Page 91 of Frozen Hearts and Death Magic

That was what he most wished: revenge. He hoped to kill as many enemies as possible, but he wondered if that would ever be enough. “And yet it won’t bring anyone back. You know what hurts? Kanestar died and I wasn’t there.”

“Then you wouldn’t be here, River. There’s no point regretting the past.”

He leaned his head on her shoulder. “I just want this to end.”

“It will.”

But how? He tried to remember what he had studied, and then recalled some of his father’s words to his master magician. “Do you believe the dragon lords truly have a staff that could help us counter the iron magic?”

She paused. “If anyone has something like that, it’s them. But I don’t think it’s that easy to find the dragon lords, and even if we did, I doubt they would just hand the staff to us. As to stealing it… How are we even going to find this thing? I doubt it’s going to be standing over a sign saying metal magic defying staff. How can you steal something when you don’t know what it looks like and where it is?”

River was thinking that such a powerful object wouldn’t be put away carelessly. “It’s probably under high security.”

“Exactly.” His sister’s tone implied that she thought that was an obstacle. For River, the extra security would be the sign pointing to the artifact. She shook her head. “Trying to steal it would be utterly reckless and foolish.”

Reckless and foolish. Reckless and foolish—like River.

* * *

Leah hadan ominous feeling as she stood in a dressing room, watched by Lady Celia, two servants, and Venard’s two older brothers. She would have preferred to be thrown into a giant snake’s nest, but her preferences hadn’t been heard in a while.

This was the dress-maker’s room, and there were many patches of fabric in one corner and a circular platform to step on. Slanted sun rays came through three tall windows, from where she could glimpse some of the valley below.

“Venard says you’re calmer,” Celia said, that voice grating Leah’s insides.

“Yes.” Leah managed a fake smile. “I’m getting used to Ironhold.”

“That’s good to know. Now, do you know why we’re making you try on a dress?”

“I’d love to know.” Reigning in her anger had been hard at first, but she was getting the hang of it. The issue was that it felt like swallowing poison, something bitter, corrosive, and it was getting accumulated inside her, about to turn into something she had no idea what it was.

“A proper wedding party, child. Like you deserve.”

Leah had dreamed about her party, her dress, and now she didn’t care about any of it. One of the women opened a huge box and took a golden gown.

Lady Celia then said, “Undress, child.”

There was a screen on a corner, and Leah moved to that direction, but the old woman stepped in front of her. “Here. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

The thought of being in her undergarments in front of these two princes made her insides freeze. “Can they leave? Or turn around?”

The woman slapped her face. “Who do you think you are to make demands? To give orders to two Ironhold princes? They’re here to ensure your safety. Nothing more.”

Cassius snickered. His other brother didn’t show any reaction, and to be fair, he wasn’t even looking at her.

Leah stared straight ahead and told herself that she was alone, that nobody was seeing her. That was the only way she could keep doing this, and yet her hands were trembling as she unlaced the front of her dress, took it off, then waited, wearing only her undergarments. Her throat felt dry and thick, with swallowed tears, swallowed words, swallowed screams.

“What are you waiting for?” Celia said.

“I’m undressed.”

“Silly, stupid, girl. We want to examine you. Get everything off.”

“What?” the word escaped from her lips, partly in disbelief, partly in horror.

“I’ll count to ten. If you still have difficulty understanding what I told you, I’ll get the princes to help you.”

The princes. Still in the room. As her eyes met Cassius’s, he licked his lips.

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