The Ice Storm
Chapter Two
It was so...clean today. Perfect and unblemished. One could look out the high window and imagine the whole world just like this. A picture perfect landscape, bare of all the sharp, undefined shapes caused by living things - the trees, habitations of men, the tracks of wild creatures. A blank slate of a world, ready for the artists touch. Except that her step mother had never really excelled at artistry, thought the Princess. No matter. Soon, the old crone would be dead. A tear came unbidden to her cheek and she dashed it away angrily. But it was true, she loved the old woman.
"Rhoswen". The voice cut through her thoughts.
"Neva". Never 'mother', not for this woman. Rhoswen turned to see the Queen of the Eigth Kingdom enter the turret room. She was stooped, withered like an old branch. Not for the first time, Rhoswen wondered just how old the Queen was. Aged, but sharp still. Like a knife, the old woman had carved a niche in this unforgiving land. A niche that Rhoswen hoped one day to fill. But today, things were...difficult. It had been Neva's idea, at the start, to try and eliminate their main rivals before the battle. Rhoswen had found the notion distasteful at first. Unsporting really. And how could one be sure that they were eliminating the right people anyway? Hero's and heroines cropped up from nowhere all the time. This Virginia, she was too visible, already too accomplished. Surely the Kingdoms wouldn't be forced to rely on her again, if in fact they had even realised that they had done so before. Perhaps their failure to engineer the death of that woman at the bloodied claws of the monster wolf might prove uneventful, the Princess found herself hoping. And yet, for someone who had saved a greater part of the nobility of the Kingdoms, this woman Virginia Lewis certainly lived a mediocre life. She should have been feted. Princes and Kings should have vied for her hand. But she had settled for a quiet life, and Rhoswen had always distrusted those who dropped off the map.
The Princess went to the ice gilded window again. Would that she have had the sight, alone and untainted by the power. Still, there was little to be accomplished by avoiding pain simply for the sake of mortal comfort. Neva coughed, a gasping, ragged sound in the silence of the chamber. Rhoswen felt her own lungs twitch in sympathy, but she steadfastly refused to acknowledge her own brand of discomfort. She waited until her step-mother had regained her breath.
"You needn't have come all this way up those stairs, Neva. I have already received the tidings from the scouts"
"Really? And how did you come to know them?"
"You know how" Rhoswen answered, turning to face her step-mother Queen. Neva's face was as pale as it ever was, except for two spots of colour high on her cheeks.
"Dangerous, my Princess"
"Needful. That woman, Virginia Lewis, has returned to Castle White. Soon, I suspect she will endeavour to alert the other rulers. One has already arrived there, just this day"
"Which one?"
"The Queen of the Northern Second Kingdom. Scarlett, or whatever her name is. Now, how she came to be involved at the Coven Lake fiasco, I've no idea, but she interests me"
"She does? Why is that?" Neva asked, in a matter-of fact manner that very nearly went unnoticed by Rhoswen. The Princess drew her pale blond brows together in thought. What does my interest in that little Queen mean to Neva? But years of living and dealing with the oft called "Ice Queen" had taught Rhoswen to be cautious.
"I've seen her. Twice now, she has strayed into my visions"
"You didn't tell me this before, Princess"
"I had not thought it important until now. Do you think it meaningful, Neva?" Rhoswen asked, not nearly as subtle in fishing for information as her step-mother. She watched the lined face close in on itself, and fought the urge to sigh aloud in defeat. Sometimes all the plotting and plans were like a giant spiderweb spread out over the sky. And in the centre, Neva, holding the threads taut, manipulating and testing each strand as it hummed and spun through space and time. Rhoswen had a priveleged position, she knew, but it could just as easily be taken away. Keep your secrets then, old witch, she thought.
"I don't think her dangerous in herself, if that's what you mean, daughter. But, those who rally behind her are many"
"Weaklings all. They will have their hands too full in coming weeks, I'm sure, to bother about us overmuch. And once midwinter night has passed, it will be too late. For all of them"
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Scarlett paced the floor. The soft carpets muffled her impatient feet. More nervous than impatient, Scarlett, she reminded herself with a wry smile. She'd been smiling a great deal in the past week or so. Even the horrid spell of weather they had travelled through to get here had not dampened her mood. Only her mother, the former Queen Auburn, had managed to halt her wayward dreams in their tracks. Scarlett sat down heavily in one of the padded armchairs. So much to unburden, so much to tell. All the darkest secrets of her family were now hers to deal with. Auburn had returned to her estate and had steadfastly refused to leave it since. Scarlett had let her be, eventually. There was no sense in dragging her mother to and fro against her will.
There was a polite tap on the door. Scarlett's maid went to answer it. Scarlett could tell by the restrained giggle from the maid just who had come calling. Still, a chuckle from a serving maid was better than many other reactions she had received since the rumours had started. Just. She stood, wanting to meet him on her feet this time. Wendell stood at the doorway. One look at him told her much. As fidgety and nervous as me, she thought.
