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Beware the Frozen Heart
Chapter 6: The Search for Claire
The snow was over a foot deep. It was slow going, trudging up the mountain side. Zach let Rexy set her own pace. He knew forcing her on faster would only guarantee her slipping and injuring herself. He sighed and shook his head. He wasn't even sure they were headed in the right direction. There was no trace of Claire. Of course there wouldn't be, with it snowing all evening. At least it had stopped.
He suppressed a yawn as he pulled his cape tighter around him. He bent over and rubbed his hand along Rexy's neck. "Good girl." He said into her ear. "Good girl." Her ears flicked back to catch his words. And they kept on going.
It was pretty silent all around them. Every once in a while, Zach would call out her name. "Aunt Claire!" He called without getting an answer. "It's me, your nephew... who didn't mean to make you freeze the summer..." He sighed and shook his head. "Course none of this would have happened if she just told us her secret." He mumbled under his breath. "Seriously, Rexy? Her own family! The Kingdom, I get. Don't tell them. But Gray and I? Or hell, me! Why didn't she tell me?" He sighed and dipped his head forward.
He wasn't paying attention anymore. He wasn't watching where they were going or guiding Rexy. As they passed under a few snow laden trees, one branch snapped off and fell. It fell just inches from Rexy's muzzle. The large mare reared back in startled panic, throwing Zach from her back. Then she ran.
Zach landed in a heap and rolled. He was covered in snow! It was everywhere! He peeled himself up off the ground and looked around. "Rexy!" He called out, pulling himself up. "Rexy!" He turned, looking everywhere. But the horse was gone. "Come back, damnit!" He sighed and shook his head. He looked back down the mountain. He was too far from Jurendelle to make it back without freezing to death.
Zach let out a sigh. "Okay." He said to himself as he tried to shake the snow from himself. Just one step at a time. Up a mountain. Covered in snow. Alone. Freezing to death. Yeah. He was totally fine. He could totally do this. He stopped and let out another sigh. Damn blasted crown! He bent down and fished it out of the snow. The thing was freezing and felt even heavier when he put it back on his head. Why hadn't he taken the damn thing off when he left?
"Just had to be snow." He mumbled as he trudged through the snow. "She couldn't have had tropical magic... that covered the fjords in sand and shells. Or am erupting volcano. I'd take the lava over the..." He stopped as he crested a small hill and looked out over the trees below. A plume of smoke rose and curled into the sky. "Fire!" He smiled and stepped forward. And slipped. And tumbled down the hill and landed in a creek. The shallow water soaked through his pants and splashed half up his back. "Oh for the love of..." This was just ridiculous! Was he ever going to catch a break out here?
He once again scrambled up from the freezing ground and started forward. A cabin stood, the windows bright and the chimney smoking and it just screamed warm and inviting. At least he hoped it did as he stepped towards it. He was shivering bad now, practically frozen to the bone, as he stepped up onto the porch. He looked up at the hanging sigh. "Wandering Wu's Trading Post... And Sauna." His eyes widened. "Finally!" Some good luck!
He opened the door and closed it quickly behind him. And then breathed out a sigh of relief. It was warm inside! He shivered again and rubbed at his arms as he walked inside.
"Hey." Across the small room, a small man with black hair sat. "Big summer blow out. Half off."
Zach smiled awkwardly at him and nodded. "Uh... thanks. What about winter boots, pants, and capes?"
The man sighed and pointed towards an almost empty looking wall. "In our winter section."
Zach nodded and started over. There wasn't a lot to choose from. But he was able to find some clothes and boots that should fit. At least he'd be dry and warm. He wondered if the guy had a horse he could rent? He turned and headed towards the counter. "Uh... I was wondering... you haven't seen a woman around, have you? The uh... the old Queen? She hasn't uh... passed though?" He set his things down on the counter.
The Wu guy shook his head. "Nope. No one. Only you're crazy enough to be up here in this storm."
The door behind them opened and shut loudly. A large man, covered head to toe in snow, stood in the doorway.
"You and this guy." Wu said, turning to look at the man. "Hey. Big summer blow out."
Zach stepped aside as the snow man stepped towards the counter. He didn't want to get in the man's way. He could wait a few minutes. It was getting dark outside. He wasn't even sure he'd be able to travel.
The snow man headed over to the meager winter section. He grabbed a pickaxe and some rope, and headed back to the counter. He set them down and then bent down to get a bundle of carrots.
"Big storm for July, huh?" Wu said. "Wonder where it's coming from?"
