Page 12 of A Tale of Ice and Ash
“I’m leaving you.”
“I don’t know the way back! I used an entirely different entrance. Don’t leave me here!”
“You’re smart. Apparently. You’ll work it out. Head north.”
“Snow–”
“Stop calling me that!”
A voice called through the forest. The bushes rustled ahead. Two small dwarves, a boy and a girl, barrelled out of the undergrowth. They both barely reached her hip.
“Eira! Eira!”
They were identical in height and similar in appearance, with wood-brown hair, hazel eyes, and features almost mirrored. She was glad Ivy had recently grown out her hair; it was hard before to tell them apart at a quick glance.
Juniper reached her first and smashed into her middle. “You’re late! Did you get it?”
Eirwen grinned, flashing her wrist.
“Pretty!” Ivy’s eyes glinted.
“We should get back,” said Juniper, seizing her hand. “Da’s getting worried.”
“Da?” Cole frowned.
Ivy gave a sharp gasp, as if only just noticing Cole. “Oh, hello…” she said, her eyes wide and luminous. “Who are you?”
Cole dipped into a bow. “Prince Cole, sweet lady, an old friend of the princess’."
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you.”
Ivy giggled, while Juniper pulled a face. He tugged Eirwen’s hand harder. “We need togo!” he insisted.
“Well, you heard the boy,” said Eirwen, turning to face Cole again. “I must leave you here to fend for yourself. I’d say it’s been nice to see you, but I’d be lying.”
Cole chuckled. “I don’t remember you being so funny.”
“I’d say the same thing about you, but I still don’t find you amusing.”
Cole bent his head back and roared, reminding her, just for a moment, of her father. He too got lost in a laugh. Cole recovered quickly, bending down to pull her into his arms. He really was far too tall.
“It was good to see you again,” he said. “And I won’t tell Mother about you. Promise. Take care, Snow.”
He squeezed her hands, and took off into the dense pine forest.
“My name isn’t– I still don’t like you!”
He raised a hand in farewell, shot her a gleaming smile, and disappeared into the trees.
Ivy sighed. “Who wasthat?”
Juniper looked appalled. “That wasPrince Cole,you absolute log! The son of the person that tried to kill Eirwen!”
“But he’s so pretty…”
Eirwen shook her head, and slipped her arm around Ivy’s shoulder. “I think we need to have a little talk about your preferences. Maybe reread one of those books Mama Gee bought for you? ‘The Charming Prince is Not Always Charming’, I think.”
