Page 99 of Dead Crown
Lumi and Jaki had to go down there with them. The one who said nothing was there gaped at the wall.
The poem was there plain as day.
“I swear it wasn’t there before!”
The others agreed. They’d seen nothing.
“Perhaps it only shows up if someone related enters,” said Lumi.
The others were already hurrying back up the steps. “Then we’re not supposed to be here!”
“I’m never stepping foot inside here again. I don’t care if you sack me, Your Majesty.”
“You only have to go into the room with Rinder’s-” Lumi cut off as boots pounded away.
Lumi and Jaki were left alone with a lantern.
Jaki cleared his throat. “I suppose if you’re not blood, you don’t have much reason to be in here, do you?”
“Er, no.”
“I suppose they’ll only appear if someone related by blood appears, and if you have anyone with you, and notice them, you’ll know to keep them out of Rinder’s room.” Lumi figured that if Tivar hadn’t been there, they would have all noticed the poem once they were done looking at the portion of the wall with the markings and the key image. They would have kept the Mage out.
“Tivar clearly didn’t see the warning. More proof he was only the false heir.”
“He didn’t care how much proof there was.”
“And he can’t hurt anyone now.”
***
Jaki had to explain the story to the rest again. Lumi was sure they wouldn’t be able to keep quiet, and soon, the wholeKingdom would know that if anyone entered Rinder’s tomb, they’d be devoured by vines, and no trace would remain.
Honestly, it wasn’t bad. Nobody needed to be entering Rinder’s room again.
Even though Iceland would presumably return to its former self, there were no cheers. Lumi felt strangely calm. For the most part, he had nothing to fear anymore. Tivar was gone. There wasn’t even a body to worry about, although he could have rotted on the floor for all Lumi cared.
He had Jaki who wouldn’t need to go to war, and their daughter was waiting for them.
Jaki led him up the hill and went first to make a rough path in the thick snow. They paused at the top, and Lumi got to see the bay ahead.
Chunks of ice floated, and the water rippled softly. Lumi couldn’t tell where it would be safe to walk or stand on the edges. The ice made all sorts of strange shapes, and with the snow, it was likely quite treacherous.
Most of the ice was green like his eyes, and with the white snow and the dark, peaceful waters, it had a strange beauty. He couldn’t tear his eyes away.
Particularly huge pieces remained still in the water. Glaciers. If one took a boat and braved the ice, there was an island to find somewhere out there. Clearing the snow and living there was no good. Ice Island only had a few trees, wasn’t worth logging, and the soil was too stony to bother clearing.
And beyond that lay the Mists that surrounded their realm. Where they stood wasn’t the edge of the realm, but it felt like it.
Jaki put his arm around Lumi who leaned into him. The wind blew a piece of his hair across Lumi’s ears, and they twitched at the ticklish sensation.
“Your eyes really are the color of the green sea ice in the north,” murmured Jaki.
Lumi looked at the light green pieces gently bobbing in the water. Just like Father’s eyes. The wind picked up, and the cold made his eyes burn, so he closed them, focusing on the way Jaki’s arm felt around him.
“I think I prefer the pink of wolver flowers.”
***
