Tear of Ice

Chapter 11

“I don’t understand how Grandma did any of this so easily.” Groaning, I lean back on the cart, standing on the ground and crossing my arms as I leaned.

“Loraines live for a very long time, she surely had lots of time to practice I assume.” Rio fed the horses and hydrated them, attempting to quickly be back on the move. Lia shook out her fur a bit.

“By a very long time, what do you mean?” I blink at him, and he shrugs. “Aways from a normal human, so around 80 years to maybe even a century or two.”

“A century?” I ask in disbelief.

“Loraines are basically demigods, Carmine. You think they will just fade out easily?” He raises an eyebrow as the horse eats from his hand. I sigh, looking up to the sky, seeing that the sun was actually going down now; for us have set out before the sun even rose, we’re making decent time

“I mean, Dad was alive for 2 whole Wolf Ringers. So he was pretty old too.” Lia mentioned as she leans over the cart. I look away and sigh. All of those years, gone in a flash.

“What makes your situation even more unique is that Wiesse only has one Loraine. Which makes it quite possible you guys live for even longer. So uh, how old are you now?” He wipes his hands as he finishes feeding the horse, petting its head gently as it neighs.

“20, almost 21.” I shrug.

“So I reckon around 200 years of life, at least.” He walks over and uses his hands to brush the horse’s hair.

My head whips around to him, my eyes wide as I stare. My mouth is attempting to form words. Before my hand just rushes to run through my messy bangs. “Dear Wiesse.”

“Yeah, I know. Long time. Almost can’t believe it.” He hops in the driver's seat again, gesturing for me to join him. As I climb in as well, I push his shoulder with my hand.

“Of course, you can’t believe it! You’re not going to be living it!” He bursts into boisterous laughter.

“Oh, come on. Who knows? Soon maybe I’ll develop glitter magic.”

“That sounds annoying.” I deadpanned at him.

“I’m sure it is.” He grabs the reins and cracks them, the horses dashing off in response.

For a little while the three of us went back and forth, talking about our route and going over my basic magic again. I continued to occasionally summon ice in my hands, trying to keep up a consistent way to be able to use Wiesse’s power. As I cracked my knuckles, I heard Rio let out a chuckle, which prompted me to look back at him.

“What? Something funny?” I quirk an eyebrow as he shakes his head.

“Just, you really do remind me of my siblings,” A shrug, “Albeit, far more grumpy.”

I push his shoulder again. “I’m not grumpy.”

Lia’s paw pats my head at that, “You’re very grumpy.”

I swat her paw away and groan. “But you’re still making progress, although very slowly. Glad to see you can actually do it with enough attempts.” Rio comments as he adjusts his seat.

“I mean, of course, she can. You think she was lying about being a Loraine?” Lia replies as she then forcefully puts a paw on his head.

“No, of course not. Especially since I knew long before you told me. The problem is that whatever you’re planning on doing in Kreidd won’t be easy if you can’t properly control your ice.”

I sigh and lean back, groaning into my hand as I rub my eyes. My fingers were still cold, making me flinch away from my own hand. I stare at them as the blue tones slowly leave them.

“I know, Rio.”

For a moment, he stayed silent. The gallop of the horses and the cart’s wheels being the only sound between the three of us. My eyes, staring down at my hands as I tried to will another shard of ice above it. Remembering how Grandma demonstrated the power with the tear before. Trying to imagine it, to visualize it. But as my hand pulsated with flecks of blue, nothing of note appeared.

“What did Kreidd do?” Rio’s voice was quiet.

I turn my eyes to the passing scenery, hearing Lia shuffle around as she lays down in the cart.

“Carmine, Lia. I’m just-”

“They stole the tear.”

Suddenly my body jerked violently, my back hitting the divider. I hear Lia bark and whimper in the back. Turning to check on her as her body laid on the cart as she shakes her head a bit, swiping at her ears with her paws gently.

“Rio, what the hell-”

“They stole the Artifact of Wiesse?” He yelled as the horses finally stopped. I rub my shoulder, rolling it as I try to ignore the slight stinging in my back. I nod, as I hold onto the fur of the cloak.

“I can’t believe this.” His voice was quiet, his hand coming up to his face in shock. “Kreidd has always been stupid but taking a Hex’s artifact? That’s low even for them.”

“Now you see why we’re in such a rush.” Lia hops back on her hind legs, paws on the divider as she checks on me. My hand stroked her head gently in reassurance.

“But wait-” He started, his eyes trailing back over to me. And after a moment he sighs and puts his head in his hand.

“What?”

“Kreidd continues to amaze me with how dumb they are.”

“What do you mean? Spit it out already.” Lia coaxes him.

“It is impossible to use an artifact of a Hex without a Loraine of that Hex.”

For a moment I stared at him, My eyes slowly widening as it all hit me. Everything that happened barely any time ago. My hand on Lia’s head sliding down and falling to the wooden cart. For a second, I didn’t even know if I was breathing. But then I felt another feeling bubble deep in my chest.

“So,” I start, “You’re telling me, a Kreidd battalion barged into my home. Murdered countless of my family, including my Grandmother and Icarus. And is literally killing my home, for an artifact they don’t even fully understand?” My voice cracked and shook, my hands shaking as a swift coolness washes over them.

“Carmine, wait-” Rio’s hand touches my shoulder as I shuffle away from him. Turning away and just watching the scenery go by.

“No, just- I don’t know why I’m surprised. Kreidd has always been like this. Always so f*****g uncaring, only taking and abandoning what they don’t want.” I grip the cloak closer to myself, attempting to feel any of the warmth of the previous owner. If she was here-

“Carmine-”

“Keep going, Rio. We have our home to save.”

