CH 1
The sterile sun rose high in the winter sky. Erianna’s eyes slowly blinked open only to close again at the throbbing ache that began to fill her head. A thousand pins and needles poked her skin as she began to stretch her tender muscles. She could not remember a time she had been in this much pain. If she laid here a bit longer she might be able to convince herself that the pain wasn’t as bad as she believed it to be. Once she convinced herself of that, she could move herself back to her bed and sleep for the rest of the day. Or, the rest of winter.
A shattering noise caused Erianna to shoot up from where she had been laying–a reaction she immediately regretted as the throbbing in her head increased ten-fold.
“I am so sorry. I did not mean to startle you.”
Where had that voice come from? Erianna looked around but couldn’t see anything through the darkness that threatened to settle in around her eyes. She blinked several times and forced herself to focus on the person who had spoken. After several minutes, her eyes finally cooperated enough to allow her to see the figure of a young girl crouched on the ground picking up the pieces of what had shattered.
As Erianna’s eyes came more into focus, she quickly scanned the area. The bare branches of a tree hung over her head and a long line of what appeared to be bushes of some kind ran as far as she could see to her left with a tall hedge shape to her right. The young girl appeared to be the only other person with her. That was a relief. She would have to remain on her guard until she figured out exactly who the girl was and where she had ended up after last night’s incident.
Erianna turned her head back to the girl and was about to ask her a question when a wave of dizziness sloshed through her head causing her to lean back. The young girl dropped the shards of broken porcelain in her hands and ran to help her.
“Easy,” the girl soothed as she helped Erianna lay back on the bench. Erianna closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, forcing the dizziness to recede back into the bench beneath her head.
“I am so sorry for startling you like that.” The young girl touched Erianna’s forehead as she spoke, “You don’t seem to have a fever which is good.”
Erianna heard the swish of the girl’s skirts as she stood and started to walk away. The tension of not knowing where she was or how she had gotten here made Erianna want to open her eyes and surreptitiously question the girl, but the pounding in her head made it difficult to keep her eyes open, and her muscles were still too tender to try and defend herself if she needed to. She hated feeling this vulnerable and defenseless. Her body tensed unexpectedly as something cold and wet touched her brow. Adrenaline coursed through her veins, causing her to rise quickly off the bench. Electricity sparked in her eyes and before she knew what she was doing, she grabbed the girl’s wrist and wrenched her to the ground, her other hand poised and ready to strike.
Fear cracked the icy blue eyes that stared back at Erianna causing something to stir within her. As she stared into the depths of the girl’s eyes, something like a dream played across Erianna’s mind. A dream of two little girls playing in the woods together. One of them made little dolls and a house out of snow and the other one giggled as she watched and played with the enchanting objects. “Brinn,” Erianna let out in a breathless whisper.
“What did you say?” the young girl asked as she stared up at the strange woman.
“What?” Erianna asked. She blinked and took in a sharp breath as she realized she still held the girl’s wrist in her hand. She let go of the girl’s wrist like it had suddenly become a hot iron and took a step back, landing on the bench with a thud.
The young girl rubbed her wrist and began to stand as she asked, “Are you all right?”
Erianna rubbed her head with her hand and looked back at the girl. “I’m fine.”
The girl stared at her for a moment and walked over to a small table that sat near the tree. She poured water from a crystal pitcher into a glass and brought it over to Erianna.
“Here. Drink this. It might help.”
Erianna reached out a shaky hand and accepted the offered drink. As she took a sip, she watched as the girl cautiously knelt beside her and dipped a cloth into the bowl of water that sat at Erianna’s feet.
“I’m just going to clean some of the scratches on your face if that’s alright with you,” the girl said as she wrung out the excess water.
Erianna nodded and set the glass of water down on the bench beside her. She watched as the girl began to dab at a cut above her brow.
She took in a shaky breath before she spoke, “I’m sorry for how I reacted a moment ago. I’m not usually around people when I’ve been–” she stopped and looked at the girl before continuing– “I’m just used to being on my own,” she finished in a stilted manner, unsure of what to say.
