Page 11 of A Dream of Snow

Bran smiled. “Then you shall have it. We’ll marry in the forest, then have a reception that lasts for days back in Eleago. And you will take the crown and be my princess—and later, my queen. We’ll rule side by side over the land.”

For a moment, I could see it all—it felt like it was there, within touching distance, as though I could reach out and capture it in my fingers. But before I could say anything, Fenling stood, her nose to the air.

“He’s coming,” she said. “It’s time.”

I shook the dream out of my head and stood, double-checking my bow. As we headed toward our mounts, Bran turned to us.

“Remember, my brothermustdie. It doesn’t matter who kills him, though I hope I’m handed the task. He must not survive.”

Leaping atop his horse, he led us out of the camp, into the treeline, to meet the oncoming tide.

CHAPTER SIX

As we followedBran through the trees, he seemed to know exactly which way to go, and even I could sense a shift in the forest energy. Everything was coming to a head.

On the way, I flashed back to the day I met Bran and Fenling. He had saved me from the men who tracked me down after I escaped Renmark, and I suddenly realized that I had fallen for him that very day, though I hadn’t realized it.

As the sun rose, glistening over the sparkling snow, Bran motioned for us to pause. As we stopped, the faint sound of horse hooves continued. Thathadto be Karehl and his men.

Bran motioned for us to spread out and find a place to hide. I guided Yaran over to the nearest tree that was big enough to hide behind and readied my bow. Given Karehl could sense Bran the way Bran could sense him meant we were just about on equal footing.

I wished it would snow. The snow would have provided us with extra cover. It was hard to see through the mist of a snowstorm. But the afternoon was clear, and we had no real place to hide. As I paused beneath the tree, I happened to glance up. A lot of the trees in the Eiralpine zone had scant boughs. The winds had swept them ragged and bare. But this one had severalsturdy limbs. It occurred to me that if I climbed it, I’d have a better shot.

I slid off Yaran’s back and carefully grasped hold of the lowermost limb. I slowly began to climb, easing my way up the trunk of the tree until I was in one of the upper branches. I’d climbed a lot of trees, and here, they were shorter than in the forests south of the Eiralpine Line.

As I settled in the crotch of the bough where it connected to the trunk, I realized that I had a good sight-line all around. It was much easier to see from up here. If we were all up in the trees, we could catch them by surprise, but before I could climb down to tell the others my idea, a movement caught my attention.

It was a horse—not one of ours—and the rider was easing his way closer to Bran from behind a thick patch of trees. I took aim, silent so as not to tip him off.

But as I drew back my bow string, a whistling through the air startled me and I screamed as something lodged deep in my arm. I dropped my bow, and it went hurtling to the ground. I looked down at my arm only to see an arrow sticking out from just above my elbow. I quickly scanned the area and saw, in a tree not far from me, Karehl’s bowman. He’d had the same idea and he saw me climb the tree.

As I struggled to hide, another arrow shot by, too close for comfort.

Below, on the forest floor, Bran and Fenling charge toward the trees hiding the rider I had seen. At the same time, San began to climb the tree I was in, as he saw me struggle to climb down using one arm. My left arm throbbed like fire where the arrow had struck, and I was bleeding. I tried to use my left arm to brace myself but the pain blinded me and I let out a whimper.

San reached me and, draping me over his shoulder, half carried me, half dragged me as he climbed down as quickly as hecould. Quen was waiting below and took over while San leaped back on his horse to go help Bran.

Quen slung me over Yaran’s back and took the reins, leading us back to camp.

“Go help Bran,” I argued. “I’ll deal with this myself.”

I tried to keep the pain back but groaned as I fumbled to get my cloak off. Quen pushed my hand out of the way and unfastened the brooch, gently sweeping the cloak off my shoulders.

“Bran can take care of himself?—”

“Bran needs all of us. So hurry up,” I said. “Get that damned thing out of my arm, slap a bandage on it, and then we’ll get back out there.”

Quen examined the arrow. “This is going to hurt,” he warned me.

“Give me something to bite on.”

He handed me a leather strap and I put it between my teeth and grabbed hold of my cloak, gripping it tightly.

“Take a deep breath,” Quen said.

As I obeyed, he yanked the arrow out of my arm. The pain hit my stomach and I wanted to throw up, but then the shock passed. He splashed it with hot water, then shook healing powder over the wound, and wrapped strips of rag around it, tying it tightly. I spit out the strap and leaned my head between my knees. I felt faint, but it would pass.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

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