the crowd, and Sloane began to wonder what the orb would do. They weren’t even close yet, and hadn’t said one word, but already they appeared enamoured by each other.

  Emha began jumping to try and see. She could feel the atmosphere in the room had changed and wanted to see what would happen.

  ‘Here,’ Sloane said, bobbing down so the young girl could climb on her back. ‘But, if you get heavy, I swear I’m dropping you.’