FULL NOVELXO Court of Ice and Ash: Chapter 26
early pages of Lilianna’s journal. Most of my reading was in the middle and final pages—after Valen had been born. But I scanned the early passages looking for anything. The queen was clever, though. Carefully wording each passage, but after learning the truth about the Sun Prince, I found a few clues.
. . . my heart breaks for the Sun Prince. Such a lonely child. Still, this is for the best. His instruction should be within the walls of the castle until he has matured enough to attend classes at the gentry school . . .
. . . Herja’s fever subsided. Sol is once more consolable, no matter how many times we have explained the troublesome frosts were the cause . . .
I tucked the journal in my satchel with a sigh.
How I wished Lilianna were here. I had so many questions, and not only about her children. Valen’s mother was Timoran. She learned how to balance being of both worlds. Her children and husband belonged to magic and Etta, but her people were of the wastelands, of war. My heart lived here, among Night Folk, fury, and Valen. Yet, I still embraced the thrill of war like my ancestors. I loved my people too.
Today the sun was warm, but tensions were high. The time for the royal vows were days away.
From morning until twilight folk in Ruskig worked to prepare. Boisterous costumes were created for those who would be playing the part as traveling bards and court entertainers. Pointed caps with gold threads, curled slippers with bells on the ends, doublets with brass buttons, stockings in black and white stripes.
It took some doing gathering supplies. By gathering I meant stealing. Ari seemed content to move Valen from his role as Blood Wraith, known killer, to his own personal thief.
I didn’t hold much guilt, and I’m not sure the Guild of Shade could be called thieves exactly. It was a strange sort of thieving. In most cases, some, or all of Valen’s guild would wait by the fjord for traveling longships, or caravans on trade routes, corner them, take what was needed, then leave them with a purse of silver shim, and a vicious threat to speak of them to no one.
I didn’t like the way Ari used the Night Prince like a common scoundrel.
But when he crawled into my bed, night after night, the heir of Etta was sure to remind me this was a temporary moment. If we wanted to live—truly live—we would need to overthrow Castle Ravenspire.
My fingers tingled in anticipation. Already, Ulf and his scouting party had brought back information about sightings of the fate witch. Relief was sharp and potent knowing Calista was free of her cage and alive. The girl had risked herself for strangers. She’d known of Valen’s curse, she knew he was important, and she wrote his story to freedom.
When we met again, I would not leave her behind. She would be free of that place. As much as the others wanted to slaughter whatever dark fae Calder was using to cause the blight, I believed we needed to save them as much as Calista.
Who could say what torture they endured?
Tor insisted as much as Valen, that even with dark fury, Prince Sol had been kind and loving. Odds were good this dark fae would be much the same but forced to act on behalf of enemies.
“Elise.” Junius waved at me. She sat in front of a large tub next to Siv and half a dozen healers. “We’re ready for more.”
“On my way,” I said and held up my satchel.
Junius nodded, then returned to the tub, smashing a soupy mix of petals, soils, and juices from herbs with a thick rod.
At least Ari listened to Valen about using moonvane as an antidote against any poisons. All it took was a few healers to agree to the healing properties of the blossoms, and for days folk had been filling skins and vials with the elixir.
I enjoyed gathering the blossoms. It took me out of the bustle and into the quiet trees.
Hedges of moonvane grew thick and lush near the creek. I kneeled beside one selecting the silkiest of the silver flowers.
A grunt at my back lifted the hair on my neck. I snatched the dagger from my pack, and crept through the shallow creek, careful not to step on branches or dead leaves, then peered over a row of hedges.
Nerves faded at once, and a rush of warmth swelled in my chest.
A row of children sat in a line, giggling, fidgeting, and clapping for their playmates who sparred in a circle of twigs.
They did not spar with just anyone.
“Block, here,” Valen said, adjusting the wooden practice sword in front of Ellis’s narrow chest. “Now, tell me, what areas do you guard at all times?”
“Head, heart, and manhood!” Ellis shouted.
Valen shot a glare at Halvar who barked a laugh. With a sigh, Valen placed the practice sword over the boy’s middle. “Close, but you protect your innards. Don’t listen to fools, boy.”
“Fools!” Halvar said, wiping his eyes. “Would you want to take a stab there?”
