Shadows on Snow: A Flipped Fairy Tale (Flipped Fairy Tales) (13 page)

“You know the game is outside the bounds of the wards,” I said to Adelaide. “And you wish for us to stray beyond that safety for the sake of meat at dinner?”

She yawned, exhausted. “Supplies are needed for the journey, and we must prepare for that. I don’t like it any more than you do, but there’s nothing for it.”

“But couldn’t Belinda—”

“I couldn’t ask her to call an animal to slaughter, Rae,” she said. “You know how that pains her.”

“She understands the circle of life as well as any other,” I said with a grimace. “She’s asked for volunteers to help preserve us before.”

Adelaide nodded. “Yes, but the need was very great then, and she wept a full day over it. Better to not involve her if it can be helped.”

“Very well,” I said, pushing away from the table. “I’ll leave shortly and return when I’ve plenty for all. Perhaps there’s deer nearby, drawn by your greenery.”

“I should think so. Best take Leo with you to help carry. Perhaps find him materials for a new bow, as he’s without that now.”

“Take him outside the wards? Don’t you think—”

She silenced me with an impatient look. “The rest of us have chores to do, and you’ll need his strength. No more arguments. Off with you.”

Summarily dismissed, I skulked from the kitchen. Donning my cloak and taking my rope, bow, and quiver, I stepped outside to collect the prince that had brought me nothing but trouble and bothersome feelings since I met him.

I came to an abrupt halt a mere ten steps from the door. Down to his tunic and breeches, the prince hefted an axe, bringing it down with a mighty blow to split a log in two. The morning sunlight glinted off the sweat on his brow, his muscles visibly moving through the thin fabric of his shirt as he repositioned a piece to split again. Transfixed by his graceful movements, it took me a moment to find my voice, at last clearing my throat when he’d finished with the log.

“You’ll need to get your things for a hunt this morning,” I said when he turned to me. “We’ll collect items for a new bow as well.”

He studied me for several seconds, but didn’t argue, instead leaning the axe against the house before going inside. He returned shortly, fully dressed and cloaked, his sword hanging loosely at his side.

“Where are we going?” he asked as we headed towards the boundary of the ward.

“Ready for another brush with magic?” I said. “Most animals steer clear of this property, so we need to go past the ward to hunt.”

“I suppose if I made it through before, I can manage again. It’s easier to bear in your presence.”

Frowning a little, I kept my gaze trained on the path we walked. Charging through the ward was considerably less difficult at the touch of his hand, but saying as much felt like admitting defeat. I’d done everything on my own for so long, outside assistance was a betrayal to my own abilities. And relying on a man…

No. My strength allowed me to help others while giving me freedom to control my own destiny.
 

At the edge of the ward, he stopped. Turning to him, I tried to offer him some reassurance. “It’s less difficult going out than in,” I said. “There’s immense relief at leaving the perceived danger, rather than terror at charging into it. You’ll be all right.”

The prince took a deep breath and readied himself to run. “Shall we then?”

“On my count.” I turned back to the unseen field before us. “Three… Two… One!”

We sprinted through the ward, immediate fear propelling us onward, followed by comfort the farther we ran. Once clear of the spell, we paused to catch our breath after the quarter-mile sprint.

“See?” I said between gulps of air. “Much easier.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Easier, but still highly unpleasant.”

Barely allowing him time to recover, I headed deeper into the woods, bow at the ready.

“Are we safe out here?” he asked. “Does King Alder require a mirror to—”

“You mustn’t!” I hissed at him, but too late. I rubbed at my forehead with the back of my hand. “Do not so much as whisper it outside the wards. He has ways to hear when an enemy speaks his name.” I looked around, but not even a bird was in sight. Still, that meant little. Even trees and insects could share secrets. “And no, we aren’t completely safe. We need to move quickly.”

After a good half-hour of silently trudging through the woods, I cast him a glance. I felt badly for reprimanding him so harshly, as he had little knowledge about magical workings.

“Winters are hard out here,” I whispered, easing into conversation, “but Adelaide alleviates them some for the animals with patches of greenery. We should be able to find a sapling for a bow and potentially a deer or two nearby. It might be tough, but there could be flax to make the cord as well. Stay alert. I don’t want to be out here longer than needed.”

