Heart of the Winterland

by Kristen Kooistra

  Kota chewed her lip, deep in thought. Perhaps this was something, perhaps nothing. But it was the only thing she had to go on and her instincts were telling her to pursue this.

  Her quarry must’ve had assistance to evade her for so long. Yes, that must be it. Along the way, that flamed girl must’ve come across some rich sop who had decided to help. More than likely this . . . benefactor outfitted the escapee with a horse and a new wardrobe. As far as proof went, this was less than solid, but at this point it was all she needed.

  “Shall we pursue, Captain?” asked T’Nahke.

  In answer, Kota swung astride her horse. Without waiting for her companions, she followed the trail of hoof prints and trampled grass.

  ❄❄❄

  It had been three days since Cali and her friends left Laire, and they were running low on supplies and energy. Angel had doubled back during their second day and discovered three figures carefully following their trail. At first, Cali wasn’t sure if they were simply traveling the same path or if they were indeed being pursued, but Angel was quick to point out that their route was far from practical in ordinary circumstances.

  Determined to know for sure, Angel slipped back for a second look and returned with her face drained of what little color it had.

  “It’s the captain. We can’t hope to lose her, not on our current route. Our best bet is to increase the pace and hopefully reach the town of Rokuhai before she does. It should be large enough to hide in, provided we keep a low profile.”

  Not wishing to meet this captain everyone seemed to fear, Cali pushed her mount as hard as she dared. The miles slipped past and the sun set and rose again.

  After little rest and days in the saddle, Cali’s strength was flagging and Angel didn’t look much better.

  “I can’t go on like this much longer,” Cali whined. “For all our efforts, we are no closer to losing the captain and her lackeys.”

  She halted, a thought hitting her. “Voice, why don’t you just use your magic to deal with them? Surely there’s something you can throw in their path.”

  Voice sighed. “I fear I cannot, Princess. My magic seems to have deserted me since leaving Trabor. I was hoping that we would not need it.”

  “Splendid,” Cali griped.

  “It is not as if I wished to lose my magic,” Voice huffed.

  Angel cleared her throat. “I’m not sure what magic you two are going on about, but it seems to me we’re no worse off than we were five minutes ago. Since magic is out of the question, what are we going to do about our unwanted baggage?”

  “They do seem rather determined,” Voice said. “Perhaps now would be an excellent time for you to explain why the good captain is bent on your capture.”

  Angel sighed and ran her hands through her hair. “I guess it’s only fair that you know. I’m just leery about telling my tale to strangers. So please excuse me if I omit some details.”

  “Anything to keep my mind off these aches,” Cali grumbled.

  “It all began a year ago in my kingdom, Mazushuĭ. My life was a comfortable one, as my family is royalty, though chances of me ascending to the throne are slim. My uncle is the king, and I have several cousins who can succeed him. I do not mind. In fact, I’m relieved not to have the burden of ruling looming over my future. I was happily engaged to a dashing noble, Kelpan.”

  Angel’s eyes filled with tears. “He was perfect; everything was perfect. I truly believed that I had found my soul mate.”

  Voice softly interjected, “It is rare to find the person who completes you. True love is precious and should never be taken lightly.”

  Angel nodded, wiping away her tears. “I couldn’t agree more, but what do you do when—”She paused to collect her composure“—when the love of your life vanishes without a trace?”

  Cali turned in her saddle to look at Angel. “Is that what happened to you?”

  “Yes, one day he was there and the next . . . gone. No note, no warning, nothing. No one saw anything; there had been no odd changes in his behavior. I was left alone, wondering what had happened. Was he captured? Or did he leave me? I’m not sure which thought fills me with more dread. I hate to think of him being hurt or imprisoned, but to think that he chose to leave me, that maybe he never loved me . . . It’s a pain I’m not sure my heart can bear.”

