Kiss of Snow

26

Danzin tapped the side of his glass, quieting the chatter in the room. “May I propose a toast? To our beautiful host, Princess Lily. Long may she rule Talador with whomever she chooses as her king by her side.” He lifted his glass and each of the other men did the same.

My gut twisted at the reminder of why we were here, and how little time I had left to choose a husband. I took a polite sip of my wine and changed the subject. “How is everyone enjoying Talador?”

“It’s cold here.” Vasso rubbed his hands together like the roaring fire he had his back to hadn’t managed to penetrate his body to heat the front of him. Possibly there was such a thing as too muscular.

“Yes, those of us from Talador like to curl up together to keep warm.” Lasloe laughed as he spoke and winked at Gusten, who blushed in return. I’d have to remind Lasloe not to embarrass Gusten with his attempts at humor too often, or the poor man’s face would be permanently red. Lasloe nudged him and Gusten giggled, but he shot me a quick glance like I might be unhappy at his amusement and his smile faded.

“Yes, Talador is cold…” I hesitated. How could I finish my sentence? I thought it was beautiful, but I wasn’t actively trying to sell my country to the men. They either wanted to be here or they didn’t.

“I find it fascinating. So many plant specimens.” Danzin spoke up and concealed my discomfort beneath his pleasure at the plants growing in my kingdom. His face glowed, but not with embarrassment. It was either with the heat from the fire or sheer excitement at his favorite subject.

Hirth laughed mirthlessly. “And so many new allergies for me to explore.” As if to punctuate his sentence, he sneezed loudly into the ever-present handkerchief he pulled like a magician from a voluminous sleeve.

Servers and footmen walked around the table, spooning vegetables and meats onto our plates and refilling our glasses. For a while, the conversation at the table dwindled as everyone began to eat. The food was plentiful and beautifully prepared, one of my favorite meals with turkey and gravy.

“We don’t have anything like this at home,” Vasso said as he reached for the gravy boat. He sloshed the gravy over the sides and it dripped onto the white tablecloth below. “Sorry about that.”

“Seems you are particularly good at being clumsy, Vasso,” a nasally voice said.

It was Covack, awake for once, and regarding everyone through narrowed, beady eyes. He reminded me of a bird—ready to peck at anything he decided he didn’t like, and I shuddered at the sudden image. I preferred him when he was asleep. His disinterest was infinitely better than any degree of scathing commentary on the gentlemen who could actually be bothered to stay awake. Although, I didn’t say anything in Vasso’s defense. If he couldn’t survive Covack’s random pecking, he’d never survive the backstabbing of court.

“What’s the other castle like?” Vasso settled the gravy boat back down on the table with another wobble and a large pool of the brown liquid feathering into the white linen.

Covack immediately brightened, his handsome face taking on an easy smile that almost made me wonder if such a pleasant-looking man really did snore quite so loudly. “Is it bigger?”

I opened my mouth to reply, but Keane shifted behind me. Of course. He’d be worried about security while my sisters were still in residence there. “Winton has some very similar features,” I answered, smiling as pleasantly as I could manage. “This stone, for example, is only found in Talador, and you’ll see the same wintery views outside the castle windows. All of the forests in the kingdom wear an almost permanent coat of snow or frost this time of year.”

Covack’s mouth twitched with disappointment, as if he’d hoped for something a little more detailed. Many of the others looked downright bored with the conversation.

“I see, and do the same herbs and plants that grow here also grow closer to the other castle?” Danzin asked.

I dabbed at my mouth with a napkin before I answered him. “I believe there would be. The climate is colder—we’re south of it now, you know—but not vastly different.”

Danzin smiled and nodded. “Very interesting. Those are forests I’d definitely like to see some time.”

As dinner finished, I felt a little uncomfortable at the amount of food I’d consumed. It had been a long time since I’d been treated to such a feast, and the temptation to try everything had been a little too much. Meanwhile, Vasso looked up and down the table at the empty platters before slumping dejectedly in his chair.

He perked up when the servers formed a procession from the kitchen, each with a round silver plate held above their head, balancing on their palm. The aroma of warm spiced apple filled the dining room, and I sniffed appreciatively, but as soon as my dish was served, I knew I couldn’t eat it. My stomach roiled as I struggled to digest what I’d already eaten, and there was no way I could add anything further to that.

Each of us had a plate with an apple that had been expertly carved into a beautiful lily, the petals opening in the steam that lifted from it. Delicate folds of pastry surrounded the apples. It was possibly the most beautiful pie I’d ever seen, and though I considered trying it, I felt I might explode if I consumed even a bite.

I pushed it away before looking around the table, observing my suitors in turn as they ate. When my attention landed on Vasso, I noticed he’d already finished his pie and was sneaking hopeful glances at my discarded plate.

I nudged it to him. “I’d consider it a great personal favor if you’d eat this, Lord Vasso. I’d hate to insult anyone in the kitchen by returning a dish untasted.”