The Royal Flame

Ice

From behind I can hear her feet. With every step the snow crisps softly under her light weight. The icy wind breezes through my layers, as I am down two pelts. The coldness seeps over my skin but I can feel it on my bones. Stiffening my whole body. I can only imagine how she must feel.

Turning my head a bit I can see her figure from the corner of my eye. Her face pokes out from between the two pelts as she follows into my steps. Her shoulders raised, two mountains of pelts besides her head. Reminding me of an old lady with back problems.

“No thoughts of running?” I look back to the front.

“And hide where?” She answers with a shivering voice.

“I won’t be able to run more than 5 meters before you shoot me down with one of those arrows.” At least she thoroughly considered her options. But what are meters?

“I am like a single black dot on an empty canvas”

“Those riddles again. Woman, I prefer directness. Let’s start with what is a 5 meters?”

“I already told you, my name is Ari. And a meter is a way of measuring. 5 meters might be around 5 big steps. Like this.”

I stop in my track, turning a bit I can see how she leaps with one major step against me. Over my shoulder, I give her a look as her face hits my back.

Her people must like to make everything extra complicated. Saying 5 big steps would be sufficient enough.

Walking further forward again, the road ahead, which I walked earlier has been completely covered. Stepping onto the smooth snow, my shoes sink down with every step. We have still a while to go before we reach Norhill, but what am I supposed to do with her. Never did we actually come across any stranger in these lands, neither did we have a guest or prisoner. The latter will be the case most likely. As Baltazar will not let her stay as a guest. Anyone entering these lands must have certain bad intentions to do so, or they must be completely nuts. She definitely does not form the cavalry. I have not thought this through enough. What if she is a spy and I am clearly showing her the way to our home.

My footsteps crunch the snow. The hairs on my back stand up, slightly turning my head I notice the soft crunching behind me has stopped. A sharp turn, expecting for her to have disappeared.

“10 meters” She says with the most childish bright laugh.

My brows furrow in confusion.

“10 big steps before you noticed. I would be able to get 10 big steps far.” Her smile reassures me that she never truly considered it.

I wait for her to take a couple of steps to close our distance before we continue. Definitely not a spy. Or they send their worst.

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“Keep your head down.” Shoving the pelt over her head as we get closer to the village.

“Why?” She arrogantly puts her head back up.

Pushing it back down, I take a grab of her shoulder. Pressing her under my arm.

“My town is not known for its friendly welcome to strangers. You better stick to me and hope we don’t get noticed”

I know I won’t be able to hide her, but at least for now until I figure out what to do.

Her eyes go up to my face before she forces her eyes down to our feet. Her slim hands grab the pelt at my waist. Thankfully my tent is on the border, the last rays of sun give us enough shadow. As she sticks to me I look like one big lump of pelt nearing to the village.

A wave as usual to the one on lookout as I return. Apparently todays turn is Frost’s. He is one of our youngest members, however his hair is as white as snow. Making him easy to distinguish him from anyone else.

“Why did you take me here if you have to sneak me in like this”

“Do you want to freeze to death instead? Be quiet.” I hiss through my teeth. Pushing her to the back of my tent.

We have to go around to the entrance. Keeping her a bit behind, out of view I take a peek around the tent. The fire in the lanterns lights the path between tents, but nobody is out around the tent. Probably everyone is still busy doing the chores we are designed upon or resting from them. Just before our evening meal gathering.

Another quick look, my arm slides off her shoulder. Taking another step towards the lightened area. With her tightened grip on my pelts, I am unable to take another step forwards. Turning back at her I slide my hand over hers, until she slowly loosens her grip. Looking back at the path between tents I grab her hand in mine instead. Her skin feels cold to the touch of my hand. She must be freezing, being so long in this cold outside without the right clothes.

A small tug, I lead her quick but smoothly behind me to the entrance. Leading her to the entrance, I let go of her hand. Holding the pelt up to open the entrance. She heads in as I take one more look to the lightened path to check if anyone has seen us.

“Klyn?” the sweet voice freezes me in my path.

A sharp look back, in front of me Noelani. Slowly I lower my hand, letting the pelt fall down again so it closes the entrance to my tent.

“Hey there.” I try to calm my voice.

She tilts her head to the side with a smile. “You do know you are easy to read. You are hiding something. Found anything special that you want to keep?”

“Am I that easy to read?”

“It is my special ability. I will keep it a secret between us.” She gives me a wink.

Moving closer to her I move between her and the entrance of my tent.

“Thank you, you are too kind to me.”

“I am to everyone.” She stops me with her hand on my chest, taking a step backward.

“See you soon at dinner?”

“I think I will pass today.”

“You found something so special to pass on dinner?”

“It’s not eatable I think. Just don’t feel like facing Baltazar tonight.”

“You need to eat. Don’t worry too much about him, see you at dinner.” Without a second to give me to react. She slaps me against my shoulder and walks off.

Until Noelani has walked far away, I slide the pelt aside to walk in. To find Ari crawled into the pelts on the floor, shivering.

“Are you good?”

“Yeah, just cold.” Her eyes stay focused on the ground.

“Remove your shoes.” She shoots up.

“I have to go soon, there is a gathering I have to attend otherwise it will look suspicious.” Grabbing more pelts, I spread them out on the bed.

“Get in.” I move my head towards the bed.

“It will keep you warm and if someone walks in…. they will not question. Just make sure to hide your face.” My reputation might be useful unless one of those earlier women return and decide that today is the day they will fight for nothing.

“I will be back as soon as I can. Warm and dry up.” Moving towards the entrance, I don’t wait for her to get into bed. She will not in my presence anyway.

“Just remember the walk to here. The land here is covered with snow, days of walking worth. Trying to find your own way is not worth it.” With that I leave her behind in my tent. By herself.

She must be truly nuts if she leaves, it would proof my point. Either bad intentions or nuts. I won’t be able to find her, but she won’t be found either. The nights are more brutal. Even if she were lucky enough to find the right direction. She would freeze to death before making it.

Her whole tough presence had crumbled down within a day to a shivering fragile woman on my floor. She won’t go anywhere, neither would I having experienced my toes freezing off.