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-&-

Chapter 15

       "Would you like something to eat?" Aeyron asked for the second time that day as I sat on the cool stone of the bench hidden in the back of the snow-covered garden. I smiled up into the soft flakes falling from the sky.

       "No, thank you." I could practically feel the brooding frown pull at his lips.

       "You said that earlier. You must eat." He practically growled as his large, heavy body sat beside me- his giant frame taking up much of the room on the cold seat.

       A thin beam of light had peaked out through the dense snow clouds swirling overhead, and I refused to let Aeyron's grumpy demeanor ruin it. "I will, tonight. I'm just not very hungry today." Which was true. I was so excited about touring the castle that the thought of food never crossed my mind.

       "Fine, but you will eat tonight." His tone held no room for argument, even though I wouldn't have anyway.

       "This place is beautiful." I spoke softly a moment later as we both gazed at the white-covered trees and flowers. The General eased somewhat beside me.

       "Yes, it is. These flowers only live in a harsh, cold environment. Its why the King filled the garden with them. Even when it's not winter, the mountain still snows."

       I knew that all too well. Even at the base of the Mountain where my village sat, we would still get trickles of snow throughout the year. It was a beautiful sight. The trees would be covered in green leaves, the ground with soft green grass and flowers that sparkled in the sun- and then snow would gently fall over them, like a cool white blanket intent on keeping them safe.

       "Come. I should get you inside before you get sick."

       I let out a small sigh as he stood to his feet and turned to me with a warm smile. "You and Terif both seem to think I will get sick from anything." His brown eyes flashed and he let out a small chuckle as he held his hand out towards me.

       "We do not mean to offend you, my lady. You are just very small- and fragile. The King would have our heads if anything happened to you."

       I couldn't help but smile as my hand slipped into his and let him ease me to my feet. He let go immediately after. "Maybe you don't, but Terif doesn't care whether he offends me or not. I think a part of him actually enjoys it."

       "No, I doubt that's the case. Offending you would offend the King, and he would never upset North on purpose."

       That I did know.

       "Besides, that grumpy wolf seems to like you."

       My steps fumbled at that simple statement, and I turned to him in bewilderment. "Like me? You must be mistaking Terif for someone else- or you're completely blind. The only reason he can be even remotely polite is because of the King." I scoffed and resisted the urge to roll my eyes as the large wolf led me back into the many halls of the castle.

       "Perhaps, but he talks to you- whether it be considered polite or not. That's saying something."

       I frowned at his words, at the amused twinkle dancing in his brown eyes. Of course Terif talked to me, even if it was only to be rude at times. Or is it also considered against the law to converse with Underlings?

       "I don't understand." I grumbled as we walked slowly down the outer hall of the castle, the one with open windows so large they were taller than half the buildings in my village.

       "Our Delta does not talk often, and if he does its usually only to the King. He could think you deserved that same respect being North's mate, but I have a feeling you hit a soft spot in his heart- Lady Emrie."

       That notion was so ridiculous it made me want to laugh. Terif- with any kind of soft spot? I didn't think so. Even so, the thought made me a little happy. Perhaps Terif and I could be friends after all. He saved my life and kept me safe the entire time away from the mountain, even if it was only for the King's benefit.

       "I-I know you said not to ask about how Terif saved me again, but can I ask you something along that line?" I spoke hesitantly as we wandered slowly along the castle's cold and empty corridors.

       Aeyron had made sure to only take me down the halls and terraces that no one would be wandering about in, even the servants. I was still to be kept one big secret, locked inside a beautiful icy prison. He let out a deep sigh beside me before reaching up to run his hand through his sandy brown hair.

       "You may ask, but I can't promise that I will be able to answer."

       Fair enough.

       "There was this night on the ship when Terif and I were traveling back to the Mountain." I started quickly. I feared if I did not rush to speak, he would stop me before I could finish. "I caught him and the King talking through this- this black-like stone thing. The King was there, but he was blue, and shimmering. I had never seen anything like it before."

