Icebound (Legends of the Shifters Book 2) (3 page)

I
glanced over the school grounds, before meeting her eyes again. “Be strong.”

I
saw a flicker of the old Liana when she smiled. “I will.” Then, she sunk back
into the crowd, just as Prince Matthias spoke up from behind me.

“Who
was that girl?”

I
jumped, unaware that he was that close. “Liana,” I said as I turned to him.

“A
good friend of yours, I'm guessing?” he questioned further.

“Yes.”

I
looked back at the boy's dorm just as Grix and Alyss came out of the building
followed by Headmaster Drake. In the light, I could see just how dirty their
clothes and faces were.

I
watched as they made their way toward us. Then, something happened that I
didn't expect. Natalia broke free of the throng of students. “Alyss!” she
shouted.

Alyss
turned around just before she was tackled with a hug.

I
should have realized it before. They both had black hair, blue eyes, and the
same pale complexion. They must be sisters.

Natalia
kissed Alyss's forehead and said a few words. Alyss nodded, her mouth barely
opening as she replied.

The
headmaster took ahold of Alyss’s arm, and Natalia stepped back as she was
dragged away.

Roland
had been Natalia’s trainer. I needed to tell her about his death, in case she
hadn’t heard yet. I caught her gaze and lifted my hand in a wave.

She
got the message and moved toward me through the crowd.

Before
I could even speak up, she said, “You didn't come back with Roland. Where is
he?”

This
was something that I had dreaded from the time I left the island. As trainer
and initiate, they must have been pretty close. After all, that was the person
that they spent the most time with.

I found
it hard to meet her eyes. “He isn't coming back,” I said softly.

She
closed her eyes and pursed her lips together, forming a thin line. I could tell
that she was trying to hold back emotion. When she opened her eyes again, they
were wet. She blinked several times. “How?” she demanded. Her voice cracked.

“A
dart dipped in a sleeping draft. He was allergic to it,” I answered.

I
watched as her face morphed from melancholy to dangerous. “Natives,” she
hissed, her eyes unfocused. They centered on me after a few seconds. “And
you
. If you hadn't asked that he come with you, we would still have him.”

I
narrowed my eyes. “He used magic to get me to bring him along.”

“You
could have gone back to the headmaster and changed it,” she snapped.

I
crossed my arms. “How was I supposed to know that one of us would end up dead?”

She
clenched her hands into fists without reply. She glared at me for a few more
seconds before she swung around and walked off, ending our conversation.

Her
words cut like a knife. I had always thought of us as friends, but now I felt
like our friendship was severed. Maybe with time, it could be sewn back up.

I
scanned over the crowd to see if I saw anyone else that I knew. There was Abby,
standing on her tip-toes to see the prince. One of the boys that I’d been in a
survival test with, talking to his friend. And in the back of the crowd, to the
left, January.

She
had on a different outfit than the students did, now that she was a trainer.
She wore a black, formfitting suit and had her hair tied into a tight bun. She
crossed her gloved hands over her chest and raised her eyebrows when she
noticed me looking.

Whatever
she had done to Liana in training, I hated her for it. She had taken away
Liana's cheerful heart, and to me at that moment, it was an unforgivable crime.
Liana had never been mean to her, not that I could remember. Liana was never
mean to anybody.

I
gave her a smoldering look, just as I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked back
to see the prince’s anxious face. “We have to go, Ivy. It’s a long journey, and
we’re pressed for time.”

I
searched for Liana once more to wave goodbye, but I didn't see her in the crowd
anymore. “Your two friends are already mounted on their horses,” the prince
said as he led the way.

Prince
Matthias helped me into the carriage, where I sat across from his guard, a man
who kept a straight, emotionless face as he studied me silently. Then, once the
prince was inside, the carriage surged forward.

I
settled back in my seat in the uncomfortable silence that followed our
departure.

