Page 20 of Winter's Dragons. Frozen Flames
Just like every other time, he was waiting for me on his side of the bridge, beyond the part of the river that was frozen. However, that was where the similarities ended. As soon as he saw me and my sisters approaching, he started to wave frantically. No wonder Eranthe had noticed something wasn't right, even if they hadn't actually spoken.
"Oh, dear," Pandora muttered under her breath. "I have a feeling this is definitely not one of his games."
I nodded, growing more concerned with every second that passed. "Stay here with Tarasia and Eranthe. I'll be right back."
My sister squeezed my shoulder and ushered me off with an encouraging smile. Reassured that Tarasia and Eranthe would be safe, I rushed toward my friend.
Jack didn't even bother waiting for me to cross the bridge completely. He met me halfway, hyperventilating, his eyes wide with dread. "Cassia! Thank the gods! Listen, something horrible has happened."
I wasn't sure to what extent his breathing issues were connected to his decision to leave The Realm of Eternal Ice, so I dragged him back toward his homeland and forced him onto the snow. "Breathe, Jack. I'm right here. Slow down and tell me what's wrong."
My attempt to help him didn't work. If anything, it agitated him further. "It's my sister! Snegurka has been acting strangely for the past week or so. I finally figured it out... She cast some kind of spell. I'm not sure what it was. It had something to do with a soulmate. But... Oh, Cassia, it's dreadful. I think she's gone mad!"
"Gone mad?" I repeated in alarm. "What do you mean? What is she doing?"
"Before I left, I heard rumors that she was assembling our armies to stage an all-out assault on the rest of the realms, to establish a reign of eternal winter. She's coming here first. Cassia, you need to take your family and run."
All right, that was bad. I could now understand why Jack was in such a state of panic. I wasn't sure Queen Snegurka could actually take over The Realm of Eternal Sunlight with her creatures, but she could do a lot of damage here, especially so close to the border.
A part of me couldn't help but wonder what in the world she hoped to accomplish with this, but if she was mad like Jack had stated, maybe rational goals were beyond her. In any case, finding answers to such questions was a job meant for adults, not for a ten-year-old just now learning to cast her first spells. Running sounded like a great plan.
I quickly hugged Jack, grateful beyond measure that he'd taken such a risk for our sakes. "Thank you for warning us. I'll tell my family and the people in my village. We'll find a place to take shelter at once and notify King Jarylo." I released him from my embrace and debated what I was about to say next. "Do you think you can go to The Bridge of Frosted Leaves and warn the people at the garrison there? King Fufluns needs to know about this as well."
I half-expected my friend to refuse. In fact, I almost wanted him to. It was one thing for him to warn me of the imminent danger that threatened my family, and quite another to betray his own to a kingdom to which he held no attachments or connections. But I needed to ask if only to know if someone else in Lillia would have to go send a message to the ruler of The Realm of Eternal Bounties. It would not be me—my mother would never allow it—but another nymph would definitely take up the duty.
As it turned out, I had underestimated my friend. After a small moment of hesitation, Jack took a deep breath and nodded. "You're right. I don't like it, but I'll go. I probably should've done this sooner, anyway. Snegurka needs to be stopped."
"Oh, do I, little traitor? How bold of you to say."
The sudden, biting words sliced through the air like a knife, and both Jack and I yelped, looking around wildly to find their source. We didn't have to search for long.
Queen Snegurka seemed to manifest out of thin air, emerging from the fog in a swirl of snowflakes and magic. Her ornate headdress glowed so brightly it hurt my eyes, and in the cold light of the sun, her pale skin almost looked translucent. The already snowy ground beneath our feet turned to pure ice when she stepped upon it, her elemental powers as sharp and unyielding as the countless white diamonds that adorned her robes and her silvery hair.
Where had she come from? I had sensed no disturbance in the snow, or in the magic around us. This did not bode well for our well-being.
"S-Sister," Jack stammered, "it's not what you think. I can explain."
Snegurka smiled at him, and the expression sent shivers down my spine because it was so very empty. "I don't think you can. I heard you quite clearly." Her ice blue eyes turned to me and she fixed me with a gaze that seemed to freeze my soul. "And who are you, little one? A nymph? How sweet."
When in doubt, stall and go for politeness. "My name is Cassia, Your Majesty," I answered. "I'm a friend of your brother's. I apologize for trespassing on your territory. We simply play here together, on occasion."
"Do you really? You must have a taste for dangerous games. Cassia."
The way she said my name—like it was a separate sentence in itself, not just a word—spoke volumes of just how much trouble I was in. I opened my mouth to answer, to try to buy a little more time. Snegurka must've seen right through me, because she glided to our side, as swift and ruthless as a blizzard. Before I knew what was going on, a cold hand landed on my shoulder and squeezed.
I couldn't suppress a gasp as I felt my whole arm go numb. Snegurka laughed. "You could be right, though. I find this game most amusing myself."
Jack cried out in distress and grabbed onto her robes, trying to tug her away from me. I could tell he was attempting to summon his magic, but for whatever reason—probably because of Snegurka—it wasn't working. He didn't give up. "Leave her alone, Snegurka! This isn't her fault!"
"Isn't it? Then it must be yours, in which case you must be punished twice as severely. Do you know what kind of punishment traitors deserve, little brother? Death."
A dagger of ice manifested in her hand. Jack just stood there, watching wide-eyed as his sister prepared herself to slit his throat. The death blow never came.
Anger and warmth rushed over me, and my arm—the arm Snegurka was still holding onto—went fiery hot. The numbness vanished, and Snegurka yelped, instinctively snatching her limb away from my own. She stumbled back, as shocked as Jack had been not one minute ago.
For a few seconds, she stared at her now burnt hand, as if she couldn't believe it actually belonged to her. Then, much to my surprise, she looked up at me and laughed."You're no nymph," she told me. "What are you?"
I didn't think providing an explanation would intimidate her or convince her to leave us alone, so I didn't answer. Instead, I grabbed Jack's arm and started to drag him further away from his sister. "Run, Jack. I'll stall her!"
