Page 20 of Weaving Winter

I held on tightly, letting him lead me through the blinding snow. It was coming down so hard and fast that it was almost impossible to see my hand in front of my face. I trusted that Bran knew his way around, and sure enough, a few moments later we were standing inside his tent.

He pointed to the screen. “Behind there. I’ll stand right outside and wait for you.”

As he vanished out the door, I raced behind the screen. As I sat there on the wooden seat, I thought about my grandparents. I had never met them. My father had hated the Wolf People, but my grandparents’ deaths had been more academic to me, and I hadn’t developed the same hatred.

I finished my business and washed my hands in the basin sitting on a small table by the screen. Since Bran’s brother was a prince, did that make Bran royalty, as well? For some reason, that thought hadn’t occurred to me before.

I peeked out the tent flap. “I’m done.”

“Then let’s go get some dinner.” He took my hand and we pressed against the biting winds towards the mess tent. As we ducked inside, everybody looked up. We were among the last to join the group. Bran motioned for me to take a seat, while he went over to confer with several other men, and his cousin Fenling.

Feeling slightly self-conscious, I sat down on the bench in the same spot I’d sat in before. The man across from me had long brown hair, and his skin was dark. His eyes gleamed with a yellowish color and there was something incredibly feral about him. I realized then that, given they were the Wolf People, that wildness was simply part of their nature.

“Thank you,” I said as he passed me a large platter of beef. “What’s your name?”

“Quen,” he said. Then, his eyes gleaming, he asked, “Are you Bran’s woman?”

I jerked my head up, startled. “What?”

“I asked if you’re Bran’s woman? He could use one, for sure.”

Not sure how to respond, I swigged my mug of ale. I preferred juice, but it gave me the chance to collect myself. “Uh, that would be no. I’m…nobody’s woman.”

“Really?” he said, laughing. “Then all’s fair…”

Unsure of what he was hinting at, I stabbed a couple pieces of the beef and placed it on my plate. He handed me a massive bowl of mashed potatoes and I spooned out a good sized portion. After that came the gravy and bread. I was about to dig in when Bran and Fenling returned to their seats. They quickly filled their plates, and I glanced at Quen, but he was engaged in lively conversation about an upcoming hunting trip with the man to his right.

“The storm’s likely to last another two days,” Bran said. “The soothsayer predicts it.”

“Soothsayer? Is that…like a witch?”

“Witch. Shaman. Fortune teller, all in one. Endaria is one scary assed witch, but she’s accurate. And she and her sisters have served the royal family for years. She comes out with the guard, her sister serves my brother for the throne, and the third sister—Leela—lives in the Cave of the Ancients, spinning out the silk of our lives.”

Fascinated, I said, “I’ve never heard of them.”

“They’re like the Fated Sisters and the Maids of Fortune, but they’re aligned to the Wolf People. They’re known as the Wyrd Women.” His voice lowered. “Once, when I was very young, I wanted to see Leela. I knew how to get to the Cave of the Ancients and disobeyed my father, who was the Prince at the time.”

Fenling turned. “I remember that. You talked me into going with you.”

“We raced into the mountains and climbed to the ledge of the cave. As we entered, I remember a massive cloud of fog rising into the form of a woman. She had stone black eyes and red lips, and she leaned down to us—we were just pups—” He paused at Fenling’s look. “I told her who we are.”

“Good, it was bound to come out sooner or later.”

“Anyway, we were just pups, and the mist woman leaned down to us, and she whispered, “I will count to ten. If you aren’t gone, you will never leave my side and you will become part of the mist folk.” That scared the hell out of us. We turned and ran, and I’ve never been back to the Cave of the Ancients, save for when we laid my father’s body to rest.” He chuckled. “And I’d hesitate to go back for any reason other than one which was sanctioned. I think I’m still afraid she’d remember me.”

“She would. Leesa remembers everything.” Fenling shook her head. “We got our butts swatted but good when we went home. Of course, Leesa transmitted the news of our visit to her sisters, and they told Bran’s father. We were sent to work in the stables for days after, in punishment. We mucked out so many stables I still remember smelling like manure when I got home for the day.”

As they laughed, I studied the energy between them. They read more like brother and sister, and I had the feeling they’d always been close like this.

“So, now that you know we’re Wolf People, are you still going to stay with us?” Fenling asked.

“She will, at least for now,” Bran said. “Come to find out, my family owes her a blood debt. Remember the bad winter during the year of ash?”

Fenling frowned. “Yes.”

“Remember the raids?”

Fenling nodded.

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