Chapter Three

"See," the blonde girl said while spinning around, arms outstretched. "It's not so scary here. The snow can be fun and the ice beautiful."

They had been running through the forest for some time playing tag and talking about simple things that made life enjoyable. As she spoke, they had entered a snow covered meadow. The bright sun above made the snow glisten and icicles glow softly. It looked like they were walking into a fallen piece of heaven. Instead of crunching snow beneath their feet, there were white clouds.

"That doesn't make it any less cold," he said with a smile as he shivered. "How can you stand living in a place that is always so cold?"

She looked up at the sky. "I grew up here… I can't imagine it being any other way."

"Then you should come to my house in the summer. The snow melts away and the world turns green. We could run around without our heavy coats or boots."

"I would like to see that." The girl took a step backwards. "However, I must leave for now."

"Already?" Toris tried to reach for her, but missed. "Where are you going?"

She shook her head.

"At least tell me your name."

"My name is-"

"How long are you going to sleep? I'm bored!"

Toris opened his eyes to see that his guest was standing over him. He blinked a couple times before realizing he had been dreaming. Reality left a heavy lump of disappointment in his chest. "Good morning, Feliks."

"Ugh, it would be a better morning if you'd show me something interesting. This place is duller than watching ice melt." Feliks ran his fingers through his hair a couple times while looking out the window. "I don't know why we even bothered coming here."

Red flags raised and alarm bells rang in Toris's head. The alliance between their two nations was his boss's top priority. Therefore, he could not put the whole thing in jeopardy because he could not keep a house guest entertained. Springing out of bed with a forced smile he pulled on riding boots. "Have you seen out stables yet? We take very good care of our horses here. They are some of the most beautiful creatures on four legs. I promise you won't be disappointed."

The flaxen haired boy's eyes lit up instantly. "Why didn't you mention that sooner?"

Toris did not think that the stable would have been such a big hit with the visitor. When they arrived, two stable boys were just finishing their muckraking while the stable master was grooming a chestnut colored mare. Feliks quickly approached the mare's stale and stared in wonder. The mare sniffed the boy's hair and nibbled the gold locks with testing nibbles and much to Toris's surprise the Polish nation laughed it off instead of throwing a fit over his hair. Another discovery to add to the list was that Feliks Łukasiewicz loves horses.

"Would you like to go for a ride?" Toris asked without realizing what he was saying. As soon as the words left his mouth he realized that he would have to accompany the nation for however long the ride lasted. He still needed to go for a walk along the Eastern Woods.

"No!" Toris felt relief wash over him. "I couldn't… I mean I would but… I won't because…"

An idea dawned on him. Based by on the blond boy's stammering and blatant refusal, Toris came to the conclusion that the boy did not know how to ride. Unfortunately, he had yet to learn how to keep his thoughts in his head where they belong instead of slipping out of his unfiltered mouth. "You can't ride, can you…?"

Poland turned bright red and puffed up in embarrassed bravado. "Why should I bother learning to ride a horse? That's what carriages are for anyway. If I want to go anywhere I'll just call for a carriage and be on my merry way. Who would want to sit on a hard saddle on top of a sweating smelly beast? I have better things to do with my time."

Toris put his hands up in defense. "I'm sorry. It was my mistake."

"Humph…" Feliks crossed his arms and began walking out of the stables. "I'm going to find something to eat. If I stay in this putrid place much longer, the stench will cling to my clothes."

Sighing, Toris also left, but was destined for the kitchens. He often ate his meals there with the servants preferring their close company to the rigid polite meals with his boss or important guests. Dinners would have to be the exception as long as the Polish representatives were staying over. Without a doubt he would be forced to dress well and eat beside his boss with Feliks on his other side.

"Oh, why good morning, Toris," a rosy cheeked cooked greeted. "Can interest you in a couple rolls? They're fresh out of the oven, nice and hot."

"That sounds delicious." Toris let the smell of baking bread float around him like a fine perfume. "Could you pack it up with a cut of cheese for me?"

"You're going out again?" The cook looked at him curiously. "You never used to go out on your own two days in a row."

"I just feel like getting to know the land better is all."

"I doubt anyone could know these lands better than you, Toris Lorinaitis."

"I'm just going for a walk. I'll be back before dinner time, so there won't be any problems."

The cook gave him another suspicious look before wrapping the rolls in cheese in a piece of cloth. "I'm sure his lordship would have a thing or two to say about you wandering about too often."

"You won't tell him, will you?"