We crept through the underbrush until we came to the first clearing. He sucked in a gasp as he took in the sudden appearance of green grass and flowers blooming as though spring were fading into summer. The place was shielded from the chill of winter thanks to Erata’s conversations with the winds, keeping the worst of the weather from touching the small haven. Remnants of the hot spring trickled through on the far side, but only a solitary rabbit lingered there.

“We might be too close to the ward still. Animals spook easily and might be farther out than this,” I said, not at all hopeful about our prospects.

“Or,” he said, lifting his hand into a beam of sunlight breaking through the leaves above. “Perhaps if we wait a while, we’ll have some luck.”

Remaining in any one place for long sat ill with me, but a good hunter was a patient hunter. “Possible, but we’ll need to conceal ourselves.” I scanned the trees, looking for an ideal spot. Crossing the clearing, I stared up into the branches of a large maple. “This should do well,” I said, turning to him. “Would you give me a boost?”

“It would be my pleasure,” he said with a flourishing bow before sinking to a knee before me. He looked up at me, smiling, and offered his hand.

Spirits take him, my heart hammered as though he offered me far more than a step up into a tree. With a frown, I took his hand and set a boot against his thigh, launching myself up to grab the lowest branch. Two good swings, and I curled a leg over, pulling myself into a seated position. I untied the rope around my waist, letting it fall to my ankles. One strong knot later, and Prince Leopold had a means to join me as I took to a higher branch.

From our perches, there was little to do but wait. Even quiet conversation could spook an animal. It seemed that no matter how much rest I got, I was always tired after nearly seven months of little sleep and endless work. Eventually, I dozed with my back up against the wide trunk of the tree.

The snap of a twig jarred me, and I sat up so abruptly I nearly fell. Bow at the ready, I scanned the area for the source of the noise.

When I saw him, my stomach leapt into my throat.

Prince Leopold crept across the clearing, entranced. A break in the clouds allowed a wide beam of sunlight to shine directly on a patch of ground. There, flax as golden as a crown swayed in a gentle breeze, tempting him onwards, but I knew it for what it was.

As quickly as I could, I clambered from my branch, sliding down the rope to the ground. I ran for him, calling a warning for him to stop, but he didn’t so much as pause. The world slowed to a crawl as I stretched out, my legs pumping through the immovable jelly of time.

He reached, grabbing a handful of the thin stems. Instantly, the flax sprang to life, entwining his arms, pulling him closer. Struggling with my cloak, I fumbled for my knife. Barely a strangled shout escaped him before the golden flax wrapped itself around his neck.

Giving up on the knife, I ripped the prince’s sword from its sheath at his belt and hefted it high above my head. I tore through the murderous plants in a single swing, but I hacked and slashed until Prince Leopold rolled free, gasping and choking in the grass. I dropped the sword and fell to my knees beside him, turning him over to see if he was still breathing.

“Speak to me,” I said, my hands clearing the remaining strands of flax from his throat. “Leo, say something.”

Still coughing, he reached up, lightly brushing my face with his fingertips. “Twice over now,” he said hoarsely. “I owe you my life.”

I covered my face with trembling hands and sank back on my haunches. “You stupid man. What were you thinking? You could have… You could have been…”

My voice gave out on me, and I couldn’t bring myself to say the words. The terror of the moment became suddenly, violently real, and I shook as I realized how close he’d come to death.

He pushed himself to sitting and pulled my hands from my face. “I may be stupid, but I’m lucky. You weren’t too late, Rae. You’ve bested him again.”

“Had I warned you before about speaking his name, I wouldn’t have needed to. It was a careless mistake. I assume too much.”

Touching my chin briefly, he smiled when I met his eyes. “You carry too much weight on your shoulders. Let me bear at least some responsibility for my foolishness.”

“It’s the duty of the wise to guide and protect the ignorant,” I said.

“Did your father teach you that?”

I shook my head. “I was little more than a baby when he died. My mother taught my sisters and me.”

“I think she would be very proud of you.”

I shrugged. “Perhaps. I accept my failures, but I wonder if I live up to what she wanted her daughters to be.”

