The one known as the Frost Wolf sat in her office at Frostburn Manor. It was a home of great reputation and notoriety, despite how she'd wrested control from its previous owners. Even though she had a fiery temper, those in the nearby areas quickly took to her leadership, as she was also just and fair. Anyone who got in her way, well, they suffered the wrath of a thousand winters.
For what seemed like the thousandth time, she glanced over at the missive she'd received from someone named Wildfyre Flameweaver. She'd read it several times, and still couldn't believe what it said. The young woman was from a town called Kingsport. It was a place she'd never heard of, but that wasn't the strangest part. What was unfathomable was the woman claimed they were siblings. Snowfyre would have thrown the pages of the letter away had it not been for the mention of Kefka, her mother. Nobody except her husband knew of her mother. Wildfyre's words were worth considering only because of that name.
As a reward for achieving Guardian Rank in the last Journey she took part in, she could request one wish. She asked for information about her mother. It was from those two small manuscripts that she'd discovered the existence of siblings, all of whom, except the two she knew, lived on Estuar. Only one had enough clarifying details for her to find, and that was Snowfyre. She hoped to come over, discuss their… siblingality…over a meal, and then travel together to find the rest. If that wasn't possible, she wished for Snowfyre's blessing and some aid.
Two people would accompany her. A man named Lyndon, and a woman named Eirena. Strange. Those were two names of renown from circa thirty years ago. A man named Lyndon hailed from the Western Kingdoms, was the leader of Backwater in Hawezar. This letter held the seal of Westmarch, but there was just no way the writer could be from there. The only explanation she could think of was that this had to be some kind of sick ploy to unnerve her. Not just because of the coincidence of the names, but because, by Wildfyre's age, they would have been twins. The Kefka she knew wouldn't have abandoned her child.
Snowfyre sighed, still uncertain whether she should entertain this idea. Her guards were loyal to her. Mostly. If things went south, they would sacrifice their lives for her. If for no other reason than they knew if they did not, and it brought harm to her family, she would kill them herself. When you gave your fealty to someone, regardless of your feelings toward them, you kept your oath. At least, until they did something so outrageous that you could no longer stomach the thought of them. Or you asked for leave.
She'd easily passed the tests from the Crumbling Hekma to Zenith, and all in and around those areas told tales of her skill and prowess. Especially those of the Cultist Refuge, Light's Watch, Serpent's Lair, and Tomb of the Saints, or, as she called them, the Fiery Testing Grounds. They were dungeons where the reward for making it through was an Aspect related to Fire. Most who chose the icy path found it difficult to face the flames. But she'd held her own.
Wildfyre had written that she'd sent the letter ahead of her. Based on its dating, and the fact it arrived this morning, her supposed sister just made it to Kehjistan. That gave her a few weeks to consider what she would do.
At the sound of footsteps, her icy blue gaze turned toward the door. It was her husband, Faolan. He approached her, jovial at first, but his expression quickly turned to that of concern when he shivered. She looked away to hide her embarrassment at the knowledge she'd slightly lost control of her emotions. In just a few seconds, the frostbitten air vanished, leaving the usual toasty warm atmosphere that she preferred. Snowfyre smiled and held up a hand to caress Faolan's cheek when he reached her. "Worry not, husband mine. I'm just…"
His eyes followed her other hand as she gestured to the table. Faolan picked up the letter and read through it quickly. When he looked back at her, though, she could see in his eyes that he was unnerved. "Snow. Murtagh just arrived from Alzuuda with three others: An Enchantress, a Thief, and a Sorcerer like yourself."
"Alzuuda?! Is she alright?" Snowfyre surprised both herself and Faolan with her concern. The Dry Steppes city was one of two in Estuar—the other in Denshar, Kehjistan—where warriors went to play what she called The Most Dangerous Game. She'd been there once and found herself owned by several people. This was early in her training, but the embarrassment of her losses gave her the incentive she needed to put everything into learning her craft.
"When Murtagh informed her of the dangers where she landed, her response was that she'd been drawn to the 'pretty red color of the sand'. The Thief with her seems overprotective. I don't think he would have let her land there had he known what went on there."