-Chapter Four-

Every
once in a while, Prince Matthias tried to make small talk, remarking on the
weather and the upkeep of the conservatory, but I barely contributed. Instead,
my mind focused on the days ahead. Would I finally be able to study this
prophecy that so many people had talked about? And should I even believe it
when I did?

I
glanced over at the guard, who still hadn’t said a word. His hair was a dark
chestnut color and despite the constant line between his brows, his eyes were a
soft brown. They reminded me of Roland.

Everything
around me seemed to fade as I recalled Roland's easy-going laugh and his
friendliness toward others.

I
remembered the time when we saw the fire-dancers, when he’d tried to comfort me
after I got trampled by the crowd. I shouldn’t have made such a big deal out of
it. He was just trying to show me what Achron was famous for, and it was
wonderful...until the tent caught on fire.

I remembered
how he had kept me from going overboard on Burton's ship and made sure I was
safe. I remembered floating down the canal in Nalla and laughing together as a
Nallan man put flowers over Kurt's head… And the time just before his mind was
invaded, when he'd shown me his half-form. If the moment had lasted a little
longer...

And
then I remembered his last message to his family.
I've seen what is to come
in the next life. Do you honestly think that I would want to live in this world
forever? Ivy, for those who believe, there is no death. Instead, there is a
door to forever. A forever without anguish, without worry, without fear. And I
am going to live in that forever.

 When
I came back to the real world, the prince was watching me with a frown. I must
look foolish, staring blankly at the carriage wall. I quickly looked outside.
We sat silently for a while as the carriage descended the mountain, rocking us
back and forth with the horses’ gait.

What
does the castle look like?
Having started life as the lowest of the low, on
the farthest island, the prospect hadn’t even crossed my mind. Any news we got
about the royal family, which wasn’t much, was like hearing a bedtime story.
Marvelous tales of evening dances, visiting princesses, and beautiful weddings.
One of the first stories I’d heard of the royal family was the tragic passing
of the queen after she’d delivered the twin princes. That had occurred years
before I was born. And now, I was sitting beside one of the boys, our knees
occasionally brushing when the carriage sprang over a bump in the road.

And
what is the king like?
Kurt had told me that King Giddon had bought him
back from King Ciaran once. Did I dare have such high hopes that he would do it
again? But now, I doubted King Ciaran would take any sum of money to release
him, knowing that he was the strongest link to my cooperation if he ever
managed to capture me.

The
prince let out a deep breath of air. I hated to be such a boring audience, so I
tried to come up with something to say. “How long will it take to get to the
castle, Your Highness?” I asked.

Prince
Matthias glanced at me. “About six days, give or take. It depends on the
weather.” He paused and smiled. “And I told you not to call me that.”

I
blushed and ducked my head. “Sorry.”

He
waved off my apology.

“Where
will we be stopping?” I asked.

“We’ll
probably make a camp before we get to the sea.”

I
nodded and silence followed.

Then,
“How has your time at the conservatory been?” Matthias’s gray eyes were dark
with curiosity.

I
don't even know anymore…
After a few long seconds, I decided to say, “Not
too hard, now that I look back on it.”

“Is
that where you got that scar?” he asked, gesturing to my shoulder.

No
matter how much I hated to bring up the subject, I didn’t feel like I could lie
to the prince.

“No,
actually,” I said as I pulled my sleeve back into place to cover the marred
flesh.

His
eyebrows furrowed. “Oh. May I ask how?”

I
bit my lip.
I’d better tell him the truth.
“Have you heard of the plant
of eternal life?”

The
guard suddenly took interest in our conversation, studying me with knitted
eyebrows.

The
prince gestured to him. “Sir Lochlan here has always had quite an interest in
the plant. And the Isle of Ginsey specifically. I know the island is real, but
I always thought the plant was a myth.”

Sir
Lochlan turned away, but I knew he was still listening.

“It
is most certainly real,” I said, resisting the urge to trace over the scars
with my fingertips.

“So…you’re
telling me…that you consumed the plant?” the prince concluded.

“Only
a little made it into my system, so I don't think it will affect me the same
way. But it did give me this scar.”