"Queen Scarlett Riding Hood" he said, fomally, affecting a small bow. Scarlett took her cue from him.
"King Wendell White" she responded, sweeping her hand gracefully along the hem of her gown. A greeting between equals. It was important, for propriety and for future negotiations. He came into the room to lift her hand and kiss it. Scarlett thought he lingered just a fraction too long, but she let her eyes tell him that she didn't mind at all. Besides, many had seen a far more intimate kiss between them, on the morning of their last day together, when she had ridden back to Hooded City. Her lips tingled with the memory of it. Wendell released her hand and took a hesitant step backwards.
"It has been too long since Castle White has been graced with your beauty, Queen Scarlett". It was a very bold statement, thought Scarlett, hearing the indrawn breath of her two maids. She bobbed her head in response, trying to hide her flaming cheeks. Almost as if he read her hidden discomfort, he withdrew a little more. "If it would please my Lady Queen, I have organised a welcome feast in your honour. The great hall will be made ready, and you would do me great honour to attend". Scarlett could only bob her head again, speechless now. Behind her, the maids now chortled openly. My Lady Queen. Did he really call me that? The whole room seemed to blur and spin. A quiet click of the door, and he was gone. The maids came forward to help her to a chair. One of them fussed about, released the laces on her bodice. Suddenly, her head cleared.
"Really, my Lady! He certainly seems taken with you. But you're not going to get far unless you remember one important thing!"
"What's that, Sal?" Scarlett asked distractedly.
"Breathe, my Lady! You must remember to breathe!"
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Wendell had certainly pulled out all the stops in organising the dinner, thought Virginia as she descended the stairs. It was very nearly as lavish a set up as his Coronation Feast had been. The nobles of his court, recently recalled from their estates and manors, were gathered around the large open fireplace. Standing at the mantle was Queen Scarlett herself, a beautiful ruby red gown draping her slender figure. Even without her title, her status, she would have dominated the group, Virginia realised. The nobles hung on her every word as she recounted her recent journey through her Kingdom and her recovery from her injuries. But it was a vastly abridged tale, Virginia suspected. Just the bare bones, no motives, no discoveries, no hint at what really lay ahead.
Virginia looked for Wendell, seeing him trying unsuccessfully to blend in with his nobles and courtiers as he listened to Scarlett. He was doing his best to keep a neutral expression on his face, but it kept slipping. Many pairs of eyes went to and fro between the two rulers, some suspicious, some happy, others merely speculative. Someone breathed down her neck and she fought not to jump so obviously.
"You look beautiful, my creamy dreamy mate" Wolf whispered in her ear.
"Why thank you. Don't look so bad yourself" she responded. Which was true. He cut as fine a figure as always in his dark suit and tails. "Did Caelum settle down?"
"Yes, they're both with Elsie. So we can have the whole night to ourselves"
"You're insatiable!"
"Yes, I know. Hmm, do you think Wendell and Scarlett might...you know..."
"Of course not! Not in a million years would their respective advisors leave them alone long enough!" Virginia replied, blushing at the thought.
"Ah, pity. She's fertile tonight too..."
"Wolf!"
"Sorry, but I can't help it! It's just the way us wolfies think" Wolf whispered, but Virginia thought he looked anything but sorry. She took his hand and ushered him down to the floor level before any passing servant might hear what they were talking about. On cue, the bell rang, signalling the arrival of the first course, capturing Wolf's attention immediately. Wendell himself came forward to escort her to her seat.
"How am I doing?" he whispered.
"Oh fine, just fine" Virginia replied, patting his hand. Wendell had seated her directly opposite Scarlett and himself. Wolf slid in beside her, his plate already loaded. He never bothered to wait until everyone else had been served. Virginia fought down a smile at Scarlett's expression. She could see the Queen looking sideways at other diners, none of which made the slightest indication that they thought Wolf's dining behaviour odd. He had been a guest often enough at the great table that even his snapping of leg bones as he was doing now drew no particular attention. But it was obvious that the fastidious Scarlett had never seen such a display before. After a long minute, Scarlett seemed to relax a little and picked up her own fork and knife, daintily cutting up her own food.
Several courses later, after Wolf had devoured his way through almost an entire sheep, Virginia was pleased to see that Scarlett had gotten so used to his table manners that she was even smiling at him in genuine humour. From time to time. Whenever her attention was not on Wendell. Heads close together, they had whispered to each other many times, using the cover of dining room clatter to avoid being overheard.
It was as the final course was being served that one of Wendell's guardsmen entered the hall. He had clearly come from the outside without even stopping to brush the snow from his boots. Virginia watched as he wound his way through the crowd of butlers and maids to the King's side, bending to whisper in his ear. Virginia pulled at Wolf's sleeve.
"What's he saying? The guard, what's he saying to Wendell?" she asked him, knowing that even across a noisy table his superior hearing would be able to pick up the conversation. Wolf turned to her, his voice low.
