Page 2 of North Queen
He skirted back into an icy thicket at the base of a large tree, peering at her from within.
Talking to a fox was silly. Pretending the fox had a rational mind and understood her was silly. But he was cute, and she supposed she could allow herself a little silliness to help lighten her circumstance.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come?”
He didn’t move from the thicket.
She shrugged. “All right. Well, goodbye, little fox.” She gave him one last smile and then stepped into the open winter.
Now, away from the forest and the shield of the trees, she shivered as the wind bit at her skin. She pulled up the thick hood of her cloak, but it did little to warm her. Her eyes stung, and her fingers ached from the cold.
Her pace slowed in the deeper snow of the open meadow. Twice she stumbled on hidden rocks. Perhaps following the tree line along the forest might have been better.
She couldn’t control her shivering now, and she forced her eyes and mind on only her path ahead. The first cluster of trees wasn’t much farther, and it would be a small reprieve from the gusts of icy air. Her legs burned as she pressed on. She reached the small grouping of trees and huddled against the rough bark, rubbing her arms underneath her cloak to spur some warmth. How had she managed to get herself in the middle of a frozen forest? Where had she come from? Her dress was well made; she seemed properly put together. Surely she hadn’t been out long, which, she hoped, would mean someone would be looking for her and might soon find her.
“You look lost,” a gravelly voice called.
She jumped and turned to see a burly man leaning against a knotted pine. He wore a frayed winter jacket lined in matted fur and a dagger belted around his waist. His unkempt hair fell unevenly over his grimy brow, and he gave a grin of rotting teeth. He rocked his weight off the tree and lumbered toward her.
A shiver ran down her spine. “Oh, I’m fine,” she said, trying to hide her unease with a polite smile. Her mind raced for defenses. “I lost my horse on my morning ride, but I know my brothers are looking for me and will be along soon.”
He scratched at the motley hair on his unshaven cheek and slid his gaze down and back up her body. His grin widened. “What a coincidence,” he rasped. The snow crunched under the weight of his footfalls as he stepped closer. “My brothers should be along soon too. And they’d love to meet you.”
Her heart pulsed faster. Escaping would be difficult in the open. She swallowed the panic rising in her throat. She needed to keep her wits about her.
“I’m sure they’re lovely, but I should be on my way.” She backed up slowly, positioning herself to flee, but he lurched forward and grabbed her wrist, stopping her escape.
“I can’t let you do that.”
“Get your hands off me!” she demanded, trying to pull away from him.
He gave a grisly chuckle.
She fought his hold, striking out with her free hand, but his thick layers thwarted her defense. He pulled her closer, and the putrid smell of his breath—a vile, rotting stench—filled her nostrils. She whipped her hand up and raked her nails across the exposed skin of his face. He reeled back, growling in pain, and she sank her teeth into the flesh of his fingers. He lost his grip, and she wrenched away.
Everything within her screamed to run—this time with reason.
She sprinted back toward the forest. Her heart raced, coursing energy through her and giving her a burst of speed. His raged curses rang heavily close behind, and she feared she might not make it to the trees. Her lungs stung with each icy inhale; her legs begged her to stop. But she pushed herself harder, coughing for breath as she ran.
His growling huffs grew fainter, and she finally dared to peek back. She had gained a bit of distance from him. He was fast for his size, but she was faster. Her body tired, slowing, but her fear kept her going. She couldn’t feel her feet and worried about falling—sheneededto make it to the forest. Almost there, she racked her mind with what to do next. The snow would give her position away. She would have to outrun him. She glanced back again and, to her horror, caught sight of not only her assailant but three more men a little way behind him.
Reaching the tree line, she charged into the wood. As she fled deeper into the forest, it grew quiet behind her. Had he stopped? Was he waiting for his friends? She looked around desperately. Her body couldn’t run anymore, and the high-branched evergreens gave little opportunities to climb and hide. She couldn’t see her pursuers, but the sound of their voices told her they had joined up at the edge of the forest.
She paused as she raced through her options. Suddenly, the small fox appeared again, sitting calmly on a fallen tree.
“You again,” she said, panting as she looked around and tried to rationalize a plan. “Any help would be greatly appreciated,” she added. His ears perked as he watched her.
Stupid, she scolded herself. Nowwasn’t the time to be talking to a fox.
She picked up her pace again, fleeing farther into the wood. Lighter snow made her trail less noticeable. She saw a ridge ahead and sprang toward it. A frozen stream lay below, sheltered from the snow by its banks. Her pulse raced as her chances of eluding her pursuers grew marginally better. She slid down onto the ice, trying not to disturb the snowy bank too much, and made her way along the frozen water, but it still didn’t hide her. If they made it to the stream, they’d see her.
She noticed an alcove carved out along the stream’s bank. Although it was small, it would conceal her. If she was lucky, she could wait until they moved on. She crept into the hollow, pulling her skirts tightly around her and trying to quiet her labored breath.
The forest stood quiet. She waited. No one came. She waited longer. Still, she heard nothing, but she knew better than to venture out.
A branch snapped nearby.
Her heart beat heavily in her chest. A wave of fear washed over her, and she cursed her choice to hide. She should have kept running. Now she could only wait and hope they wouldn’t find her.