“Hmm,”
said the prince, studying it. “It's strange. If the plant is supposed to make
you stronger, then why is it hurting you?”

My
stomach tightened as my mind worked around that question. Why
was
it
hurting me? “I don't know,” I said softly.

There
was no more conversation after that. Everyone was wrapped up in their own
thoughts as the carriage kept rocking back and forth.

*   *   *  
*   *

We stopped
before dark, where the smell of the ocean was strong. We had to be close.

While
the camp was being built, I decided to stretch my legs with a walk through the
woods. I followed the sound of trickling water until I came across a stream.

I
stooped to drink, cupping my hand in the cold water to bring it to my mouth,
but froze when I heard the snap of a twig. In the reflection of the stream, I
could make out a dark, cloaked figure standing too close for comfort.

Time
slowed. In a flash, I turned and grabbed the hooded figure’s wrist, twisting it
behind their back until I heard a cry of pain.

“Who
are you?” I hissed.

“P-please,
Ivy. It's me!”

I
knew that voice.

My
scowl disappeared and the tension seeped from my body. As soon as I let go of
his arm, he flipped his hood back.

“Ayon?”
I asked as I met his blue eyes.

He
clutched his arm where I had grabbed him. “Yes,” he said, his eyes pained.

My
heart sunk. “I'm so sorry,” I said, folding back his sleeve to look at the
damage that I'd done. There were spots of blue already.

He
jerked his arm away from my grasp.

I
narrowed my eyes. “Why did you sneak up on me?”

He
sighed and let his arm drop to his side. “I just wanted to surprise you.”

“Well,
you succeeded. What are you doing here, Ayon?”

He
stiffened at my tone. “When I heard that the prince was at the conservatory, I
made the trip out there just to find out he'd already left, and the phoenix was
with him. You see, I've been wanting to get a job at the castle, and since the
prince has showed interest in you…I wondered if you might help me
out?
” His mustered up a small smile. “Plus, I couldn't pass
up the chance to see you again.”

I
scrutinized him, remembering very well that the last time we’d seen each other,
he'd asked me to marry him.

Before
I could reply, Ayon went on to say, “I plan to bring my fiancée to the castle
to find work as well, but I wanted to make sure that there was a chance there
for both of us before we committed to it.”

Any
suspicions I had were immediately erased. “Fiancée? Who?”

Ayon
held his head higher. “Emillia
Lisborne
.”

I
knew Emillia, although I’d never talked with her very much. From what I could
tell, she was a quiet, sweet girl that deserved Ayon's attention. She’d been an
orphan, like myself, and had gone through her trial before me. Her second form,
a sparrow, suited her personality perfectly.

I
was surprised to feel a pang of jealousy.
It only took him a few months to
get over me?

I
forced my mouth into a smile. “That's...great. Emillia is a wonderful girl.”

Ayon
nodded. “Yes, she is.”

It’s
for the best.
Perhaps now, we could be friends again.

“How
is
Elna
doing?” I asked.

“She's
been good. She still can't cook, though.” The thought of
Elna's
cooking brought a grin to my face. Although life was easier back then, her food
was the one thing that I didn't miss. Ayon continued. “She has to keep herself
from telling everyone what happened in the arena, it was such a spectacle.”

My
smile faded. If she told anyone under seventeen what had occurred, she could be
in danger of imprisonment. I usually remembered her endless chatter fondly, but
now, I could only feel dread.

Ayon
interpreted my expression. “Don't worry, we've both kept silent for the most
part.”

Relieved,
I let my face relax. I looked behind Ayon, where I could barely see the tents
still being set up through the trees. “Would you like to meet the prince?” I
asked, focusing on him again.

“That’s
why I’m here. Will that be okay with him?” he asked.

“I'm
pretty sure it will,” I said as I started forward.

Ayon
nervously followed me, a hand running through his hair.

When
I came back into the sight of one of the guards, he nodded, acknowledging my
presence, but froze when he saw Ayon.

