by Tara West
The look in the prophets’ eyes told her their warning was dire. She hadn’t realized until that moment how weakened she’d become over the day’s stressful events, but she was feeling it now. If only she had some of Zier’s strong brew to recharge her. “W-warn me of what?”
Odu tugged his scraggly beard, sharing a look of confusion with his brother. “We don’t remember, but we’re hoping it will come to us in the mists.”
Oh, my poor sons, Kyan cried. Their minds are more decayed than their bones.
Dianna realized Kyan hadn’t seen her sons in hundreds of years. She reminded herself to be more patient around the prophets. If not for their sake, then for their mother’s.
Two other ice dwellers were stacking rocks in a circular pattern. So that was how the mists were built. The prophets must have to infuse the stones with Elemental magic after completion. But how long would that take? She and the giants were to set off at daybreak, which was in just a few more hours, leaving her little time for rest before her journey.
“I don’t have time to wait, prophets,” she said, then mentally berated herself for showing impatience so easily. “I have to prepare for war with my mother before I’m too late to save my brother.”
“Ah, your brother, yes!” Dafuar held up a finger. “I believe that was the warning.”
“There is a dark curse on his heart,” Odu added.
A lump of sorrow welled in her throat. She knew the ice witch would have most likely cursed Markus, but she still wasn’t prepared for the bleak emotions that threatened to shatter her already broken heart. “Knowing my mother,” she spat, “I’m not surprised.”
“Before you strike down your mother,” Dafuar said, calmly, “you must kill the boy hunter.”
Dianna swore her heart did shatter then. Kill her brother? Never! If it wasn’t for Simeon grounding her, she would’ve flown from her seat and kicked sand in Dafuar’s face for even suggesting such a thing.
“Are you mad?”
“Perhaps.” Odu flashed a toothless grin.
Why in Elements name was he smiling? What was so amusing about killing Markus? She decided to discard all notion of showing the prophets more patience. Her head throbbed, and her hands shook so hard, she fought to keep them steady.
“I’m not doing it,” she said, challenging him to contradict her.
Odu shrugged, picking a piece of food out of his gums. “Then have a dragon kill him for you.”
She turned on him, imagining her rebuke was laced with venom. “No, Odu. I intend on saving him.”
Dafuar’s shoulders fell. “Then I fear you shall die.”
She stomped over to the prophets, hovering over them like an angry bear defending her cubs. “Then. Let. Me. Die.”
“Dianna,” Simeon begged. “You don’t mean that.”
She jabbed him hard, angry and hurt that he’d side with them. “I do. I will not blacken my soul with my brother’s death. Shame on all of you for expecting me to kill Markus.”
She stalked off to find Alec, knowing he’d take her side in this. She cursed Madhea and the mad prophets. Then she cursed Simeon for not wanting her to die. In hindsight, she understood why he wanted to save her, but she refused to consider sacrificing the life of her innocent, bewitched brother. There had to be another way to defeat Madhea without harming Markus.
Chapter Twenty-Six
After the dwarves performed a quick coronation of King Grim Hogbottom, Gorpat and her father had an emotional parting. The giant princess sobbed so hard, long pendulums of snot hung from her nose, breaking off and splattering the ground. Dianna hated to separate them, but as King, Grim was obligated to lead his army, and Gorpat was too young to accompany her father. No matter how big she was, she still had the heart of a little girl.
The dwarf king led a troop of dwarves and giants northeast to the Danae. Their plan was to travel upstream to the icy tunnel, letting the giants snack on gnulls along the way. They’d track Madhea and Markus, should they flee down the east side of the mountain. The giants had suggested they tear down the mountain, as they’d done with the walls of Aya-Shay, but Dianna had to explain more than once that banging on the mountain with clubs could cause deadly avalanches.
Lydra and Tan’yi’na shared an emotional goodbye as well. Dianna thought she heard her heart hit the ground when Tan’yi’na nuzzled the egg Lydra kept tucked under her belly.
