by Tom Hansen
“For you? You mean the marriage contract?”
“I’m talking about a contract between him and the Frost Queen, giving me over in marriage in exchange for knowledge of where my family was.”
Stefan looked worried. “I’m sorry, my love. I know nothing about this.”
“Then I ask you to do one thing for me.”
“Anything, my love.” Stefan gripped the reins tighter. The leather creaked in his hands.
“Go to your father, ask him about everything. Ask him if he made a deal with the Queen for my hand in marriage. Ask him if he gave the location of Marsfjord. Ask him if the queen sent her armies to murder everyone and set fire to my village.”
Stefan’s face paled, then flushed red. “I will, my love. I will go speak to him. I can assure you I was not aware of any contract, but I’m also of the understanding that the Frost Queen is a just ruler, and I’m sure we can work all these things out once we get to where we are going. I’m sure it’s just a simple misunderstanding.”
Synol breathed in, long and slow. She replied through clenched teeth. “Go talk to him and bring me your reply.”
“Yes, my love.”
Synol closed the door and buried her head in her hands.
“I don’t believe him.” Ynya said, still looking at the back of the cabin. As much as she’d tried to avoid getting into the middle of it, every response he gave just made her blood boil even more. “I’m sorry Synol, I don’t mean to cause you grief, I just can’t think of anything else right now.”
Synol nodded. “I understand. I don’t know what else to think right now, either.”
“My lady?” It was the nurse, who barely spoke a word the entire time they’d been on the road.
Synol looked up.
“My lady, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
Synol’s face grew hard. “Didn’t know what?”
“I have been telling Lord Torkelsen everything you two discussed.”
“I figured as such. Do you know why he asked you to do that?”
Edith shook her head. “I did overhear him speaking with the woman in black last night. They discussed you.”
“Me?” Synol was taken aback. “Why me? What was it about?”
“I only heard bits of the conversation, but he was furious that you were brought along on this trip. He said it wasn’t part of the contract.”
“I knew it,” Ynya gritted her teeth.
“Quiet.” Synol snapped. “Anything else?”
The nurse nodded. “If you have magic, then the Frost Queen will want you, so she has to get you tested.”
Synol leaned back in her bench and sighed. “You were right, Ynya. You were right all along.”
Ynya had waited years to hear her sister say these words. For years she’d dreamed of pointing and shouting that she was right. But those words were hollow in her mind. They were painful words, not words of love and understanding. They were fiery words.
“I’m sorry, Synol. I’m sorry for all of this. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for your wedding. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for Mama and Papa. I’m sorry I don’t know where Finny and Meki are.”
Synol stood in the small space and paced back and forth.
“My lady?” The nurse chimed in. “Is there something I can get you?”
Synol worked her fingers once again, like she was gearing up to punch something. It was a slow, methodical movement, like she was trying to prepare her fingers for something they haven’t done in a long time.
“Synol?” Ynya finally had to ask. “What are you thinking?”
Synol stopped. “You need to get out of here.”
Ynya’s heart raced once again. “What? No, we need to go together.”
“In the daylight? There are no fires, and I have no clothes to help me survive. It’s how they keep me in here, or have you not noticed? They don’t need chains for me, just lack of warm clothing. As much as I worry about my father-in-law and what he might have done to obtain me for his son, I at least have a powerful family with wealth that might have influence with the Frost Queen.
“They already did an adequate job of protecting me thus far. Maybe they can bribe guards or something, but I don’t think they will do it for you. You need to run. Make it to the dock and jump into the water and swim. Hide somewhere no one else knows about. You know these hills and caves better than anyone else. They will never find you.”
“But–”
“No!” Synol’s eyes burned with determination. “I’m done sitting on the side and watching everyone else control my life. It’s time I started making my own decisions. I’m telling you what to do for once, Ynya. You need to run.”
She turned to Edith. “I’m going to need something from you, but it’s going to be dangerous. I shouldn’t ask you but I have no one else here.”
“Anything, my lady. I should have never betrayed you like I did.”
Synol nodded. “I understand, but for now, we need to get Ynya out of here.”
Chapter Thirty-One
“Are you sure you won’t come with me?” Ynya was beside herself, still underneath the blanket in case anyone else came into see them.
“I’m sure. You know I won’t survive out there. Remember the ‘demonstration’ the woman gave last night? The risk of one of us getting hurt or killed goes up the more who try to run. I think this is the best course of action. I will survive while you go on ahead and try to find our sisters.”
Ynya wanted to hug her sister so much right now. She wanted to take her in her arms and never let go. Part of her mind even wanted to just stay right here, see where this caravan was going. At least I’m with one of her sisters, right? And supposedly they were heading to the same place where her other sisters were being held.
“No, Ynya.”
“What?”
“I see the look in your eye. You’re scheming something, and I won’t have it. All I have to do is yell, and any plans you are working on right now are gone. We’ve been over this. You run.”
Ynya grumbled. “Fine, but I will find you as soon as I can.”
Synol returned a sorrowful, but warm smile. “I expect you will. Are you ready?”
