The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Three: Crown of Ice Read online

  “I would offer you a blanket and a place to sit but as you probably guessed, I haven’t had a chance to retrieve my supplies from the wagon.”

  “It’s alright,” she nodded, lifting her hand to slowly remove the hood from her head. “The tent floor separates us from the snow at least. I am just grateful to be out of the wind. This place might not be so awful were it not for that.”

  Calmly she settled herself on the ground, tucking her legs to keep them covered by the material of her cloak. Without the hood to conceal her face Edric was able to see her features more clearly. Her chestnut hair was long, pulled tight into a twist of curls, several strands dangling elegantly over the back of her neck. In a feminine gesture she brushed the wave of bangs away from her eyes, their soft orange-gold hue adding to the unexpected beauty of the woman seated before him now. Aside from the standard issue uniform she wore, Edric never would have guessed her to be a soldier had he not met her under the current circumstances.

  Realizing that he was staring, he gave the most charming smile he could muster, diverting his gaze to the flap of the tent where they had entered. He was becoming more unsure of his decision to invite her in. Offering a silent prayer, he willed Callum or Gadiel to come in search of him. After his hasty departure from Neomi’s hut, it seemed logical they might be curious of his well-being. “So,” he stated, louder than he anticipated. “I believe you were about to tell me what the local women say about me behind my back.”

  “You are not going to let that go, are you?” she laughed, the final traces of discomfort dissipating from her gentle features. “It might hurt your feelings. I would hate to break your heart so soon. We barely know one another.”

  “My heart doesn’t break easily. Do your worst, Lady Viarthi.”

  “Well, to start, I am no lady. You may call me Sahra. That may be a better foundation if you insist on forcing me to insult you.”

  “Insult me?” he peered at her quizzically. “So the ladies do speak poorly of me? I must say I am curious where they receive their intelligence as to my nature. Tell me what they say and I shall speculate the source.”

  “Speculation would be a waste of time, I’m sure,” Sahra chuckled. “I’ve always suspected the views were from women who are merely bitter at the fact that they could never have you. When you desire a man and he is well beyond your grasp, it’s easier for a woman to convince herself the man is riddled with flaws. The only stories I believe to have some substance are those regarding your preferences in women.”

  “Preference in women? What do you mean?” Intrigued, he knelt down on the floor, making sure to keep the distance between him and Sahra. He couldn’t let himself get distracted.

  Sahra’s smile widened at his question. Amused by his innocent curiosity. “Come now, Your Highness. Don’t pretend you do not have particular things which you find…pleasant. When you look at a woman there must be features about her which help determine whether you find her attractive. The color of her hair, the shape of her eyes, the size of her nose, the curve of her mouth – For example, there is a well-known suspicion that you have an affinity for the scent of lavender. There isn’t a single girl in the countryside who does not own a vial of lavender perfume in hopes that she may one day wear it in your presence and seduce you.”

  He couldn’t help laughing at the ridiculousness of what he was hearing. These women discussed means of seducing him? While he disliked the thought of being considered an object, he found the concept entertaining. Flattering. Sadly, he knew the truth. They weren’t seeking to seduce him. They dreamed of seducing his crown. “Not a single girl in the countryside, hmm?” he smirked. “That leads me to suspect you own a vial as well. You are from the country, are you not?”

  “Oh, I don’t deny it,” she winked, playful in her mannerisms. “I have it with me even now. When my sister heard I was being sent on this mission and that you might be in our company, she insisted I bring it. In my defense, I am not wearing it. War is not the time to worry about seduction. I hope you’re not offended.”

  “Offended? Why would it offend me that you’re not attempting to seduce me? If anything, it works in your favor where my opinion is concerned.”

  “Well, that goes back to the other stories I have heard about you.”