       I knew it wasn't necessarily a question, just a re-encounter, but I was hoping he would figure out what I was trying to ask. Aeyron licked his lips and slowed his pace until we both stood beside one of the long windows, his dark eyes glancing out at the frozen landscape instead of at me.

       "Have you finished reading that book?"

       My eyes widened at the question- had the King told him about giving me the book? I'm sure he must have, but what did that have to do with anything?

       "Um, not completely. I'm almost done. Why?"

       He shuffled beside me, his thick arms crossing over his just as he continued to stare out the window. "That book is our history, our myths. It is so old no one really knows whether it is true or not." His tone held disbelief, but his eyes seemed to second guess himself.

       "But it is said that part of our Great God Adranus lives in the King's blood line. A piece of his soul passed down through generations." His voice was distant, his gaze locked on something far from here as his heavy body leaned casually against the stone pillar.

       I remembered reading about that, way back when Terif had first given me the book. I had just written it off as a fairy-tale they told their children, a myth to ensure they would always respect their King. A part of their God lived inside of him, no one would disobey that.

       "Do you believe that?" I asked softly beside him as I gazed out at the snowy, dark landscape. Even in the dead of winter, Eirik's kingdom was so beautiful

       He paused for a moment, licked his lips then let out a short breath of air. "Whether it is or not, the King has access to magic older than time. Perhaps a witch taught it to him years ago, and that book truly is just a story full of myths. Either way, North can do things that most can't. Appearing as a blue mist when his body is on the opposite side of the world is just one of them."

       "I see." That was more of an answer than I had hoped for, but even though it eased part of my curiosity- more only took its place. Why did Eirik have that kind of power? What else could he do?

       And then I had to reprimand myself for asking such thoughts. I sounded just like the Elders and people of my village when the gold-power emerged. It was always there now, always simpering just under the surface of my chest- ready to run to the King the moment he called for it. It was so odd, and I wished North did not feel the same about his own magic.

       "Let's walk and talk of other things, my lady." Smiling, happy Aeyron was back, but I could see the quiet urge in his eyes to drop the subject.

       Alright, I would stop asking for now.

-&-

       The days in the snow and ice encrusted castle slowly turned into weeks- weeks filled with a lonely silence. I would see Aeyron at least once a day, but other than that my days were spent either walking aimlessly around my room or the hall just outside.

       It had been two weeks since my arrival, and I've only seen the King a handful of times. He would occasionally invite me to eat with him, but we talked very little and it never lasted long. I felt closer to him when I had lived in the village. At least then, the few times we had talked was longer and- and more meaningful to me.

       I sighed at the window seat in my little seating room, my breath coming out as fog on the cold glass. Aeyron had to run some errands for the King today, or at least that's what he had said.

       I was tired of sitting in my rooms and doing nothing. I wanted to go out, to walk around the snow and breathing in the crisp, cold air. And if I left the castle and its grounds then no one would see me wandering around. I wouldn't technically be disobeying the King's wishes.

       I couldn't stop my ecstatic smile as I hopped off the cushioned seat and reached for the heavy cloak hanging in my wardrobe. My mind was made up. I was too tired of sitting here staring out the window aimlessly day after day, waiting for Aeyron to entertain me- or hoping to hear from Eirik.

       Besides, the snow wasn't falling too hard and the sun had actually been out for over an hour. It was a beautiful day for a walk. Even so, I made sure to pull on extra socks over my feet before pulling the leather snow boots on under my thick woolen dress. It looked beautiful, but that didn't mean it wasn't cold.

       The hall was deserted- like usual- when I slipped out of my room, the door closing softly behind me. An excited thrill shot down my spine as I walked quickly through the hall and around the corner. After two weeks with nothing to do, I was finally going to explore on my own.

       I tried to remember the way back to that hall full of statues and secret tunnel that Terif had first walked me through, and despite having to jump behind a corner a few times to avoid being seen by a servant- I found it relatively easily.

       Moving the statue that blocked the small wooden door was another thing entirely.

