Page 3 of Ties of Frost

To an extent, the Emperor’s Merit was a popularity contest that honored the heroes who had the best publicimage. Even knowing that, I longed to receive the award.

“The reports have been considered by the emperor’s trusted advisers,” the Grand Marshal continued. “Our esteemed emperor has reviewed their findings and decided who among our honored rengiri has the greatest merit.”

I kept my expression blank. Best not look too eager, as I likely wouldn’t be chosen. Yet my racing pulse wasn’t listening.

A flash of silver in my peripheral vision drew my attention from the Grand Marshal, who was reciting the rengir oaths. A tall elf with white hair hanging loose past his shoulders looked around. Sunlight glinted on the silver earrings and pale-blue gemstones adorning his ears from lobe to long point. Three rengiri stood between us, but still, his gaze caught mine. A smirk curved his mouth. He sent an exaggerated wink my way, a bit of magic making his blue eyes glow.

It had been too much to hope I could make it through the entire Dawning Festival without seeing Kyrundar.

My rival probably hopedhewould receive the medallion. When we attended Harcos Academy together, we’d been something of friends—friends who constantly tried to one-up each other. One night we’d gotten personal in a game of truth or challenge, and we’d both admitted our desire to be the best rengir in the empire, perhaps in history. To Kyrundar’s credit, he’d also appeared serious when he said his ultimate goal was serving those who could not protect themselves. But my mother had shown me that pleasant words could conceal selfish designs. Besides, thatlate-night admission had happened nearly fifteen years ago.

People changed.

That young elf with soft smiles and noble aspirations had become a rengir with flirtatious grins and an obsession with applause who constantly showed up where he was not wanted and got in my way.

Heat rose in my chest, and my fangs grew as scales appeared on my skin. I steadied myself, and my appearance returned to that of a human. Well, a human with small fangs.

The Grand Marshal read a declaration from Emperor Valesiart about the importance of recognizing the rengiri’s efforts, then declared, “It is now time to announce the recipient of the Emperor’s Merit!”

Cheers echoed like thunder.

I felt hot and cold all over. Did I look flushed? I felt flushed.

“Or shall I say…” The Grand Marshal paused, and everyone held their breath. Even me.

“Therecipientsof the Emperor’s Merit.”

I blinked, stunned. Whispers swirled around me. Never before had there been more than one recipient. Our young emperor was feeling a little rebellious.

“That is correct.” By the sly tone of the Marshal’s voice, he was enjoying himself. “His Exulted Royal Highness, Emperor Valesiart, has decreed that there aretworengiri who stand out above the rest, whose deeds and renown are so equal—and so frequently tied together—that to recognize one and not the other would be an affront to Iskyr.”

A horrified intuition spread through me. My head turned of its own accord, instinct sending my gaze searching for a head of white hair.

He was looking for me, too.

Our eyes locked. The same question shone in his expression, but he looked curious, anticipatory—eager, in fact.

I turned back to the Grand Marshal so fast my neck popped. It couldn’t be. It was someone else.Anyoneelse. Even if that meant I had to wait for the Merit.

“Today”—the Marshal’s voice boomed over the palace—“in recognition of their bravery, comradery, selflessness, impressive feats, unwavering dedication to their calling, and the lives they have saved, Emperor Valesiart bestows the Emperor’s Merit upon…”

Banners snapped in the breeze. The creak of armor sounded as rengiri fidgeted. My heart beat against my chest like it was trying to escape.

“Kyrmaris!”

The blood in my veins turned to sand. The Grand Marshal didn’t even have the decency to refer to us by our own names? In the most important moment of my life?

A deafening cacophony of cheers, applause, and whistles filled the air. I braced myself, refusing to show how the sound pounded my senses. I made my way forward, past rengiri who clapped me on the back or gave me friendly punches on my pauldrons. Head held high, I focused on breathing slow and steady and smiling so they wouldn’t realize how much I wanted to flee the overwhelming press of bodies.

A shadow fell over me, and I glanced up. Kyrundar flew over the heads of the other rengiri on a disk of ice that left a glittering trail of falling snow.

Show-off.

If I wanted to flaunt my power, I could, and honestly, I would win that contest. I could knock him out of the sky with a beat of my wings if I fancied doing so.

Which I did fairly often.

Fancied knocking him out of the sky, that is. I’d never actually done it.

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