Winter Cursed

by NIcki Chapelway

  The older dwarf stepped forward and took her hands, pulling her over so that she was bent at the waist, looking him in the face. “Let me have a look at ye. Hmm...” He studied her face a long moment before finally nodding. “I believe ye. For only the famed princess of Havenkeep could be as fair as ye are, lass.”

  He released her and stepped back, an enigmatic smile pulling at his lips. “And I believe that fortune is in yer favor tonight, for ye be standin' in the company of the greatest band of mercenary dwarfs Illesya has ever known. We can help ye get yer kingdom back.”

  “Heroes for hire, we are,” the dark-haired brother said.

  “For the right price, of course,” the older dwarf added.

  The talkative brother nodded adamantly. “Royalty is our specialty.”

  “Always pays a high price,” his brother murmured.

  Elisabeth's heart skipped in her throat. If these mercenaries could aid her in reclaiming her kingdom, then she would not have to leave Illesya after all. Her stepmother would certainly not expect her to arrive with a group of mercenary dwarfs to take her kingdom back. She wasn’t sure how much help they could be, but then… they had killed that Garmr. Besides, hiring them was the surest way of making certain that they did not kill her. She licked her lips and nodded. “I promise you if you help me retake my kingdom you will be well rewarded. I will pay you a thousand gold krones.”

  “A thousand gold krones?” the dark-haired brother gasped.

  “Told ye they pay a high price,” his brother replied.

  “With half of that we’d have a deal,” the older dwarf said, smiling.

  “We shouldn't trust her,” the grumpy red-head said. “She’ll double cross us in a second.”

  “Och, shush, Gabriel, I say we trust her.” The largest dwarf turned to Elisabeth with a gentle smile. “Forgive me wee brother, Gabriel, he's a little on the downer side.”

  “Brother?” Elisabeth glanced between the two dwarfs. She supposed their beards were similar colors, but other than that they looked completely opposite. The ginger-bearded dwarf had a wide open face with large features. And Gabriel had small features all close together. Not to mention that their temperaments certainly couldn’t be more different.

  The large dwarf nodded. “Aye, though ye could hardly tell. I be Fergus.”

  The older dwarf bowed stiffly at the waist. “And I am Lucius, the leader of this company.” He nodded to the silent dwarf. “Our silent companion here is Florian.”

  Florian dipped his chin.

  “He don't talk much on the account that he's had his tongue cut out,” the dark-haired brother said. “Anyways, I'm Aldrus.” He elbowed the blond dwarf next to him. “And this dolt here, is my twin brother Alban. But ye should pay him no heed seein’ as I'm the interesting one.”

  The youngest dwarf stepped forward. “And I am Kenrick, charmer of a thousand maidens, knight of chivalry, and your ardent admirer.” He scooped up Elisabeth's hand and dropped a kiss on it. He grinned rakishly up at her. “I am your humble servant, M'lady.”

  “It's a pleasure to meet you all.” Elisabeth curtsied before turning back to Lucius. “So do we have a deal?”

  The dwarfs looked at Lucius. He nodded slowly. “Aye. We have an accord. We will aid ye, but I'm afraid that to defeat a sorceress is beyond our skill set.”

  Elisabeth expelled a breath. Her shoulders slumped. “Then how will you help me? If you can’t defeat my stepmother--”

  Lucius held up his hands. “Never fear, just because we cannot deal with her ourselves doesn't mean that we don't know someone who can.”

  Elisabeth narrowed her eyes. “Who?” she demanded.

  “Our patron,” Lucius replied. He held up his hands before she could protest. “Get some sleep, Princess. We'll take ye to him in the mornin'.”

  Chapter

  Three

  Elisabeth looked up at the ruins before her. Only one tower still stood, lying around it looked to be the remains of the others. Three crumbling, moss covered walls rose up around it. The fourth wall was completely gone. An elaborate arched doorway, covered in dead weeds, stood before them.

  “Is this the castle of that doomed civilization of legend?” she breathed. All her life she had grown up hearing of the king’s folly and the price he paid for it. And yet she had always admired his bravery and been intrigued by his fate. No one knew what happened to the inhabitants of the castle, only that they disappeared.