"Send an Emissary to Alzuuda. Inform the one in charge that the next time they see that ship's captain, they are to detain him and send him my way! He will not get away with this egregious oversight!"
Faolan frowned. "You seem awfully concerned for a few strangers who are trying to deceive you."
Snowfyre hissed at Faolan, and he knew to take a few steps back. "If she tells the truth, well…Heartless as I can be, I simply could not handle casting her out to search on her own." She sighed as tears welled in her eyes. "I wish Mother were here. It would fill her with joy to see us reunited." After a few moments of silence, she gasped in remembrance and looked at her husband. "You came in here for something. What was it?"
"Just to inform you of the new arrivals and ask what you wanted to be done about them. Currently, they remain at the Waypoint under subtle observation. They know they are being watched, but I didn't wish to make it obvious to the rest of the Manor that we had strangers here." Faolan closed his eyes as he reached up and placed a hand on the back of his head, a sheepish grin on his face. "Though now that I think about it, they can probably tell by their clothing style."
She laid a hand on his shoulder to let him know she approved of the decision. "Check on Petyr and Arya and then bring our guests in for the night. Make sure they are comfortable and have everything they need. Let them know it may take a while before I see them, but they are free to explore the outside grounds, providing they do not head outside Frostburn gates."
He blinked, and she felt the tension in the shoulder her hand was on as he fisted that hand and then unclenched it. "Forgive me, but…Why? Have you already chosen to believe them?"
"Kefka. My Mother's name. She knew it. You've seen her and her companions and have spoken with them. Always, you've been an excellent judge of character. What are your thoughts on them? Do they wish me or the children harm? Are they secretly scheming to take away what is mine?"
Furiously, he shook his head. "I cloud my judgment when it regards you and our children."
"Really? Well. A Captain of the Guard should not have such indecisiveness in the heat of battle. Or anywhen." Snowfyre raised a finger to stall his outraged reaction. "Trust in yourself as I trust in you. If you cannot do such a thing, then relieve yourself as Captain and seek elsewhere to live. I shall not tolerate such weakness in my home."
Various emotions flashed through his eyes over the next several seconds, and he opened his mouth, most likely to voice his doubt that she would do such a thing. His next words only inflamed the situation. "How? Why would you throw everything between us away?" Realization dawned on him, and he took a few steps back. "You never loved me. I was nothing more than a pawn in your plans. I should have known that you would need to marry one of us to trick the people into thinking you meant them no harm. That you planned to lull us into a false sense of security before you revealed your true colors."
"Ha! Your station is far beneath what I'd always imagined myself marrying. Yet, despite that, I fell in love with you. When you asked for children, I gave them to you even though I felt they would be detrimental to my power and reign. And yet, I can't imagine life without them. It always pleased me how you never once backed down from me. How, when you were passionate about something, you fought for it. Over the years, though, you've changed. You lost your edge last year when someone attempted to kill them on their second birthday. Now, you're a threat to me and my children."
That last bit seemed to enrage him further. "Your children? They're my children, too! Or have you forgotten?"
"No, they aren't. I'm strong, and you're not only weak, but questioning my authority instead of the sense behind my decision. Leave now and send Nymeria in on your way out. You will do so without speaking to or seeing my children. If I so much as feel the ward on their room breached, I will hunt you down and kill you. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal." Faolan stormed out, but not before she heard what she thought sounded like "frost bitch" whispered under his breath. It was an insult she'd heard so many times before, to the point she was numb to it and other such names. But from him? She had to admit that it hurt. Once she was certain he was gone, she Teleported until she reached the middle of the Westering Lowlands, where she unleashed her fury in a blizzard.
Unfortunately, that would ruin this part of the crop for the year, but she didn't care. Faolan would be so upset that he was wont to spread a rumor or two about her before he left. Others would believe it without question, too. They would blame her for the ruination of the crops, even if she wasn't to blame. Besides, in her current state of mind, she couldn't risk harm coming to Petyr and Arya. And she guessed everyone else. It was much better to redirect one's anger into means that wouldn't harm other living beings. Even ones who, at that moment, you hated with all your heart.