"Something about a messenger, no, an emissary...from the Eigth Kingdom. Demanding an audience right now...won't wait" he breathed. Virginia watched Wendell's face closely. Even though she had warned him that such a thing might happen, he looked both surprised and curious. He glanced across the table to her. Virginia nodded slowly. Yes, let the emissary come. It would be beneficial for the nobles and courtiers of the Kingdom to hear it firsthand anyway. Wendell turned back to his guardsman and the soldier hurried away. Wendell stood, unease radiating from his stance. Very surreptiously, Virginia saw Scarlett squeeze his hand under the table as he waited for the room to fall silent. He straightened his back.
"My good people. It seems we must endure a brief disruption to our feast. My men tell me that we have...a visitor...a messenger come from the Eigth Kingdom". The room buzzed with speculation. Virginia listened to some of it. The Eigth Kingdom? Never in my lifetime have we seen anyone from there! Wonder what she wants this time? Pity that my cousin couldn't be here to see this! The gossip stopped abruptly as the double doors were thrown open by two of the guards. Many more guards swarmed into the room, surrounding a tall figure swathed in white who walked forward unconcernedly. With her view half blocked by Wolf, Virginia strove to get a good look at the intruder. There was sudden vibration in the air, and Virginia realised that Wolf was growling in that almost unheard range that only another wolf might hear. As the visitor swung his gaze over the room, settling for a second too long on Wolf, Virginia realised that that was exactly what he was.
He was tall, cloaked and booted in white wool and leather. As he threw his hood back, Virginia could see a long swathe of rich white hair, so fine that it almost looked like fur, cascading down across his shoulders. Given the bulky appearance of his clothing, Virginia guessed that perhaps his whole back was covered in it. His face was pale, with dark blue veins standing out at the temples. His eyes were a piercing blue as they scanned the crowd. All in all, am imposing and impressive figure. The Ice Queen had chosen well to send him, she thought.
"My name is Yacobe. I have come alone and unarmed. I intend no harm" the man spoke. His voice was powerful as he intoned the words in a ritualistic fashion.
"Speak, Yacobe". It was Wendell, and Virginia was pleased to hear the young King's voice as equally strong. Yacobe inclined his head towards him.
"King Wendell, I bring a message from My Lady Queen of the Eigth Kingdom"
"I will hear it"
"King Wendell of the 4th Kingdom. Hear my words! I, Queen Neva of the 8th Kingdom, do hereby make war upon you! For too long, you and yours have settled and grown fat from the lands, rivers and forests of the 4th Kingdom. For too long, you have refused my entreaties. For too long your people have lived in the sunlight. No more! This spell of snow and sorrow that I have sent upon you in this week is but a taste of what is to come. By midwinter's night you will surrender your castle, your Kingship and your subjects to me and mine. In return, I will let your people live. Resist me, and I will freeze you into eternity"
There was a frozen silence in the hall, almost as if the messengers words were a spell themselves. Virginia felt ill, like all the food she had just consumed had formed a ball of ice in her stomach. But it was also a relief, she had to admit. So, the Ice Queen had played her hand at last. Years and years of plotting, scheming and tapping the hidden power had come to fulfillment. The things that Virginia had seen in the last Mirror of Coventina were going to come to fruition sooner than she had hoped. As for the Ice Queen's motives, well, if there was one thing that Virginia had learned about the Kingdoms it was the simple fact that evil needed none. There would be no questions, no attempt to find the hidden excuses behind the Ice Queen's behaviour. Evil was a given thing, and the people of the Fourth Kingdom had felt it's keen edge before.
"Then we will all freeze together, and your evil mistress will inherit a kingdom of corpses". Virginia was jolted back to reality by Wendell's response. Was that really his voice, so cold and brittle? The coutiers and noblemen and women at the table took their cue from Wendell, and Virginia watched as one by one they mimicked his hard stare towards the stranger. The man-wolf Yacobe seemed unconcerned by the reaction. He was playing a role, no more, and only a fool would have expected Wendell to truly accede to the demands. He bowed forward at the waist just a little as he spoke.
"I will convey your words, House Of White. You will see me again, I warrant" he said crisply. Wendell nodded at his guards and they fell back to allow the messenger access from the hall. He clicked the heels of his boots together as he turned to go. Once more his gaze flew across the crowd to settle on Wolf. For a second, Virginia felt an icy chill as he appeared to look directly at her, a subtle smile on his lips. Wolf's growling increased so that even the human's nearby must have heard it, but he kept his seat as the stranger departed.
Slowly, life and movement returned to the room. Wendell continued standing, but his face was deviod of the coldness Virginia had just seen. Now, he looked down at the vast array with sadness.
"We should have not celebrated ourselves so well tonight" he said solemnly. "This fine food would be better spent in preparation. Soon, we may need all the feast just to survive"