  “Ah, yes. The ones you are finding ways to avoid telling me. They must be bad if you cannot bring yourself to speak them out loud.” Pulling down the hood of his cloak he let his gaze linger on Sahra, challenging her with his eyes. He couldn’t deny his growing curiosity. What did these women say that could be so bad? Sahra was far from shy. If it made her hesitate, it had to be worse than he thought.

  Clearing her throat Sahra tugged at the clasp of her cloak, seemingly uncomfortable with the topic. Edric found it humorous to think that she was so worried about offending him. If only she knew that he found her nervous fidgeting cute. The way her fingers fumbled over the fabric. Teeth nibbling on her lower lip. Whatever these people said about him, he could never hold it against her. She was merely passing the information along. “You have to promise not to be mad at me,” she frowned. “Women can be quite cruel.”

  “Trust me, I know that,” Edric rolled his eyes. “I’m not going to be angry.”

  “They say you are obsessed with women. No one can figure out why a man of your rank has not married unless you are content with chasing after every young girl at court. I was told to expect you to be nothing more than a heartless scoundrel.”

  It struck harder than he expected; to hear his biggest fear spoken out loud by this woman. So it was true. The people thought him no different from his uncle. The infamous Prince Enaes. Despite everything he did to avoid such a reputation, it had fallen upon him anyway. “Is this why you thought I would be offended that you weren’t trying to seduce me?”

  “I never thought that,” Sahra frowned, scooting forward across the floor to lean in closer to Edric. “A girl need only speak with you for a moment to know all of those horrible rumors are false. That is why I have passed them off as nothing more than bitter insults from women who are not worthy to have your acquaintance. I never would have spoken of them had you not insisted.”

  “I know,” he nodded. It was true. He’d promised not to be upset. Why did it matter what these women thought? If what Neomi said was true about the beast they were up against, he was going to die in this frozen hell anyway. Then the people back home could say whatever they wanted. “Let them think what they want. As long as they are true and loyal to my mother and father, it matters little what is said about me.”

  Shifting her weight Sahra rested her hand lightly upon Edric’s, drawing his attention to their closeness for the first time. How had he missed it? In his distraction he’d ignored her approach, leaving them now in a position of inappropriate proximity while in the privacy of this tent. He needed to find an excuse to separate them without making her think he was angry with her for the information she provided. He never thought he would ever be so grateful for the protection of his gloves. At least with the fabric between them, the gesture lacked the intimacy it might hold if their skin was to make contact.

  Her other hand moved away from the clasp of her cloak, reaching forward to brush the side of Edric’s face. His heart raced at her touch. Not because it caused him any excitement but for the fear of what she was doing. This wasn’t just about his behavior anymore. She was well aware of what she was doing. The fact that she continued led him to believe she didn’t care about propriety. But what did she want? What did she hope to accomplish with such gestures? “I think it best if we both retire for the evening,” he stated quietly. Cautious of his movement, not wanting to be too forceful, he pushed her hand away from his face, avoiding her questioning stare. This was exactly why he shouldn’t have invited her there in the first place.

  Footsteps in the snow outside caught their attention, their eyes darting guiltily toward the flap of the tent. Edric’s heart pounded, the strength of each beat so strong he feared it would bur
st from his chest. He didn’t know if he wanted an intrusion right now. While it would interfere with – whatever Sahra was attempting to do – he didn’t want anyone walking in to find the two of them so close. It looked bad for both of them.

  To his dismay the flap pushed open, revealing Callum’s face in the entrance with a burst of cold wind. His mouth was open to speak, the words he had prepared trailing off before they could form, staring at Edric in confusion. “Edric,” he mumbled. “Have I come at a bad time?”

  “Actually, I was hoping you would stop by.” It wasn’t a lie. With Callum there Sahra would have no choice but to keep her distance. “Is Gadiel with you? I thought we should discuss the plan for the morning.”