At Halvar’s side was a nervous looking Kari, but her eyes brightened with a shy smile. The raven had gained her strength in the last few days, and with Brant busy with the cartographers mapping out routes of the castle, she remained close to Halvar. I’d only spoken to her briefly, and she was shy and respectful. Her time in the guard had built her stronger than most women, but she had gentle features and kind eyes.
“Who’s next?” Valen said, ruffling Ellis’s hair as the boy returned to the line.
A girl with dirty cheeks, pointed ears, and silver eyes hopped up. “Dagger!”
Valen tipped his head and reached for a shorter practice blade. He handed it to the girl who swung the blade at once, she giggled when Valen pretended to take a hit.
“Seems the Blood Wraith is no match for Inge.” Mattis—I had to look twice—yes, Mattis shouted. He smiled and laughed when the children chanted for Inge to best the Wraith. A few swings and instruction later, Valen went to his knees as Inge cut across his chest.
He fell back, dead on the ground.
At Halvar’s encouragement the swarm of littles pounced on the Night Prince. Laughter rang in my head. These children had no idea who took the time to teach them to defend themselves. They didn’t know he was their king, that he had fought this war longer than any of us.
My chest squeezed. Valen was finding his place among his people again. The very thought of it burned through me until I could cry.
I had never cared for anyone this way. In a way that led me to think strangely, to imagine a life beyond battle and curses. Where each night and each morning his face was mine to see. Where we could be lovers, friends, and laugh this way always.
I wanted it all—with him. I’d never loved anyone before, but the feelings I’d developed for Legion Grey awakened again for Valen Ferus.
I loved him.
I loved the Night Prince of Etta. He is a king and what are you? I winced at the chilly voice that always carried doubt. But today, I steeled myself. True, he was the heir of this land, making him king. But that king chose me. The fallen Kvinna with no name, no land, no place. He chose me.
I took a step to join the fun but stopped at the sound of a horn.
Blood drained from my face. I whipped around toward the townships. An attack warning. How . . . how was it possible? The fury guarding Ruskig it . . . it couldn’t be broken unless someone let them in.
I broke through the hedges for the children. Valen was already on his feet, true blade in hand. Kari opened her arms for the littles to follow her, face pale as she watched Halvar tug on his mask and withdraw his sword.
Valen took hold of my arm. “What is it?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “I was gathering and—I don’t know.”
His palm covered my cheek; the pleading in his eyes broke me. “Go with Kari. Hide the children.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’m not leaving you—”
“Elise, I beg of you. Protect them, Kari is not strong enough on her own.”
I wanted to protest, wanted to accuse him of sending me away because he feared for me. But he was collected. As he did as Legion Grey once, he removed the dagger from my satchel, and handed me the blade.
“Remember, you promised.”
The moment when we stood close in my father’s study, after surviving an Agitator attack replayed in my head. I have made a vow to defend you, he told me, but I must know you will also protect yourself. At all costs. Promise me.
Nothing about that vow had changed.
I took the dagger, the pain of leaving him overwhelming.
He didn’t care about anyone watching when he pulled me close and kissed me. Not long enough, and the kiss came from a place of fear. A tremble darkened his voice when he whispered against the curve of my ear, “Never doubt for whom my heart beats.”
Valen released me and took another seax from Mattis before he pulled the red half mask over his chin and became the Blood Wraith.
It would be selfish to follow him. Reckless to disregard his plea out of fear of losing him. We had roles to fulfill, we knew the risks. We chose to live, despite them. A chill raced up my spine when screams rang in the distance. Desperation demanded I run to the township, to my friends. Duty demanded otherwise.
Tears in my eyes, I spun on my heel. The crunch of twigs and leaves shattered the stillness of the wood as I sprinted after Kari. The raven was swift and had already disappeared into the trees.
I found them a moment later at a slope where mudslides had toppled logs all down one side. My mistake was coming up behind Kari. Before I could move, the raven deftly notched the edge of a knife high beneath my chin.
A flame simmered in her gaze. She breathed heavily and ripped the knife back. “Sorry, Kvinna.”
“You are terrifying,” I said and lifted a tiny girl over a log and tucked her next to Ellis.