  For many years the castle had been abandoned, left to the elements of the forest. Forever to stand as a warning against man’s aspirations.

  But apparently someone lived here now.

  “We're here to help ye defeat yer evil stepmother, not discuss some paltry legends,” Gabriel said impatiently. Lucius had left the cottage before Elisabeth had even woken, to speak to their “patron”. He left Florian and Gabriel in charge. Unfortunately since Florian didn't talk, that left Gabriel as the vocal part of the leadership. He had been snapping at Elisabeth all morning. She wasn’t up early enough, she ate too slowly, she walked too loudly and talked too much…

  A Garmr would have been better tempered than this dwarf.

  “I believe what my esteemed companion here is trying to say,” Aldrus said stepping beside her. “Is that dwarfs are not very knowledgeable of human legends. Ye'll have to be a wee more specific for us.”

  “Never mind.” Elisabeth shook her head, biting the inside of her cheek. “I was just thinking aloud.”

  “Don’t do that next time,” Gabriel growled.

  “Right this way, lassie. In we go,” Fergus said as Florian slipped through the door and Gabriel sulked through after him. Elisabeth followed the dwarfs into a stone courtyard, her stiff back making her wish that she could stop walking and rest- though she doubted Gabriel would let her. Despite the fact that Kenrick, Aldrus, and Fergus had given up their beds so she could sleep in them, spread out across all three, it had still been uncomfortable accommodations.

  Elisabeth wobbled slightly as she stepped on an uneven cobblestone and it shifted under her weight.

  She looked up. The courtyard was desolate, one might even say haunted, covered in fallen snow with only broken stones and dead plants as decoration. The overcast sky did not help to make Elisabeth feel better. It was always overcast in Illesya, she could not even remember having ever seen the sun, but somehow the forest darkened what was already dark, leaving her with the sensation that she should flee while she still had the chance.

  Unfortunately she could not, her people needed her. And if this patron who the dwarfs worked with could defeat Ismena then she owed it to her people to continue on. And if she was murdered in these crumbling ruins and her body left for the Garmrs to find… well, then at least she was dying in service to Illesya.

  The dwarfs led her into the abandoned keep. The entrance must have once been a grand hall. Now snow littered the ground and a harsh, bitter wind blew through the broken windows. The walls were bare and crumbling in places, and large sections of the vaulted ceiling had collapsed.

  Her eyes moved over the room, her heart racing. She inhaled sharply as a shadow moved. She forced herself to hold her ground and peered more closely into the dark hall. Another shadow moved. She blinked as she realized that the room was actually filled with shadow people. She took a few more hesitant steps forward. The closer she got the more distinct they became.

  The shadow people looked to be courtiers wearing expensive dresses and fancy suits, with their hair done quite ridiculously. Except they were only one color, black, and they were transparent. A deep murmur filled the air, but Elisabeth couldn't understand anything that was said.

  She moved closer to a group of tittering shadow women, trying to make out what they were saying. However, their words simply sounded like a low buzz. Something that she could hear, but couldn’t quite understand. “Excuse me, hello?” she asked, stopping next to one of the women.

  Surprisingly enough, her words got the woman’s attention. She turned t
o Elisabeth and curtsied.

  Mystified, Elisabeth extended her hand to the woman. It passed right through her torso. The shadow woman faded from view before reappearing again with a furious shriek.

  “They don't like it when you do that,” an unfamiliar voice drawled.

  Elisabeth whirled to find a young man with pale blond hair lounging on a throne at the far end of the room, mostly concealed in shadows until he leaned forward. He was only a few years older than her, wearing a ratted black tunic and a fur cloak. On his brow was a crown made of shadow.

  What on this frozen world was he doing in this forest?

  “Who are you?” Elisabeth asked frowning. How- how could he have survived in the forest when he was so young? What would have driven him to be in it in the first place? Only a matter of life and death had forced her into this forest.

  The blond stranger smirked. “Welcome to my shadow court, princess. I hope you find the accommodations to your liking.”

