Heart of the Winterland Read online

  Kota swung her steed around to face the oncoming rider. T’Nahke and Dikala flanked her, hands on their hilts. The sea breeze continued to blow, flinging wisps of hair across her face. She frowned as the man neared. A blood red cape flew from his shoulders, pinned by a black emblem she couldn’t make out. She didn’t need to see it, though, to know what it was. A dark snake, twisting upon itself.

  The horse and rider slid to a halt in front of her. The horse was lathered, sides heaving from the grueling pace. The man dismounted immediately, strode forward, and thrust his right fist to his left shoulder in salute. He gave a perfunctory bow before bringing himself to attention.

  “Captain, I’ve a message from Duke Bludgaard.”

  Kota jumped to the ground and moved to take the proffered parchment. After snatching it from the messenger’s hand, she walked a few steps away and scanned the words. She felt something inside, an emotion she hadn’t felt in years. Sorrow. She’d vowed to leave that weakness behind in Sjadia, with her mother.

  It seems I didn’t manage to eradicate it completely.

  As she strode back to her companions, Kota smoothed her face into an expressionless mask. She held out the offending piece of paper to Dikala. He glanced intently at her, before perusing it.

  Kota moved to Malnu and placed her hand on his neck. In her mind she saw the words, which Dikala now read.

  Captain,

  It is imperative that you return to the castle immediately. Lord Garn is on his way here now to remove his son, Dikala, from my care. He is too important an ally to offend and will be displeased if his heir is not here in a timely fashion. Cease your search for that . . . creature and accompany the boy. I expect him to be returned before Lord Garth arrives, or I will be most unhappy with you.

  He who rules with the cunning and strength of a python, His Lordship, Duke Bludgaard of the Southern Province of Shayal, His Majesty’s right hand.

  A seal bearing the black, twisted snake was stamped on the bottom. An official order, one Kota could not ignore. Anger surged through her veins as she balled her hand into a fist and plunged it into her saddlebags, withdrawing a self-inking quill and a piece of parchment. Laying the paper against her saddle, she hastily scrawled a message.

  After rejoining the men, she ripped the parchment in half, handing one part to T’Nahke and the other to the messenger.

  T’Nahke took so long reading his portion that Kota began to wonder if he could read. Finally he lifted his head and sent her a questioning look. “Captain . . . you want me to continue to Rokuhai alone?”

  Kota gestured impatiently at Dikala, who barely glanced up as he responded, “I have to return to the castle, my father is returning for me. Bludgaard wishes the captain to accompany me, for protection.”

  T’Nahke glowered. “But we are close to catching the girl. Can’t your father wait?”

  A sad, brooding expression crossed Dikala’s face. “No,” he whispered. “I have a duty to my family.”

  Without waiting to hear T’Nahke’s response, Dikala trudged back to his horse and mounted.

  The messenger pinched his note between his fingers and held it away from him. “I think I’ll decline your offer to ride ahead, Captain.” He said the word “Captain” like it was a dirty word.

  Cretin. It was an order, not an offer.

  “You may need someone—”He sent Dikala a condescending smile“—who isn’t a child that can communicate for you.”

  Kota’s restraint snapped. She hated being questioned, and being treated like she couldn’t handle things was even worse. Insubordination needed to be stomped out. With blinding speed, she drew her sword and flicked it underneath the man’s chin. Fear shone in his eyes and his body stiffened as the point pressed into his throat.

  Using her free hand, Kota signed to Dikala. When he didn’t speak, she turned her head, pinning him to his steed with her eyes. Slowly, she repeated the signs. She had no doubt that he understood her. They’d developed a few hand signals to communicate with and this was one she used frequently.

  Dikala stared at the messenger. “Of course you don’t have to ride ahead, if you find her order so distasteful.”

  The messenger looked from Dikala to Kota, the former appearing apologetic and the latter stony.

  Kota withdrew her sword and dropped it to her side. The man smirked. “So you have no bark and no bite.” In the space of a heartbeat, Kota stepped back and raised her sword, clasping the hilt with both hands. She lunged forward and thrust her sword into his chest.

