Page 84 of Frozen Hearts and Death Magic

17

Voices

After an hour in that room, Leah’s teeth were chattering, her hands and feet cold. The place wasn’t freezing, but it was cool enough that being there for a long while got uncomfortable.

The floor was granite, so that if she sat or lay down, she’d get even colder. But standing there was exhausting, so she was sitting, alternating positions so as not to get any part of her body too cold. What was the Ironholds’ plan? To make her hate them? She didn’t understand the point of it. Fine, maybe they wanted her meek and pliable, but she couldn’t believe that their strategy was the best. Then again, maybe they were just sadistic.

A sound caught her attention, like a strong wind blowing, but it made no sense that she would hear it all of a sudden like that. Well, maybe there was some piping or something amplifying it. But it was like a voice. It sounded as if it was calling her name. Perhaps she was hearing things. But what if… what if the dead were trying to talk to her? It was possible. The dead. Her magic. Perhaps there was a solution there. Perhaps she should turn to her necromancy.

As she tried to pay attention to any other sound, the lock in the door rattled. Leah got up, unsure what to expect, but it was just Venard, alone. Surprisingly, she felt relieved.

“How are you?” He didn’t sound concerned, though.

“What do you think?” It took some effort to take out the bite from her words. Defiance wasn’t going to help her here.

He shook his head. “I brought you a salve. For your hand. It will help it heal.”

Was she supposed to thank him? For bringing something for a wound his own family had caused? A glance at his face told her that yes, that was what he expected.

“That’s very kind,” she said, then she caught herself before she rolled her eyes.

He stared at her. “Why did you do that? Am I not treating you well? Don’t you have all the comforts you want?” That sounded like a nonsensical joke

“Your brother burned my hand, in case you didn’t notice.”

“But that was after. You could have caused a diplomatic issue. Why would you do that?”

Why? He didn’t understand why? She wasn’t sure if he was oblivious, dumb, or just truly thought it was all normal. Leah pushed down her anger. “I want to go home, that’s all. I don’t want to cause any trouble.”

“And we will. You’re just visiting. You know that.” He sounded as if he were calming down a child or something. “Once everyone trusts you, once you get to know us, we’ll go back to Frostlake. That was the deal, wasn’t it? But you’re not helping it.”

“Well, it’s not acceptable to leave me without food, to burn me, to want to hear me yelling. It’s not normal. Can’t you see?”

He stared at her and sighed. “There are many types of normal. That’s why you’re here; to get used to our ways. You’re making it seem much worse than it is, truly.”

There was no way she’d make him understand, and there was no point. “Perhaps you’re right.” No, he was absolutely wrong, but she wasn’t going to say it. She wanted to remain on his good side, even if it wasn’t that great. For now. “I… I would like to ask something.”

“Yes?”

She was about to make up a colorful lie and hoped he bought it. “In Frostlake, my family, especially my father and I, we worship the dead. And it keeps us from being sick, because of our magic.” She wasn’t even sure if what she was saying was making any sense, but kept on. “From time to time, I need to be near the dead.”

He frowned. “Like in a cemetery?”

“A mortuary would be better. Before they’re buried.”

“Because it’s not creepy at all.”

“I’m a necromancer. What were you expecting?”

He paused, then said, “This isn’t another trick, is it? Please don’t tell me you are going to raise the dead and try something stupid.”

“We can’t raise the dead. And I’m not going to do anything. I just need… the energy of death, otherwise I feel weak, I can get sick.” Perhaps this was the wrong thing to say, as she wasn’t sure if they cared if she was weak or not.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“You’ll check with your grandmother.”

“Once she’s in a good mood, and once she has forgotten your offense, yes.”

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