  Edric held Callum’s gaze, desperate for him to see his discomfort. They had been friends for so long he was bound to recognize the pleading look in his eyes. Callum looked torn, glancing between Edric and Sahra, lingering on Edric a moment longer before finally responding. “He is here,” Callum said slowly, an expression of understanding crossing his sharp features. “If you don’t mind our company, I think you’re right. We should go over the details of what will happen tomorrow.”

  Flustered by Callum’s arrival Sahra removed her hand from Edric’s, straightening her posture. “I thought discussions of strategy were held in the command tent. Would you not prefer the Prince and I meet you and the Commander there?”

  “This will do fine,” Callum nodded, entering further into the tent, waving for Gadiel to follow. “It won’t take long. We should all find our way to our – separate – beds soon anyway.”

  Regaining his confidence Edric sat up, drawing his shoulders back. He would have to remember to thank Callum for this later. Next time he would be more careful about who he invited into his tent when he wasn’t feeling himself. Had it not been for Callum, he was afraid to think about what might have happened.

  Once Gadiel was inside, he closed the flap behind him, securing it in place to prevent the wind from blowing it open. At Callum’s direction he moved to Edric’s side, positioning himself between Edric and Sahra, nodding apologetically. “Pardon me, Lieutenant,” Gadiel smiled. “I need to take a look at the Prince’s injuries. He seems to be getting around a bit better but one can never be too cautious.”

  “Actually, Lieutenant…” Callum said suddenly, stroking his chin thoughtfully with a swift glance around the tent. “If you could go to the supply wagon and retrieve the Prince’s things. We will wait on the discussion until you return.”

  “Of course, Captain,” Sahra stood quickly, bowing to Callum obediently. She kept her gaze locked straight ahead, avoiding Callum’s watchful eye as she hurried through the flap. The three men remained silent until they were certain she was out of range to risk hearing their voices, speaking in hushed tones between them.

  “Edric, what in Sarid’s name is going on?” Callum hissed. “Can I not leave you alone for five minutes without you getting yourself into trouble?”

  “I wasn’t doing anything! She helped me finish tying off my tent. I thought I was being polite by inviting her in out of the cold. How was I supposed to know she was going to try and seduce me?”

  At his side Gadiel chuckled, clearly amused by Edric’s frantic defense. “Perhaps I should have warned you about her,” he smirked. “She has a reputation for being a bit of a minx. A man has to be on his guard when with her. I learned that the hard way several years ago. My suggestion would be to not invite her into your tent again unless you are prepared for what you are getting yourself into.”

  Edric stared at him, mouth agape. A minx? But she was such a convincing lady. Her actions were demure and feminine… though it explained her strange confidence upon being asked inside. It had been a ploy. She intentionally sparked his interest in her company by mentioning the rumors. And he’d fallen right into her scheme. “I don’t believe this,” he muttered. He had too much on his mind to deal with this. One more misstep and he was prepared to swear off women forever.

  Nonchalant, Callum moved to Edric’s other side, kneeling on the floor to look him over, searching for something in the depths of his eyes. “While we are discussing women, I have a question, Edric.” The corners of his mouth twitched almost into a smile, quickly returning to his usual stoic expression. “The Ovatai ladies appear to hold a strong dislike toward you. Would you mind telling me what you did to cause that?”

  Shaking his head, Edric’s shoulders bowed forward as if burdened by some invisible weight. He should have expected this. The tension between him and Neomi was far from imperceptible. Given the fact that they were now about to be sent on a mission together across the country, it only made sense for Callum to inquire about their heated disdain. “Apparently the Ovatai dislike people touching their things.”

  “Have you touched something of theirs which would create animosity between you and the Chief ’s daughter?”

  “You mean have I touched the Chief ’s daughter?”

  “You’re a smart man, Edric. How about you just answer the question.”