Dianna and Simeon finally climbed on Tan’yi’na and flew after King Munluc and the other half of the giant and dwarf armies as they traveled northwest toward Adolan and Kicelin. The giants carried the dwarves, as well as Alec, Ryne, the prophets, and an assembly of human volunteers, enabling them to cut through the forest in a matter of days.
By the time they reached a clearing at the edge of the Werewood Forest, and within sight of Shadow Kingdom, Tan’yi’na had finished sniffling and pretending not to cry for his mate and hatchling. The air wasn’t as cool as she expected, making her wonder if the belt of thorns Dafuar had seen in the mists had compromised Madhea’s power. She hoped so, for the giants’ tattered furs didn’t look warm enough to shield them from the cold. The trees at the edge of the forest were covered in a light frost, but most of it had melted, creating pools of mud mixed with pine needles.
As they set up camp, she had no fear of the dark sounds, with a mighty dragon and a few dozen giants on her side. Let the gargoyles and trolls do their worst. They’d probably take one look at their army and fly the other direction.
Dianna, Simeon, and Alec had just tucked in for the night when Borg stomped up to them.
The giant jutted a thumb in his chest. “Borg find blue people. Borg smell them. They hiding.”
King Munluc patted him on the back. “Good nose, Borg.” When the king trudged back to the bonfire in the center of camp, Borg gazed at his birth father’s retreating back with longing in his eyes.
Borg flashed a triumphant grin. “I show fwiends where they hiding.”
Dianna and Ryne slipped on their boots, and Borg wandered into a copse of trees, disappearing quickly.
“Damn him,” Ryne grumbled, holding a hand down to Dianna. “Does he think we can catch up?”
She reluctantly took Ryne’s hand, hating how close he pulled her against him when she was on her feet. “He’ll come back if he loses us,” she said, not bothering to mask her displeasure at his nearness. “Remember his good sense of smell.”
She cast her gaze at Simeon, who was sleeping so soundly, he made cute little snorting sounds while his nostrils flared.
Ryne rolled his eyes. “Just leave him. They’re my people. We don’t need Simeon.”
She wasn’t so sure about that, but she left Simeon behind, not wanting to leave Alec alone. “You never know when his persuasive powers will come in handy,” she said to Ryne and then cringed.
“Yeah, like when he’s manipulating you.” Ryne snorted as he strode after Borg with long steps.
’Twas Dianna’s fault. She’d left Simeon wide open for insult. “For the last time, Ryne,” she said, running to keep up with him. “He’s not manipulating me. I choose to be with him of my own free will.”
He stepped over a vine as thick as his leg, then ducked under a leafy branch. “Even though he won’t be faithful?”
“What do you know?” she scoffed, her irritation with the ice dweller rising.
“I know women are always throwing themselves at his feet, and they will continue to do so even after you marry.”
He jumped into a deep, empty ravine, holding his hand up to her. She looked across the gully, hoping Borg would lend a hand, but he’d run off. With a grumble, she took his hand, because she was in no mood to dirty her last clean pair of trews.
“Those girls don’t matter.” She pushed away from him as soon as she found solid footing. “What matters is that I love Simeon, and he loves me.”
“Until you tire of each other.” She spun on him so fast, she nearly tripped over her own feet, but she was so tired of this game. �
�Why must you do this? Why must you look for the negative in everything? Your attitude made it so easy for me, even if I hadn’t been in love with Simeon.”
When his face fell, she almost regretted her choice of wording. Almost. The ice dweller needed to be taught a lesson.
He pushed past her, jarring her shoulder and not even having the decency to apologize. She decided to let the man baby go. She trailed after him as best she could, dirtying her trews when he refused to help her out of the ravine.
She followed him through thick vegetation before emerging in a clearing. What she saw simply amazed her. Though Borg was no longer in sight, she and Ryne had stumbled on a bustling camp with hundreds, mayhap thousands of ice dwellers. They’d survived!
“Liam! Great goddess!” Ryne and another blue man hugged like long-lost brothers. “I thought you’d all perished.” Ryne clapped his friend on the back. “How many of you are there?”