He got to his feet and pulled me to mine. “Accept your failures, but celebrate your successes. Allow yourself some comfort where you can take it, Rae.”

I took a deep breath and pulled my hands from his. “I know. I’m trying.” Rather than meet his questioning gaze, I turned my attention to the cut flax strewn across the ground. “I think this is harmless once cut, but I don’t dare touch it to test that theory. It’s probably best we head back now.” I looked at him again and frowned. Gingerly, I brushed back the collar of his cloak, glaring at the angry red marks on his skin, tiny cuts marring his flesh. “And we’ll see about that as well.”

He sighed. “I hate to return empty-handed.”

Glancing around, I found one thing that might be of use. I took up his sword again and strode over to the edge of the clearing. There, a strong maple sapling sprouted from the ground, the perfect height and thickness for the staff portion of the bow. With one swing, I felled it, whispering a thanks to its spirit for giving itself to our cause. I picked up the cut sapling and handed it to Prince Leopold, along with his sword.

“Not empty-handed now,” I said, returning to the tree to collect my bow, arrow, and rope. After I was ready, I turned to him again. “All set for another trip through?”

He slipped a hand into mine. “Only if you’re with me.”

Every time he spoke to me that way, I lost my head completely. At a lack of words, all I could do was nod.

He didn’t let go of my hand until we were back within the confines of the ward.

“This should do for the abrasions,” Adelaide said as she handed me a small pot of salve.

I stared at it for a moment before looking up in confusion.

“Go on then,” she said, turning away. “Erata and I are going out to that clearing to dispose of the strangling flax. I’ve other things to do.” She looked around me to where the prince sat at the kitchen table, adjusting the collar of his shirt. “You were very lucky Rae was there to cut you free. Had she been a minute or two later, there’s not a cure for what would have befallen you.”

He nodded. “I’m aware of how fortunate I am. I’d do well to have her as my personal guard if she weren’t opposed to wearing armor.”

I rolled my eyes and crossed the room to retrieve the light bandages for his injuries. “Personal guard, indeed. I’d look ridiculous.”

“I think red and gold would suit you rather well, actually,” he said with a playful smile.

Flushing crimson, I nearly dropped the salve at his comment.
 

Adelaide chuckled. “So I see. Well, I’ll leave you to it then, Rae. We’ll return shortly.” Before I could compose a retort, she left without further conversation.

I pulled a chair up in front of him and sat with a frustrated scowl. “Do you intentionally try to embarrass me, or is it another natural talent you have?”

He looked confused. “Embarrass you? Did I say something offensive?”

With an annoyed huff, I tilted his head back to get a better look at his wounds. “You know very well that it’s not a position in the Royal Guard they have in mind for me. You shouldn’t say such things.”

I scooped a glob of the salve out of the pot and lifted it to his neck. As I went to spread it on his skin, he wrapped his fingers around my wrist, stopping me with a touch. “It’s not what I would have in mind, either, Raelynn.”

I looked away, my eyebrows tightly knitted. “And not a one of you seems concerned with what it is I have in mind for myself.”

“You know that isn’t true. I had hoped, given our conversation of last evening, you might consider—”

“Don’t,” I interrupted, meeting his stare. “I’ve no desire to plan anything beyond out-living our enemy. Any more than that and…”

He released my wrist, his fingertips gliding over my skin as he lowered his hand. “And what? Are you so set against hoping for more?”

I set my mouth in a hard line and applied the salve. “There’s been little I’ve dared hope for since I was nine years old, Highness.”

He grabbed my wrist again. “Please. It’s Leo. You’ve called me that once since I asked it of you, and I’d greatly like to hear it again.”

“Twice,” I corrected. “But once before you knew me true.”

“Still not near enough,” he said, then removed my hand, leaning forward. I inched backwards under the full brunt of his scrutiny. “Why, Rae? Why do you insist on keeping a distance between us, even with knowing—”

“I don’t know anything,” I said and tried to jerk away, but he held me fast.

“You do.” Prince Leopold lifted my hand, matching our palms to one another. There was no denying the sensations that passed through me. If anything, they were stronger than before. “You cannot tell me this is nothing to you. What can I do to convince you that—”