Page 16 of Ice Magic

Fenling swept in at that moment, bidding Quen to start cooking some stew, and Forth began to melt cheese for bread. Bran turned back to me.

“I have a surprise for you,” he said. “Come with me.”

He led me toward the entrance and I followed. There, standing with the other horses as Exis and Lanlan watched over them, was Yaran. His saddle was missing, and he looked a little roughed up, but there was no blood on him, and he let out a loud whinny when he saw me, pulling at his tether to break free.

“Yaran!” I rushed up to him and buried my face in his mane, throwing my arms around his neck as he knelt on his front legs and pressed against me. I started to cry as I checked him out. “Are you all right?” I whispered to him. “How did you ever find him?” I asked Bran.

Bran leaned against the rock wall. “He found us. We were making our way out of the Bramble Fel when he broke into the clearing. His reins were broken, and his saddle was gone, but I recognized him. He came directly to me. That’s when I thought Karehl had found you.” His voice grew thick and he coughed, tears in his eyes. “I thought you were dead.”

“Karehldidcatch me. I’ll tell you how later. He imprisoned me in a tower, but I found a way out, and managed to find a witch in the forest to stay with?—”

“NotGiselda?” He looked alarmed.

“No, though she played into my capture. She’s dead now,” I said. “This woman’s named Ashera, and she saved my life and helped reunite me with Fenling. But Yaran was gone—Karehl took him with them when they left to hunt you down.”

“Did my brother…did he…” Bran glowered, and I knew what he was asking.

“No, love. He would have, had I not escaped. But he didn’t get a chance.” I kissed Yaran on the muzzle again. Then, with Exis leading him over to eat, Bran wrapped his arm around my waist and walked me back to the fire and food.

By evening,we had filled Bran in on what had happened to Fenling and to me.

“But you… How did you escape?” I asked.

“The jailor is incredibly loyal to my father. I hadn’t realized he was still working. When I was young, I spent a number of afternoons with him, talking about the gods and stories of heroes and villains gone by. I loved listening to him, and he was a fair man and treated our prisoners the way they should be treated. He was kind to those who made simple mistakes, and he was watchful and cautious around those who shouldn’t be allowed out into the public.”

“Geoff! Is he still running the jail?” Fenling asked.

“Yes,” Bran said, “although it’s become much more of an actual dungeon now since my brother took the throne. Geofftold me he’s kept his job, even at his age, to make certain no one is treated unfairly. Karehl isn’t known for his mercy.”

“Did he help you escape?” Quen asked.

Bran nodded. “Yes. He waited until midnight on the second day and then he freed me and asked me which men I wanted to go with me. I gave him the names of the men who were with me when we were arrested that I absolutely know I can trust. I asked him what he was going to do—my brother would likely punish him and I doubt if Geoff could survive. But he assured me he had a plan to escape. He knew that he wouldn’t survive Karehl’s wrath, but he felt he had to let me go since he believes I should take the throne.”

“So…the other Lorani?” San asked.

“Still locked away, unless Geoff decided to let them go as well. But he wanted to see me out of the castle and away before taking a chance on freeing the others. Since there was at least one spy in our midst, there may have been others.”

By the time he finished talking, night had fallen. The snow was still howling, and everyone was exhausted.

“What do we do now?” I asked.

“We make for Swelan, where I talk to the government. They’re honorable and I think they may help us, at least with lodging until we can decide what to do.” Bran spread out his blankets and looked at me. I knew what he was thinking, and I was thinking the same thing, except this wasn’t the time or place. And I wasn’t going to embarrass the others by bedding Bran in front of them. This was the first time I wanted to sleep with a man, but it could wait until we had privacy, and until I was certain that it was the right thing for me to do.

Fenling and I shared a space on the floor, huddling together as the chill of the cave grew even colder. As we lay there, waiting for sleep, she turned to me.

“You love my cousin, don’t you?” she whispered.

I hesitated, then leaned closer to her so that no one else could hear. “Yes, I think I do. And I think he might care for me too. During the time we’ve been separated, I’ve realized that I can’t deny my feelings. If we come out of this alive…would it be so bad to have me as a cousin-in-law? Although Bran seems more like your brother than a cousin.”

She laughed. “I’d like that. I like you, Asajia. You’re as much Lorani as the rest of us. You carry the spirit of the bear, rather than being a wolf shifter, but you fit in with us and I was so worried when you just vanished.”

“I feel more at home with your people—with the Lorani—that I ever have with anybody else. I’m a huntress by nature.” I paused. “But what happens if Bran usurps his brother and takes the throne?”

“Then he’ll live in the Castle Eleago. But Bran’s rule would not be his brother’s. Worry about that when we get there. There may be a chance we’ll end up living above the Eiralpine Line for good.” She patted my hand, then kissed me on the cheek and turned over.

As we huddled back to back under the covers, I couldn’t help but watch Bran, who was snoring lightly. He was safe, and back with us, and he had kissed me. And that…that filled my thoughts as I finally fell asleep.

CHAPTER NINE

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