Page 213 of Winter Gods & Serpents

She chuckled shortly. “You expect a lot, just pray my father holds his promises well. Or don’t, both would be to your benefit, would it not?”

Her father abruptly turned to her and murmured tightly under his breath, “Snowlin Krigborn, I warn you for the last of times.”

The two Venzorian stepped back and scattered along as another made forward.

“Your Majesty,” an older woman greeted next in line, before half-heartedly turning to Snow. “Your Highness.”

Snow leaned from her seat in a wicked grin, as if entertainment was just brought to her in a platter. “Malena Grasmere, which guardian hound of Caligo’s hells we owe the pleasure for letting you out again?”

I almost laughed, barely holding it in as I lowered my head to hide the amusement. Her father had wide eyed turned to her, it was pointless to describe how very angry and displeased he was with her.

She smiled shortly at Snow with masked humour. “I see your teasing behaviour remains, credit to the Olympian blood in you, they were jesters at best.”

Snow to their surprise giggled at the very offensive jab. “Krig’s frosted testicles, aren’t you petty Malena. Which one was it again? The Olympian that broke that tiny little nut of a heart? Oh yes, Alaric Drava. Grudges are gnawing, but you would know better, you only lived like what, two centuries already?”

Speechless and hurt, she glowered in distaste at her before turning to her king. “Silas, I purposefully came to ask for a moment. There is trouble in Grasmere, few of our ships have not returned from their last expeditions.”

He shifted in his seat, carefully peaking a glance at his daughter before turning to her. “I will meet you at the meeting chambers after the celebrations Malena, nothing to be concerned about.”

Distress dressed her. “It was fifteen ships this time, Silas, the third time in a month. Steel, machinery and not to mention hundreds of soldiers gone, two of them were to be received from Vrammethen,” she pushed, now concern washing over like a wave.

Silas threw another glance to his daughter and stood to leave along with Malena. Had the rift with Solarya deepened to this extent?

“Do not leave, I will be back shortly,” he warned her.

Her face had warmed to some amusement, strange satisfaction in her amber eyes. “Would not miss having you back for the world, father, go chase your ships.” She leaned forward again towards the Lady, mischievousness written all over her features. “Give the otherworld my salutes, you know, once the hounds of Keres pick you back.”

Her father cleared his throat and threw her a glare before descending to the severely offended lady.

Once they were gone, curiosity taking reign I lowered to my knees next to her and asked, “Your guardian and her were together?”

She snorted and shook her head. “No, she chased him round in circles the moment he had stepped in Isjord, very persistent that woman was. When Alaric had told her he preferred other men’s company she had said, and I quote, I can work with that.”

I shook with laughter alongside her, a genuine sound so easily distinguishable to my ears.

Lord after lord stood there and greeted her. Most to my surprise wore respect, others a fear that did not resemble fright and others a hate rooted beyond dislike, somewhere between resent and wanting to rip her heart out. Isjord was strange in a sense, they did not fear or dislike her for what she was made to be, they disliked her from where she came. Why was pettiness so overruling over their lives? But then again, pettiness and greed were wed at dawn of others success.

A long while later a sternly disturbed face and shadowed Silas returned to his seat. Had the riff between them and Solarya gotten that intense as to take it to war?

“Trouble in the frozen heavens?” Snow asked almost pleased.

“None of your concern.”

She chuckled. “Nope, not one of my concern. The concern is all yours.”

She propped an elbow at the side of her seat holding her head up, half a blink away from fading to sleep. Her eyes rolled every time someone came to the front of the dais, she was bored to death, did not have to read her shadows to know that either.

Lord of Arynth came to give his own greeting and Snow finally perked up again. She looked a bit taken aback, different from how I had always seen her with him.

“You have organized a stunning celebration, my king, but yet the centre of everyone’s astonishment is your beautiful daughter. I congratulate you nonetheless,” Albius said. He did not look scared of the king, though his comment did not exactly compliment him. Albius and Snow were more than friendly, they were allies, one of many she’d surely recruited on her side, but differently, he seemed not to have taken much convincing to join her side. I wondered if she truly were to use the cards she held in her hand. Would she do it once in throne, once my queen? Had she not sworn to destroy us?

“Both products of mine, so I will take your congratulations,” Silas spoke proudly.

My mind was pleading with itself for Snow not to say anything that would aggravate him, but came to realize gods and heavens seem to have lost their liking toward me when she laughed hard enough that the music faded and the whole room turned to her attention, murmuring amongst each other about the princess.

She cleared her throat. “Please, continue, do not stop on my behalf, just enjoying this circus greatly that is all,” she said still laughing. “With so many clowns in one room, one can only laugh, right?”

Both the lord and her father were taken aback from her comment. What pulled my attention were the shadows of the lord, his were stilled in apology and guilt.