She wondered how much Estora wished not to be disturbed, or if it was just Zachary imposing his wishes upon her.
“Could you just please tell the king I am here? I’m sure he’d see me.”
Fastion’s expression remained stony, and he did not move an inch. “I’m sorry, Captain, but his orders were explicit.”
If he said “I’m sorry” one more time . . . She stared at him. He was as immoveable as a statue. She glanced at Willis, and he was much the same. It would be of no use to wheedle and cajole. She’d just have to catch Zachary while he was out and about, or try later. Thing was, if he wasn’t even sending for her to attend him at meetings, it would be difficult to know when these times were, and she could not camp outside his door. It would be unseemly, and she had enough of her own work to attend to.
She turned on her heel and strode brusquely down the corridor only to encounter a familiar figure burdened with ash buckets and the other implements of her vocation.
“Anna,” she said, “how did your time with Master Riggs go today?”
“Fine, ma’am.” Anna looked rattled to be suddenly confronted by her. Her buckets were full, so she must have just come from the royal apartments by way of the servants corridor.
“Did you like Mallard?”
“Oh, yes’m. He is so big, but gentle. He let me pet his nose and everything.”
Laren was relieved. The girl was nervous as a hare and it wouldn’t take much to scare her off, and yet there was the steely aspect to her.
“Anna,” she said, “were you just with the king and queen?”
“The queen, ma’am. I made sure I got out of there before the king returned.”
“Made sure?”
“Yes’m. I don’t think he likes me in there when he’s with the queen, and when I am . . .” She shuddered.
“When you are, what?”
“His eyes. I should not say this about our king, but his eyes get all hard and I can feel him watching me until I leave.”
That, Laren thought, was not like the Zachary she knew. She glanced about to make sure there wasn’t anyone in hearing range. “Anna, if you would, let me know if you observe anything unusual where the king is concerned.”
“Unusual?”
“Er, if something just doesn’t seem right to you.”
Anna looked thoughtful. “He likes his rooms cold, never wants a fire. But then he is usually with the queen anyway.”
That was somewhat odd, Laren thought, but Zachary was generally practical, and if he was spending his time in Estora’s quarters? “Anything like that,” she said, “bring it to me. And also, if you are alone with the queen, tell her that if she ever needs anything from me, that she is to send you to me immediately.”
“Yes’m.”
There were questions in Anna’s eyes, but she did not ask them.
“Thank you, Anna. You may carry on with your duties.”
“Yes’m.”
Laren watched thoughtfully after the girl carrying her buckets down the corridor. Having an ash girl keep watch on Zachary was perhaps not the most reliable way of finding out the cause of his behavior, but it was certainly better than nothing, and who would suspect an ash girl?
It was the best she could do for the moment, until an opportunity to confront Zachary directly presented itself.
WHAT SIR KARIGAN WOULD DO
The next morning, Anna woke up nervous, for today she would actually ride Mallard. Mara had found her some old but serviceable boots to wear, and green trousers that were no longer suitable for a Rider to wear on King’s business. They fit well, and she had gazed at herself for so long in the mirror that her roommate could only roll her eyes.
After breakfast, she hurried to Rider stables. She couldn’t believe her luck, really. First she’d been transferred to working in the royal quarters, and then she started having new lessons to learn history and such, and with Green Riders even. Best of all, despite the fact she couldn’t be a Green Rider herself, she was going to learn to ride. Not so long ago she could not have conceived of coming to Captain Mapstone’s attention, much less the queen’s. She, of course, couldn’t forget Sir Karigan. If not for her, none of this would have happened. Anna would not have met the queen and captain, and, this part made her shiver, she might very well be dead. Sir Karigan had saved her from the ice creatures, after all.
The stables were warm compared to the outdoors, and she waited by Mallard’s stall in anticipation for Horse Master Riggs to arrive. When she did, Anna was told to groom Mallard the way she had learned the previous day. Then she learned to tack him and was instructed to lead him out to the paddock where the lesson began in earnest. Anna had been on horses only a few times before, always riding behind someone else, and they’d been burly farm beasts. Mallard was sleek in comparison. It was strange being up in the saddle all by herself, but Master Riggs went slowly to make sure she was not scared. She learned how to use the reins and her legs, and how to sit and maintain her center of balance, but they did little more than move at a walk.
Afterward, Anna learned how to untack Mallard, and she brushed him down. She then had to hurry back to the castle for her shift.
• • •
As Anna lugged her implements down the servants quarters to the queen’s apartments, she could feel the ache in her legs. Sitting on a horse took a lot more muscle than she thought. It always looked like the horse was doing all the work and the rider just sat there, but now she was learning there was much more to it.
She cleaned the ashes out of the queen’s bed chamber hearth, and by the time she reached the queen’s sitting room, she was pleased to discover the king was not present. He must be meeting with the Rhovan prince, and she was glad. King Zachary’s hard eyes and cold manner disturbed her.
The queen reclined on her sofa and looked to be napping. Anna went to work at the hearth as silently as possible, but her presence did not go unmarked.
“Hello, Anna,” the queen said.