       "There has to be a button, or lever, or something." I grumbled under my breath as I let my gloved fingers run gently over the cool marble statue.

       After a few tenuous, and stressful minutes of searching I thought I had actually found it when the statue jerked and started to slide over, a wide smile pulling on my lips- until I heard the voices coming from the other side of the door. Panic surged through me as I jumped back hurriedly. The knob on the door rattled.

       Oh God, what was I going to do? Run! No! No time. Hide! Yes, hide!

       I quickly hurried to a few statues down the hall and jumped behind the largest one I could find as the secret tunnel opened. My eyes widened at the sight of the two Generals who stepped out with disgruntled looks plastered on their faces.

       What in the world had they been doing?

       "He keeps disappearing like we don't notice." Aeyron sighed as the wooden door closed softly behind him.

       "And the King refuses to do anything about it." Terif's voice was a dark snarl, one I had surprisingly missed.

       Who would have thought sitting in my room for weeks on end with very few to talk to would make me actually miss the bipolar-ness that was Terif? I watched as the always-moody wolf-borne reached up and pressed the statues nose. A victorious smile pulled at my lips as the marble stone rolled back over the door. At least I knew how to get to it now.

       "He will. Since when did you start questioning him?"

       They were walking slowly towards the entrance of the hall. Too slowly to make the panic in my chest ease, but that didn't stop my longing to hear the rest of their conversation.

       "I'm not questioning him, just voicing concerns." Terif grumbled as their heavy steps pulled to a stop just before the entrance of the hall.

       My heart jerked. I wanted to hear what they were saying, but I was terrified what they would do if they found me. It couldn't have been too terribly bad, but I knew I wasn't supposed to be wandering around alone. And they would tell the King, then I would be in trouble.

       I heard Aeyron let out a dark chuckle, that slowly ebbed away into silence. "He has a plan, he always does. It's just bad luck he found Lady Emrie in the middle of it."

       My breath caught in my throat at the mention of my name. Was that why there was such distance between the King and I? Because he has some big plan unfolding?

       Terif made a grunt-like noise in the back of his throat as his golden eyes glanced out to the hall in front of them, like he was making sure no one was coming to eavesdrop. I squished further behind the statue.

       "It was a bad idea bringing her here. It is not safe, especially since North insists on letting him stay."

       The tone in the General's voice was not one I was accustomed to hearing from him. Concern. Terif was worried about me, and I was beyond confused as to why. Aeyron was quiet for a moment- both of them just sort of staring down the hall, before he let out a sigh and leaned against the wall beside him.

       "I agree, but he does not know about her and she is confined to her wing. She does not seem like one to disobey."

       Oops...

       Terif snorted and I actually saw his golden eyes roll before they snapped to the Second in Command. "Your mind might change in another week. She is a nuisance who loves speaking out of term and getting into trouble."

       And just like that, my blood began to boil- because of that arrogant jerk once again. How rude!

       Aeyron laughed and leaned away from the wall with a shake of his head. "And she thinks you hate her."

       Terif growled and shot his companion a dark scowl before turning back towards the hall. "Whatever. I have to give the King our report, and you need to go check on her." He didn't bother waiting for Aeyron's response as he turned completely away and stalked off down the hall.

       Same old Terif.

       I watched quietly from behind the statue, waiting patiently for Aeyron to leave also- but he didn't. My heart beat erratically in my chest as he turned slowly around and walked back down the hall- right for me. My breath was chocking my throat as I pressed my back firmly against the wall and prayed he didn't know I was there.

       My prayers were in vein.

       "It's not nice to eavesdrop, my lady." Aeyron's head peaked around the statue I was hiding behind, and nearly gave me a heart attack.

       I squeaked and clutched my hands tightly to my chest, before turning wide eyes on his accusing brown ones. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." The statue between us was sturdy enough for him to lean against and stare down at me with a narrowed gaze.

       "You know you're not supposed to be outside of your wing without an escort." He started scolding as he reached down to help pull me to my feet.