"The North Mountain." The snow man said.
"The North Mountain..." Zach repeated softly. He was pretty sure that was the direction Claire had been heading. And if this snow guy was right, Claire certainly was there. He wondered if maybe this guy could help him. Maybe he had a horse or something and could take Zach up to the mountain. Or at least point him in the right direction.
But before he could ask, the other two been were suddenly yelling and bickering over the prices. Wu stood up and waved his hand. A moment later, a large man came out of the sauna. He was dressed in only a towel, but it didn't make the man look any less intimidating. A scuffle followed, resulting in the snow man being thrown outside.
Then the scary guy returned to the sauna and Wu sat back down and turned to smile at Zach. "So the clothes and boots, yes?"
Zach glanced back at the door. Then sighed and turned back to Wu. "I'll take it all." He said, indicting all the items on the counter. If he bought the snow man's stuff for him, maybe the man would help him. He quickly paid the man and thanked him. Then stepped into the back to change. Zach breathed out in relief when he stepped back out. He felt better, dry and warm and with a plan. Well... he hoped a plan. He grabbed the bags off the counter and thanked the man again.
The snow man wasn't outside when Zach stepped out onto the porch. But there was a large ice laden sleigh parked beside the cabin. And footprints. Lots of footprints. Zach stepped off the porch and followed the prints. They led to a barn. Zach stepped closer and peered inside.
The snow man was sitting in a pile of hay, smiling. He'd pulled off his winter clothes and Zach could now see his face. And Zach thought he recognized him. He'd seen the man somewhere before. But where? And then a reindeer stepped closer to the man and nudged him. The man laughed again. "Stop it, Echo."
Zach's eyes widened. He threw open the door and stepped in. "Hey... I know you?" He said rather awkwardly.
The man bolted up straight. "Oh. Just you." He said and visibly relaxed.
Zach looked around the barn, noticing there was more than just the one reindeer. Or the two others he'd seen with the man earlier that day. There were four! Three were laying on the ground, seemingly resting, with their eyes on him. The other, he was sure it was the one who licked him, was standing beside the man. "So... does she always lick strangers?" Zach asked, smiling slightly.
The man glanced sideways at the brown reindeer. He reached up and flicked her in the nose. "Echo, that's gross." Echo's tongue lolled out and she licked him in the face. He jumped up and rubbed at the reindeer slobber. "Echo!" He pushed her away and turned to look at Zach. "Well damn."
Zach frowned. "What?"
The man turned and glared at the reindeer again. "You made us break into the castle gardens when the new King was in there! AND YOU LICKED HIM!" The reindeer blinked at him and then snorted.
"Uh..."
He sighed and turned back around. "Didn't notice before."
Zach shrugged. "It's... uh... fine... uh... mister..."
"Owen." The man said. "I'm Owen." He turned slightly and pointed at the reindeer on the floor. "That's Blue, Charlie, and Delta." Echo snorted loudly and bumped into Owen's shoulder. "Your assaulter..."
"Echo." Zach said with a smile. "I heard."
Owen rolled his eyes and pushed Echo's muzzle away. "Go lay down!" He snapped. But the reindeer didn't move. Owen glared at her and flopped back down on the pile of hay. He leaned back.
Zach watched the man for a moment. And wondered if Owen forgot he was still there. He sat down, setting his bags down beside him, and leaned forward. "What was happening on the North Mountain?" Zach asked. "Did it seem... magical?"
"Yes." Owen breathed out. "Really weird."
Zach smiled and nodded to himself. That settled it. That's where Claire was!
Owen was watching him. "What do you want?"
Zach swallowed, feeling suddenly nervous. But he stood up quickly. "I want you to take me up the North Mountain."
Owen shook his head and leaned back. "I don't take people places."
Zach glared at the man and stepped closer. "Let me rephrase that." He snapped. He quickly bent down and picked on the larger of the bags. He tossed it in Owen's lap. "Take me up the North Mountain."
Owen pulled the bag open and peered in it. He pulled out the rope and pickaxe and then looked up at Zach. "Why?" He asked slowly.
"I know how to stop this winter."
Owen let out a sigh and leaned back. "Fine. We leave at dawn. And you forgot their carrots."
Zach bent down and picked up the smaller bag. Echo immediately pranced over and sniffed at the bag. Zach pulled out the carrots and Echo tried to grab them. Zach wrestled them out of her reach and tossed them to Owen. "We uh... we leave now." He said and turned for the door.
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Author's Notes: Hmm. I still have no comments. 8D