  The man’s eyes widened, his mouth opening and closing like a fish. Kota lifted her foot and pushed the man’s body off her blade. He slumped to the ground and blood trickled from his mouth. The life left his eyes and his body stilled. Kota stepped casually forward to wipe her sword clean on the man’s tunic. Looks like there is some bite in me.

  She spat on the man’s body. Dragon cursed ingrate.

  After returning her blade to its sheath, Kota moved to Malnu and paused to glance at T’Nahke. His face was a mask as he nodded to her. “I’ll continue searching, Captain. If I find the girl, I’ll hold her until you return.” Without another word, he turned his mount and spurred it toward Rokuhai.

  Kota stood looking after him in longing. She wished she was going with him. It wasn’t so much that she cared about catching her quarry. No, she just didn’t like leaving a job unfinished. Didn’t like the thought of someone getting away. I’ll be back for you. This isn’t over, not by a long shot.

  She couldn’t leave the messenger’s horse, a decent mount from the looks of him. Messengers were replaceable. Horses were precious. She knotted a lead line from her saddle to the skittish horse. He probably doesn’t like the smell of blood.

  Swinging astride Malnu, Kota signaled for Dikala to follow and they trotted south. As the sun moved across the sky, Dikala broke the silence.

  “I’m sorry, Captain. I know how much you wanted to catch that girl and I knew my father would be returning for me soon. I should’ve stayed at the castle.”

  Kota shifted the reins to her left hand before reaching into the saddle bag for her writing materials. After looping the reins around the pommel, she placed the paper against her leg, awkwardly scribbling a note.

  I’m glad you came. The girl can wait.

  She passed the note to Dikala and gathered the reins back up. Glancing at him, she thought she saw a smile cross his face. When he cleared his throat, calling her attention to him, his face was impassive. “There are times, Captain, when I think you do care about me.” Kota’s lips twitched. I’m going to miss him.

  Suppressing the smile, she cocked an eyebrow in Dikala’s direction. He looked back at her, a grin now firmly etched on his face. “You’ve got a soft spot for me, Captain. Don’t worry, I’ll never tell.”

  She gave him a tight-lipped smile. That makes two of us. Silence descended upon them as night fell. They rode on towards the castle, and the ending of a friendship.

  ❄❄❄

  Cali collapsed on her bed, exhaustion flooding her body. The few days of dishwashing were nothing compared to handling customers. It’d been three days since Angel and Voice had found her, and though she was gradually adjusting to the demanding workload, she still felt incompetent next to Rose and the other barmaids.

  The door slammed against the wall, startling her. She opened her eyes and glared at the figure in the doorway. Rose stood there, hands on her hips.

  “Get up. If you lay in that bed any longer, you’re going to become a blanket.”

  Cali groaned, “Leave me alone, Rose. My shift’s over and I can sleep if I want.”

  “You can . . . or you can follow me and visit your friends.”

  At the word ‘friends,’ Cali bolted upright, her weariness leaving her. “Really?”

  “Yes, now come on before I change my mind.”

  Cali scrambled from the bed and dug underneath it. She pulled out her once-white tunic and pants. After shedding her scarlet costume, she donned
her old clothes. She looked up to see Rose crinkling her nose. “What?”

  “You really should find time to wash those.”

  Before Cali could respond, Rose turned on her heel and marched out of the room. Within minutes the two were strolling down the streets of Rokuhai. Cali perked up as she began to enjoy the sights and sounds of the town. She hadn’t been out of the Everlasting Flame since she’d arrived the first night.

  It wasn’t market day, much to her relief, but there were still people bustling about the streets. Children weaved between their parents’ legs, laughing in delight. Women haggled with merchants, shrewdly selecting their purchases. Men shouted at passersby, plying their wares. Coins exchanged hands, making Cali finger the few she had hidden on her person. Most of her belongings had been lost in Laire.

  Rose tugged on Cali’s arm, drawing her away from the engaging scene. “Don’t dawdle, we’re expected.”