  “I have not touched her in the way I think you imply,” Edric frowned, lifting his gaze to Callum’s sternly. “If you want the truth, I can tell you I honestly have no idea why she hates me. There was a minor misunderstanding upon our first introductions in Sivaeria. I made the mistake of trying to kiss her hand. A formality I am used to but clearly she is not. I felt the sting of her disapproval at the palm of her hand. If she continues to hold that against me then I’m at a loss as to how I can make peace with her. She holds a grudge worse than any woman I have ever known.”

  “And her friend? Moinie? Why does she detest you so strongly?”

  His frustration was returning worse than before. How was he supposed to answer Callum’s questions when he didn’t know the answers himself? “I don’t know,” he exhaled. “When Neomi was preparing to leave, I offered her and her company to stay at the palace for the evening and rest. She was drenched head-to-toe from the rain and shivering. I invited her to come back inside so I could at least get her a coat if she insisted on leaving. All I did was offer my hand to try and urge her out of the rain. Moinie was angered by this, but it hardly seems enough to merit the accusations she made when entering the meeting this evening.”

  “When you offered your hand, did you touch the Chief ’s daughter?”

  “My fingers may have brushed her skin…”

  “Then I think we have figured out what of theirs you have touched which has angered them,” Callum stated matter-of-factly. “First you tried to kiss her hand; then you touch her without permission a second time in the presence of her brother’s wife. Here, you initiated a form of greeting which is considered a symbol of hostility among their people, and then nearly snatched her family’s journal from her arms. These may all sound trivial to us but you have disrespected Neomi quite severely in the eyes of their people. Frankly, I’m amazed she is allowing you to accompany the unit she intends to lead. For the insults you have bestowed, she would be within her rights to demand your immediate return to Tanispa.”

  “What would you have me do? She isn’t exactly open to apologies.” Defeated, Edric buried his face in his hands. He was ruining everything. His very presence was placing Callum at more risk than if he had stayed in Tanispa. Because of him their entire army was almost attacked by the Ovatai when they arrived. At the rate he was going, they might still be struck down before the war was over.

  Callum’s hand settled on Edric’s shoulder. A comforting gesture. He appreciated the fact that his friend didn’t appear to hold his faults against him. This mission was Callum’s test and Edric was doing nothing but making it harder than it needed to be. But Callum didn’t know it was a test. If he was aware of what was at stake in his successful completion of the mission, he might not be so forgiving of Edric’s blunders. “I just ask that you try to make peace with her,” Callum sighed. “There has to be some way of regaining her favor. These people can’t be without forgiveness. Even if that means you have to a
ccept a few biting remarks. We cannot risk furthering the animosity between our countries. I don’t want to send you home. I need my friends in order to maintain my sanity.”

  Slowly Edric let his hands slide away from his face, staring at Callum, sympathetic of his friend’s admission. Under his composed exterior, he was still the same broken man Edric had witnessed in Tanispa. While it saddened him to think of his friend suffering, he found it oddly reassuring. Edric wasn’t the only one who had doubts about this mission. He was simply the only one failing to hide them. “I will do everything in my power to correct whatever wrong I have done to Neomi. That won’t be possible if I continue to have distractions like Sahra posed tonight. How am I supposed to concentrate if she has her mind set on seducing me?”

  “I will speak with her,” Callum reassured. “She has her faults, much like the rest of us, but she is a loyal soldier and a skilled fighter. She wouldn’t hold the rank of Lieutenant if she wasn’t.”

  “I don’t doubt that,” Edric nodded. “I didn’t come here to be some woman’s conquest. I came here to serve my country and my Queen by helping our allies. With any luck she will understand that I mean no insult in dismissing her. If we are victorious, perhaps we could invite her to court. A woman with a reputation of seducing men…she would fit right in.”

  Gadiel’s head snapped to attention. Neck stiff, he snapped his fingers at Callum and Edric, motioning them to be quiet, his hands quickly moving toward Edric’s boots. “She’s coming,” he whispered. “Quick. Take these off. She has to believe I examined your injuries or she’ll know it was just an excuse to get between you two.”