Then, I heard it—
A crackle of bent branches. A shower of fallen snow. Clip-clops on stone pavers, faster and faster—
And a horse, flying over the 91st Street Garden fence, legs extended, mane flying, and the Prince of the Gentry on her back.
They landed with a thud that shook the ground and sent a spray of snow through the air.
“Showoffs,” I said.
Berron bowed from Sybelia’s star-scattered back. Sybelia just snorted. “Come on up,” Berron said. “The weather’s fine.”
I took his arm and managed to clamber up in front of him. “At least the horse is warm,” I said, taking the reins.
Sybelia, who had a mind of her own, began to walk.
“So am I,” Berron said, passing his arms around my waist, his breath warm and tickling my neck.
“Make yourself useful and crank up the heat.” I felt him smile without needing to look, and delicious warmth spread over me with tendrils of green and gold magic. “We can’t do this for too long. Everyone will be waiting.”
“I know,” he said. “But how many days do we get like this? The sun will come out, and all of this will melt.” He paused. “Do you like my surprise?”
“A horseback ride through a winter wonderland? Worst surprise ever.”
He thumped his hand into his chest. “My lady cuts me to the quick! I am deceased, you hear me? Deceased!”
I pulled the reins. “Whoa,” I said to Sybelia. I turned and kissed Berron’s cheek. “Not on my watch,” I said. I turned around and clicked my tongue.
Sybelia danced sideways for a moment before launching into a peppy trot.
Passers-by pointed and waved at the sight of us.
Berron, of course, waved back.
“Stop waving.”
“Why?”
“You’re acting like royalty.”
“Iamroyalty.”
“They don’t know that.”
“On some level they do,” Berron said, with confidence so smooth it could have buttered bread.
“So modest.”
“One of my many qualities.” He gave me a little squeeze, and I couldn’t help it—I laughed. “Try it,” he added. “You’ll like it.”
“I’m not waving at people.”
“Come on, my Zelda,” he said. “Just try it.”
It was themy Zeldathat did it. We were approaching a group of children building a snow-something—the exact shape wasn’t quite clear yet—and I tentatively raised a hand.
The kids broke into whoops, and waved back.
“See? Already a queen,” Berron said.