The girl looked up at her and smiled, causing the icy blue of her eyes to sparkle, “I’m sorry for startling you, not once, but twice this morning. I guess I’m not used to being around people either. And apparently I’m better at making messes than cleaning them up.” She crinkled up her nose as she smiled again and indicated the broken pieces of porcelain that still sat in a shattered pile on the ground behind her.
Erianna smiled as she looked past the girl to what had woken her up this morning. Now that her eyes were more focused, she could see that the girl looked to be about 17 or 18. The paleness of her skin looked almost white against the winter snow, but the silvery flecks made her skin sparkle and prevented her skin from being washed out. Her hair hung in a long braid down her back with other braids of various sizes woven into it and it was so blonde it looked almost white in the dull sunlight. Her gown was a deep azure blue that splayed out around her like an ocean as she sat on the ground and capped at her waist in an elegant silver belt. Very elegant indeed. Erianna guessed this girl was not a common townsperson in whatever village or town they happened to be in.
“There. That should be clean enough for now.” The girl put the cloth in the bowl and stood to walk over to the table. “Would you like some bread or fruit? I think there’s a little something I didn’t ruin when I dropped your breakfast this morning,” she said, an impish look crossing her face as she set the bowl on the table.
Erianna smiled, “Bread would be fine.”
“Good,” the girl smiled as she picked out a piece that looked less damaged and brought it over to Erianna.
Erianna took it and held it in her hands as the girl sat down next to her on the bench.
“You look like you were in quite a brawl or something last night. What happened to you?” the girl asked as she tucked a piece of hair behind Erianna’s ear.
Erianna stiffened at the question and unknowingly crumpled part of the bread in her hand.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked such an impertinent question. I told you I’m not used to talking to people or being around them much.”
“No. It’s fine. I just–I’d rather not talk about it.” Erianna subconsciously scratched at a patch of scaly white skin on her arm.
“Of course,” the girl looked down at her hands as they fidgeted with a thread in her skirt.
Erianna looked at her and smiled. Laying a hand on the girls she said, “Why don’t you tell me about you and this place.
The girl’s hands stilled at Erianna’s unexpected touch. She glanced at Erianna, and a shy but winsome smile formed on her face.
“Well,” the girl leaned in closer to Erianna. “This is my secret garden and you are the very first visitor I’ve ever had here.”
Erianna glanced around at the endless bare branches and snowy ground. “I see why you would want to keep it a secret.”
“Oh, but this isn’t how it’s supposed to look. It really is quite beautiful. At least, I imagine it would be quite beautiful if this garden were somewhere not so cold and desolate. Somewhere like the spring or summer realm maybe.”
She sat up straighter and pointed to the tree beside the table, “See that tree? I imagine it has the prettiest blossoms that rain down, covering the green grass in a blanket of pink in the spring.”
She turned Erianna to look at the rows of scraggly bushes beside them, “And those are the most magnificent rose bushes with blossoms of every color. Yellow and pink and red and another color I’m not quite sure how to pronounce. Or-ang. Or-on–”
“Orange?” Erianna prompted.
“Orange,” the girl repeated. She sat and thought for a moment. “Hmm. I never could figure that one out but that sounds so perfect just the way you said it. Orange.”
Erianna bit back a smile as the girl tried out the word a few more times. “Your mother never taught you how to say the different colors?”
A shadow covered the girl’s enthusiastic face. “No. She didn’t want anything to do with the other realms. She said their vibrant colors were glaringly brassy and unnecessary. She felt the beauty from the other realms detracted from the purity and impeccability of the winter realm and viewed them as a threat to her kingdom, so she banished everything having to do with the other realms years ago.”
“Banished.” A hollowness echoed in Erianna’s mind as she repeated the word. “It sounds like your mother has a lot of power if she had everything banished from the other realms.”
“Oh she does. She’s the queen.”
Erianna’s head began to spin. “Your mother is the qu-queen?”
“Yes. Everyone calls her the snow queen because they say her heart is filled with snow and ice and that’s why our land is in such desolation.”