He smiled as he tied the parcel tight and handed it to Toris. "Was that you say? The young Lorinaitis toddled off again? No, I can't say I've seen him."

"Thank you."

"Boys your age need to do a little exploring. Now be off with you before someone else spots you."

Toris held his sweet smelling bundle close as he darted behind topiaries in attempt to reach the front gate. He never really considered himself a good fighter, but when it came to hide and seek he was a champion. Keeping low, he slipped past the guards' room and through the high wooden gate. With a quick sprint down the road for good measure, he was in the clear and free to roam about as he pleased.

His journey east would take at least two hours, but time seemed to pass quickly. He could hardly hold his excitement to see his new potential friend. She seemed like a much better person to befriend than the Polish nation. The girl was not afraid of the winter lands so she must be brave. Her words were kind and he could tell that she was actually listening to him, unlike the selfish boy prancing around his home and demanding to share his bedroom.

Xx

Hours passed and all Toris found along the East Woods was untouched snow and unpopulated scenery. The girl had not come today. Stiff from cold and fueled by hunger, Toris began the two hour walk back home.

"She did say that she didn't know when she'd be able to come again… Why did I have to say I come out here all the time? Does that mean I have to come here every day if I want to see her again? I'm going to get in so much trouble if that's the case…"

When he eventually reached the stone steps of his home, he was once again shuffled to his room and groomed to the servants' satisfaction. Dinner was awkward as was to be expected. The Polish guests and his own countrymen stumbled about clumsy conversation while He was thoroughly ignored by the visiting nation all together. Feliks seemed to hit it off with his boss though. The two talked about superficial things ranging to their countries art or history. Not that Toris indeed in the least. His legs and back were sore and he was exhausted from his all day excursion.

"Did you hear me, Toris?"

"Huh?" Toris had been staring down at a hunk of heavily seasoned meat when he noticed he was being addressed. "Forgive me, I was lost in thought."

He could feel the disapproving look before it was even formed. "Please meet with me after supper. There are a couple matters that I would like to discuss with you."

"Yes, sir."

After supper discussions in the past were usually to scold him for some reason or another. Toris figured that this time it would be for sneaking out without explaining where he was going or for leaving their "esteemed" guest alone all day. Either way, he prepared himself for a long lecture.

"The alliance is a success."

"…what?" Toris could not believe his ears. "What do you mean the alliance is a success?"

"I spent the entire day with Feliks and discussed many things from economics and foreign policy to military forces and dowries. We got along quite well. He has agreed to give his blessings to the marriage and the alliance."

"And you both decided this in one day?"

"Why of course. There is not much time to waste."

A strong shiver crawled down Toris's spine. "Shouldn't I have been a part of these discussions?"

"Well, you were nowhere to be found, which brings me to another point. How dare you leave Feliks to walk around unescorted? You need to be more hospitable. What if your rudeness caused our plans to fail?"

Muscles in his back tensed up. He did leave their guest behind, but he wandered off on his own first. However, arguing the point would get him nowhere fast. "Forgive me. There was something I had to attend to."

"I'm sure it was important." His boss made no attempt to hide the sarcasm in his voice. "We are holding a ball to celebrate the upcoming holiday and the arrival of the royal family. In that time, you better straighten up and put more effort into getting to know our new partner."

"Yes, sir…" Toris paused before speaking his next words. "Sir, what if there was another nation we could ally with?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Another nation… I met one yesterday. She was a very kind person that came out of the Eastern Woods and-"

"If she came out of the Eastern Woods, she'll probably die there. You know the stories of how harsh it is on the other side of that forest. We cannot ally with a nation that is no doubt in much worse shape than we are. It would be best to forget her."

"But if she can survive in such a place, doesn't that make her a strong nation?"

"Toris Lorinaitis, by suggesting an alliance with another nation while we are already forming one with our neighbor to north is like insulting our new friend. I will not discuss this any further. Now go to your room."

"Yes, sir." A bitter taste rose into Toris's mouth. Normally he was not the kind to disagree, but that girl's face kept popping up in his mind. Surely there must have been a reason for meeting her.

When he arrived at his room, Feliks was already in bed. Lying down on the ground, he let out a frustrated sigh.

"Did you get in trouble?"

"Excuse me?"

"You sound pissed off. Did you get punished or something?"

"Not now, Feliks."

"Look, we're going to be sending a lot of time together from now on due to this alliance. Might as well just say whatever is on our minds."

"I'm tired, Feliks. I want to go to sleep. Please respect that desire."

Feliks sighed. "Whatever."