Page 4 of Frost Bound

He would marry the littlesaloeswretch, place the princess in the tower, and pray she was as sickly as his spies reported. With any luck, he’d never have to see her after the wedding. “As much as we’d all like to invade Astera and take it by force, it’s not possible. We all know how the Battle of Kallere ended.” He exhaled heavily. While frost giants were larger and more skilled in battle, humans bred like rabbits and had greater numbers. It made for an evenly matched battle, which led to far too many casualties.So much death. He’d lost two of his brothers and his father.

“The only path forward is a peace treaty.” The words tasted like ash on his tongue. He wanted to curse at the universe for serving him such a fate.

Hispovvar’sclosest councilor, Eira, brushed her snow-white hair from her face, her dark gaze looking pensive. “I agree with you,lae reillov. But I do have a question. What makes you think they will even entertain such a deal? They only have one legitimate child, from my recollection.”

Neve smiled for the first time, revealing just a touch of fang. “Our spies have reported that Queen Allium detests her daughter. The princess is kept cloistered in her own wing of the castle, and has no contact with the court.”

“And you’re not worried she has some defect?” Eira asked, arching a white brow in question.

“I know she does. The queen revealed a tidbit to one of her lady’s maids, one who happens to be in the pocket of one of our spies.”

“They hate us,” Lumi challenged. “They could marry the Asteran princess off to anyone.”

His smile widened mercilessly. “True, but the Asteran crown is deeply in debt. While they were able to continue farming despite the blight of the last few years, they didn’t hold up several of their trade contracts. Astera’s coffers are empty. They scraped enough together to fulfill some orders for their eastern customers, but they’ve left their own people to suffer and starve. I have a feeling they’ll be glad to sell their daughter off to the highest bidder. Anything to stall a growing rebellion amongst the people.”

“Even to so-called monsters?” Lumi spat.

“Especially monsters. The queen is calculating and vain. Allium knows the value of royal blood, and we are the only ones who can afford it.”

Bacti, a male with lavender skin smiled, but it wasn’t nice. “What of the clans? They expect you to take a bride from the people to unite us. They will not take it well when you choose a foreigner over their highborn daughters.”

Neve had thought of this. “I will take their daughters as the queen’s ladies-in-waiting. It’s one of the highest positions avallescan be offered.”

Bacti nodded. “Very good, sire. Seems like you’ve thought of everything.”

It took everything inside of Neve not to twitch. There was something about Bacti that rubbed him the wrong way. They’d grown up together, and were friends of a sort … but he didn’t trust Bacti, not like he trusted Olwen.

“What of an heir?” Olwen asked, a smirk on his cocky face. He laced his fingers across his stomach and leaned back in his wooden chair, which groaned under his muscle and weight. “There’s never been a half-blood on the Frost Throne in all our history.”

Neve narrowed his eyes at his closest friend but answered the question nonetheless. “A valid question. We all know it is possible for humans and giants to breed, but the survival of the mother is low. Depending on the state of the princess, we may have to enact the concubine edict to secure the Frost Throne.”

Lumi snorted and crossed her arms. “I’m sure Flyka will love that,” she grumbled underneath her breath.

His former love, Flyka, still hadn’t spoken to him since he told her of his plan three weeks prior. He’d be lucky if she’d spit on him if he were on fire, let alone be his concubine. If Neve was honest, he prayed it wouldn’t come to that. He’d been raised in monogamy, and had no desire to venture outside of those bonds, even if the idea of laying with a human turned his stomach.

“I will make sure the kingly line is continued one way or another. That is all that is important,” he replied.

“Peace and trade are all fine and good, but what will this alliance do for us?” Warrin, an old, silvering warrior asked. “Saloesare greedy, and they breed quickly. Do you have plans onletting them cross the border and settle in Loriia? Is it worth the risk?”

Running a hand through his blue-black hair, Neve sat back in his throne. He’d anticipated this. “I have no immediate plans on letting Asterans immigrate into our kingdom. They must prove themselves trustworthy first. I’m under no illusions that this truce will be easy for either side. There are centuries of hatred and violence on both sides. Peace and trade aside, I hope to procure part of their harvest each year.” He held his hand up as Warrin opened his mouth to speak. “While we can support our kingdom now, there’s no guarantee that the blight or some other disease could affect our crops in the future. Astera can grow things we cannot. This alliance is worth the risk.”

“Then am I to draft a letter to the Asteran monarchy,lae reillov?” Eyri said, pushing a thick pair of spectacles up his azure nose, black eyes blinking. His studious cousin was quite the scholar and secretary.

The king scanned his council, but all stayed silent. A begrudging agreement.

He dipped his chin in assent. “So be it. I would like to see a draft tonight.”

“Yes,lae reillov,” Eyri replied softly.

“Thank you.”

The king stood from his throne and his advisors rose quickly and bowed, their closed fists resting between their hearts. Neve rounded his throne and strode out of the crystal throne room. His back teeth ground together as a pair of light slippered steps followed him. He’d had a feeling his sister would follow him. While Lumi had said nothing at the end of the discussion, she’d been fuming in her seat.

“Not now, Lumi,” he growled, his boots slapping against the stone floor. Still too close to the council room. Noise traveled inthe stone hallways beneath the palace. His council would be able to hear every word they spoke.

“I will not be silent when you’re acting a fool,” she hissed back, her voice echoing in the arched corridor.

Qov.

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