Page 42 of Tis The Season for Secrets
“Right. I just thought since you’re a Klaus– sorry for bothering you,” she said quickly, not wanting to overstep more than she already had.
He merely chuckled. “I could ask my brother; Mason would be easier to convince than the council. Being the Klaus, he wouldn’t need their permission. However, as it’s December, he’s rather swamped getting everything ready for Christmas Eve. He’s in Santa mode right now, so it’s not the best time to ask for a favour.”
Given that this was a magical village in the North Pole and she’d used bells that could bring you from one place to the next, Santa Claus, or Santa Klaus, being a real person didn’t seem all that far-fetched. Still, the fact that Juliet was apparently talking to Santa’s brother threw her for a loop.
“As for information on legacies, I’m doing some research myself on Yule’s history for a game I’m designing. Depending on how far you want to go back, I might be able to help,” he said, motioning for her to follow him up the stairs.
“Anything would help. I’m Juliet, by the way. Thank you for helping me.” From what she’d gathered, the Klaus was the leader of Yule, with the council being some sort of government. Getting this close to a Klaus was probably dangerous, but she’d be careful not to reveal her last name.
“Kevin,” he said over his shoulder, “and I’m happy to help.”
They climbed the stairs to the third floor, where they were the only visitors. Judging by the dust on the shelves, this section of the library didn’t get much love.
“Was there a time-period you were looking into? Any family you want to focus on? Are you looking for someone?” Kevin asked, searching the rows of dusty shelves.
Juliet only knew about one event in particular. She tried to be as nonchalant as possible. “Um, the Frost family? I heard about their banishment in passing. I’m new to Yule, and my boyfriend is from here. I want to learn as much as I can about the history, rules, and laws. I wanted to know if it was true that peoplecanbe banished.” She comforted herself that it was mostly the truth, hating to reward his trust and kindness with deception.
Kevin hesitated, pointing to a row of F names. “A Klaus is the only one who has the final say on who is or isn’t banished, but the council make the recommendation. The Klaus family is the most powerful in Yule,” he explained with a self-deprecating grin. “A few generations ago, the Frosts were second to them; they looked after the protections of Yule. Unfortunately, they broke our most important rule.” He said it as though she should be able to fill in the blanks herself.
“About revealing Yule’s existence?” she guessed.
He nodded. “There hasn’t been a Frost in Yule for three or four generations, I think. I believe their legacies were included in the banishment, so I doubt they even know about Yule. I’m surprised you’ve even heard about them. The closest we’ve ever come to exposure was because of them – until my great-grandfather stopped them.” He scanned the last of the Fs. “Sorry, there’s nothing here. Everything must be in the archives.”
“You said your great-grandfather stopped them?” Juliet dared to ask.
“The story is pretty much legend now! The Frost family believed the world should know of Yule and its magic, so that those on the Outside could understand the hope and magic Yule brings to the world. They tried to use their influence to destroy the protections that safeguard the village from the Outside, but my great grandfather Klaus discovered their plot and stopped them in time,” Kevin told her. “The Frost name has become synonymous with the very threat of exposure in Yule.”
Juliet swallowed, wondering what he would do if he knew who he was talking to. “How were they going to destroy the protections?” she asked, wondering how much was known about them.
“I don’t know; that part of the story is always left out. It was the only time since Yule was founded in 270AD that our existence was almost outed. They don’t reveal details, probably to stop anyone else from figuring it out.” He shrugged.
“Do you think they would ever be allowed to return? I mean, can anyone banished return?” Juliet tried to hide the desperation in her voice, but the hint of suspicion in Kevin’s gaze told her she wasn’t being so subtle.
“They could petition the council, or the sitting Klaus, but they’d have to plead a pretty good case. Banishment is rare, and you have to do something pretty terrible to be cast out. I might be wrong, but I think my grandfather received a petition about a child in the Frost family.” Kevin’s eyes narrowed, deep in thought, as he scanned the books. It must be for his own work, because the titles he removed were beyond her comprehension.
“A child?” Juliet followed him to the next row, a cold sweat creeping up the back of her neck.
“I could be wrong, but I think the latest scandal had something to do with a guardian falling in love with the eldest Frost son. It’s not confirmed, but apparently, they had a kid. Every banished family is assigned a guardian to make sure theydon’t step out of line. No one ever expected the guardian to be the one to overstep.”
“What happened to the guardian?” Juliet was practically tripping over herself to get to the answers.
“I wouldn’t dare ask; the Heart family always dismisses the tale as mere rumour. No one knows for sure which guardian it was. Gossip would say that the guardian was given a choice, give up the kid or keep her position in Yule. Only the sitting Klaus or the council can confirm or deny the details. I think the story would make for an interesting game. Forbidden love is always a winner.” He beamed over his stack of books.
Juliet clenched her fist at the idea of her family tragedy being made into a game for other people’s amusement, but she needed his help. He was a Klaus. Even if she wasn’t sure what the deal was with this whole Santa Klaus thing, the Klaus family clearly had power in town, and she needed help.
“All sounds like some romantic tragedy. What about now? Are the Frosts still so feared?” Was there any hope for her future with her mom… or Will?
Kevin sighed. “Mason would probably be lenient. He’s broken a few laws himself. However, considering that the Frost family wanted to expose us, and the latest scandal being a perfect example of them defying the rules for their own desires, I don’t know. In Yule, everyone works together – so betrayal cuts deep,” he said, leading her out of the stacks and back to the main floor of the busy library.
“But those who wanted to expose Yule are long gone. Couldn’t your grandad have lifted the banishment and let the couple be together?” Juliet asked, trying not to think of how she was talking to a member of the family who’d kept her from her mom.
“It’s complicated. When someone, anyone, leaves Yule, they’re assigned a guardian. However, those banished areforbidden from interacting with their guardians and vice versa. Guardians are supposed to be invisible – the banished shouldn’t even know the identity of their guardian. They’re only tasked with making sure the banished doesn’t reveal Yule’s secret. To forgive such an infraction might encourage others to commit it. That, and I think the council were dead against it – and since a Klaus needs the support of the council to help maintain Yule, it’s rare they go against them completely.”
Juliet struggled to digest her family’s history. She felt like a criminal in this far-away land.
“Anyway, it doesn’t matter much now– no one has raised the issue in years. I’m sure the Frosts have forgotten all about Yule at this point.” Kevin shrugged, as though her life was merely an issue on the council’s agenda. “Are you alright? You look a little green,” he added, finally seeming to notice the effect his words had on her.
“Fine. Just sad to think a place like Yule, so welcoming and full of magic, has such a… sad history,” Juliet said, wishing she’d never gone into her dad’s office.
