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Chapter 5
Alrick
Iwatched as Henrike stomped up and down in front of the enormous stone fireplace, clenching her fists as she did. It was late, yet the ball was still going. The laughter and music reached us from a distance and would probably continue to do so all night.
The crackling fire in my guest room reflected off Henrike’s pitch-black hair. She looked so much like me in so many ways, yet so different. Her nose had broken once when she fell down the stairs as a child, which made it a little crooked.
“I can’t believe it. No matter how often I try to make sense of it. She is a monster! She should be named the Devil Queen.”
I stared past my sister and let my hand run over the soft silk of the couch I was sitting on. This room was only a guest room, yet it was much finer than my castle’s main chambers, including my late father and mother’s, which, I reminded myself, were now mine.
“Such luxury,” I mumbled, still running my fingers over the soft silk.
My sister stopped and looked at me. “So you have nothing to say about the shame and the humiliation she has brought to our name? She even ridiculed your beard! Does the woman not understand mourning?”
I moved my hand from the soft silk up to my rough beard. “It is rather dreadful looking.”
“Alrick! Men in our lands have honored the dead with this symbol for centuries. It’s a man’s promise to lay down his childhood in order to become the man he needs to be.”
“I’m sure there are still plenty of childish men out there, even after they grow a beard.”
My sister threw her hands up. “Why are you defending her?”
Was that what I was doing?
Henrike let out an annoyed sigh. “We should have never come here. Who cares if she is rich? We will find another wealthy heiress to restore our lands to what they were before the war.”
Before the war.It felt like such a long time ago. I could barely remember a world without it. I was still a child when I was forced to swing my sword for the first time. What had followed were years and years of utter horror. And for what? A greedy king.
“We didn’t come for the riches...primarily,” I said.
“Don’t tell me you fell for her beauty like all these other fools in that crowd. I thought you were better than that.”
Ah. Her beauty. I couldn’t help but smile at the memory of the day I first saw her all those years back. Even with the innocent eyes of a child, I knew how incredibly rare her beauty was. And even though I had never thought beauty of the utmost importance, when she passed by me today, those golden curls and fine facial lines had left me breathless for a second. And that damn deep back of her dress, revealing more of her soft skin than would be decent in the North, had made me wonder what it would feel like under my rough, scarred hands.
“No sane man nor woman could deny her beauty, but that’s not it.”
“Then what is it, Alrick? Why are we still here? Let us pack and leave. Even if her father was to force her to marry, and someone would be foolish enough to wed this witch, there are far superior matches available for her than our house.”
I rose and walked past my sister to stand next to the fire. It felt good to feel warm and dry. A comfort so many took for granted, a comfort I’d been robbed of so often in the endless rain of the battlefields. The metallic clash of swords and the screams of their victims echoed in my mind. I shook the memory off.
“Her father is powerful. One of the most powerful in all the kingdoms. Louis the Great has already written the Rhine King to assure his friendship should Princess Mina actually marry a Northern nobleman. With a match this important, King Algar would finally be forced to declare peace.”
“Then let another fool marry this witch.”
Witch.
Princess Mina had indeed been awful tonight. I had never seen a woman as beautiful or cruel. Marriage with her could be torture. And yet, I would willingly live a life of torment if my people could rebuild their farms and enjoy a time of peace.
“You make it sound as if she is eating children.”
My sister shrugged. “She might. They say she can spit fire.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Henrike, when did you start enjoying gossip and farmers’ superstitions?”
A flicker of anger washed over my sister’s face, then made way for a familiar kindness.
“I just want you to be happy. The thought of you being forced into a marriage with the Night Queen keeps me awake at night.”
