AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I still might.
“Levi, I did what you asked,” Brick states after finally popping his head into my tent. “I told the ice queen you wanted a word with her after she got settled in. But she says there’s no need for further delay and wishes to see you now.”
“Is that so?” I counter, grabbing a pitcher of wine to fill my goblet, having no intention of jumping to her command.
When all Brick does is nod as he steps beside me, I realize that my general looks somewhat ashen, a far cry from his usual impetuous disposition.
“Has she gotten under your skin already, old friend?” I taunt, wondering why he looks like he’d rather we flee than have me meet our so-called queen.
“Fuck you. Give me one of those.” He points to the jug of wine.
Smirking, I pour him a glass and hand it to him.
“Then why the long face?” I ask him, genuinely intrigued as to why my best friend looks like he just saw a ghost.
“It’s the only one I got, okay?” he retorts, drinking the goblet in one quick swig, then cleaning the droplets of the cherry wine on his red beard with his sleeve. “I just got a bad feeling, that’s all.”
“You always have a bad feeling,” I taunt, while refreshing his glass.
But my light teasing only seems to trouble him further. He slams his glass on the table, and abruptly steals mine out of my hands before I can taste another drop.
“You’re going to need a clear head for this shit, Levi. I don’t want you to meetherwith your head all fuzzy with booze.”
My brow arches in increased curiosity.
“Has our dear queen put the fear of the gods in you already, Brick? I’d have thought you were made of stronger steel than that.”
“Yeah, well, let’s see how well you’ll fare,” he snarls with a snide grimace.
I chuckle, watching him wipe the cold sweat off his brow.
“She’s a child. What could she have possibly done to you in the five minutes you were with her to cause you to act this way?”
“Thatwomanout there,” he points to the tent’s flaps, “is no child. I don’t know what type of relationship you had with her when you were a boy, but the woman I just met isn’t her. I swear I saw my own death in her eyes as clearly as I’m seeing you right now,” he explains with such earnestness, I almost believe that he’s serious. “Levi…” he starts worriedly, running his fingers through his auburn hair. “I think we’ve made a huge mistake. We should have attacked her when we had the chance. Now I’m not sure if any of us are going to come out of this with our necks intact.”
My hackles instantly rise at his reaction to meeting Katrina.
Brick is many things, but he’s never been a coward. His fear is real, which means that I must be extra cautious.
I should have known.
Here I was, whimsically recalling our tender shared youth, when I should have been strategizing on how best to defeat Kat at her own game. The decree she sent should have been my first clue that the girl I once adored above all, no longer exists. She’s gone. And in her place, only Orville’s daughter remains.
“Stay here,” I snap at my best friend. “You’re no use to me tonight.”
“Nope.” He shakes his head furiously. “No way in hell am I letting you meet her on your own.”
I flash him my gritted teeth, my eyes piercing him to the spot.
“Do you have so little faith in your king, soldier?”
The look of shame immediately accosts him, his head hanging down low.
“No, Your Highness, of course not. You are my king. If there is anyone that can conquer that winter witch, it is you. Of that, I’m certain,” he retorts evenly, steel back in his voice.
My teeth grate further at his description of Kat, but I don’t reprimand him for it. Instead, I turn my back to my closest confidant and walk toward my tent’s entrance.
“Where is she now?” I demand.