Startled, Anna whirled and made a clumsy curtsy. The queen was not asleep after all.
“How are you?” the queen asked. “Are you enjoying your new lessons?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. It’s wonderful.”
The queen smiled, but it was a tired smile. Anna remembered then what Captain Mapstone had asked her to do the day before. “Your Majesty?”
“Yes, Anna?”
“Captain Mapstone asked me to tell you that if you ever need anything from her, to send me immediately.”
The queen smiled again. “A crafty woman, is our Captain Mapstone. She’s turning you into a regular messenger.” The city bells started ringing out the noon hour. The queen frowned, and when the last bell faded, she said, “Anna, please tell the captain to meet me here this time tomorrow.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Anna returned to work, and as she finished up, she heard a door open and close, and there was a curious inrush of cold air. A quick glance over her shoulder confirmed that the king had arrived. She hefted her buckets and tools and scuttled from the sitting room.
She heard the king say, “I am returned, my dearest. Now we can sit together.”
“So soon?” the queen asked. She did not sound particularly pleased.
Anna entered the servants’ corridor and their voices fell away as she left the queen’s apartments behind.
• • •
The following day, Anna had no lessons, but as always, she attended to her rounds. It was one of the days she took care of the Rider wing and she had found that she’d gone from unnoticed to known, for many of the Riders she happened to encounter in the course of her work now knew her name and greeted her. Her life had changed so dramatically she could hardly believe it. Tomorrow she would begin basic arms training, and the idea was both thrilling and even more frightening than riding a horse. The Riders reassured he
r that Arms Master Gresia was a good instructor and that it wouldn’t be frightening at all.
Buoyed by their words, she headed back to the west wing to tend Queen Estora’s rooms. As she worked in the queen’s bed chamber, she heard the queen speaking to someone out in the sitting room, and then remembered it was the time that the queen had requested Captain Mapstone to see her. When Anna had delivered the message to the captain, the captain had sat back in her chair deep in thought, looking concerned. Anna didn’t know what was going on, but she sensed the queen was unhappy. Snippets of their conversation drifted back to her.
“—and the prince and his counselors are right to be offended,” the captain said. “His lack of interest has been rude. He was the one, after all, who requested the Rhovans to come. It’s entirely unlike him.”
The queen said something Anna could not hear.
“No,” Captain Mapstone replied. “I have not. He has not let me near him, and he does not summon me to attend him. I find out about meetings if Les Tallman remembers to send me a message.”
The frustration was, to Anna’s ear, clear in the captain’s voice. She crept toward the sitting room trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible, but the two women were so deep into their conversation that they did not appear to notice her.
“It is troubling,” the queen said. “He will not even allow his dogs near him.”
“That is extremely unusual,” the captain replied.
When Anna reached the hearth, she chanced a backward glance. The captain stood, seeming to gaze off into the distance, her left arm still bound to her. The queen sat on her sofa, seeming to have sunk into her own thoughts.
“I cannot believe I am saying this,” the queen told the captain, “but I prefer the old Zachary. He did not smother me, and he let me see other people.”
“What? What do you mean? He doesn’t let you see other people now?”
“Not even my ladies. He barely lets the servants do their work. Jaid is almost afraid to come tend me. That is why I had you come now, because I knew he’d be meeting with the Rhovans.”
“That . . . that is not Zachary. Something is very wrong.” The captain’s boots tapped the floor as she paced. Then she paused. “It’s almost as if he’s bespelled, and I wouldn’t put such a thing past Second Empire.”
Anna dumped a panful of ashes into one of her buckets. She was working slowly, too slowly, but the conversation was very interesting. She knew she shouldn’t even be paying attention, but she couldn’t help herself. She shook her head. I need to—
Her thought was cut off by the opening and closing of a door, and that curious inrush of cold air made the flames leap and crackle. She hunched down, not wishing to be spotted by the king.
“I am returned, my—” He stopped short, the air and attitude of the room turning decidedly frosty. “Laren, what brings you here?” His tone was almost one of menace.
“I requested that she come,” the queen said. “Surely you would not begrudge a visit from your old friend.”
Silence. Then, “You are not to expose yourself to outsiders who may be carrying sickness.”
“Laren is not an outsider,” she countered, “and though you are my king and husband, I resent your telling me who I may and may not see. I am not your prisoner.”
Anna glanced over her shoulder again. The king looked furious, and the captain, who had remained quiet during the exchange, peered oddly at him, almost as if she were searching his soul.
“You have not been yourself,” the queen told him.
The room chilled considerably.
“All I wish to do is cherish you,” he said, “to honor you and our children.”
“You are right,” the captain told the queen, “he is not himself.”
Anna held her breath.
“In fact,” the captain said, “I would venture to say it is not even him.”
“What do you mean?” the queen asked.
“You know I have the ability to read a person’s honesty? I cannot read him. I am blocked by a wall of ice. I know Zachary’s mind and he has no ability to block me like this. Whoever this is, his mind is . . . alien. This is not Zachary.” The captain unsheathed her saber and cried, “FASTION!”
