by Cheree Alsop
“Why did we volunteer?” Brynna wailed on our way back to the castle to get changed.
I wore my sheath strapped around my waist, and was amazed at how comfortable it felt to have the sword there. The hilt was cool to the touch, and I rested my hand on it as we walked.
The boys followed behind us comparing their blades and fighting against invisible foes in the snow. They seemed excited now that the duel was at hand, and I regretted my decision just a tiny bit to not go up against them and test my skills; the twins, especially, were well-known for their prowess with a blade. At least with the girls dueling the boys, it would all be just fun and games.
Chapter 22
The arena was next to the stables and covered against the snow. The sides were stacked with benches, some that were already there and others that had been roughly fashioned for the occasion. At Andric's invitation, I joined him near the head of the arena where his herald, a jolly man with a long, skinny nose, entertained the crowd with topsy-turvy stories until he had them rolling in laughter. Andric told me that the man had begged for the position when he became ruler, and Andric had given him a chance at a small luncheon in which the higher-ups of the country came to test out his mettle on the throne.
“I knew it would be a stressful meeting, so I told him that if he could lighten the mood, I'd hire him.”
The herald turned and bowed at us, his eyes twinkling. “And here I am,” he said with a flourish. He spun back and continued the story he was telling without missing a beat.
Andric laughed. “It was probably one of the best moves I made when I first took up the crown.”
“The best,” the herald put in smoothly before turning back to the crowd again.
We both laughed.
The herald announced each Prince and Princess with an amazing assortment of information about their home countries. The Antorans were impressed at his description of the Faerean ships, the Tyn horses, and the acres upon acres of crops that grew around Veren.
Then he started into descriptions of the rulers, the Crowns' parents, that had everyone laughing, the Crowns included. When he stuttered into an introduction of Kenyen and Danyen, his voice a low vibrato in an exact representation of their father's stately voice, they were laughing so hard they clutched their sides. With Tisha, he gave a hearty imitation of the Maesh King's sturdy walk, complete with a little hop at the end. She laughed until tears rolled down her cheeks. It was at his impersonation of Brynna's father, King Trand, sipping tea while he decided the fate of a poor prisoner in bonds that topped them all. Brynna was still laughing when she put on the padded armor to prepare for her first fight against Landis.
The duels went quickly, but it was obvious the Princes were surprised by the Princesses' skills. They thrust and parried fast enough to keep the Princes on their toes, and Kaerdra even took Trevin out of the running with a quick spin and a slash across his unprotected back. The Prince took the defeat gracefully and made his sister grin when he stated he was relieved they had used wooden swords.
In the end, though, it was Kenyen against Danyen, as everyone had known it would be. They fought swift and hard, two opponents who knew each other's every weakness and strength. It quickly became clear that the battle between them was one that had been fought often and without mercy; they laughed at each other's occasionally landed hits, but their stances were sure and the onlookers held their collective breath with every attack.
By the time Kenyen finally beat Danyen, the audience stood and roared for both of them, chanting their names in unison. Nobody cared who won; it was the chance to see such a good fight that made them cheer.
When the fight was over, Andric walked across the arena floor to give Kenyen the small dagger that was his reward. The audience cheered until someone yelled, “Show us what a true King's made of!” His voice wavered and I wondered if he had partaken of a bit too much old cider.
“Sit down, Dowld,” another audience member yelled. “We like our Prince in one piece.” Several cheers of agreement went up.
Andric was obviously torn. He glanced at me and I shook my head firmly. He looked back at the crowd and sighed, “Pity that he's already worn out from fighting his brother. It wouldn’t be a fair duel with Crown Prince Kenyen already tired out, would it?”
Several people shouted that it wouldn't be fair indeed. I think they could see that Prince Andric wanted to duel almost as much as the crowd wanted him to.
