Page 25 of Weaving Winter

“Technically, but I’m the younger brother and he was heir to the throne. Our father died a few years back, but Karehl can’t ascend to the throne as king until the stars align correctly. That’s not for another year. So he’s kept me out in the fields to stave off the chance I might try to assassinate him.” Bran snorted.

“Would you prefer to be king?” I asked, curious.

“Not really, though I’d accept the crown if need be. I would never dishonor my father by turning my back on our legacy. But Karehl is paranoid, and he has no need to be—at least not toward me. I may not like my brother much, but I support him.” Bran stood. “Time to be about the day. Asajia, why don’t you rest? You deserve it.”

“I didn’t do anything anybody else wouldn’t have,” I said.

“You’d be surprised,” Fenling said. “Not everyone would risk their lives to rescue someone from the battlefield. Quen will forever be beholden to you—he’s conscious this morning and he asked about you.”

I smiled. “Quen seems a pleasant sort. How could I leave him to bleed out?” I stood and stretched. “If I’m to have the morning off, I’ll go sleep some more. When I really think about it, I’m worn out. I didn’t realize the toll running off like that would take on me. I could use the extra rest.”

Fenling walked me out. As she did, a thought occurred to me.

“Where’s the scout? The one who was trying to drag me back to Renmark?”

She gave me a keen look. “Do you really want to know? Just know that he won’t be a bother to you again.” Her voice had an edge to it that I couldn’t quite place. But it left me uneasy.

“No, I suppose not,” I said. As I made my way back to my tent, I tried not to think about it.

Two days later, Quen was on his feet again, and everyone began to break down the camp. The storm had passed, and we were facing snow that was a good calf-deep in the depths of the forest.

“Won’t we be coming back here?” I asked as Fenling and I folded all the blankets, stuffing them in large canvas bags. She showed me how to fold the cots we’d been sleeping on, and then, we took down the tent and folded the hides as well as we could.

“Maybe, but we might be sent to another area, so we always take everything when it’s time to move. Okay, leave it all. The men will be by to pack it on the sledges and carts. You’ll have your horse, so we don’t need to provide you with one,” she added. “We ride at midmorning.”

As Bran brought Yaran to me, he seemed pensive. First, though, he handed me my weapons back. My bow and arrows, short sword, and dagger.

“Thank you,” I said. “Is everything all right?” Over the past couple days we had talked more, and I found myself wanting to spend more time with him. I felt safe around him, and he treated me like I mattered. He was cocky, but not arrogant, with an overall good nature, and his men followed him out of loyalty, not fear.

“I’m not looking forward to returning to Eleago, to be honest. I support my brother out of loyalty, but I’m not a fan. Nor do I like his wife.” He caught my gaze. “I trust you to keep that tidbit of gossip to yourself,” he added.

“Of course,” I said. “It’s none of my business. You saved my life, and have been nothing but kind to me. I wouldn’t throw you under the carriage wheels.” I paused, then asked, “What do you think he wants?”

“I don’t know, and that’s what worries me. We’ve been out on the road for over six months. Unless something has happened back in the kingdom…there’s no reason for us to return to the castle. Which leads to the question, what’s happened?”

“Do you have enemies? The Wolf People?” I settled myself into the saddle, patting Yaran on the side of his head. “This is Yaran, by the way. He’s been with me since my father bought him seven years ago. He’s my hunting steed.”

“He’s a fine horse, and he seems well-tempered. As to enemies, we have our share, but they usually stay in the mountains. If they’ve traveled down to the Bramble Fel Forest, then your village is in danger too. The ice giants are our main foes.”

I shivered. The ice giants were dangerous, though I had always thought they were a solitary folk. “Well, let’s hope it’s not them.”

“Truth. All right, we ride. We’ll stop during the early evening to bivouac, then continue tomorrow morning. In two nights, we’ll reach the castle walls.” He headed toward his horse. “Onward, men!” he called, taking the lead.

The ride was long and cold, but each night we camped with hot food, and roaring fires. The Wolf People spread tarps on the ground and we slept in thick mounds of blankets and furs, huddling together.

By afternoon the third day, we came out of the Bramble Fel Forest to see a castle ahead, on a high plateau overlooking the valley below. To our left, the forest gave way to rocky terrain. To the right, it continued, spreading out as far as I could see. Above the castle, reaching high into the sky, were more craggy peaks, covered in perpetual snows. We were almost at the Eiralpine Line, where winter ruled year round.

The castle stood, large and gleaming, the afternoon light reflected off the snow onto the stone, giving it a silvery look. I hadn’t expected an actual castle, I’d expected more of a village built around a mansion. This took me aback.

“It’s a real castle,” I said.

“Yes, that it is.” Fenling was riding at my side. She glanced at me. “What did you expect?”

“More of…a village surrounding a court hall, or something like that. I guess I thought the Wolf People would live more…” I wasn’t sure what I was trying to say, except I knew I didn’t want to offend anyone.

“You thought we’d be more…rural? A little more in the woods?”

I nodded. “I guess I don’t really know much about your people,” I added.

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