“I promised myself I would never be overpowered again.” Her jaw pulsed as she covered the children’s heads.
“Kari, you must hide here,” I told her. “You are still recovering.”
“I will fight if needed, Kvinna Elise,” she said with vigor. “I may not be trusted here, but children are children. I will not hesitate to defend them. You have my vow.”
I believed her. I tried to ignore the faint cries carried on the wind. Through the haze of tears, I looked at the frightened faces under the logs. “No one is to make a sound. You shall think tiny as little, quiet mice. No matter what you see or hear, you do not move. You do not speak.” I held a finger to my lips. “Understand?”
“Yes, Kvinna,” Ellis’s voice came from the left.
I touched Kari’s arm. “I will go behind the trees and keep watch. If I see anything, I will signal in a whistle like a jay. Get in, I’ll cover you.”
Kari crouched in a spot within the log pile. If needed she could guide the children out one side and flee. When her head was hidden well enough, I hunched behind trees a fair distance away and waited.
Smoke burned my nose. Blood pounded in my skull. The forest was still, but my soul was a frenzy of emotion. All I could think of was if those in the township had a fighting chance against whatever had come. Siv, Junius—did they have time to fight back. Would Ari’s guard be enough?
Valen and the Guild of Shade knew how to fight. I forced myself to remember the folk of Ruskig were also the Agitators of Timoran. They knew how to hold a blade.
A shadow drifted in the corner of my eyes. My senses jolted alive. I saw nothing, but something, someone was there.
Movement. The barest snap of a branch.
In a group of trees to the left, a figure hunched low, creeping with great care toward the slope where Kari was hidden.
If I moved just so, I could take them from behind.
For a silent kill, cover the mouth first. Slit the throat second. Soft points of Ravenspire armor: the joints where guarders overlapped, the underarms, the neck. With a shield, aim for the legs, the back. Lessons over the months of living outside of noble life reeled in a cycle as I stalked the figure—now, clearly an armed raven.
There had to be more. I kept my sights open for anyone else in the trees. No point in sending a single guard out here. But no one came in to view. That unnerved me more than anything. The raven gained ground to where Kari was hidden. I doubted he knew children and a former raven were there, but he was clearly searching for runaways.
Twelve paces. Ten.
My legs ached from crouching. Ways to kill him darkened my mind. The first kill nearly ruined me. Now, I would kill for anyone in Ruskig. I would not think twice. Terrible as it was, I craved death for those who threatened anyone I loved. A tiny glimpse into what I imagine the curse of bloodlust would be like.
Five paces. Three.
At his back, I raised my dagger.
The raven turned on me so fast I stumbled backward. My body didn’t strike the ground, no, I fell into arms. Leather guarders, gloved hands, rank herbs on the breath. A raven crushed me in his grip, and soon the trees were alive with more guards, shouting commands and laughing.
I screamed, kicked, twisted in his grip. My voice broke, but I whistled. A talent I’d had since childhood; I could make the call of jaybirds. A mix between a raven’s caw and a songbird’s melody.
The guard tossed me on the ground when my elbow smashed into a soft space below his arms. He kicked my ribs, then straddled me, pinning my hands over my head. Another guard roughly pushed my hair off my face.
They shared a look, then together bared smoke-yellowed teeth. The raven pinning me to the ground, shouted over his shoulder, “We’ve got the Kvinna! We’ve got her.” He glared at me. “Come on, you.”
I didn’t cry out a protest. What was the point of screaming no, please? Did anyone ever listen when a captive said those things?
No words came, but I kept my promise to Valen. I fought. I fought with every drop of warrior blood in my veins. When the ravens tried to pick me off the ground, my fingernails sliced over one’s cheek. He slapped me. I kicked the other’s knee from my place on the ground.
They cursed me, kicked me, struggled with me.
I found a rock and threw it at one guard’s head. I fought until, at last, a guard grabbed my braid, and yanked me back. Together, the ravens rolled me onto my stomach, and kneeled on my back, holding me still.
After a struggle, they managed to tether my arms behind my back, then lift me. I still kicked, still took their strikes. A raven covered my mouth, his companion grabbed my ankles. They carried me between them like one of the fallen logs. I knew I was bested.
They would take me, but no mistake, I would die fighting.