  Cali brought her attention around to Rose. “Where have they been staying?” I’ve been so exhausted I hadn’t thought to ask before. Sometimes I think I’m not much of a friend.

  “. . . and when she heard about it, her mother offered to let them stay with her.”

  Cali bit her lip as she trailed behind, trying to summon up her courage. Rose threw a look over her shoulder. “You didn’t hear a word I said, did you?”

  Cali shook her head and mumbled an apology.

  “I said that your friends are staying with Kaya and her mother. Kaya’s mother is grateful to you, though I don’t know why, and insisted that no friends of yours should sleep on the streets.”

  As she finished explaining, Rose stopped in front of a worn-down house and knocked on a cheery, yellow door. Almost immediately, the door opened to reveal the welcome face of Angel.

  “Cali!” Angel grabbed Cali’s hand, dragging her inside. “Voice, Cali’s here!” She pulled Cali through the main room of the house into a cramped bedroom in the back.

  On a crude, wooden bed lay a frail woman, whose dark hair was streaked with lines of silver. Next to the bed sat Kaya, with Voice hovering nearby.

  “Princess, it is good to see you.”

  Cali sent a warm smile to Voice and nodded to the woman on the bed. Using a pair of roughly carved walking sticks, Kaya rose to her feet and walked past Cali to where Rose stood in the bedroom doorway. The two hugged.

  “Are you going to stay?” Kaya asked.

  “Not this time, I’m just here to drop Cali off. Caran’s grandfather still hasn’t returned from his fishing trip. It’s been three days now and the family is losing hope. I promised Caran that I’d stop by and check on his grandmother today.”

  With a smile to Kaya’s mother, and another quick hug, Rose turned and exited the room. Cali heard the front door open and close as she left. Kaya turned to meet Cali’s eyes. “Well, I can’t say that I am pleased about my leg . . . but it seems you are doing your best to make amends. Let’s agree to let bygones be bygones.”

  Relief flooded Cali and she nodded. “I’d love that.”

  A cough from the bed interrupted the moment. Kaya rushed to the woman’s side and helped her to sit up. “Cali, this is my mother, Velra. Mother, this is—”

  “I know who she is, dear.” Velra reached a hand toward Cali, who stepped forward to take it. “You’re the miracle who’s taking Kaya’s place.”

  Cali stared at the floor, hating the burn that suffused her cheeks. She’d never been anyone’s miracle before.

  Kaya’s eyes brightened. “Now that Cali’s here, does that mean you will continue your story?” She glanced at Voice.

  Cali crinkled her forehead. What story was Voice telling?

  Angel tugged Cali to a cushion on the floor. “Voice has been entertaining our hosts with the story she’s been telling you.”

  “I wanted to wait until you were able to join us before I continued further,” Voice added.

  “Oh, this is the perfect time for more history. I haven’t done anything fun in days.” Cali adjusted on the cushion, putting her chin in her hands.

  Voice laughed. “All right, let me think where we were.”

  Cali piped up, “Amee had just left the castle after she’d discovered that Raina was hiding something.”

  “That is right. Amee journeyed back to the forest on the outskirts of Trabor, where she had been living for the past few years.”

  Chapter 15

  Amee led Benoni through the dark branches that overhung the dirt trail. The ride had been long, but it had given her time to think. All was not as it seemed with the new queen. A glamour had one purpose: to hide someone’s true appearance.

  Raina may have looked like the pinnacle of perfection, by Trabor standards, but it was all an illusion. Some of her physical traits must have carried over to her daughter, hence the glamour over the princess’s hair.

  Creating a glamour was minor magic, but the fact that one existed bothered her. Traborians didn’t posses magic. Amee was the only one who could access the magical currents that flowed through everything. And she had come to the conclusion years ago that she was not a native Traborian. She was too different, from her physical traits to her magical ones.

  As she walked, the trees closed behind her, effectively blocking the path from any who might otherwise stumble upon it. Magical traps spread throughout the outer limits of the forest kept most curious souls from disturbing her. The few that made it farther, well . . . she sent them back, their minds gone; a warning to others.

