Page 130 of The Prince and the Ice King

“Tragedy did follow thus,

love’s road is tough for all,

but a hero knows no right or left,

only forward toward their fall.

“Into love,

into tragedy,

but all we ever need.

“The hero called defeat and vowed to make a great amends,

assuming love would never rise to mend their heart again.

“Yet oh, the fates have other plans for those who beat the odds,

and love will find its way again when power finds a cause.

“This power might have culled the lands but chose to be a balm,

and in their worthy sacrifice, they found a brighter song.

“In their love,

in their destiny,

who finally came to be.

“So, heed this tale

for where you fall

may not be all they sing.”

Nigel ended with the usual flourish and deep bow, sending the room into uproarious applause. Once he jumped back down from the table, he blinked as if he had been in a sort of trance but smiled and took his seat to a sweet kiss on the cheek from his love.

“Was that your story?” Reardon asked the Fairy Queen, who remained standing in front of their table. Reardon had seemed enamored but also clearly affected by the depressing nature of the tale that eventually led to a happy end for a creature not quite human—or elf or otherwise.

“Perhaps,” she said, “but the best fairy tales are not told merely once.” She bowed, and then turned to descend back to the people, taking a seat beside her prince.

She was certainly enigmatic, but what mattered to Jack was his own happy end seated beside him.

They feasted and enjoyed themselves, seeing so much warmth and comradery between everyone. The harpsichord was still against the wall, and before long, music filled the hall as well. When the food was gone and only wine and ale poured, the tables were pushed aside to make room for dancing. Eventually, even the members of the court went down to dance with the others.

Jack hesitated, not because he would ever deny himself the opportunity to hold Reardon close, but because he wanted to look upon his people, mingled with others he never thought he would see here.

When Reardon pulled him from the head table, Jack went with him but sat them down at the edge of the elevated stage to survey the merrymaking.

Branwen, who had once been thought too brutish to be a kingdom’s master of arms, was delicately twirling Caitlin, a woman who had been preceded by the title of “widow” for so long, Jack never would have thought he’d see her smile with the rosy glow of new beginnings in her cheeks.

Shayla was dancing with Liam’s daughter, though they snatched Liam by the wrists to force him to join them. He had a chance to make up for what he had once neglected, and Shayla, a starving thief, would never go hungry from lack of food or love again.

Zephyr was as drunk as Jack had ever seen him. Although once he’d been exiled by his parents simply for wanting the company of another man, now he was starting to untie Nigel’s shirt right there on the dance floor. And Nigel didn’t need to use his tricks or bardic tales against others, he needed only to make them smile.

Jack’s own sister, Josie, who had followed him in his selfish ways, now cared far more for her people and the man on her arm than she ever had for fancy dresses and jewels. Barclay would make a fine addition to their family, the seer who’d lost his own only to find another in his banishment. The pair was taking a break from dancing to talk with some of the Emerald soldiers.

---