Liam, who appeared to be around Ryne’s age and about a head shorter, rocked back on his heels. “Well over a thousand.” Liam looked past Ryne, his eyes widening when he spotted Dianna. “We must be quiet.” He held a finger to his lips. “Giants have been spotted in the area.”
“We know,” Ryne said a little too casually. “We’re traveling with them.”
Liam’s mouth fell open. “You’re what?”
“They will not harm the Ice People,” Dianna said. “You have my word.”
She heard a rustling in the bushes and suspected Borg was nearby. She was grateful the giant hadn’t made an appearance and frightened the Ice People.
“How did you escape the mountain?” Ryne asked Liam, still not bothering to introduce or even acknowledge Dianna.
“We dug a tunnel and climbed through a section of shattered ice shield.” Liam used exaggerated hand gestures. “We were buried under the mountain for three days before we escaped.”
“You don’t know how glad I am to see you all alive and well.” Ryne chuckled, one of the few times Dianna had ever heard him laugh.
“Most of us are well.” Liam frowned. “But some of our children are sick with fever.”
“Bring them to me,” she said, growing tired of being ignored. “I will heal them.”
Liam blinked at her. “You’d do that for us?”
“Of course,” Ryne answered, though Dianna didn’t need a man to speak for her.
“Thank you,” Liam said to her before turning back to Ryne. “Many of us protested when Ingred outed your sister and locked away your father and the land dweller, but we were overruled. She was mad with power.”
“I know, Liam.” Ryne clasped the man’s shoulder. “I’m not blaming you.”
Wow. So not like Ryne to drop a grudge. Either he was showing off for her, or he only had a soft spot for his own kind.
“And how about your family and Odu and his followers?” Liam asked. “Did they escape as well?”
“All but my brother-in-law.” Ryne frowned. “The ice witch has him.”
“I was not there, but I was told she took him.” Liam pulled off his leather cap and hung his head. “I’m sorry for your loss, my friend.”
Ryne nodded, scrunching his face so tightly, she suspected he was holding back tears. Was this just a show, or did he truly care for her brother?
Liam cast another wary glance at Dianna. “Where are you fleeing to?”
“Fleeing?” Ryne chuckled, rocking on his heels. “We’re not fleeing. We’ve assembled an army of giants and dwarves to defeat Madhea once and for all.”
“Truly?” Liam gasped. “What a sight that must be. Do you need more volunteers?”
“We could always use more support,” Dianna interjected again.
Liam nodded to her, then gave an awkward, low bow. “I will assemble a team.”
SHE FOLLOWED RYNE AND Liam back to camp, the two old friends laughing and elbowing each other. She was amazed by Ryne’s transformation in mood. Mayhap that’s all he needed to be happy—assurances that his people were alive and well.
They located Zier in the center of camp, plotting routes with his cousins. Grim, the new dwarf king, had knighted Zier, giving him command of the northwest army.
Ryne pushed forward, not waiting for Dianna. “Sir Zier,” he said. “A team of almost a hundred ice dwellers will join our ranks.”
Liam held his cap in his hands, bowing to Zier. “I know we’re a weary crew, but we’re tired of hiding from the ice witch.”
“We welcome you and your kin.” Zier flashed a broad grin. “The glow of a thousand tiny mites burns brighter than any light.”
She prayed to the Elements that was true, because she’d need a whole lot of mites to conquer her mother.
THOUGH DIANNA WASN’T ready for sleep, she climbed under her furs, nestled between Alec and Simeon. Dawn would be breaking soon, and she needed her rest for the battle. At the rate the giants moved, they’d be at the base of Madhea’s mountain by tomorrow afternoon. Then what? Nervous energy coursed through her. Tomorrow she was going to have to face down her mother, and this time she couldn’t lose. But what of Markus? How would she avoid hurting him?
Sindri told me Dafuar had seen Madhea with a belt of thorns in his mists, Kyan said, her stone warming Dianna’s vest pocket.
“Yes,” she whispered, absently rubbing the stone. “He did.”