Ynya squared her mind, willing her heartbeat to slow to a comfortable rhythm. She needed to be calm for this next part.
The caravan made their way east now, just past the curve in the road that took them on to Lyraville. With Marsfjord to their rear, she would need to run as fast she could before they shot their arrows.
Synol was right. Any more delay and it was just farther she needed to run.
“Do it.”
Synol gave her a sad frown. “I love you, Ynya. I haven’t told you that enough.”
“I love you, too.”
With a nod, Synol stood and opened the door to her cabin, clutched one hand to her stomach, and yelled.
“Stefan! Where is the nurse? I think something is wrong!”
“What? Nurse? Father!”
Ynya screamed. “Help my sister!”
The horse reared back and whinnied, attracting the shouts of a few guards.
The door banged open farther, the woman in black was there, amazingly fast. She glanced at Ynya, who still huddled in the blanket in the corner. The two shared a look for a moment before she turned to Synol, placing a hand on her lower back. “Where are you hurt?”
The wagon lurched, throwing everyone into the air an inch or two, and Synol hit her head on the ceiling. “Ouch!”
“Damn roads,” Nora muttered. “Stop the caravan!”
“Where is my nurse!” Synol yelled, one hand on her stomach.
The caravan slowed, but another lurch from the wagon sent Synol into Nora. The woman in black wasn’t expecting the force with which Synol hit her. Both women careened out the door in front of Stefan’s horse.
The door banged shut. Ynya was alone.
She threw off her blanket and dropped most of the chains she’d been holding onto for so long amidst the screaming and horse
braying from the outside. She held onto one section in case she needed to use it as a swinging weapon.
She hoped Synol’s gamble hadn’t sent her under the horse, but the sounds coming from outside didn’t sound like the women were in any real danger.
“Good job, Synol. I’ll be back for you.”
Ynya opened the door opposite the commotion and glanced out. The nurse ran up the side and gave her a nod. “I’m coming, I’m coming!” She turned in front of Stefan’s horse and screamed, causing one of the two horses pulling the carriage to buck.
Any eyes still watching the road should have all turned to the drama playing out currently. It was time for Ynya to make her move.
She broke from the wagon and sprinted north, trying to put as much distance between her and the caravan in the opposite direction of where everyone should be looking.
All the energy poured into the previous night’s activities had left her in an already weakened state, and the nurse had only been able to produce a small hardened biscuit to give her. It wasn’t a lot, but as long as Ynya didn’t have to fight or run too far, she should be all right.
Her previous time out here with the woman in white fur had told her that there were plenty of trees and rocky outcroppings in which to hide and slowly make her way to the coast. All she needed to do was make it to those rocks. By the time anyone noticed she was gone, they would waste too much time to find her. By then it would be nightfall.
Ynya’s heart pounded steadily in her chest. Even the cool spot of magic her mother left her beat hard. Thoroughly exhausted, she dug deep to keep moving her legs, to keep running and not look back.
She came over a small rise and saw the rocks in the distance. A mile, maybe less.
A sharp object punctured clean through her leg. Screaming, Ynya tripped and fell face-first into the snow.
Through a haze of pain, Ynya saw the distinct shape of a black arrow embedded in the ground next to her, the nocking still glistening with red blood.
The woman in white had shot her.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Ynya rolled on her back and tried to get to her feet, but her wounded leg wouldn’t respond. She tried again, and one of her bare toes wiggled slightly. What arrow would cause a single hit to prevent someone from even moving their entire leg?
Pink blood spread out on the snow below her as she concentrated on sending warmth down to her leg. She needed to keep moving.
Movement caught her eye and she looked up as the fur-clad woman stood above her, an evil grin on her face.
“You thought you could escape me in the middle of the day?”
“No,” Ynya replied through gritted teeth. “I just needed to get you alone.”
Ynya threw the red-hot chain she’d kept coiled around her hand at Kalda.
The woman in white raised her arm in defense. The burning chain wrapped around her hand twice before clanging together.
Kalda let out a terrifying scream and Ynya turned to run, forgetting about her leg. It was mostly numb now, but the pain shooting down into her toes told her that it was still functional.
“Move!” Ynya yelled at herself. She managed to get to a standing position, and glanced back at the caravan. No one was running out toward her location.
The woman in white continued to scream while she looked at her charred hand.
“Guess you won’t be using that to shoot people anymore.”
With pains shooting through her leg, she shuffled down the small slope to hide her bright red hair from the road.
Ynya had a mile to go to get to the rocks. Then she would be safer.
“Get back here, you bitch!”
Ynya turned around as Kalda came down the small rise. The chain was gone, as was the woman’s hand. Left behind was a charred stump. A steady stream of blood dripped onto the snow with each step. Above the stump was the distinct mark of silver on her skin, similar to the woman in black.
Ynya’s heart beat faster as the woman got closer.
There was no way she would make it to the rocks. No way to find a stream or food in this time.
Ynya stopped. Her only chance was to stand and fight.
She had nothing on her, but her stained dress and a useless leg. Her only weapon was in the snow, used up and unable to help her anymore.