He handed the dagger to Prince Kenyen and shook his hand. “To the best swordsmanship I've ever seen,” he told the Tyn Prince. He turned to Danyen and handed him a smaller dagger I hadn't seen. “To a pair of brothers I would be honored to have as guests any time.”
The audience roared and clapped, storming the arena floor to congratulate the brothers and commend the other Crowns. The older lady from earlier gave Kaerdra a tight hug.
Andric smiled when he reached me. “So,” he said with a gleam in his dark eyes. “Did you shake your head because you were afraid I'd lose, or because you were afraid I'd win?”
I grinned. “Both, actually. If you won, you'd risk ruining the relationship you've created with the twins, possibly affecting the way the other Crowns think of you and any future alliances that would be greatly beneficial for your people. If you lost, it could affect the respect and motivation of the people who follow you. It's hard on citizens to see their ruler get defeated. It makes them human,” I concluded with a grin, using his words against him.
He laughed and gave me a sideways appraising glance.
“Wow, I didn't know you'd put that much thought into it.”
I shook my head. “I hadn't,” I confessed, “But it makes sense.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, it does.”
***
Trae's leg had mended and he was anxious to run. At my request for places to go, Drade offered to give us a tour of the country, at least as far as we could get in a day's ride. The others joined with more enthusiasm than I expected. They were tired of entertaining themselves within the castle walls. It had been too stormy of late to do much outside, but the weather had finally cleared and the winter sun shone brightly on the fresh snow, making it sparkle like a million diamonds.
I was surprised to see Andric come out of the stables with his horse Tereg and the five wolves following close behind. The younger wolves dove through the snow and chased each other in circles around the group, clearly excited for an adventure. Freis and Bayn watched with matching calm wolfish grins, nipping good-naturedly at them when they came close.
“They're a rambunctious bunch,” Kenyen said as Tyd, the dark gray male, and Myn, the light gray female, raced around his horse. The horse set its ears back and stomped threateningly.
Andric nodded. “They keep us on our toes. There's enough energy in those three to keep Freis and Bayn busy for the rest of their lives.”
“You mean you're not bonded to them?” Landis asked interestedly.
Andric shook his head. “I bonded with Bayn and Freis. The other three were cubs that we stumbled on when we were patrolling the border. Though we never bonded, they've been a welcome addition, though tiresome,” he added with a laugh. His expression grew thoughtful as he watched them. “I never did find out what happened to their previous pack. Their memories are clouded when it comes to that part, and I think they were taken out by an avalanche or one of the other many accidents of nature.”
“That's horrible,” Brynna said.
I nodded. From what Andric had taught me about wolves, the other pack wouldn't leave their pups roaming about for no reason. Something terrible must have happened.
“So you can read their thoughts even though you aren't bonded to them?” Landis asked.
Andric nodded. “I think it's because they're still linked to Bayn and Freis. Wolf packs are like that. They share thoughts to communicate; that's what makes them such lethal hunters.”
At everyone's surprised stares, he smiled. “A lot of animals are that way. Have you never wo
ndered at the way birds can fly so close together but they never run into each other and always seem to have the same destination? Or the way deer can run as a graceful herd, turning at the blink of an eye without missing a step?”
Drade grinned and Sorn stepped up to take the lead. “Well, now that you've some food for thought, let's muse over the ride.”
Andric rode beside Drade and they talked quietly about the land, noting changes from the last year and discussing what the future would hold. Both of them seemed saddened by the fact that they would be leaving, but accepted it stalwartly because there was no other choice. I did hear Andric mention that he planned to come back and check on things.
We stopped on a hill between two of the craggy rocks that seemed to be everywhere. Drade said they came from an ancient volcano, stating that one of the mountains around us had heaved molten lava centuries ago and it had cooled into the twisted forms. I know I wasn't the only one who looked up at the nearby mountains with a touch of uncertainty, hoping that another one didn't decide to erupt.
