Page 83 of Kiss of Ice

She slammed the window shut and swore.

“That bastard, howdarehe keep me prisoner.” She racked her brains, trying to come up with another escape route. Could she disguise herself in maids’ clothing?

She laughed at the idea. Jaina, Leshi and Amal were all about three sizes smaller than her. Even if they were brave enough to defy the Emperor to help her, she’d never get into their dresses.

Fuck.

She threw herself onto the bed and thought about what Kam had told her. It couldn’t be true. Her father was an ambitious man, she knew that. But to directly attack the heir to the throne? He wouldn’t. Would he?

A little seed of doubt planted itself in her mind. Hehadbeen the one to start the speculation over Kamran’s death. When Kamran reappeared after all those years, her father was the first to suggest he’d run away. That he’d shirked his responsibilities as Crown Prince because he was afraid, or lazy, or both.

And that first day at the palace, when Kam had mentioned the name Mortaine to her father… what had he said? She screwed up her eyes and tried to remember. He’d said something like, “Mortaine sent his regards before his head was torn off by a beast.”A beast.Yet her father had shown no surprise or shock. No reaction at all. He’d just said ‘how unfortunate.’

Ren stared at the ceiling. Her father had known both Mortaine and the beast.

“No, it’s ridiculous. He isn’t a traitor!” She reproached herself, ashamed she was doubting her own father.

But then why had Kam told her all those things? To hurt her, of course. That was why. It was all part of his plan to break her. Feed her grapes one minute, lies the next.

Someone knocked on the door and she sat up.

“If that’s you, you can go to the deepest, hottest hell of the demonic planes and stay there,” she yelled. The door opened a crack.

“I presume you don’t mean me, my dear?” Ruth peered at her in consternation. “Why are there guards out here?”

“Ruth! You’re back.” Ren ran to the door and pulled the dresser inside. The wiccan was carrying a large bag with her.

“I’ve brought your wedding dress for a fitting. What’s going on?”

“The Emperor’s gone mad. He told me stuff that can’t be true.” Ren paced agitatedly. “He says he was put under a curse for all those years. Transformed into a monster. Trapped in the Forbidden Zone. It’s nonsense, isn’t it? Tell me it’s just a bunch of horse crap.”

Ruth paused thoughtfully.

“Hm.”

“’Hm’? What does ‘hm’ mean? You can’t possibly think he’s telling the truth!”

“I’m sure you’re right my dear. It’s just that… well, a transformation would explain why I can’t see his past. Why there’s a fifty year hole in his history.”

Ren stared at her in frustration.

“I need to see my father to get this cleared up. But Kam’s forbidden me to leave in case I cancel the wedding.” She gestured at the door. “Hence the guards.”

“Ah.”

“Can you help? Have you got anything that would knock them out?” Ren looked at her hopefully. “Or something to make me invisible?”

“That’s not how magic works, my dear,” said Ruth. “I can’t just wave my hands and make you disappear. Spells like that need preparation. Special ingredients. And preferably a written reminder of the words. I don’t have every spell memorised, you know.”

“So there’s nothing you can do?” Ren was disappointed.

“I didn’t say that. I’m a warper, remember?”

“Warper?”

“A witch who changes things. Like I change your dresses to fit you perfectly. I can probably change your appearance but it won’t last for long. Warping a person is a lot more complicated than warping a piece of cloth.”

“It only needs to last a few minutes. I can be out of the palace by then.” In sudden excitement, Ren grabbed the wiccan’s hands. “Change me into you! The guards saw you come in, they won’t think twice if you walk out. Can you do it?”

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