Erianna’s breathing was beginning to come out in short, shallow gasps. The girl subconsciously picked up a sun shaped charm that hung off a chain that sat around her neck as she continued, “I suppose they might be right. I don’t know much about how the other realms are run or what their rulers or people are like. I guess that’s why I like to read so much. My books take me to places I’ve never been and let me see things I can only imagine in my head.”
A sharp, piercing pain cut through Erianna’s head as she caught sight of the golden necklace with an amber stone set in the middle of the sun charm.
“Where did you get that?” Erianna asked through raspy breaths as she touched her hand to her own necklace.
The girl looked at Erianna, surprised to see her looking so unwell. “What?”
Erianna tried to push past the haziness that was clouding her eyes to focus on the amber charm. “The necklace,” she pointed a shaky hand at the girl’s necklace.
The girl looked down, uncertain of the necklace’s importance, “My mother gave it to me when I was very young. It’s the only connection I have to the other realms but, why do you ask?”
“Your mother. The queen.” Erianna’s body began convulsing despite her efforts to keep her tensing muscles under control.
“What’s wrong?” the girl asked.
Erianna had trouble responding as her body continued to shake. “N-n-othi-ng. I’m fine”
The girl stared at her with wide eyes, “You need help.” The girl stood and started to go but Erianna reached out and grabbed her arm.
The girl looked down and was surprised at the unnatural strength with which Erianna held onto her. “Please, let me find someone to help you,” the girl reasoned as she tried to pull away.
“No.” Erianna rasped out as she tightened her grip. “You must tell no one of this.” It was getting harder for Erianna to see anything, let alone hold onto this girl but she couldn’t let her get away and tell anyone she had seen her. Another pain gripped Erianna’s head causing her to slide off the bench and fall to her knees on the ground.
Erianna still held tightly to the girl’s arm so the girl knelt down beside her to relieve the pressure from her arm. She touched Erianna’s face and tried to look her in the eyes. “I promise you that nobody is going to hurt you. Just let me go and I promise everything is going to be alright.”
Erianna looked into the girls crystalline blue eyes. As she looked into them, something calmed within her. She slowly released the grip she had on the girl’s arm and let herself sit more fully on the ground as her body became more contained. Her breathing became more normal and she felt a strange calmness come over her as she stared into the girls endless blue eyes.
Suddenly, the sound of bells started ringing in the distance. The girl looked behind her and looked just as shocked to hear them as Erianna was. She pulled her arm away from Erianna and stood up to go.
Erianna began to grow agitated again at the sudden movement and she reached out to grab the girl’s skirts. The girl stepped quickly backwards and she apologized as she continued to look back toward the sound of the bells. “I’m sorry. I really have to go. I didn’t realize I had been here that long.”
“Brinn no. Please, don’t go.” Erianna tried to stand to her feet but her muscles were too exhausted to support her.
The girl had fully turned to go but came to a dead stop when she heard her name. She slowly turned back around to face Erianna. “How do you know my name?”
Erianna looked at her with surprise, not realizing she had let the name slip. “No. I-I don’t know your name. I don’t know who you are.” Erianna started breathing in shallow gasps as she pulled herself back onto the bench.
“No. You called me Brinn. You know my name. Why are you denying it? Who are you?” she asked as ice began to etch her words.
“It must have been a mistake. I didn’t say your name.”
“Yes you did. You said it earlier too, didn’t you? That’s what you said when you were looking at me earlier.”
“No.” Erianna had scooted to the other end of the bench and had pulled herself up to a standing position. “Look, I need to get away from here as soon as possible. If the queen finds out I’m here, it will not end well for anyone, so please, promise me you won’t say a word to her about finding me here, and I will let you go.”
Brinn’s eyes took on a steely coldness as she studied Erianna. “Why can’t the queen know you’re here?”
“I can’t explain. Just please, promise me.” Erianna’s head began to spin again and she clutched the edge of the bench to prevent herself from melting into the snow where she stood. She blinked several times trying to focus on the girl in front of her. She couldn’t let this girl tell anyone she was here. She took a step towards her and teetered. She balanced herself and tried to take another step but as she did, the impending darkness clouded around her eyes and closed in around her, pulling her softly to the wintry ground.