We were eating lunch when Trevin pegged Danyen in the head with a snowball. Danyen yelped and dove at Trevin, tackling him in the soft snow. We laughed as they rolled down the hill still wrestling each other. By the time they came back, they were covered from head to toe in snow, and acted like they had gotten it out of their system; but the second our backs were turned, they pelted us with snowballs they had gathered on their way up.
It turned into an all-out snowball fight. Tisha ran behind a scraggly tree where she packed snowballs for Landis and he protected her. Nyssa and Brynna shrieked and tossing powdery handfuls at everyone, while the rest of us took up positions behind the various rocks and trees, darting back and forth to take shots at unguarded backs before diving for shelter. The wolves galloped between everyone, nipping playfully and biting at snowballs tossed their way.
Kaerdra came over and pretended to be on my side before she smeared a handful of snow in my hair. I chased her around the side of the hill into an ambush set by Trevin and Kenyen. I yelled and ran back with both of them at my heels, only to be rescued by Andric and Danyen carrying armfuls of snowballs.
I took two of the snowballs from Andric's arms as I ran by, then spun and chucked them at my pursuers. The first one caught Trevin in the stomach and the second hit Kenyen on the side of the head when he bent to gather more snow. They both yelled in dismay, and were spattered with more snowballs from Andric and Danyen. I wondered where Drade was until he dove from the top of the hill and tackled our two attackers so that they landed face down in the snow.
We were all laughing so hard that we could barely stand. I fell to my knees in the snow, dropping the partly-packed snowball in my hands. Andric and Danyen collapsed on either side of me, their noses red and cheeks flushed. I fell back on the snow between them, laughing until my sides hurt. The wolves settled around us, panting with pleased wolf grins.
As we lay there, a snowball flew up into the air and fell toward me, a lucky toss by Danyen who was also lying in the snow where he had fallen. I was too tired to move and merely put my hands over my face, but Andric threw his cloak over me before it landed. I heard it splatter and laughed weakly, my sides sore. “My hero!”
“Saved from a fate worse than death,” Andric replied with a chuckle as he collapsed back down next to me.
I turned my head to look at him, and was surprised to see him watching me. “Thank you,” I said softly.
He gave me a little smile.
There was snow and leaves tangled in his brown hair, disheveled and unruly since it had pulled free from its warrior's tail. I reached over and freed a leaf. “You really should wash your hair once in a while,” I teased. “Creatures might come to live there with all this vegetation.”
“You can have that,” Andric replied, his tone overly-generous. “It's my gift to you.”
I sat up, laughing. “Then I shall treasure it always.” I tucked it in my thick riding cloak.
Andric jumped to his feet and offered me a hand. I took it and rose to join him, then stumbled when the snow shifted under my feet. He caught me close to him and held me for a second. “Saved twice,” he whispered in my ear.
He let go before anyone noticed, but winked at me charmingly behind Danyen's back as he leaned over to help the Prince out of the snow. My ear tingled from the brush of his lips against my skin, and I wondered how I would ever get along without the Antoran Prince.
Chapter 23
The group dinner a few nights later started out like the others, full of talk and laughter, stories from the week, and a simple but filling fare. Landis was entertaining everyone with a story of the day he and his father had gotten caught in a hurricane on one of their ships; then I heard Freis snarl.
Surprised, I glanced over. The wolf stood next to Andric, who was one seat down with Kenyen between us. Andric looked at her as well, but turned his attention quickly back to Landis so as not to seem rude.
An object whistled through the air straight at Andric. Before anyone could move, Freis leaped to the table in front of the Prince, knocking him off his chair. A sharp yelp sounded, followed by Andric's shout. I rose to my feet in time to see Andric holding Freis. My heart slowed. A thick black arrow shaft stuck out of her side. Guards swarmed around the Prince, blocking him from view.
Bayn snarled at the Prince's side, his eyes searching the crowd for the shooter; he kept glancing at Freis with his ears back and a whine in his throat. Andric looked around with wide eyes until he spotted me through the ring of guards. “Help,” he mouthed, tears bright in his eyes.