“He's
a friend,” I reassured him.

The
guard relaxed somewhat, but kept his hand near his sword hilt.

Sir
Lochlan turned at the sound of our voices. He looked at Ayon and then back at
me with a question in his eyes.

“Sir
Lochlan, this is Ayon. He's an old friend of mine,” I said as we approached.

Ayon
stuck out a hand. Sir Lochlan looked at it for a moment before he finally
consented to shake it.

I
smiled nervously. “He is headed to the castle looking for work.”

Sir
Lochlan frowned. “What’s your form?”

“A
horse, so a stable-hand is what I had in mind,” Ayon answered.

“We
have enough stable-hands already.”

I
opened my mouth to protest, but Sir Lochlan continued on. “—we are, however, in
need of trainers. Not many people are willing to risk their lives to tame wild
horses.”

Ayon's
eyes widened. If I wasn't mistaken, being a trainer was a step up, even if it
was dangerous.

“Of
course, the prince has more say in this matter. I'll go ask him for you.”

I
watched as Ayon's Adam's apple bobbed up and down nervously.

“Don't
worry. He doesn't bite. An execution, however...” Sir Lochlan trailed off. He
smiled and continued on into the prince's tent.

Ayon
looked at me, worried. “Are you sure it'll be okay to ask him?”

I
rolled my eyes. “Sir Lochlan is messing with your mind. Prince Matthias isn't
that kind of person.” Of course, I'd only known him for less than a day, so I
couldn't be completely confident in that statement.

Then,
the prince's tent flap opened again and Prince Matthias stepped out. “I'm glad
to hear that you think so.”

“Y-your
Highness!” Ayon stuttered, falling to one knee in a bow.

“Please,
rise. What is your request?” said the prince patiently.

“Uh…well,
I was wondering if I could get a job at the castle...Your Highness,” Ayon said,
brow furrowed as he struggled to get back up.

“Hmm,”
Prince Matthias hummed. He glanced at me for a moment before looking back at
Ayon. “What kind of job?”

“A
stable-hand or a horse trainer,” Ayon answered, regaining some of his courage.

“Have
you had any experience with either?”

“I’ve
been a stable-hand for the past two and a half years,” Ayon confirmed.

“But
no experience with training, I take it?”

Ayon
shook his head.

“He’s
a good worker,” I spoke up. “When I used to visit him, he rarely took breaks.”

The
prince studied Ayon. “Well, perhaps you could start out as a stable-hand while
the Horsemaster trains you how to break an untamed horse.”

Ayon’s
shoulders relaxed as he nodded. “That sounds like a generous offer, Sir.” He
shot me a grateful look.

Prince
Matthias shifted his feet. “Will you be traveling with us?” he asked. “I’m
afraid we don’t have any horses to spare, but since you are one…” He trailed
off.

Ayon
shook his head. “No, sir. I have a wedding in two weeks’ time.”

“I
take it your fiancée will need a job as well, then?” questioned the prince.

“I
wouldn't want to ask too much,” Ayon said cautiously.

“Nonsense,”
the prince replied. “What is her second form?”

“A
sparrow, Your Highness.”

The
prince crossed his arms. “So she could be a maid. The castle is always in need
of another maid. You’ll have your work cut out for you by the time you reach
the castle, I guarantee it.”

“Thank
you so much, Your Grace,” Ayon said with a bow.

Prince
Matthias patted him on the shoulder. “Consider it a wedding present.” Then, he
ducked back into his tent.

“Thank
you, Ivy,” said Ayon as we walked toward the woods again. “If you weren't here,
I don't think I’d have the courage to approach the camp.”

His
praise felt odd. It was usually him that dove headfirst into situations, him
that had any connections with the outside world.

Ayon's
expression saddened as if he had read my thoughts. “You really are different,
you know?” he said.

“It's
been tough,” I admitted.

“Maybe
we can talk about it when I get to the castle.”

“Assuming
I’ll still be there when you arrive,” I said solemnly.