Her magic was so low she barely felt it anymore, and she knew she needed to have some energy left in order to not freeze in the snow.
From behind her back, Kalda pulled a thin dagger like the one Nora wielded.
Ynya gulped. If both women were as fast with those as the other, all it would take is a single stab in the right location and Ynya would be on the ground unable to use what little magic she had left.
She pulled heat back from her leg, which was starting to tingle now, a good sign. She needed all the magic her body could spare.
An image flashed through her mind. A dark cave, two screaming girls. Claws and bright lights. Arguments.
The thing she and Synol never spoke about. The unpleasant time from her childhood had driven the two apart, but right now Ynya’s survival was what mattered.
The hidden cave wasn’t far from here. She hadn’t explored it in so long, she didn’t even know if the cave was there anymore. But it was hidden, safe, and might even have leftover, if disgusting, food.
Ynya didn’t know if the bear was still there, but that threat would have to be dealt with later. For now she needed to handle the woman following her.
Memories of that fateful day flooded back into Ynya’s mind. She’d fought the bear, and told Synol to run while she stayed.
Now, they had swapped roles, Synol fighting back at the camp to give her a chance to escape.
The memory sparked an idea.
Ynya wasn’t helpless at all. She carried a weapon that had protected her for years.
An evil grin crossed her mouth as the woman in white squared off a few feet away.
“I’m going to enjoy gutting you, you little ingrate. You will pay for my hand.”
Ynya concentrated on the blade. The woman only had one weapon and one good hand, so focusing on the blade seemed the most important.
In her chest, Ynya felt the steady, rhythmic strum of her heart. She was calm, she was collected. She was ready.
Ynya ran a hand between her hair, grabbing a long strand and yanking. She wound the thin fiber around the tips of her index fingers and held the ends in place with her thumbs.
She poured heat into that hair.
Between her fingers, her hair glowed a brilliant white, just like it had when she’d used this trick to light her way down the long underground tunnels littering the Razorclaws. She had used her hair to defend herself.
The difference this time, was how much heat she poured into her hair.
The illumination was so bright that it was nearly blinding in the mid-morning light.
Kalda hesitated, then lunged.
Having been struck by the blade many times before, Ynya knew the direction it was headed. Left thigh, right side, left shoulder.
Her vision wavered once again. Pouring so much energy into a strand of hair might take her below her ability to stay heated.
Kalda yelled as she lunged.
Ynya anticipated the blade and dodged.
Kalda was incredibly fast. The blade just missed Ynya’s skin. It caught the fabric of her dress and tore a large slit through the bunched cloth.
Ynya released her hair from her left hand and snapped it with her other hand like a whip.
The tip of her white-hot hair wound around Kalda’s already injured arm, burning through the leather gauntlets and slicing deep into her flesh.
Kalda stumbled, screaming out in pain.
Ynya kicked out with her good leg, pushing the woman to the side. Ynya fell to the snow in a heap, but rolled back to her feet faster than she thought she could.
In a heartbeat, Ynya grabbed another hair and poured more energy into it. She took a step back as Kalda scrambled to her feet.
Their gaze met and Kalda’s eyes bore a ferocity Ynya hadn’t seen in anything but wild animals. Her eyes were fierce, but she was confused how Ynya was still standing, still attacking.
Kalda was worried she would lose.
Ynya spat. “Nora attacks the same way you do. You’re too predictable.”
“And you’re going to die.”
Ynya ducked low and slid forward in the snow, whipping her second hair at the woman’s leg, slicing deep into her thigh. The heat from her hair cauterized the wound, sending the aroma of burned flesh into the air.
Kalda stumbled, took a shaky step, then fell sideways into the snow. Still, she struggled to get up.
Ynya grabbed one more hair from her head, wound it around her fingertips and poured heat into it once more. She was wobbly, barely able to focus. Her vision failed. This is it; the last strand. She needed to end this now and get away from here.
Kalda got to her feet. She too was stumbling, unable to use much of her left side, but her right side was still deadly with the knife.
Ynya needed to remove the knife from the equation.
Kalda hopped on one leg. Blood poured from the gash in her left thigh. She wouldn’t last long, but even hopping, she covered more ground than Ynya.
The woman lunged.
Ynya tried to dodge, but she was too late. The knife pierced her shoulder. Heat from the wound flared for only a second before her entire body went cold.
No! My magic!
Ynya crumpled in a heap as the inner heat she relied on failed her. Her muscles lost all power, her magic disappeared from within her, and she fell.
Even half-damaged, the woman in white was a terrifying reminder of the power of the Frost Queen’s army.
Kalda’d won. But she’d overextended in her attempt to make her one dagger thrust count.
Kalda hopped twice then ran into Ynya’s falling form. Their bodies intertwined and fell on top of each other in a heap.
Ynya was on the bottom, her arms extended in front of her with the glowing hot hair between them. She’d never gotten the chance to use it.
Kalda fell, crushing Ynya.
But as she fell, Kalda’s eyes went wide as she realized she’d fallen right on top of the red-hot fiber.