Do you understand the significance of the belt of thorns? Kyan asked.
She blinked up at the starry sky, partially obscured by the branches of a lone pine. “Not really.”
Only a dark, evil magic can unleash such a curse. She had to have gravely mistreated her children.
She choked back a sob when she remembered the dream where Madhea locked her Elemental daughters in a heptacircle. Just as Eris had done with her daughters. And yet Eris had no thorns that Dianna was aware of. “You’ve seen such a belt?” she asked Kyan.
No, but the Elements spoke of it in the scrolls. It goes against a mother’s nature to willfully harm her children. This is nature fighting back.
“But Eris had no such scars,” Dianna said.
Maybe not on the outside, but on her soul for sure. It was why you were able to overcome her with only a few stones.
“How are Madhea’s scars visible?”
A deep wound could have released them.
She considered Kyan’s words. Mayhap Markus had stabbed her when he’d first been captured. “Dafuar said it will weaken her power.”
It will, Kyan answered. Look at how the frost is melting. You need not fear your mother tomorrow. You could defeat her now without the stones.
The other stones voiced their agreement.
“But what of Markus?” she asked, her chest tightening with fear and sorrow as she recalled the prophets telling her she must kill her brother.
“Leave him to me.”
She looked over at Simeon, who was leaning up on one elbow, staring intently at her. “You, Simeon? I don’t want you to hurt Markus, and I don’t want him hurting you.” Just the thought of her brother engaged in battle with the man she loved filled her heart with dread.
“We won’t hurt each other.” He flashed a confident grin. “I will keep him occupied until you kill Madhea. Once the Sky Goddess is dead, the curse on his heart will be broken.”
“It will?”
Kill the witch, break the curse, the stones echoed.
“Oh.” All she had to do to save her brother and the world was kill her mother. Sounded simple enough, though it was anything but.
“Dianna, you will be victorious. I know you will.” Alec was blinking up at her from his makeshift bed.
“You have a lot of faith in me, but if something were to happen to Markus—” She had to bite down on her knuckles to keep from saying anymore. Alec and Simeon made it sound so easy, but what if it wasn’t? What if she panicked and didn’t strike her mother in time?
Alec tossed the furs off and sat up, crossing his legs. “Zier taught me a dwarf limerick today. Want to hear it?”
; What did limericks have to do with preparing her for battle with the Sky Goddess? “Okay.”
Alec straightened his spine, clearing his throat.
“Thinking just to think
Can cause the brain to blink
And fart and bleed and juice and stink,
And yet we think and think and think
Until nothing is left but naught.
Our brains begin to rot
From thinking how we thought.”
She shook her head, unable to hide a smile. Farting brains? “That is the silliest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“It means you’re thinking too hard, sister.” Alec leaned forward and tapped her head. “We all have faith in you. It’s time you had faith in yourself.”
She wanted to argue with him, but she couldn’t get the image of farting brains out of her head, no matter how hard she tried. “Thank you, brother.” She kissed his cheek. “Goodnight.”
Turning to Simeon, she blew him a kiss. “Goodnight.”
“An air kiss? Surely you can do better than that,” he whispered, his mouth hitched up in a wicked grin.
She heaved a weary sigh. “A quick one. My brother is watching.”
She was determined to give him a quick peck on the cheek, but the tricky pixie quickly turned his cheek, capturing a kiss on the lips.
She shoved him hard while Alec swore. “Behave yourself, sand dweller.”
“I’m sorry, but mouth kisses bring better luck.”
He has inherited my late husband’s charms, Kyan chuckled. Now you see why I was never able to resist him.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Madhea buzzed into Kia’s chamber, scowling at the ugly old woman curled up in her bed, sobbing and clutching a tattered doll. “I’m leaving.”
Kia looked up at her through a mess of scraggly, gray hair. “Where are you going?”
She fought the urge to scratch her scars. They itched and burned, as if the curse had set fire to her veins. “Your bitch sister is approaching with an army of giants.” The traitorous swirling mists had finally revealed Dianna to her, and Madhea was none too happy.