  After leaving her adopted parents, Amee had stumbled into the border forest. With no destination in mind, and nothing but a burning desire to hide from the world, she had run until her body could no longer withstand the exhaustion. She had fallen into a deep, dreamless sleep. Upon waking, she had found herself in the midst of the same wood which she now walked through.

  Amee sighed. She hated when memories took over. At least these were less painful than the ones about Falan and her parents. She surrendered her mind to the press of memories that fought to be brought to life.

  When she first entered the forest, she had not realized the effect it would have on her life. At the time it was as good a place as any to hide from the world. And so she stayed. The forest held its own secrets, though, whispering to her of mystery and untapped potential.

  Having felt driven from every home she had ever known, Amee was determined not to have the same thing happen here. The secrets of the forest would not push her away. She would confront them and whatever fate they brought.

  The whispers called to her, and she heeded them. They led her deeper into the trees, their urgent summons growing louder with each step. When she stepped into a clearing, surrounded by forbidding dark pines, the whispers reached a crescendo. Wind whipped through the evergreens, rustling the needles and carrying the voices on its back. Amee spun in a circle. The trees and the darkness closed in on her. The voices were so loud now, they screamed in her head, driving her to madness.

  She covered her ears, dropped to her knees, and screamed. “Stop it! Stop it!” She wanted them, needed them, to stop. In an act born of desperation, Amee threw out her arms, palms up. “STOP!” A wave of darkness like a cloud of ink shot from her hands. It flew across the clearing in every direction, flattening the front line of trees along the edges.

  The echo of splintering wood resounded in the air as trees crashed to the ground or fell into the arms of their brethren.

  Amee stayed kneeling, her knees damp from the wet leaves. Her hands shook as she raised them in front of her. The voices were gone and the wind no longer howled.

  “What happened? What am I?” Her voice cracked, panic threatening to take hold. Silence closed in around her and she surrendered to its call. Time lost its meaning as she lay on the cold, wet ground.

  Hunger brought her back to herself. She rose shakily, clasping her hands together to still their trembling. After several calming breaths, she dropped her hands to her sides, eyes once again hard. Fear, anger, love, those were things she c
ould no longer afford to feel. Emotions made her weak and she refused to be weak ever again.

  Now that reason prevailed, she swept her gaze across the clearing. The whispers had led her to this place; she doubted it was by chance. There, in the center and almost hidden from sight, was a simple, grey stone. Though unassuming in appearance, it was the only thing unique in the meadow. Amee strode towards the stone and, before her courage failed, placed her hand against it. It was rough and cool to the touch, nothing out of the ordinary.

  She started to feel foolish, and was about to abandon the idea of the rock being important, when a rumble shook the ground. The earth around the stone trembled, causing Amee to step back in surprise. As soon as she moved back, the rock shot up towards the sky. Open-mouthed, she watched as it grew into a column that reached the height of the trees before curving towards the ground. It plunged back into the earth, a short distance from where the base stood—a perfect stone arch.

  A stone-hewn pillar now stood at chest height in the center of the arch. Cautiously, she walked to it. On it lay a black book, engraved with dark green symbols that she could not read.

  Amee reached out to open the book, when a loud voice boomed out.

  “Who dares to enter the sacred circle?”

  She tensed and her eyes darted about. The speaker sounded close by, but the clearing was empty of all save her.

  “Who wishes to know?” she challenged, drawing herself straight.

  “I am the keeper of this place. I’ve been charged with protecting this book and its secrets.”

  “If you do not wish for people to disturb this place, why did you lead me here?”

  How dare you assume that I would bring anyone to this sacred place!”

  “Whispers led me here. They would not leave me in peace. You mean to say you were not the cause?”

  A pause, then in a thoughtful voice, the speaker murmured, “You were led here. It is not possible, and yet, here you are. You activated the Stone of Power, something only a person with magic in their blood can do.”

  Amee laughed bitterly. “Magic? In me? If I had magic, I would have used it by now to better my life.”