Page 2 of Of Snow and Sapphire

She looked into his glacial-blue eyes, the color so unlike her own. Hers were completely white, save for a silver pupil—a royal’s eyes, passed down to her. With the responsibility to replenish the court’s power permanently branded into her, it served as a lasting reminder every time she looked into the mirror that her people were depending on her.

Zimyn gulped, and she tracked the way his throat bobbed. This was becoming too overwhelming for her. She pulled away before they made a mistake out in the open halls where anyone could see.

“Of course. We must follow tradition,” she said, as she smoothed her dress of its wrinkles. “Come Kotyn, it’s time for dinner.”

Her private chambers offered a view of her Court; the mountainous expanse a comfort to her heart. The peaks in the distance were hers. Homes dotted the land, each filled with lives that were her responsibility. Small snowflakes fluttered, and Ludelle stopped herself from thinking about what would happen if she failed her Undertaking.

Without ice running through her veins, her people would perish because the snow would melt away, and the land would become a giant grave, the mountains without its people.

She couldn’t let that happen.

Ludelle had continuous bursts of power throughout the year that she used to sustain the court, but even she had to preserve it as best as possible, as it was a limited resource.

Taking off her crown, one inherited from her grandmother, Ludelle placed it safely on her vanity. The pretty jewels that adorned it stared back at her, but she turned her gaze to herself in the looking glass. Kotyn got comfortable on the Queen’s bed, resting on the edge as Ludelle pulled the pins from her hair and shook out the white waves. Kotyn purred, her eyes falling shut without worries. Would it be considered pathetic to be jealous of a large cat?

Unable to rest, Ludelle headed to her study and fished out the list of names that Balvan had given her. As she read through the list of suitable nobles, each name seemed to only be worse than the one before.

Aeden, who hailed from the west, had tried making unseemly advances towards her at every ball. Ludelle ended up slapping him on one occasion, causing a ruckus and a harsh punishment from her mother. Then there was Mitah, who had attempted poisoning Kotyn because he believed that a Queen should not have a pet, instead her sole purpose to produce and care for the future heir. That would never work. Kotyn would eat him in his sleep, while Ludelle gladly watched. Then, Cirrus, of course. The Lord that cared more for his clothing and appearance, than the wellbeing of anyone.

Tomorrow. She would worry about it tomorrow, during the ball.

She crumpled the paper, turned it to ice, and threw it against the impenetrable walls, creating an explosion of fragments, which would just fuse with the castle floors over time—her powers becoming a part of her surroundings.

Ludelle remembered her mother’s words, ones spoken only days before her parents had passed. You are useless without a husband; choose wisely.

Ludelle tapped her fingers against the desk, growing impatient with everything. She just wanted this all to pass.

“Looks like a bad time,” Helena—her cousin—said, as she made her way to Kotyn and smacked a kiss on the big cat’s forehead. The beast didn’t even twitch.

“What can I do for you?”

Helena pulled off her leather gloves, revealing the same pale skin as Ludelle’s, except hers was peppered with small freckles. “I just wanted to check in. Balvan announced the ball to all your ladies in waiting. Liatris actually jumped from her seat in glee.”

Ludelle snorted. “Sounds just like her.”

Helena stuck her tongue out. “Don’t be that way. All of us ladies are just trying to find any source of joy, these days.”

Ludelle watched the sun, hidden behind the clouds, go down for the day. “I’m fine.” Ludelle finally responded to her cousin’s question.

“Do you know who you’re picking?” Helena asked hesitantly, as she brushed her fingers through her straight, blonde hair.

“I have an idea.”

“Well, as long as it's not Aeden. I heard he went hunting recently and got attacked by a wolf. At least, that’s what he claims.” Helena inspected her nails, not claws like Ludelle’s, but Ludelle knew that Helena sharpened them enough to make sure they could inflict pain. “Witnesses said it was just a large branch that he walked into because he wasn’t paying attention.”

“It’s not Aeden.”

“Wonderful,” she smiled, as she headed towards Ludelle’s closet. “Now the more important question, what will we be wearing?”

Helena rifled through her cousin’s clothes, throwing gowns on the floor that caught her eye. Ludelle followed her cousin, knowing exactly which dresses would suit them both.

Two

Zimyn stood by the dais, awaiting his Queen’s arrival. Guests chatted amongst themselves while a talented musician worked a harp in the far corner. He knew that Ludelle adored the soothing sounds that came from such a grand instrument and taking it in, now, he would have to agree. One day, he hoped to visit the Lightning Court—the place where the player was from. In fact, he itched for the day that he could freely explore the other courts on the continent as a traveler, and not as Ludelle’s Captain.

Soon. That day would come soon.

Balvan had wandered in at some point, but Zimyn lost sight of him in the boisterous crowd. He assumed the man was most definitely engaging in political discussions when the ball was supposed to be about Ludelle and her future betrothed. Though he couldn’t blame Balvan for taking this opportunity; it was rare that nobles from all corners of the court attended a ball, especially in the last few months when the court was in mourning.

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