Page 2 of A Winter Romance
Perhaps he should find a place to hide from the snow. But where? How did one go about finding shelter in the wild mountains? Perhaps a cave would suffice. But where would one find a cave? Aryn was excellent at finding a place that served the crispiest, most luscious fried duck in Bordertown. But in his entire life, no one had taught him how to find a cave in the forest.
He kept glancing around as the desperation built until it felt like it was choking him.
“Hello!” he yelled. “I’m lost and need help!” Silence answered his call.
It had been a move born out of panic. He hadn’t seen anyone for hours.
Well, except for several oreads, mountain nymphs, climbing a cliff face. At first, he hadn’t spotted them, their grey skin and white or silver hair camouflaging them as they climbed the rock. They’d looked young. Not quite adults yet. One had spared him a glance, clearly undisturbed by his presence, before continuing upwards. He’d watched their slender bodies, moving with ease, wearing little clothing despite the cold.
He’d met nymphs before, back in Bordertown. They’d looked different though. In the city, they wore human clothing and didn’t climb up vertical cliff faces. Or at least, he had never seen them do so. Then again, there weren’t any cliffs in the city, but there were buildings. He had almost laughed at the image of Eviane, a half-dryad who worked at Greweth Perfumeries, climbing the city walls.
But since the oreads, Aryn had seen no one. Another icy gust hit him in the face. He ducked his head, trying to stop his teeth from chattering. A crack sounded in the air above. He glanced up, just in time to see a long shadow crashing downwards. A tree branch smashed into the snow in front of him. His horse reared.
Crying out, Aryn tried to keep hold of the reins, but they slipped through his fingers. He flew through the air and fell with a thud into the snow. Scrambling, he got to his knees. He watched his horse disappear into the trees.
“Damn you, horse! Don’t you dare leave me!”
He stared after the horse, but there was no sign it was returning.
What do I do now?
He couldn’t stay still in the snow; that way led to certain death. Pushing himself to his feet, he gazed into the forest around him. He could see the horse’s footsteps in the snow. Trembling, he followed them.
Don’t panic. Don’t panic. Just keep walking. It will be all right. Stay calm. Keep moving. Don’t panic.
Surely he would come across someone. Surely he must. He couldn’t focus on the fact that he was lost, with nothing but the clothes on his back. He had no horse, he had no supplies, and the perfume was gone.
He laughed bitterly. That should be the least of his worries. He was going to die! Still, he couldn’t help the despair that gnawed at his stomach as he pictured his parents’ faces, the disappointment on them when they realised he had failed them. Again. But perhaps this was a fitting end for him. Another failure. A final failure. He laughed until it sounded like a sob as he forced himself to trudge onwards through the snow.
He wondered if his parents would mourn him long. He wondered if Sasha would care. Sasha, who Aryn had been with for three years. Sasha, who had suddenly ended their relationship to be with Aryn’s brother, Jarne.
“I’m sorry, Aryn,” Sasha had said. “Jarne and I just fit together so perfectly. He and I have so much in common.”
He should have known Sasha was only with him because of his family name. From the start, all he’d wanted to do was talk about Greweth Perfumeries. Sasha couldn’t wait to meet his parents. His whole family. It shouldn’t have been a surprise when he’d fallen instead for Aryn’s much more talented brother.
Their engagement had been announced five days ago. His parents were thrilled.
“Sasha is so talented. That boy will go far,” his father had said. He hadn’t looked in Aryn’s direction, just beamed, smiling at Jarne, who didn’t even seem that excited to be marrying Sasha.
Then again, everything came easily to Jarne. His talent. Their parents’ approval. Aryn’s partner.
“Sasha will be a great addition to this family and Greweth Perfumeries,” his mother had said.
Aryn had been so desperate for this trip to be a success. To show his parents. Show Sasha and Jarne. Instead, it looked like he would die in these mountains. It would be no great loss to the family or Greweth Perfumeries. He’d never been anything but a failure.
He wrapped his arms around himself, trying to stop the shivering. He stumbled. The snow fell thicker. How was that even possible? He could barely see through the blur of white and trees.
I wonder who will find my body?How would they even identify it?
All his documents were in his bags that had disappeared with the horse. How long before his parents even noticed he hadn’t returned? Perhaps weeks? Or perhaps they wouldn’t notice at all.
But of course they would. He had taken their new perfume to Castle Evermore. They were waiting to hear what the royal family thought of it. They’d be so disappointed that it had never reached them.
The cold had gone right to his bones. His legs were like lead. He needed to keep moving. Perhaps he’d gotten turned around and was going backwards. Who knew? He should stop and try to get his bearings. But what good would that do? He’d managed to get lost with the directions whilst on an actual path. He had no chance now.
Damn this snow! Damn this forest! Damn these whole fucking mountains!
He stepped forward and tripped, falling on his hands and knees. He took several shaking breaths, icy air stinging his lungs. He needed to keep moving or die. But what was the point? What could save him now?
