Page 15 of Season Warriors & Wolves

The Skye. Memphis always flew with them.

“When did it start?”

“A few weeks ago, Your Highness. But your father’s Crafter has travelled South to Eldmoor to seek help from her coven and a few white witches have arrived this morning from White Bridge to warm up our skies. We should be rid of it in no time.”

Hells.

I giggled. “A snowstorm.”

He knew. My damn father knew there were no snowstorms. Is that why he had brought me to parade around the cities? A trap for my people? He’d wanted to lure them out of hiding by using me.

“Father,” I shouted, and everyone turned to me. “I’m feeling so unwell. Can I retreat inside?”

He sneered at me, looking around at all the people that had heard. “Of course, child. You might.”

I nodded, gathering my skirts, and following a guard leading me inside a tavern. “Be careful,” I shouted at him again. “It looks like a snowstorm is turning around, papa.”

Chapter five

White Bishop to B5

Kilian

The look beyond the highwall was grave. Pale behind the thicket of snow that had drowned the two villages close to us almost entirely to the point that Isjordians were no longer leaving their homes.

Help came rarely, meaning Silas’s priorities were no longer his people. If he didn’t have my wife and brother, I would have been tempted to go down there and give my aid to those that were struggling to purchase flour for their bread or make a hearth big enough to boil water for their tea.

Memphis returned and shifted into a large cat, nudging my knee so I could offer her a pat for being the best girl around. “Did you see her again today?” I asked, rubbing her back. She’d been the most alive these past few days than she’d been in a long while all because of seeing her bonded again.

The animal let out a little happy yowl and my chest hurt.

“She is well, isn’t she? Tell me she is well.”

Instead of answering, she reached and rested her head on my shoulder. All it took for my insides to knot and twist again.

“You’ve got to tell me, Memphis. Please, tell me.”

“Your Majesty,” Tristin called, and I looked up at the commander. “This could be the last time we will be able to fly the Isjordian skies. Silas has brought Glares and Magi-healers on patrol it seems. I have four soldiers with burn wounds laying at the healers. He is either attempting to keep the cold under control by heating the sunlight or knows what we are doing.”

I shook my head, still patting Memphis. “Besides me, you, Larg and Triad no one is aware of where we are sending you. Silas knows there are Olympians around, but possibly has undermined that number considering that it would be difficult to hide you and your wings, too.”

She looked around uncomfortably. “I do not wish to allude, my king, but someone from your court could have let Silas know of more than just our existence.”

“No one in my court but those closest to me know about what lies beyond the mist—they know of your existence, sure, but nothing beyond what everyone had already been speculating. Cai has not observed any movement in Myrdur since Snow got the sceptre.”

“What will we do next? It looks like they are still trying to sail west to Seraphim.”

“We will have to let them. We have his metal, coal, horses, fruit, oils, and spices. If we take too much, he will find a lead.” He’d made enemies and I’d made his enemies my allies. Everything that went in and out of Isjord was first stopped by me.

“You are playing Snow’s game a little too well.”

“She is a good teacher, and her model was almost flawless.”

“Almost?” she asked, her brows hiking with amusement.

“Good sabotage usually comes from within. She never planted a mole or a spy in my court, probably not trusting an Adriatian, but Silas already welcomed my wife inside his court. The heir announcement was never his plan, it was hers. The foundations are crumbling from right under.”

“You put too much faith in her reasoning,” Eren said, climbing up the stairs.