I hear him shuffle and the reigns jingle, the horses neigh as they continue on their stride. I keep my grip tight on the red fabric as I watch the luscious greens of the Guecedand pass by in our trot. Slowly it is becoming more inhabited, villages and singular houses starting to pass us by. We weren’t far from the ferry base. There were so many more people around the bases after all. We were so close, just to the base, a ferry ride away. Get in Kreidd, grab the tear, get out.

I don’t want to be in there for any longer than I absolutely have to. Kreidd has never been a good place for me.

As more villages began to spring up, I lifted the hood over my head once more, looking away from the people who waved to our cart. Rio greeted them well enough anyway. When I glanced back to check on Lia, she was curled up facing away from Rio and I. She’s just as upset as I am; of course she would be.

“We’re approaching the base any time now.” Rio speaks up after a long string of silence between the three of us. “I know you both need a moment right now, but-”

“It doesn’t matter. Like we said, we’re getting in and getting out.” I cut in, before feeling a hand on my shoulder again. Quietly and slowly I turn to him.

“Will you both be okay?” I can hear his voice waver, and for a moment I could really feel the sincere concern. I nod as his hand rubs a little before letting go, soon turning around and giving Lia a pet as well.

“Lay low in Kreidd, okay? Try not to do magic in public and keep all encounters with the Knights as minimal as you can until you have to get the tear.”

“You aren’t coming with us?” Lia asked.

“I’m sorry. Me being with you there will not help you. I’m Itro royalty, and we don’t mesh well with Kreidd” He hums as he leads the horses onto the forming dirt trails between villages.

“What about the ferry? How does the ferryman work?” I ask.

“Just go inside the base, ask to purchase a ticket and get a room. Preferably for a single person. Then it should be fine from there for you two.”

I nod, as we slowly ride the carriage down the path that proceeds to expand wider and wider. In the distance, a large white building sat, and behind it the mountains that lead to the Great Fjord. The core of Hourn was right in front of us. This was it.

Slowly he led the horses to the side, and they stopped along the edge of the trail as people stepped away to give us space. I heard shuffles from the back as Lia jumped out and walked over to my side. I step down from the cart, reaching out to Lia with a light hand, running over her white fur. Rio stepped down as well, petting the horse gently as he walked over to us.

“Remember what I said,” he started, “Stay low and be careful. Kreidd isn’t alright in the head.”

“Trust me, Rio. I know.” I replied.

“What will you do?” Lia asked. He crosses his arms and hums lightly.

“Who knows, I might want to see the wares of the villages here for a while. Might be here until a certain red hood and white wolf reappear.”

I couldn’t help the small smile I made at him. Reaching out, pushing his shoulder softly as he chuckles. “Just say you’re willing to wait for us.”

“What? And ruin my charm? Blasphemy.” He grins at us as he places his hands on his waist, I raise an eyebrow at him and scoff. Lia steps closer to Rio and puts a paw on his knee. He looks down to her before kneeling.

“Just so you know, I still think you’re a weirdo.” I barely contain my laugh.

He grins to the side as he pets her. “Well, thanks.”

“But, uh. Thanks. You helped us a lot.” I nod as well, My hand touching his shoulder. “Thank you, Rio.”

He shakes his head and raises to his feet, his hand reaching for me as well landing on the soft cloth of the hood on my head. It rubbed back and forth for a moment before he moved it away.

“Now, go. I’ll be here to get you back home.”

With that, I turned away from Rio, looking back just before I reached the doors and waving. And then opening the brown door to the large white building. Inside the room was wide and open large windows with a view of the Fjord nearby. There were some people lingering around as they sat at the front desk. A man waved over to us, “How can I help you?”

I walk over, gently in my pocket and pulling out my bag of silver. “Can I buy a ticket for a single room please?” He nods before writing on some papers.

“Name?”

“Carmine.”

“I need a surname as well ma’am.”

I paused for a moment and sighed. “Carmine Vassard.” He nods again, and continues to write.

“Is your dog also coming along with you?” I ignore the annoyance quickly building in me as I clench my fist.

“Yes, she is.” I feel Lia come closer to my side, my hand reaching down to her head easily.

After a moment of writing he flips through some papers and nods with a smile.

“Alright, one single room with your pet. We will be boarding in 30 minutes. Here is your ticket,” He places on the table a small blue piece of plastic with a chain attached to a key. “And your room key. Your room is 8 in the back. That will be 150 silver.”

I reach into my bag and take out the silver before handing it to him as he slides the key closer over to me. With a small ‘thank you’, I step back from the desk and he waves, pointing to some furniture off in the corner and offering them as I wait for boarding time.

The other people in the room whispered and pulled themselves further away from us. Mothers pulling children closer to their sides and grown men scoffing as they look away from me. I kept to myself, quietly looking around for a nice spot for us to be alone.

Walking over to the corner beside the large window, my eyes gaze out of it. Looking at the large mountains and quietly moving water as workers step on and off of the large ferry. I looked down to Lia, who curled up on the floor beside me. Slowly I lean against the wall and slide down, sitting beside her as I pet her fur.

It was just us, and I thought it would always be. My hand absentmindedly ran through her fur and onto her head. She hums as I scratch her a bit.

“When we get on, we should talk.” I mutter to her, her ears perking up at my words. My hands continue to scratch, going behind those perked ears of hers as they relax. I feel her still tense under my touch. I sigh to myself as I hold my furred hood with my other hand. Quietly, I feel Lia come over and lay her head on my lap, nuzzling softly into my stomach as we waited. I lean forward and hold her close. My family, one of the last remnants of all I had.

“We really need to talk.”