Page 3 of A Dream of Snow

“He’s murdered too many innocents over the years. But to ease your mind, no—that’s not what the challenge is for. It’s an actual tradition among our people that’s seldom invoked, but it has a long history. Do you know what will happen when he arrives?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“Bran sent a challenge to Karehl. It’s called a blood hunt. The winner lives and takes the crown. Only blood relatives in line for the throne can put forth this challenge and they have to have been born within four places from the throne. Also, there can’t be anyone between them and the crown. I, for example, can’t challenge Karehl, because Bran stands between us.”

“So, we aren’t going to lie in wait and assassinate him?” The thought that Bran would offer a fair fight settled with me better, although the thought that he might not come out victorious made me uneasy. Assassination would guarantee that he wouldn’t be hurt, but it oddly made me feel better to know that he wasn’t stooping to a level that Karehl would embrace.

“No, but blood hunts can be bloody. It’s fair, but more lives are on the line.”

“Is it one-on-one? Arena style?”

Fenling shook her head. “No, it’s five-on-five. Bran and four of his best against Karehl with four ofhisbest. It can last from less than a day to a week or more. I’ll stand with Bran, and Quen and San. We need a good bowman, though.” She hesitated, then said, “We won’t ask you to risk your life, but you’re the best archer among the Lorani.”

I hesitated. “What’s involved in a blood hunt? Do you think I’d really be an asset?”

She sighed. “Yes, you would. A blood hunt…a space is selected and secured. We enter at different areas and we’ll be hunting each other. Borea’s people are setting it up now. The hunt ends when Bran or Karehl is dead—then everyone sets down their weapons and it’s over.”

I thought about it. I belonged to the Lorani, now, and my allegiance was with Bran and my new family. “I’m in,” I said. “If you need me, I volunteer.” And with that, I returned to my stitching, focusing on the needlework to take my mind off what we were facing.

Three days later,we gathered in a meeting room. Borea sat at the head of the table, her head witch Karina at her side, and one of her advisors at her left. We gathered around the large oval slab of marble, waiting for her permission to sit. All of the Lorani—all seventeen that had escaped with Bran and Fenling—were with us.

Borea looked around, then motioned for us to sit.

I accepted a mug of tea from one of the servants. Fenling, who sat next to me, held out a pastry and I took it, the smell of cinnamon making me salivate.

As the meeting started, Borea cleared her throat. “We’ve made progress. Karina has information for you. I advise you to listen well.” She motioned to Karina. “Please, if you will, the floor is yours.”

Karina, a tall woman with pale golden hair that flowed down to her knees, stood. Her skin was milk white, and her eyes, the frostiest blue I had ever seen. She looked like an incarnation of winter, and her energy carried that same cool demeanor.

“Thank you for coming,” she said, looking around the room. “As you know, Queen Borea instructed me to enchant a section of the forest for your blood hunt. I will do so, and when it’s ready, nothing will interrupt until you’re done.”

“Do we know if my brother is coming?” Bran asked.

Karina turned to him. “I sent my messengers through the lands, southward to the castle. My messengers reached Eleago and delivered Bran’s challenge to the throne. Prince Karehl responded. He’ll be here within a fortnight. The forest will be ready. You have until then to prepare.”

“How will we know when he gets here?” I asked.

“Once he passes the Eiralpine Line, I will know,” Karina said. “When he passes through Fenkar’s Horns, I’ll know. I will track him until he arrives at the city borders.”

Bran leaned forward, looking at me. “Fenling and I will also know. There’s a bond within Pack and blood-family. We’ll sense his presence when he draws close.”

I worried my lip. I’d known about the Pack-connection a little, but not how deep it ran.

“When he reaches the city, we will welcome him in,” Borea said. “You’ll be kept apart until the hunt begins. While I hope you win, Bran, I won’t interfere to change the odds. This is not my fight—we don’t have an official alliance, and Karehl resists the offer to form a connection. So we’ll give you the venue and make certain the fight is fair, and then we step back and it’s all left in the hands of the gods.”

“So, he’s on the way?” Bran asked.

“Yes. He rides this way even now. If he brings more men than the four he chooses for the hunt companions, the others will be secured so they don’t interfere. As will the rest of your entourage.” Borea leaned back in her chair, staring at Bran with an impassive look. Although she seemed determined to maintain a neutral position, I trusted her.

Bran hesitated, then said, “Queen Borea, I thank you. It will be a fair fight. I don’t want to win any other way. Either he will die, or I will.”

I shivered as a goose walked over my grave. “Bran…”

He seemed to understand what I was thinking.

“Ican’tjust assassinate him,” Bran said, looking at me. “Even though my brother would willingly stab me in the back,Icannot. And that’s why I must win. Eleago and our people need me.” Bran locked my gaze. The look in his eyes told me everything—he was an honorable man, and he wouldn’t stoop to his brother’s level.

“So, he’s accepted the challenge?” Fenling asked.

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