CH 2
Erianna’s eyes flickered open as a cerulean glow filled the air around her. Brinn was sitting next to her on one of the garden chairs reading a book by the cool fire she had started when she had returned to check on Erianna. Erianna squeezed her eyes shut again trying to make the dull ache in her head go away. What time was it? She wearily lifted a hand to her head. Brinn’s eyes were drawn away from the pages of her novel by the movement. She put her novel down and came to kneel down beside Erianna.
“How are you feeling?” Brinn asked as she brushed her hand against Erianna’s forehead to see if it was hot.
Erianna groaned, “Fine, I think.” She glanced around her. “What happened?” she asked groggily.
“You passed out before you answered any of my questions,” Brinn said as she grabbed the damp cloth she had been keeping beside the bench and placed it on Erianna’s forehead.
“I’m sorry.” Erianna said as she closed her eyes again and placed her hand over the cloth.
Brinn stood and walked over to the table. “I brought back some more food and a fresh container of water. Although I’m not sure why. My mother keeps enough secrets from me. I don’t know why total strangers feel they can keep secrets from me too.”
Erianna moved the cloth enough to see Brinn’s back turned to her, her shoulders slightly slumped as she put some pieces of food on a plate she had brought with her. Erianna removed the cloth and sat up slowly as Brinn walked back over to the bench.
She took the plate of cheeses and cold meat and invited Brinn to sit next to her. “Thank you for the food and for taking care of me today. You have shown me more kindness in one day than I’ve experienced in nearly an entire lifetime. I’m sorry I couldn’t answer more of your questions. The queen and I parted on bad terms many years ago and I didn’t expect to be this close to her kingdom after all this time. I know that leaves many unanswered questions, but that’s the best I can do for now.”
Brinn chewed her lip as if trying to decide whether to believe her or how much of what she said could be accepted. She finally looked at Erianna and asked, “Can I at least know your name?”
A twinge of hope mixed with pain crossed Erianna’s eyes as she looked back at Brinn. “I suppose I owe you that much,” she said with a half-smile. “My name is Erianna.
Erianna sat and watched Brinn’s reaction, hoping, waiting.
“Erianna.” Brinn studied her for a long moment before continuing. “That is a very pretty name. It suits you.” She smiled, causing her blue eyes to sparkle again.
Erianna quickly looked down at the food on her plate to hide the disappointment that filled her eyes–and her heart. “Thank you,” she replied quickly as she shoved a piece of cheese into her mouth.
The sound of bells tolling in the distance drifted over the high hedge wall into the garden. Erianna stood quickly and dropped her plate to the ground sending pieces of meat and cheese everywhere.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Brinn asked as she stood to steady Erianna.
“What time is it?” Erianna asked as she bent to pick up the food she’d scattered in her haste.
Brinn bent to help pick up the food as she answered, “The bells tolled curfew which is about an hour after sunset. Why?”
“I have to go.” Erianna tried to stand again, but bumped heads with Brinn as she was still bent over picking up the remaining food.
“Ow,” Brinn exclaimed as she rubbed her head and stood up the rest of the way. “Go where? You are in no condition to go anywhere.”
Erianna rushed to put the food she had picked up on the table and turned to go, but as she did, she tripped on the chair leg and sent herself hurtling face first into the snow. Brinn deposited her food and reached down to help Erianna up. As she did, she slipped in the wet snow and fell down beside Erianna.
“I have to get out of here before it’s too late,” Erianna let out an exasperated gasp as she untangled herself from Brinn and pulled herself up.
Brinn took Erianna’s offered hand and stood up, trying to straighten her skirts that had become a tangled mess. “Where could you possibly have to go this time of night? You are still recovering from whatever mysterious thing happened last night, and you won’t let me help you from that.”
Erianna looked at her with rising panic in her eyes. “Look, Brinn. You have been very kind and you took excellent care of me but I have to go. Please, be content in knowing that you helped more than you realize and go home to your palace.” A sharp pain lanced Erianna’s head causing her to grasp her head.
