Page 103 of Frost and Death
I search Jerrick’s expressionless face, all charm and dry wit tossed aside, replaced with something dark. His eyes are distant, glossy, as if memories of his past eat at him. Gone is the demeanor of Rick, the charming man with whom I danced, as well as King Jerrick, who dragged me into enemy territory.
Instead, the man in front of me is different.
Haunted.
Jerrick shudders and closes his eyes, releasing a long exhale before he continues, “I prowled after my father, not letting him get close to her. I tore him away from her, unable to stop my actions. The only thing running through my mind was this all-consuming need to kill him. My dagger was unsheathed faster than my father’s magic, faster than the king’s guard could follow. I dragged my blade across his throat without a second thought,and I did the same to my own men. As I took down the others and my father bled out, his magic was transferring to me.
“I blacked out in the aftermath of everything. And it wasn’t until I awoke that I saw the decree reveal your mother’s curse. My brother and I fabricated a story for the people while I fought these urges. Ever since then, I’ve spent the last five years unable to fully quench this thirst to kill. I’ve resorted to hunting and training my magic to help me with this…” He flexes and unflexes his hands, his tone void of all emotion. “Curse.”
The word, again, lingers between us.
I focus on his hands as the silence hangs heavy in the aftermath of his admission. I remember admitting I felt the same during our travels.
But my mother could only do glamours. And even though I knew she blamed Palaena for Father’s death, Jerrick’s story still did not feel complete.
I meet Jerrick’s eyes. “Wh-What did you do with my mother’s body?”
I try to mask the tremble in my voice.
Jerrick swallows thickly, casting his gaze downward. “We held a small funeral for her and my father and burned her body, scattering both of their ashes.”
My breath hitches, surprised from his response. Emotions clog in my throat, wishing I could have been there to light the pyre or be present for her burial to offer her a final goodbye.
I turn when Jerrick lifts his head, blinking away the tears threatening to fall, trying to remain indifferent, even though I want to crumble. Grief seeks to consume me, but I steer my thoughts, needing to understand my mother’s intentions with Palaena.
She drafted a trade agreement to find proof of what happened to Father, not cause destruction herself.
Did Mother lie to us all?
Why would she curse Jerrick instead of his father? Especially if she believed King Ivan to be the one behind Father’s death. Why a marriage agreement with the enemy?
Maybe this is Jerrick’s hunger for power and he murdered my family and his father, and somehow, the action itself is what cursed him.
Still, I ask, “Isthiswhy you—”
My words trickle away, almost asking if that was why he left on our wedding night. No, I could not voice that question, even though it sits at the forefront of my mind.
“Is this why you haven’t been around?”
I am still convinced his story is fabricated, but he nods silently, allowing me more time to assess what he is telling me.
The tormented look in his eyes remains.
I shake my head, nothing making sense about the mother who raised me and the man facing me. “My mother wouldn’t do something like that. She didn’t know how to curse. She wouldneverdo something like that,” I say with finality.
Mother wouldn’t hurt a fly.
Jerrick contorts, reaching for a book near us. It’s bound in leather and worn around the edges. He opens the book, skipping through some pages, and stopping to show me.
Records of Axidoria’s criminals and their crimes are in this ledger. My eyes widen, and I yank the book away, reading the names of recorded murderers, rapists, thieves, and more.
My heart stops when I read over sentences dealt.
Those captured were cursed with a variety of punishments. Each name noted their curse, the duration of their punishment, and who performed the curse. Every one was recorded as cast by my mother. The bottom of each record was signed by my parents, an Alorian priest, and my parents’ advisors.
“H-How did you get this?” I rasped as I filter through the logs.
How have I never seen this before?
