"Your Highness, please, don't go out there alone." He moved to my side and gazed down at me, a soft smile playing on his lips. All the men in Lainule's service were gorgeous—and his eyes were the same cornflower blue that Grieve's had once been. He was wearing leather armor, and a long sword by his side glistened with silver trim.
I paused, not wanting to cause him distress. "Check, you know that I'm not full-blooded Cambyra. Does that bother you? Do you mind that I'll be taking the throne?"
He frowned, then cocked his head. "No, Your Ladyship. I think…the days are over when the Cambyra can hide from the world. And someone who is born to both worlds might just be the way to forge that merger."
"Then, as you state, since I am not entirely from the Cambyra world, things will change. And one thing that has to change is that I won't live my life locked away in a tower. I'll take on the robes, I'll move to the Barrow, I'll lead the people in the best way that I can, but I won't be a prisoner. I'll be cautious." I stopped and smiled at him. "I'll be good. I won't try to ditch the guards. But I come from the world out there. And I need to come and go as I please. Do you understand?"
He cracked another smile. "I think I do, my Lady. But understand my sacred duty—I cannot let you go alone, not and mind my conscience. Please forgive me, but I plan on escorting you, and Fearless as well."
His companion stepped from behind a nearby tree. Fearless was as good as his name. Grieve had told me that he was paired with Check because Check always kept him in balance. They were both brave, and true to the Court of Rivers and Rushes. If anybody was going to protect me, I knew they would.
"The former Regent still walks abroad, and it is the night, when he will be waking," Check whispered, leaning closer.
That decided me. This was as far as I could sanely push the matter. Either they went with me, or I went back to the Barrow, because even though I chafed at the restraints, the truth was—Geoffrey and Leo were out to wreak havoc on us. And Myst was out to kill us. And I couldn't count on any place being truly safe at this point.
"Thanks, Check. I'd…appreciate the company." I led the way to the portal, although when we got there, Check slipped in front of me and insisted on going through first. I gratefully stepped back and let him.
The energy of the portal was like a brilliant, sparkling vortex, and I was slowly getting used to it. As I emerged from the net of magic between the Twin Oaks, I saw that Check was kneeling on the ground about ten yards ahead, examining the snow. The look on his face was one of worry.
Shivering, I realized that in my hurry, I'd forgotten to bring my coat. Once out of the realm of Summer, Myst's fury and vengeance had returned.
As I breathed in a lungful of cold air, Check stood, his face blank and stern. "We must return to the Barrow, Your Highness. Now."
"What's going on? What is it?" I hurried over to his side and leaned down. There, against the pale snow, was a patch of blood and bone, staining it pink. The size of my fist, the bone was fresh, and the blood on it still fluid and red.
Quickly, I pulled out my dagger.
Ulean, what do you sense? What's out there?"
She swept around me, agitated. Cicely, get back into the realm of Summer. Now. There are dangers here.
Before I could move, the bushes parted and a doglike creature broke through, jaw unhinging as it lunged for me. As I screamed, startled, Check pushed me out of the way. The Shadow Hunter snapped air, his jaws clenching on nothing, and then I saw behind him a great creature, pale white and looming like a mountain of flesh, with glaring eyes the color of dawn and features that were bulbous and fat.
"What the fuck is that?" I stared up at the creature as it lumbered toward us. I stumbled away, trying to get out of its path.
"Ice troll!" Fearless jumped forward, his sword out.
"Where did Myst find an ice troll?" Check grabbed him by the arm. "We can't engage. Our first duty—ensure the safety of the Queen. Walk away and live to fight another day, brother."
A look of frustration washed over Fearless's expression, but he immediately turned and grabbed me up, unceremoniously holding me by the waist. As we raced toward the portal, Check guarded our back.
I wanted to go fight—wanted to send them running. I could do it, too. I could summon up a hurricane if I wanted to, but the guards weren't giving me a chance. When we were at the portal, though, Fearless had to put me down.
Whirling, I saw the troll and the Shadow Hunter hot on our heels. I closed my eyes and summoned the winds.
No, Cicely—let it be, just go through the portal!
But I wasn't listening to Ulean. A swell of fury welled up. I was sick of the whole fucking war. Sick of Myst and her army. Of Geoffrey and Leo. I was stick-a-fork-in-me done with everybody who was trying to kill us.
"Gale Force…" My whisper echoed through the air, and the next moment, the wind caught me up. The whirl of air grew within me, raising me tall against the night sky, and I was no longer myself, but now queen of the winds, queen of the air—the heart of the storm.
I grabbed control of the swirl of wind and snow and set it to spin, driving the falling flakes that whitened the sky into a frenzied dance. The vortex caught me up and I rode the crest of the energy, the ripples and currents widening to form a train in my wake, as I pushed the growing storm before me. The fog and mist rose at my feet to buoy me up, and I towered over the forest, my arms wide, gathering the winds.
In case she was listening, I whispered, sending my voice spiraling into the slipstream. "You want to play with the cold, Myst? I'll show you what it means to truly be the Queen of Winter."
The ice troll and the Shadow Hunter stopped, staring up at me as I loomed over them, dark and beautiful and feeling my power.
Rein it in, Cicely. Rein it in—you know the storm can take over. Bring the winds back. Ulean was frantic, and her voice finally penetrated my thoughts, which were a swirl of power and energy.