Brinn reached out to pull Erianna back to the bench, “See. You are in no condition to go anywhere. Rest here for the night and you can start your journey in the morning.”
Erianna shook the pain from her head and looked up at the darkening sky. “How far are we from the edge of the town?”
Brinn looked at her with growing concern as a strange glow began to emanate from her eyes. “This garden is on the edge of town.”
“Which side of town are we on? Are we near the forest?” Erianna asked as she began to grow more agitated. She scratched at a patch of skin on her right arm.
“Quite near,” Brinn responded as she took a small step towards the table and picked up a teacup to use as a defense against the crazed girl if needed while keeping her eyes on Erianna.
“How near? How do I get there once I leave the garden?” Erianna asked, the panic growing in her voice as she scratched at a piece of scaly skin on her neck.
Brinn stared in disbelief as a puff of smoke appeared beneath Erianna’s nostrils.
“Tell me,” Erianna commanded in a gruff, low voice.
As if shocked into a response, Brinn suddenly answered, “Follow the path to the garden entrance and go east for about two miles. You’ll see the forest past some of the fields.”
“Thank you.” Erianna’s hand went to her head and she shook it as if trying to ignore a pain or dizziness.
Brinn looked at her, moving the cup behind her back, ready to throw it at Erianna, or something, if she had to. “Are you sure you’re alright?”
The strange glow had left Erianna’s eyes as she looked back at Brinn. “I’ll be fine. Now, please. Go straight home and promise me you won’t stop for anything on the way.”
“Erianna, I–”
“Go.”
Brinn let the teacup drop as she stared at the strange woman before her. Slowly, little slivers of moonlight began to fill the garden, causing Erianna to look up and cringe. A shudder shook her body. When she looked back at Brinn, her eyes were filled with the strange glow again.
“Get out of here now.”
Brinn grabbed her book from the table and sprinted down the path, afraid to turn back and see Erianna further altered.
CH 3
Frost crawled across the ground and climbed up the trees like vines of ivy that had grown wild and untamed. Gabriel had heard stories of how cold it became in the Northlands, but he never imagined it would be this cold. He had found very little in the way of making a fire to keep warm as everything was frozen solid and covered in snow. He was grateful for the enchanted cloak Mauriden, the wizard in the Springlands, had given him as a parting gift.
“Wrap this cloak around you when the cold becomes too much for you to bear on your own. Drops of the golden spring sun have been woven into it and will surround you with its warmth when you become cold. And think warm thoughts.”
Gabriel could still remember the twinkle in Mauriden’s eyes as he said the last part. Mauriden was such a dear old man and had served his father as chief advisor to the land of Genesia for as long as Gabriel could remember. In fact, it seemed reasonable to believe that Mauriden had served his father’s father as well. Mauriden was an amazing wizard who wore his age well. Images of his long, flowing white beard blowing in the gentle spring breeze filled his mind. Gabriel could see him as he stood with his father on the balcony overlooking the kingdom. A smile crossed his face as he remembered the stern looks him and his sister received from Mauriden when they acted out during lessons. But no look could compete with the one he had given them the day Gabriel had turned his beard purple on accident when he misfired a spell intended for a hydrangea bush. Followed by a small frog hopping out from under his robe when Julianna misfired her animal spell on a butterfly that had been flitting by. Gabriel let out a rapturous laugh as he remembered how furious Mauriden had been and how flustered he became when he tried to explain the mishap to their parents. Mauriden was right, warm thoughts did help. Gabriel was beginning to feel warmer already.
He had to be careful how much he used his cloak. The winter sun was not as close as the fiery orb that warmed their kingdom and its light wouldn’t stretch far enough to recharge the golden strands and fill them with its warmth. And who knew when he would see that beautiful sun again.