  The dwarfs who had been lingering in the entrance way strode forward and dropped into half bows.

  “Me liege,” Gabriel said.

  Lucius stepped out of the shadows beside the throne where he had been standing and rejoined his companions. He whispered something to them, and whatever it was, they all had a different reaction to. Fergus cheered. Florian nodded in acknowledgment. Aldrus and Kenrick shook each other's hands. Alban frowned and fiddled with one of the many weapons hanging from his belt. Gabriel walked off muttering, probably curses, under his breath.

  “What is going on?” Elisabeth asked, gripping her skirt in her hand as she took a hesitant step toward the dwarfs. She couldn’t help feeling out of her element, like she was drifting on a chunk of ice in the middle of a frozen sea. Any second the ice could plunge her into the sea and even if it didn’t she still feared that she would freeze to death unless someone were to happen along to rescue her.

  Lucius turned to Elisabeth and smiled as he dropped into a small bow. “Our patron says that he will happily aid ye in reclaiming yer kingdom, princess.”

  “Well, that’s not exactly what I said,” the young stranger said, sounding amused.

  Lucius dipped his head. “In return for ye doing something for him, of course.”

  Elisabeth drew her brows together. What possibly could this person, who was powerful enough to think he could defeat a sorceress, want from her? Other than something she would surely not wish to give… “What?” she asked warily.

  The stranger waved his hand. “Oh, nothing too much. Just the return of Mooraven.”

  “Return of...” Elisabeth stumbled back, nearly tripping on the hem of her dress, as realization dawned. “But… you… you should be dead!”

  The young man huffed a laugh. “You are so very perceptive, princess. But where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself.” He stood and dropped into a mock bow. “I am Prince Cedric of Mooraven, Lord of Shadow Weavers, Master of Crows, and your one chance at defeating your stepmother, I'm afraid.”

  Elisabeth's heart pounded in her ears, drowning out the shadow’s inaudible whispers. She should never have trusted the dwarfs. She'd hoped that the promise of a thousand krones would be enough to buy their services, but obviously not if they would bring her here to him. To the exiled son of King Morren himself. It would have been so much simpler for them to kill her back at their cottage.

  “Why are you not dead?” she demanded, pressing her hand into the base of her throat. As if that act alone could make her voice not tremble.

  “It is a pleasure to meet you as well,” Cedric said with a chuckle.

  She whipped her head around searching for the nearest exit. The door was wide open, but could she possibly make it to it before Prince Cedric struck?

  He held up his hands in what she supposed was meant to be a pacifying gesture that did nothing to calm her. “Relax, princess. If I wished you dead, you would be dead already.”

  Elisabeth backed toward the courtyard. “A comforting thought, I'm sure. But do you expect me to believe the word of a trickster?”

  “What a harsh title to place on someone you have only just met.” Cedric placed his hand over his heart, trying to look wounded, but only succeeding in looking arrogant. “I am hurt. Truly. Should you not count the fact that you are still alive as evidence of my goodwill? I mean I could easily use my magic to solidify my shadow courtiers. They would gladly rip you to shreds after what you did to poor Gertrude.” The prince gestured to the shadow lady Elisabeth had run her hand through. Gertrude hissed at her. “Or I could always have my mercenary dwarfs attack you if that turned out to be too much trouble.”

  Lucius shook his head. “Are ye sure that killing her would be wise, my lord?”

  Gabriel smiled darkly. “I would be glad to kill her for ye.”

  “Why tickle me blue!” Fergus cried. “We aren't gonna kill her, are we?!”

  “’Twould be an unpleasant task, for sure. We've actually grown rather fond of her,” Aldrus said.

  “She's too pretty to die,” Kenrick bemoaned.

  “She can't be trusted. Stole me knife, she did,” Alban muttered.

  Florian said nothing, but Elisabeth was sure that if it came to it, he would choose the prince's side.

