Page 86 of The Heartless Archer

She knew exactly what he was doing. She just didn’t know why he did it.

“What happens after the lake?” she asked, training her gaze back on the drawn map.

“There are two options: either you skate over the lake and take the natural entrance right here.” He pointed at the south of the mountains. “That would take too long,” Noora said and he nodded.

“That’s why you could use the underground entrance, through the lake.”

“Through the lake,” Noora stated and looked at him.

“Through the lake.” He rolled up the map and laid it beside him on the settee.

“Our guards carved a big enough hole in the ice, that you’d have to dive for a minute at maximum and then you would end up inside a small pool that is inside the mountains. It will take some strength and you’ll be cold afterward. Still, it’s a shortcut.”

“In the mountains, you have to take every turn left until you reach the heart of it. It looks like a small cave and inhabits riches you cannot even imagine. Do not take anything. I mean it.”

She nodded. “You forgot a part.” He tensed up.

“The part with the fire-breathing creature inhabiting those riches. It is forbidden for anyone to travel there, this is by far the stupidest idea I have ever heard. It would be like walking into the lion’s den. If you even make it that far the cave would be one’s immediate death.”

Nikolai stared at her for a few seconds. Then he burst out laughing.

Noora stared at him as a sound as melodic as the church bells in town erupted from the man and kept on going until she feared she would hear it in her dreams.

When he finally stopped laughing, his cheeks flushed and eyes glittering like polished jade, he spoke. “That is only a myth, Noora, do not always believe such gimmicks.”

“It is not a myth, it is real you stupid child.” At her words he sobered up quickly, his gaze darkening.

“If you found your fears in myths, you should not even partake in this tournament.”

He slid back in his seat, their legs untangling and Noora knew that whatever it was that triggered him, he didn’t want to be called a child. Though she could see behind his arrogant mask like she could through looking glass.

“If you decide to go, you have your token with you.” He nodded at her chest as if he could see the stone right through her clothes.

“You will be able to exchange the stone for an item of your desires. You should choose wisely since it could help you in the third task.”

“How should I know what to choose when I don’t know what the third task is going to be?”

He shrugged his shoulders as the sleigh came to a slow stop. Outside the window, Noora could already see the stands built in a crescent shape around the border of the forest. A small tower, built out of mahogany oak rested in the middle, making space for the four judges. One seat was empty, the others occupied by the queen, the blonde woman, and Koa-Ailani, a grim look on the witch hunter’s face.

“Did the other contestants get a one-on-one consultation like I did?” she asked, looking at the prince. He shook his head. “They only know the route they have to take but not what to do.”

“Why did I get one?”

“I felt generous.”

He was lying. He was not a bad liar, he did not flinch, nor did he break out in a sweat or blink while he told her lies. However, whenever he felt guilty he had the habit of driving his thumb over the small jade stone ring on his pinky finger. A fatal flaw in the golden mask of innocence.

Without mentioning it she went for the handle of the sleigh but his hand wrapped around her wrist.

“Noora.”

She turned to look at him. The cold mask slipped off his face and revealed his burning eyes of worry. “I want you to focus on what is important. Don’t chase a rabbit that is dressed as a wolf.”

She blanched. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“Do not lose sight of the real enemy.” He let go of her wrist, indicating that his generosity reached its limits.

With no clue what lay ahead of her, Noora opened the door and stepped out into freezing Hel.

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