Gabriel shivered and pulled the cloak tighter around him as he remembered another warning Mauriden had given him before he left. “A son of spring touched by ice can rarely be returned to his former self.” Those last words from Mauriden echoed in his ears. Gabriel shook the haunting words from his mind and tried to focus on the bright-colored marigolds and hyacinth and peonies that grew in his garden at home. The sweet scent of baby’s breath mixed with soft lilac. And the perfume of the roses. How he missed his beautiful roses. His mind settled on the roses he had nurtured last spring as he slowly drifted off into a warm, peaceful sleep.
Moments after Gabriel drifted off, a horrifying, piercing screech cracked the silence of the chilled night air. The sound was so sharp. It sounded like a huge whip had been cracked across the entire forest, snapping the icy trees. Gabriel woke with a terrifying start, his mind trying to sort through the fog between sleep and alertness. Had he dreamed that sound or had it really happened? Another howl pierced the air, causing the icy phalanges of the trees around him to shake from the intensity and closeness of the sound. That sound had not come from his dreams, and it sounded uncomfortably close to him. Gabriel had no idea what creature had formed such an earthshaking noise but he didn’t want to be the one to find out.
Gabriel gathered up his cloak and shoved it into the satchel he carried, figuring it would be easier to run without tripping over his cloak in his haste. As he began to make his way through the frostbitten forest, he began to realize just how sorely his sun touched skin stood out against the wintery landscape. “Why couldn’t that cloak Mauriden gave me make me invisible as well?” he huffed as he picked up his pace. Hopefully that creature was blind or had a horrible sense of direction so he could get a head start and make it through the night.
The soul wrenching screech filled the air just as Brinn reached the back entrance to the palace. She stopped short at the woeful sound and looked toward the direction where it came from. The east, toward the forest. That was the direction Erianna had wanted to go. Another ice shattering sound cracked the placid night sky, and all around the kingdom Brinn heard what sounded like a million mirrors cracking and falling to pieces on the frozen ground. Brinn ducked into the doorway as several icicles fell from the palace walls around her. What kind of creature could be so powerful that it could shatter that many icicles with a mere screech? Whatever it was, if it found Erianna, she would not have the strength to fight it off and save herself. Brinn had to get to Erianna before the creature did.
She turned to go into the palace. If she hurried, she could hopefully sneak back in and grab her bow and arrows, a thicker cloak, and maybe slip into a pair of pants she kept hidden from her mother, before anyone noticed she was gone. She raced up the winding steps through the pantries and storage rooms and was about to make it past the kitchen to the next staircase that led to her floor from the servants quarters when the castle sprung to life in a flurry of activity. A stampede of footsteps could be heard descending the staircase that led up to her room from the kitchen. She couldn’t go that way. Brinn sprinted to the other side of the kitchen and peeked out around the door to see if she could navigate the hallways without getting caught. The hallway right outside the kitchen was still bare, for now. She had to make it through to the front hallways before they were flooded with servants—and before her mother discovered her out and about. Brinn quickly made her way to the front hall with the towering staircase that led to the living suites, ducking in and out of shadows like a lynx weaving through the wintery night.
Brinn reached the top of the last staircase, breathless and ready to collapse. Just a few more steps and she would be in the clear. She took the last few steps to the tall, thick ice door that led into her large bedroom. Her hand reached for the handle to her door. As she pushed down on the cold snowflake engraved handle, a hand reached around her face and covered her mouth, causing her to jump and scream out. Before Brinn could pull away, another arm encompassed her waist and she felt herself being dragged backwards into the room she was about to enter.
“You better be glad I was the one who saw you sneaking into the palace and not your mother,” a smooth, baritone voice whispered against her ear.
“Tharynn!” Brinn gasped as his muscular hand fell away from her slender face. “How dare you sneak up on me like that!” She wriggled out of his strong arms and turned to smack him for his impudence. He was too quick for her and caught her small wrist in his hand, twirling her back into him.
“If the princess were in her room where she is supposed to be, she wouldn’t invite sneaking upon,” he playfully reprimanded. The nearness of his breath to her ear caused shivers to run down her spine and a small shudder shook her shoulders. He smiled as she tried to diminish the effect he had on her. Tharynn had grown up in the palace and had always made a sport of torturing the princess with his charming sense of humor and sweet, playful demeanor. As she had no siblings, he had always been the first person she could call on as a companion and the knight in the adventures they had as children running around the palace grounds. Though he had a way of getting under her skin in a way no one else could, he was still the dearest friend Brinn had and she couldn’t imagine ever being apart from him.
