Page 17 of To Ride the Wind

The idea caught at her, making her breath lodge in her throat. She had heard tales of the High King’s domain, of course, but they were all fanciful ones. No one had ever been there—or even knew of anyone who had. Rumor said Queen Ava of Rangmere had traveled there once, but everyone seemed to agree she was the only one. Was it really possible she was to be given that opportunity?

The thought of visiting the Palace of Light had never even occurred to Charlotte. She couldn’t say she had dreamed of it, but it was a captivating idea nonetheless. But why would the White Bear wish to take her of all people to such a place?

“This is madness!” her mother cried, rounding on her husband. “You cannot be considering this! We cannot give our Charlotte to a bear. He isn’t…he isn’t one of us!” Again Charlotte had the impression there was something more that her mother wished to communicate, but something was holding her back.

Her father cleared his throat uncomfortably. “The ceremony only requires that they speak the necessary words, so it is technically possible. As I said, all he wishes is to take her into his family. This is merely the mechanism of doing so. But of course I would never force Charli into it. That’s why he’s waiting outside. I said the decision belonged to Charli herself, as is only right.”

“Decision?” her mother cried again. “What decision? You should have sent him on his way the moment he suggested such an outrageous thing!”

But even as her mother spoke, she looked uncomfortable, as if she knew the words were more easily said than done.

The suggestion was outrageous. Charlotte acknowledged that openly. But the strange request hadn’t shaken her inexplicable certainty that the bear would never offer her any harm. And neither could she deny the strange pull toward him. He wished her to become his companion on a fantastical journey, and there was something enticing about the idea of leaving with him, of freeing herself from the valley’s isolation and exploring places she could only imagine.

But at what cost?

“Even if it’s only a legal marriage,” she said slowly, “it would still turn me into a married woman. I would be barred from entering into a true marriage. I would never get to fall in love.”

Her father looked pained, and she expected her mother to speak again in protest against the idea. But instead she was looking at her husband through narrowed eyes.

“What have you not said?” her mother asked. “Why would you even consider such a proposal?”

Her father looked from Charli to the older girls and then back again, looking more uncomfortable than she had ever seen him.

“Of course I couldn’t entrust my daughter to just anyone,” he said. “He’s not an ordinary bear, that much is obvious to us all, but it’s more than that. He has power and position. There is much he could do for her…and for us.”

“Do for us?” Elizabeth asked, catching at his words immediately. “Whatever do you mean?”

Her father looked from his older daughters to his wife. “I know you’ve all been disappointed in our life here,” he said softly. “You agreed to the move at my assurances, and so far it’s not lived up to our expectations. It is a burden I bear daily. And while we are close to a turning point that will bring us greater prosperity, it will likely be a gradual change. However, if Charlotte agrees to undertake the wedding ceremony, the White Bear will reverse our fortunes. We will soon be as rich as we have been poor.”

CHARLOTTE

“Rich!” Elizabeth cried. “Are you certain? He’s just a bear.”

Her father gave her a stern look. “I think we have firmly established that he’s not just a bear. We would not be having this conversation if he were.”

“A rich bear.” Odelia’s wondering tone didn’t match the hard light that came into her eyes. She cast a quick, conspiratorial glance at Elizabeth before turning to Charlotte with a sickly sweet smile. “He must be in great favor with the High King. Perhaps he even has a title. You might discover after you marry him that you are Lady Charlotte!”

Her father threw a glance at her mother that Charlotte couldn’t read. Did he believe Odelia’s words and think the bear had some kind of official title? It sounded unlikely to her. Did anyone at the Palace of Light have a title other than the High King?

“A bride price?” Her mother frowned. “That isn’t a common custom in any of the Four Kingdoms.”

“I have told you,” her father said quickly. “They do things differently in…” Again he trailed off, giving her mother a significant look as if she would understand his meaning.

Charlotte frowned. Was her father awed at the idea that his daughter might one day dwell in the Palace of Light? Was that why he wasn’t speaking of it directly?

Charlotte herself certainly felt awed. But not awed enough to agree to the bear’s unexpected proposal. As much as she longed to escape her isolated life, she wasn’t willing to entirely give up on the hope of romantic love in order to achieve it.

She had seen enough households in their old village, as well as here among the valley folk, to know that the happiest and most fulfilling lives were those built on love. It was clear that even the High King agreed since he had decreed that the kingdoms would prosper when ruled by love. It was the reason he sent out his godmothers to help the royal families to find true love. Not even the most powerful king or queen would deny their heir the chance to marry for love, so why should she be asked to marry a stranger—and one who could never truly be a husband to her?

She knew there were other types of love than romantic love, and that a life could be happily built on them. She even felt a connection with the White Bear that she couldn’t explain. But it wasn’t enough to give up her hopes of something more.

“I can’t.” She shook her head rapidly, feeling a little sick. “I’m sorry, but I can’t. I don’t want a legal binding but a real marriage.”

“A real marriage?” Elizabeth scoffed, although Charlotte knew both her sisters dreamed of being swept off their feet by an eligible young man. “What man might you be thinking of? There’s no one who wants to marry you!”

“I didn’t mean anyone in particular,” Charlotte said, saddened rather than offended by her sister’s words. “Just that I would like to meet someone one day.” It was painfully clear that Elizabeth was projecting her own disappointed hopes onto Charlotte, and her sister’s next words only confirmed it.

“And who would you meet here?” Elizabeth asked poisonously, once again triggering a wave of sadness in Charlotte.

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