The king flung his hand out, and the captain was hurled across the room, her sword ringing when it hit the floor. She did not rise. The queen stood aghast, and there was pounding on the doors, voices shouting outside, Weapons trying to enter.
Terrified, Anna crouched down low to stay out of sight, not believing what her eyes and ears were telling her. The room was so cold no matter she was beside the fire.
“Who are you?” the queen demanded, fear quavering in her voice.
“I am more powerful than any king in the world. I am the north wind and the ice that bites in winter and thaws in spring. I am the maelstrom of a blizzard and the tranquility of a snow-covered field. The Eletians name me aureas slee. I am ice.”
As he spoke, the room grew colder and colder. Anna wrapped her arms around herself not wanting chattering teeth to give her away.
“Leave me,” the queen said. “Don’t touch me.”
“I must take you away from here. I will take you to my domain.”
“No!”
“I admit it is risky for your offspring, but I must have you.”
“Let me go!”
Anna turned and peered around the end of the sofa. The king, or whoever he was, held the queen’s wrists. She was trying to break away. It sounded like he planned to take her somewhere against her will. The Weapons battered the doors. They should have broken them down by now, but there must be magic at work holding them at bay. The captain couldn’t help, for she lay unmoving on the floor. The only one left to help was Anna.
But I am no one.
She was “no one” with a fire burning beside her. She took a breath to collect herself and gazed into flame.
“You are hurting me,” the queen protested.
“Calmly, my love. Being distressed will not be good for the children. We will be there in but a blinking.”
The sound of scuffling and the queen’s throttled scream came from behind. There was no time for Anna to worry if she was brave enough. She had to act. She thrust a bundle of kindling into the fire.
“Let me go!” the queen cried.
“Do not resist. You do not wish to harm the children, do you?”
The flames ate at the ends of the kindling. It seemed to take forever. In a flash, Anna remembered Sir Karigan dropping the chandelier on the ice creatures and by doing so almost setting the castle on fire. It was an extreme emergency and damage to the queen’s chambers was less important than helping the queen herself.
Anna grabbed her shovel and filled it with live coals. All at once she stood and turned and flung the coals toward the aureas slee. Most landed on the sofa, and flames flared up. The aureas slee was so surprised he let the queen go. He must have also been hit because he roared in pain. Anna ducked down and grabbed her bundle of kindling, the ends now ablaze. She tried not to think, to not let worries trip her up. She sprinted around the sofa and jabbed the burning kindling into the face of the aureas slee. He fell back, threw his arm up to protect his face. She kept pressing.
This is what Sir Karigan would do, she thought. Well, actually, Sir Karigan would probably use her sword, or maybe her staff, but if she had kindling, this is what Sir Karigan would do.
The sleeve of the elemental’s coat caught fire. He shrieked. His face began to lose shape, took on an icy translucence. He stumbled back into a chair and sent a great wind howling through the room. Tapestries and drapes ripped off the walls. Vases crashed to the floor. It tore the breath from Anna and nearly bowled her over, and it bent the flames of her kindling back at her.
The aureas slee must have been losing control for suddenly the doors crashed open and Weapons
poured in. They bore down on the creature like furious hornets. It was now more than clear that the aureas slee was not the king for he’d lost all the king’s features, was a figure of clear ice, with eyes like hailstones. Its arm melted off with the heat of the flames. Its wail pierced through Anna’s chest, then failed as swords hacked into it.
There was another enormous blast of wind that blew out her kindling, and then nothing. The aureas slee was gone. It left behind only a pile of the king’s clothes that it had been wearing, and a puddle that had been its arm. All grew quiet, the wailing had ceased, the air stilled. For a breath, no one moved, but for a breath only.
“See to the queen,” one of the Weapons ordered the others. “Get Vanlynn and Rider Simeon, now!”
“Captain Mapstone is down,” another Weapon shouted from near her crumpled body.
Anna stood where she was as the Weapons swarmed about the room and around her. She still held the smoking bundle of kindling like an extinguished torch. Beside her the sofa smoldered, and in her peripheral vision, she saw a Weapon lift the queen into his arms and carry her away toward her bed chamber.
It was as good a time as any, Anna thought, to faint.
BENEATH THE OPEN SKY
Zachary dreamed once more of the deer fleeing before him, bounding this time not through the woods, but through tall grasses. He pursued her, but he could never run fast enough. He was always trying to catch up, his bow in hand. The grasses whipped his legs as he ran, the distance ever widening between him and his quarry. He would never have her. He . . .
He lost the dream as he awakened, awakened not to a lush green grassland, but a cave with all its hues of gray and brown, the constant low light of the glowstones. Was it day or night in the outside world? Was it still caught in the grip of winter, or had the thaw begun? He did not know if he’d been a prisoner here for days, or weeks. It felt like years.
What was happening in his kingdom? What damage had the aureas slee wrought on all his people? Was Estora all right? Surely she could tell the elemental was not him. Laren ought to be able to tell right away. If they were able to detect and overcome the elemental, how would he ever know? Surely they’d never find him. He could be anywhere in the world.