Page 13 of Winter Gods & Serpents

She swallowed in hesitation. “In her garden, the rose bush maze, in its centre, but no one is allowed there—”

“Show my friends to their rooms.” I interrupted. “I need no permission to see my family.”

“I will come with you, Nia will go rest,” Cai offered stepping forward.

I nodded in agreement, it was pointless to fight it from this point, he’d probably attach himself with glue to me. Cai was distrusting, but that distrust elevated when it came to Isjord and its people.

* * *

We walked past the vast corridors and halls of the castle. Soldiers, servants, and officials stopped and bowed at my sight; word must have flown quick of my return. Then again, I was easily recognizable. Most Isjordians had distinct blue eyes and yellow locks and I was a far cry from that, not the most convenient when you try to be discreet. What did they think, seeing the princess who never felt as theirs march back down these corridors, scarred and orphaned? I had never managed to grow close or even make friends with a single Isjordian, all those around me had been foreigners but then I suppose so was I.

Just as we were about to reach the doors that lead towards the back gardens of the castle, a man's chest blocked my view. I tilted my head up in anger at the abrupt gesture. Elias was blocking my way with a hand stretched on the door frame and a smile forming on his lips. I heard Cai unsheathe his blade and I motioned towards him to draw back. Had this one recognized me, or had his smug personality gotten the best of him and was trying to hit on the princess.

“You know a voice is easily forgotten but those eyes, I would never forget those eyes.” I sneered in distaste at his attempt of flirting flattery. “Ah, and that sharp mouth,” he shook his head and finished, “definitely difficult to forget.”

I would give him something not to forget in a minute. “You on the other hand definitely take more than a shake of memory to remember, remind me of your name again?” I asked lazily hoping to wound at least a bit of his arrogance.

He removed his hand from the door frame and drew closer to me, my head tilted higher to meet his tall gaze.

“Elias, Elias Venzor. I was sent to escort you back here, but I see you had no trouble in doing that and I might even congratulate you for getting the king to reprimand me and my men,” he said in an almost playful tone, “Your Highness.”

My brows rose as I traced him and asked. “Venzor?”

He tilted his head to the side swivelling his gaze to study all of me before lifting his eyes back to mine, “Yes, my father is Lord of Venzor and I his son,” he answered proudly.

Ivar Venzor, a very important member of the Winter court, his city was the richest and the lord's greed still famished. He was my father’s biggest contender yet his most trusted ally, one who has had eyes on the Isjordian throne for years. My grandmother is Venzorian, they somehow had expected for the tradition to hold—for my father to marry there as well so their ties to the crown deepened. However not only had my father greatly displeased them by marrying an Olympian princess, but had attempted to push their position in court down multiple times. My father knew where their eyes set, so he had moved the largest fleet by two other port cities, Grasmere and Brogmere, where two of his close allies ruled and then had reduced Venzor to a fishing port and turned half of it to a forgery. Krig blessed indeed, Ivar had not fallen for the trap, he had used all of that to his leverage, making fishing the tightest trade deal and bringing forgers all around the kingdom to produce only the best steel, sold all over the continent. A silent battle which surely my father would win ultimately but I liked when he was put under pressure, challenged—he hated being challenged.

I chuckled turning to my friend. “Another pompous bastard Cai, this must be your day,” I teased, yet he did not laugh only glowered at the spoiled heir of Venzor.

Elias’s eyes darted between me and my friend before he flashed me a sharp grin. “At least I was not called an irrevocably incapable old fart.”

“I meant it equally offending. Now if you will just move, I might make my exit captain, though I enjoy the entertainment, I am as they would say, other occupied to care,” I added lastly. He stepped aside and bowed, but amusement still hitched in his lips.

“You know the idiot?” Cai asked beside me as we trailed down the snowy grounds of the winter garden.

“He is the one I saw in Soren forest the night of the festival, along with his soldiers.”

“I don’t like him.”

“You don’t like no one, with the size of that ego one can only fit so many in his life.”

“Pot meet kettle.”

“Fitted you, for that I have to get some credit.” Halting, I turned facing him. “I have meant to talk to you about this, but you keep avoiding me like a sickness when I do.”

His brows furrowed in concern. “Don’t get all serious with me, cakes, I don’t need to tell you again that there is nothing to discuss.”

“Surely there is, my father killed your family down to the roots, he didn’t leave a distant cousin of yours alive to call a relative. Does it really not bother you, who I am, what I remind you off?” I’d hate to think that it did, but I wanted to hear it, for him to let it out, unmask his real feelings. It bothered me, that he would have to play pretend around me.

“Never has, never will. You are not what he has done, and you are not him. You are nothing of his either.”

I shook my head. “I don’t believe it.”

“Has it ever bothered you what Nia is?”

“No, but what was done to you—”

“You cannot compare misfortune, Snow, we will always be on the losing end of someone else’s, especially not when you play no part.” His hand fell on my shoulder and I felt the warm support it offered. “Let us go, they have waited twelve years for you and I will have you for a lifetime to discuss all matters.”