  Cali moved her horse next to Angel’s and gave her hand a squeeze. What can I possibly say to her? As she rode, Cali came to a hard truth. Nothing. I can say nothing. Angel’s pain was something she’d never experienced. A pain she couldn’t lessen or explain. I can only be here for her, and that seems paltry. They rode along in silence until Angel continued her tale.

  “I spent a fortnight in denial and grief, wanting to believe that he would come back. When I could no longer hope for his return, I mourned my loss. My family and friends all tiptoed around me. Some treated me like I was made of glass. Others offered me empty words of sympathy.”

  “It was maddening, all those people whispering behind my back. They all thought he’d left me. Poor Angel this and poor Angel that. One day I couldn’t take it anymore, so I left. I needed answers, and I wasn’t going to find them there.”

  “Did you find anything?” Cali asked.

  “Nothing. I’ve been searching for almost a year, and I’m no closer to answers than when I started. Once Mazushuĭ provided no evidence, I expanded my search to other kingdoms, but all I achieved was being captured six months ago.”

  “Captured or caught?” Voice asked.

  Angel gave an unladylike snort. “Captured. There’s one thing I am sure of, I’m not a criminal. I made a mistake, I was careless. The people in my land are . . . different. I’ve tried to blend in here, but one day I let my guard down. Next thing I knew I was being held prisoner in Bludgaard’s castle.”

  Angel’s eyes grew distant and her horse slowed. She muttered, “Four months in that infernal place. Every day being poked and prodded like I was an exotic pet.”

  “What did he want?” Cali’s eyes widened.

  Angel hesitated, her eyes wary. “To figure me out; a foreigner from an unheard of land, a prize to show off to those around him. No one should be a trophy like that.” Her tone was laced with steel, and her spine straightened. “I let them think I was beaten, planning my escape all the while. I was so docile, the fools became less vigilant. All it took was a few trips outside with me making no attempt at escape. After a sennight of that, I made my move. I bet they didn’t even know I was gone until I was miles away.”

  “You must be some prize for the captain to be chasing you months later,” Voice stated. “I assume the secrets you are not telling are the same ones that got you captured.”

  “Yes.”

  Cali and Voice didn’t push the subject, and a companionable silence fell over the group. When they topped a large hill, they gasped. A shadowy forest stretched out before them. It spread north and south as far as they could see. The trees grew close together and an ominous air hung over the place like a dark mist.

  Chapter 8

  The silence of the forest was oppressive. Wet moss clung to the wide tree trunks. Branches sagged to the ground before climbing up again to join the network of limbs. The only sound was the dripping of water making its way through the canopy.

  The mass of trees and underbrush had made it impossible to bring the horses. It’d been a tearful parting for Cali. If it wasn’t for Voice’s assurance that they would be safe, she couldn’t have brought herself to leave them behind. She wasn’t sure why she believed Voice so implicitly on this, except for the fact that Voice was even fonder of the horses than she. Voice had lingered behind muttering to the two steeds, while Cali couldn’t make out her words, the horses seemed to understand. They’d jerked their heads in what resembled a nod and trotted off to the west.

  Cali’s thoughts were wrenched back to the present as she had to disentangle herself from a cluster of brambles. “This is ridiculous! We’ve been wandering in here for what feels like
hours. If I trip over one more root, or get caught in one more bush, I’m going to scream.”

  “It’s not as if this is a pleasant jaunt for me either,” Angel retorted, her hair matted with twigs and leaves. “At least we will be safe in here.” She hesitated. “Safe from the captain anyway.”

  “What do you mean by that?” Voice asked.

  Angel brushed a few strands of hair out of her face as she halted. “It’s the one place in Shayal she is forbidden to enter. Duke Bludgaard has declared it off-limits on pain of death.”

  “Why?” Cali asked.

  “Let me show you.” After pulling out a crude map, Angel sat on a nearby log. She carefully unfolded the parchment and jabbed at a spot. “Here, this is where we are, the Tónghuà Forest.”

  Cali stared blankly at the dark patch on the map.

  Angel rolled her eyes. “You really aren’t from around here. No one comes into this forest. There are legends about a guardian residing here. Every tale is different, but there’s one thing they all have in common.”