His gaze broke through my shock. My limbs were freed and I could think. “I'll get Jesson,” I shouted over the roar of the confused crowd.
He nodded and I turned and ran. I sprinted past the Crowns who watched helplessly, and through the other guards who began to search the onlookers for weapons. One of them shouted just before I sprang through the doors at the end; I only had to turn and show him who I was before he apologized and let me go.
My heart pounded and each step I took renewed the scene in my head of Andric holding the white wolf, blood streaming down her fur and her eyes glazing over. I ran straight through the side doors held opened by a wide-eyed young servant and darted across the snow in my dress and slippers. I had almost reached the door to the stables where I knew Jesson was tending to a foaling mare when the howl pierced the air.
My steps faltered and I stumbled to my knees in the snow, tears clouding my vision. There was no mistaking the sorrow in Bayn's voice. I was too late.
The stable door flew open and Jesson ran out. He saw me kneeling in the snow, glanced once at the castle, then his face went white. “Was that Bayn?”
At my nod, he put a hand to his head. “Prince Andric?” he whispered as though afraid to hear my answer.
I shook my head. “Freis.”
“Freis,” he replied, his voice somewhat stronger but still full of sorrow. “What happened?”
I couldn't think past the fog in my mind. I kept seeing the scene over and over again, the whistle in the air, Freis knocking Andric to the ground, the arrow protruding out of her white fur, the pain in Andric's eyes when he looked to me for help. I had run to get that help, but it didn't matter. Now he was there by himself, surrounded by hundreds of people but completely alone.
I pushed to my feet heedless of the snow in my slippers. “He needs us,” I said, staring past the healer. I stumbled through the snow and heard Jesson fall in behind me, his own steps faltering.
When we made it back to the banquet hall, we found only chaos. People shouted to each other and milled about, wanting to help but uncertain where to start. Andric and his guards weren't there. When I made it to the Crowns, they saw the look on my face and pointed at the small side door that led to the hallway past our staircase. Jesson and I both went through it.
At my fumbled questions, a servant told me that the Prince was unavailable. His words struck a wrong note that helped clear my mind. �
�I am Crown Princess Kirit of Zalen. You'll show me where Prince Andric is,” I commanded, finding strength in knowing that if I didn't reach Andric as soon as possible, I didn't know what would happen.
The servant straightened immediately and held a hand to his heart in salute. “Yes, Princess Kirit. Please follow me.”
Jesson glanced at me sideways as we followed the young man dressed in Antor's black and green, but I ignored him. The only thing that mattered to me was Andric. When the servant ordered the doors to Andric's quarters to be opened, we pushed past him into an elegant sitting room. There, in stark contrast to the pandemonium below us, we found only silence.
Six guards stood at various positions around the room, two at the windows, two at the doors, and the other two standing helplessly to either side of where Prince Andric had sunk to his knees on the floor. Bayn sat next to the Prince, his dark head so low it almost touched the ground. The other wolves, Tyd, Kreen, and Myn, lay on the floor around them and didn’t give us so much as a glance when we walked in.
I couldn't tear my eyes away from Andric. His head was bowed, but I could see tears falling to land in Freis' soft white fur. He held the wolf on his lap as gently as if she was a sister who had died. The wolf was someone he had spent his entire life with and had finally given up her own for him. The thick black shaft sticking out from the side of her ribs looked cruel and out of place. The sight of it reminded me that she wasn’t sleeping; she was gone.
Tears welled up in my eyes and I fell to my knees in front of Andric. Bayn came out of it long enough to look at me. He touched his nose to Freis' fur, then shuddered. Another howl tore from his chest. He lifted his nose, his eyes closed tight, and voiced his sorrow long and low. The sound pierced me to the core, echoing and magnifying the feeling of loss there by a thousand fold. Even when it faded away to nothing, I heard his howl continuously in my mind.