Page 10 of The Prince and the Ice King

“I can’t do that.”

“You’re a prisoner?”

“No. I could go, if I wanted. Everyone is free to leave if they choose.”

“Then you don’t want to come home?” Reardon’s arms dropped back into the water. “Your family stayed silent like all offering families do, but I’m sure they miss you.”

“You’re sure? Really?”

Reardon hadn’t actually seen them—Barclay’s parents and older brother. They always ducked away if they saw him coming. “Imissed you. If I can convince my father of the truth, wouldn’t you want to be free of this place? It’s remarkable, the people too, but it isn’t your home.”

Doubt was the only clear emotion on Barclay’s face as his gaze drifted, but before he could say anything, the door opened.

The creature that entered was indeedshocking, for he was a storm in motion, made entirely of lightning. He entered with a crackle, and all the hairs on Reardon’s body outside the water stood tall and tingling.

“Would you hurry up?” His voice snapped like lightning too. “Clean, dry, dress. These aren’t complicated tasks.” He too had attemptedclothing, but only a robe. Anything else wouldn’t have held its shape. He also had a face somehow, even eyes, separate from the other sparks of electric light that made up his form, though Reardon wasn’t sure how to describe it other than magic.

“Sir Liam?” Reardon asked, hiding his body behind the tall back of the bath.

“Liam is enough.”

“As court wizard, serving Josie and Jack? Do Branwen and Zephyr shorten their names and titles as well?”

“Branwen is Bran to some, but if you call Zephyr Zeph, he’s likely to take you to bed.” Liam laughed—at least Reardon thought the crack was a laugh, though he was busy blushing at the comment. “Formalities don’t stick around here long, so don’t expect me to call youHighness. Now hurry up. Your next audience with the king requires our assistance.”

Ourwas revealed as Liam entered fully and a woman came in behind him with long brown hair and a steely expression, who Reardon took for Widow Caitlin. She carried a potion bottle with a glowing blue substance swirling inside.

He couldn’t be sure if her cool expression was simply her demeanor or directed at him as prince of the kingdom that had shunned her. He vaguely recalled when she was chosen, because it had been around the time of his mother’s death, and she was one of many called witch that year.

“If you want to avoid frostbite every time you’re in the king’s presence, you’ll drink this,” she said simply.

They made no move to turn away, simply stood there waiting for Reardon to get out of the bath.

He ducked down lower.

Barclay scrambled to bring him the robe so he could step out without giving his audience as much of a show.

“Thank you,” Reardon whispered.

There was a dressing screen at least, where Barclay had already draped some suitable clothing—basic trousers and a shirt and doublet, with a pair of leather boots. None of it was frilled like a noble would wear, but it was of far better quality and color saturation than Reardon had ever seen on the commoners of his kingdom. Whoever made their clothing was a true artisan. He rather liked the deep red and marigold of his new garments, trimmed in leather to matchhis boots.

“Do you need someone to help tuck your cock away too?” Liam called when Reardon had yet to emerge from the screen.

“Liam,” Caitlin said in a reprimand.

“Please, he’s a prince. As if he hasn’t dipped his wick in a few brothels.”

“He hasn’t,” Barclay defended, but Reardon did not want that conversation to continue.

Summoning his courage, he stepped out from behind the screen and approached the wizard, careful not to get too close. He imagined that someone who touched him would be struck down like a bolt had come from the heavens.

Caitlin came forward to hand him the potion, and he drank it swiftly. He expected it to be cool, but it burned down his throat.

“This….” He coughed as he handed the empty bottle back to her. “… this will protect me against the Ice King’s touch?”

“No, but it’ll make it more bearable to be near him. The effects will last a few hours. You’ll know when it starts to wear off, though I doubt he’ll keep you for that long.” Her unfriendliness certainly felt personal with the way she stared him down, but he had little to defend himself with, other than being too weak for too long to stop any of this.

Reardon wondered if there were potions to protect against all the elementals in the castle, but their proximities didn’t cause as extreme results. Around Josie there was a slight metallic taste in his mouth, Branwen made him sweat, Zephyr made him lightheaded, and Liam made his ears tingle and his hair stand up.

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