  Cedric held up his hands for silence. “Thank you, gentlemen, but as you have not allowed me to finish, let me do so now. Because, as you must know, since the princess is not dead that means that I have absolutely no intention of killing her. You see, my dear, we each have something the other wants. I can help you defeat your- what was it? Stepmother, I believe? And you have the power to lift my banishment and return to me Mooraven. Which surely wouldn’t be too much trouble because what need would you have for a second kingdom when you cannot even keep track of your own? So, I'm sure if we could agree to ignore the trifles of the past--”

  Elisabeth balled her hands into fists. “Your father killed my mother and you expect me to forget that?”

  Cedric tilted his head as he hopped down from the dais that his throne was on. “Technically I said ignore not forget, besides I have no idea what you mean by that. My father played no part in the death of your mother. I was speaking about that dreadful war between our kingdoms.” He clasped his hands behind his back and strode toward her.

  Elisabeth crossed her arms and forced herself to hold her ground. “Your father's wights attacked the palace the night my mother died.”

  Cedric came to a stop a few feet from her. “That is true, but your mother did not die in the attack now did she? So why the frozen seas would you blame my father for her death?”

  Elisabeth narrowed her eyes. “My mother died because no one was there to help her when I was born. Whether she died in the attack or not, it is still your father's fault. That was why my father made war with your kingdom.”

  Cedric held her gaze for a moment before stepping back and strolling away. “I hope you will take no offense to this, but your father was a rash man. Your mother was a nymph. At one point she had been immortal, I doubt the birthing of a mortal child would have killed her. Did you ever once consider the possibilities of poison- which I've heard is a sorceress's preferred weapon?”

  Elisabeth’s mind flashed back to the last days her father had been alive. How he had wasted away with a mysterious illness that the doctors could find no cure for. Elisabeth had tried to tell them that it was because Ismena was poisoning him, but they would not suspect their queen. She blinked that memory away and scowled at Cedric. She had never met King Morren, but she had learned enough stories of his manipulative tongue to know not to trust his son. “You are a trickster and a liar.”

  “And your stepmother is a murderess, though you already know that. Just look at how she has treated the young ladies of your kingdom. Draining their beauty and youth to use as her own.” Cedric shook his head and made a tsking noise. “Shameful waste.”

  Elisabeth sucked in a breath. “How do you know this?” Cedric had been imprisoned in this forest long before her stepmother came
to power. He should know nothing of Ismena's reign. And even if he were not imprisoned, many of her own people did not know what happened to the young ladies who disappeared from their homes. She backed another step toward the door.

  A raven’s caw pierced the air, causing Elisabeth’s heart to leap into her throat. She looked up to see a raven swoop through a hole in the arched ceiling and circle through the air before coming to land on Cedric’s forearm. He stroked the raven's head and smiled smugly. “Sorry to frighten you. But as I’m sure you know, since you appear to know so much about me and my heritage, I am not called the master of crows for nothing. Now, that you’ve had your little spat, shall we put this dispute in the past where it belongs so that we can come to an agreement?”

  Elisabeth scoffed. “I will make no agreement with you.”

  Cedric arched his brow, and the raven flew off. He shrugged indifferent. “Without my aid, how do you plan to you defeat your stepmother?”

  She actually had no plan whatsoever and not even the faintest trace of an idea for a plan, but she wasn’t about to admit that to the trickster prince. Instead she raised her chin. “I can defeat my stepmother well enough on my own, thank you.”

  Cedric laughed. “Ah yes, that was made exceedingly apparent when you were forced to flee from your castle in the dead of night.”

  Elisabeth schooled her features. Was there nothing that the prince did not know? Accursed crows. “If you are so knowledgeable in the ways of everything then you should know that I have found help already. These dwarfs will help me defeat my stepmother.” Elisabeth gestured to Lucius and the others. “Which means that I am sorry but I do not require your aid.” She stifled the voice inside her informing her that the dwarfs did not believe that they could not defeat Ismena without Cedric’s aid. She would not work with Morren’s son.

  “The dwarfs?” Cedric stepped over to the dwarfs. “You mean these dwarfs? The dwarfs who aided my father in the war against your father? Are you sure you wish to work with them when you find the thought of my help so distasteful and I didn’t even fight in the war?”