As Brinn pulled away from her captor, she caught a glimpse of the roguish smile that played upon his lips in the moonlight. “You are a horrid beast.” She crossed the room to the table near her bed to light a candle.
“And you are a minx, sneaking out of the palace after nightfall,” he crossed his arms and leaned against the armoire that stood by the door.
“Sneaking out? Me? Why, you are crazier than a loon, my good sir.” The candle flickered to life casting a cerulean glow on her playful smile. She continued to light the other candles, the flames flickering playfully against the wall as if reflecting the lilting, mischievous tone in her voice.
His eyes followed her as she crossed to the armoire and she began to untie the ribbons of her cloak. “Aye, and I suppose you would call your mother a loon as well if she saw you walking about in your day dress and cloak at this hour of the night.” His smile widened as she turned, annoyance clearly etching her beautiful face.
“Of course I would not call my mother a loon,” she replied as she finished untying the knot at the base of her neck. “I would simply tell her that a horrifying noise woke me up and I dressed myself to see what it was. It would be highly improper of me to be seen in my dressing gown by the palace guards after all.” She caught the gleam in his eye as she turned to finish removing her cloak and hung it in the armoire. The gleam that said he knew exactly what she had been up to and she was crazy if she thought she could hide it from him. She hated that smile. And the fact that he always had to be right.
“If you don’t believe me, you are free to remove yourself from my quarters at any time.” She crossed to her icy mirror. She was surprised to see that it hadn’t cracked based on what she heard when she had entered the palace.
“Oh, I believe you,” he said as he stood up straight, “but, that horrifying noise that woke you up is exactly why I happened upon you in the hall outside your room. I came to check on you and make sure you were all right when this hooded figure came racing up the steps and was about to dart into your room.” His tall figure appeared behind her in the looking glass. “Brinn,” his royal blue eyes stared at her from her reflection. “You know I want you to have your freedom and find your escape wherever it is you go. But, I wish you wouldn’t go off by yourself at night.” He placed a hand on her shoulder and their eyes met in a glassy stare. “Especially now that there is some unknown creature out there.”
Another screeching howl resonated throughout the kingdom followed by a chilling silence. Brinn and Tharynn stood unable to move for a few moments. Tharynn crossed to the window to see if he could see anything outside that would give a clue as to what was out there. Brinn followed, thoughts of Erianna being out there on her own, or passed out somewhere in the cold, crept back into her mind.
“The soldiers will be ready to go soon,” he turned to see the look of terror creeping into Brinn’s face. “Brinn.” She startled at his touch as his hands grasped her shoulders and turned her to face him. His sapphire blue eyes met her glassy, almost transparent blue ones. “Brinn,” his hand came up to touch her face. “Promise me you will not leave this palace until I return.”
Brinn’s thoughts were swimming. How could she promise him something she knew she couldn’t keep? His thumb traced the shape of her cheek and came to rest near her ear. No. She had to go save Erianna. She couldn’t stay here, locked away like a bird in a cage.
“I–” she closed her eyes and tried to think of any way she could convince him to let her go. Her eyes opened and caught his full gaze in the moonlight as it streamed through her window. There was something in his gaze she had never seen before. Something that caused her heart to flutter. Something so powerful she couldn’t possibly deny him his request. “I promise.”
“Thank you.” He stared at her, taking in every feature in that beautiful face one last time. The horn sounded below alerting all the soldiers to mount up and head out. Tharynn looked at Brinn one last time and turned to go.
Brinn was filled with an icy coldness as the reality of the situation slowly set in. Her gaze drifted to the window as she watched the soldiers mount their horses and ride past the palace gate.
Her heart whispered a silent prayer into the frosty air, “Please, let him come home to me.”
©️ Copyright August 2020
Ashley Beach-Author and Storyteller 