       "Is it because of that guy you and Terif were talking about?" I didn't bother trying to hide the fact that I heard them, or pretended to not know what they had been talking about. He wouldn't have believed me anyway.

       Still, I was surprised he didn't hesitate in answering. "He's part of the reason why- and no. I'm not telling you anything else about the situation. The King has made it perfectly clear he does not want you involved."

       Figures. Of course, I would be kept in the dark even more.

       "What are you doing wandering around here anyway? I would have taken you this afternoon if you asked." I could hear the disappointment in his voice, and it surprisingly tugged at my heart. Aeyron had become a dear friend in the past two weeks I had been here, and disappointing him actually hurt.

       "I'm sorry. I was just tired of being stuck in my room. I wanted to go outside the grounds for a while."

       I knew any hope of that happening was completely squashed when a frown pulled at his full lips.

       "It is dangerous for you to leave the castle grounds by yourself. It is dangerous for you to be wandering the castle by yourself. The staff and other wolf-bornes are not used to seeing an unmated female walking around. Even if the King wasn't worried about 'that guy', there would still be trouble."

       I let out a tired sigh and shook my head as I eased out into the middle of the beautiful statue hall. "That seems to be the story of my life these days."

       All of a sudden, Aeyron was the one giving me a remorseful and apologetic look. "I am truly sorry, my lady. I understand none of this is easy on you. I wish the King knew of another way-"

       "I know Aeyron, it's alright."

       He remained silent after that and led me slowly back down the hall, leaving the secret tunnel far behind. Going would have been a bad idea anyway. I didn't know my way around the tunnels and I would have only gotten lost- if I hadn't been caught by then.

       "Terif's usually really good with sensing things, I'm surprised he didn't realize I was there." I started quietly a few moments later, if only to ease the tension between us.

       "He has a lot on his mind. The King has been keeping he and the others busy lately. I doubt he would have noticed if you were standing right in front of him."

       "Where is the King?" I couldn't keep the curiosity from my voice, or the desperate need. I haven't seen him at all in the past few days, and he seemed just as busy as his Generals.

       "We had a messenger arrive sometime this morning with news of attacks from the Northern Raiders. He has been dealing with that ever since."

       My heart skipped in my chest. The Northern Raiders... They were a dangerous group of shifters who preyed on all villages and towns along the North. The King and other wolf-bornes had fought them away from the Mountain on more than one occasion. But they were starting their attacks again, and that meant another war could resurface at any moment.

       "Are you hungry? Would you like me to have the kitchen prepare something?" His question was sincere, but I knew he was asking to change the subject. Just another part of the King's life I wasn't to know about.

       "No, thank you. I'm alright."

       I was a little hungry, but when I tried to eat that morning my stomach only flipped in nausea. I wasn't feeling well- I hadn't been for a few days, and the thought of food made my stomach turn.

       Aeyron narrowed his eyes at me.

       "Do not start this again, my lady. I expect you to eat three meals a day, or I will tell the King this time."

       I rolled my eyes at that as we pulled to a stop in front of my door, but his own were stern. I knew he was being serious, and I knew he would tell the King. It's not that I had stopped eating, I just wasn't hungry the first week I was here, and only ate at super. Aeyron hadn't liked that at all. I was fine for a few days, until I started feeling queasy.

       "And I will, tomorrow. I just don't feel so well today. That's all." I assured him as he held the door open for me. I shot him a grateful smile and stepped into my room. He didn't look convinced. "Are you going to tell the King about this?" I asked softly as he stood propped against the wooden door.

       His dark eyes flashed briefly before he sighed and shook his head. "No. I should, but I understand why you felt the need to go off on your own. If you would like, I can take you outside tomorrow."

       Relief filled my heart at his words. He wasn't going to tell the King- I wouldn't have to go through his disapproving looks too. And he was going to escort me outside tomorrow. This was a win-win kind of situation. I gave him another grateful smile.

       "Yes, please. I would like that very much."

-&-

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