  “Let me guess, no one who enters ever comes out.” Cali did nothing to hide the sarcasm in her tone.

  “I think you have read too many books, Princess,” Voice said dryly.

  Angel stood and folded the map. “You two can make light of this all you want, but rumors come from somewhere and are usually ingrained in a bit of truth. I for one don’t want to find out that the ‘bit of truth’ is the dying part.” She huffed and pushed onward through the trees.

  “When we meet this ‘evil guardian,’ I’ll extend you my deepest apologies before we die,” Cali shouted after her.

  “I can see this is going to be a pleasant walk listening to you two squabble,” Voice muttered.

  Cali blew a lock of hair out of her eyes. “Well, how about you talk instead. You didn’t get a chance to finish your story earlier.”

  “I do not see any reason why not. It might help this trailblazing go by faster. Now, where was I? Oh yes, Amee was heading for the castle.”

  ❄❄❄

  By the time Amee reached the castle, her bitterness had hardened into cold resolve. Falan and his queen would suffer, she would see to that. The kind prince she had met all those years ago was no more. He had grown into a selfish, shallow king. He had tossed her friendship aside as if it meant nothing.

  A rebellious thought snuck in. Had Falan ever truly been kind? He’d protected her from bullies and brought her on all of his adventures. Was that for her benefit or his?

  A memory surfaced of her parents whispering late one night when they thought she was asleep.

  “I don’t like this friendship between His Highness and Amee, Jakan. She’s going to get hurt.”

  “You worry too much, Elena. Amee’s a smart girl and he’s the only friend she has.”

  “Because the other children are too scared to go anywhere near her. I hear the women in the village talking about it. They’re afraid of what the prince might do if someone takes any of Amee’s time. They warn their children away.”

  “That’s just foolish. I’m sure it’s not all that bad.”

  Quiet sobs broke the air as Amee listened to her mother weeping. “I fear for her, Jakan. When he tires of her, and he will, she will be heartbroken. She’s so good she can’t see the darkness lurking in him.”

  Amee had been sure her mother was overreacting and put the memory from her mind. But now, like a disease, it crept back. Her mother had been right about Falan, but wrong about her. Falan did have darkness inside him, but there was no goodness in Amee. That had been driven from her.

  Her life had been full of abandonment. The people who had given birth to her had left her on the doorstep of strangers. Those strangers had not wanted her either, and so she had run. When she finally had something good, it had been snatched away. First that strumpet had taken Falan, then Falan had dumped her like yesterday’s moldy bread, and now death had claimed the only two people who had ever loved her.

  Love was an illusion, a dream to be shattered upon awakening. If she could not have happiness, then neither would Falan and his queen.

  Amee slowed Benoni as they neared the castle walls. She pulled the hood of her dark cloak over her face. The princess was nearing her second year, and would be making her first public appearance now that it seemed likely she’d survive. The kingdom was celebrating and the castle gates stood wide open. Amee passed into the courtyard easily.

  She observed the flow of people bustling around her. This would be child’s play; the simpletons were so lost in their joy, it had never entered their minds that danger might come to the royal family.

  She dismounted and dropped Benoni’s reins loosely over a hitching post. He was well trained and would not leave unless summoned.

  Amee climbed the stairs leading to the large, white doors of the castle. It struck her that Falan had never once invited her inside. She was such a fool. How could she have been so blind? She had been mistaken about any regard he had ever held for her.

  Once inside, Amee glided through the passages as if she belonged there. The castle was so crowded that no one gave her a second look. She followed the crush of people, until they reached the throne room.

  After weaving her way to the front of the crowd, she watched the royal family. The years had been kind to Falan. His chin was more defined, his hair brushed his shoulders, and a sense of pride showed in his every movement.

  His bride, Raina, was the pinnacle of Traborian perfection, with skin as pale as the moon on a cold winter’s night. Long blonde curls spiraled to her hips as she stood elegantly next to Falan, her hand resting on his arm.

  But something was not right; Amee felt a slight hum in the air. Magic filled the room, though not of her making. She whispered a few words of power to increase her vision, to see deeper into the cloth of magic.

  Sweeping the throne room subtly, her eyes fell on the princess, being held by a woman, who Amee assumed was her nursemaid. She slipped through the crowd until she stood near the woman and child.

  The babe stared wide-eyed at the mass of people. Her blue eyes ripped at Amee’s heart. They were just like Falan’s. Amee steeled herself, pushing down the wave of emotions clouding her judgment. She looked at the princess again. Something was wrong with the child’s hair.

  Amee’s blood turned to ice. It could not be . . . It was impossible. She glanced at the queen, and it was there too. Confused and unnerved, she turned from the royal family and shoved past the fawning admirers. The air was too close; she had to get out. She burst through the front door and half ran down the steps, whistling for Benoni.

  The horse came trotting up just as Amee’s feet hit the last step. She swung herself into the saddle and urged him into a canter. People dove out of their way, shouting and waving their fists. Amee did not stop until they were clear of the castle walls, and then only to slacken the reins and let Benoni take the lead.

  Her revenge would have to wait. She needed to return to her forest on the border. There were questions that needed answers, and she intended to find them.

  Thoughts crowded her mind. A glamour. The child and that . . . harlot had a glamour. The queen’s head was covered by it entirely. The child’s glamour only fell over her hair. What were they hiding? Did Falan know? Was it Raina, or someone else, who’d cast the spell to disguise their appearance?

  There was more to Raina than she’d first thought. She would find out what the queen was hiding, and why, before enacting her revenge.

  ❄❄❄

  Voice’s tale ended abruptly when Angel tripped over a log. Cali scrambled forward and helped Angel to her feet.

  “Ugh, your hands are disgusting!” Angel yanked her hands away and wiped them on her skirt.

  Cali flushed. “I know. My skin is damp everywhere, and it’s making my clothes stick to me.”

  Angel took one look at Cali’s face and burst out laughing. “You can’t be serious? You must really take this princess thing seriously.” Angel continued to laugh as
she pushed deeper into the woods. Voice and Cali could hear her muttering, “Imagine, not knowing what sweat is. Princess has probably never worked so hard in her life.”

  A dark look crossed Cali’s face. “I can hear you, and I don’t appreciate being laughed at.” She stormed after Angel, Voice’s story forgotten.

  ❄❄❄

  As dusk began to fall, Voice halted suddenly and shushed the still bickering Cali and Angel. The pattering of paws in the underbrush silenced the retort Cali had been about to make.

  “Princess, we are not alone.”

  They fell silent, listening for any further sound from their stalker. Cali’s shoulders tensed as nothing but the creaking of trees came to her ears. It was too quiet. Even the insects had silenced their incessant noises.

  She licked her lips and was about to suggest that maybe they should move on when a stick cracked from just behind the bush next to her.

  A sudden flash of light blinded her and she screamed as something knocked her over. Paws pinned her to the ground and rank, hot breath blanketed her face. Fear clawed at her chest, threatening to rip it open. Then everything went black.

  ❄❄❄

  Murmuring voices came to Cali’s ears through a haze. She couldn’t see anything. Where was she? She lay perfectly still, allowing her overwrought mind to collect its thoughts. Her eyes . . . they were closed, that’s why she couldn’t see anything. If she wasn’t so worn out, she would’ve laughed at herself.

  She opened her eyes. An emerald canopy of leaves spread out above her. Rays of sunshine filtered through the branches, dancing across her face. What happened? What is wrong with my ceiling?

  “Cali, are you awake?”

  Who was calling her? Cali groggily pulled herself into a sitting position. Squinting, she looked around. In an instant it all came rushing back to her: Leaving Trabor, Angel, the captain, fleeing into the woods. Panic flashed through her, and she clambered to her feet. “What happened? There was a light, and something attacked me.”