“Just judging by reports that I’ve received from some of my people, Edgar is definitely sparing no expense to track you down.” Valerio leaned on a table, hunching over a map of the territory of Dovhain and those nations around it. “We can’t take any risk of discovery.”

Arthur nodded approvingly.

“Perhaps we could traverse the arctic again, and land in the north,” Isabella proposed, planting a finger upon the map. Valerio looked at her in some amusement. His gaze felt much brighter with his new eye color. She found she liked it, but still asked in confusion, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“That was precisely what I was going to propose. Under ordinary circumstances it’d be an absurd request to make of any sailor.” He leaned away from the map. “I can definitely do that. But we’ll need to get a message to the archduke, elsewise we’ll die in the snowfields. I’d prefer a nobler end.”

Isabella nodded in contentment. She was quite pleased that they were going to be heading to the north. The ability of Abigail and her sister might present a solution to the problem that Arthur had imposed upon himself. Even if he seemed content to accept his fate, Isabella wasn’t. She wouldn’t have someone do so much for her without attempting to do the same for him.

“What else have you heard from the kingdom?” Isabella asked, looking back to the map.

“Alice is safe,” Valerio said, and Isabella smiled brightly. The words that came next brought that joy to a halt. “Apparently, Bernadetta preserved her life. She delivered her safely to Gaspar’s hands.”

Bernadetta? Her introduction put a jam into all of Isabella’s thoughts.

“I don’t trust her,” Arthur said immediately, giving voice to Isabella’s thoughts. She nodded in agreement. “I’ll be sure to check out if she did anything to Alice long before you meet her. That woman never did anything without explicit intentions.”

Isabella looked upon Arthur. “You may have known her better than I did. Is there anything you can say to illuminate her intentions?”

“The Eagaliteh sponsors her,” Arthur said. “I believe that their influence over events in the kingdom is greater than anyone can imagine. They’re probably the reason that the Archwizard learned the magic to transfer the wasting illness—I know that he didn’t discover it personally,” he said with a shake of his head. “I’m not certain whether she’s their instrument or their partner. I never had the opportunity to do comprehensive research into them.”

“Speaking of research—there’s something I’d like you to examine about my soul,” Isabella said. “While I was in the Crystal Lake, I noticed a grotesque black spider latched on to my eye. On the voyage, would you be willing to take a look?”

“Of course.” Arthur nodded.

“If there’s nothing else, we should get moving immediately,” Valerio insisted. “Sailing through the arctic and landing in the north will take up a lot of time. It’s different from the plan that we had in mind. Word has it that Edgar the Great is planning a coronation soon. Once he has, I expect rapid action. The north is the only place where we can effectively coordinate a plan of action.”

Isabella nodded. “Then let’s go.”

***

Archduke Felix watched a bird flying through the sky with some suspicion. It seemed a familiar. He gestured to the men standing on the ramparts beside him, and they raised up their bows to nock their arrows. Projectiles flew through the air toward the bird, and it twisted dramatically before plummeting toward them with an arrow protruding out of its head. The archduke narrowed his eyes, wondering if it was going to land near them. The archduke took a step back as it continued to narrow down toward himself. He raised up his hand to shield himself but to his surprise, it landed on one of the parapets of his castle.

A green woodpecker dropped the arrow that it’d caught in its beak. “How rude,” it said in a familiar tone. “After all the effort I went through to come here.”

“…Arthur,” Felix realized belatedly.

“Indeed,” the bird confirmed.

Felix exhaled, tension draining. “You’ll have to forgive me. Tensions are rather high.”

“I suppose I can’t criticize you unduly for caution,” Arthur conceded. “Nevertheless, I bring some good news. Well… not for the people that come to retrieve us. I suspect it’ll be a rather miserable trek.”

The archduke raised a questioning brow.

***

Abigail stroked the long mane of her favorite horse with a large smile on her face. After so much time in the south, she wore much heavier clothes than she was accustomed to. She had a large fur scarf wrapped around her neck, a heavy woolen coat, and gloves. She also brought along a fur blanket, neatly packed on the back of her horse alongside other essentials. Hopefully they wouldn’t be needed, but snowstorms could come and go suddenly in the north.

“Look at you, all wrapped in furs. You’re like a real southern girl now,” someone said, and Abigail turned her head.

Allison leaned against the entrance to the stable, her arms crossed before her. Allison looked much like Abigail, but was much fuller of frame and generally vivacious. She wore a riding outfit that could easily be used in the south, and looked completely unbothered despite the cold. Allison’s smile was essentially permanent, and seemed especially wide today.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on NovelBin, not stolen versions.

“Allie,” Abigail said politely, stepping away.

Allison ran forth and hugged her tightly, lifting her up into the air. Abigail protested with a squeak before laughing.

“I missed you, Abby,” Allison said.

“…so you’ve said about eighty times,” Abigail returned as she was set down, but her face was much brighter. “Has father given you permission to come along?”

“He said that we shouldn’t travel together, because there’s a risk of being ambushed,” Allison returned.

“Then… are you going riding for something else?” Abigail asked.

Allison shook her head. “Nope! I just want to meet your friend. If there was any danger, you’d know. I’ve always been safe with you around. As for myself, I only see bright days ahead. Besides… if I lose you, what’s the point anyway?”

“Allie…” Abigail frowned.

“Hey, I’ve been regent here alone for a while now,” Allie insisted, walking to her horse and climbing aboard easily. She tied her hair back into a ponytail, then tapped her sword. “I can handle myself.”

It didn’t sound like overconfidence. Abigail smiled and shook her head. Her sister had boundless optimism and joy that was incredibly infectious. Her optimism generally proved warranted. Abigail clambered atop her own horse. The two of them left this stable, where a contingent of knights on horseback were waiting for them. She recognized a few from her childhood, and one in particular—Knight-Commander Gaspar.

“Hey, Abby?” Allison asked, and Abigail looked over. “I missed you.”

Abigail smiled, then muttered quietly, “Me too.”

***

Isabella stared at a mound of snow as she slowly pressed her hand forth. The sensation of cold was immediate, but the texture of what she felt was strange, and she ran her hands through it for a while. Eventually her fingers became numb enough she couldn’t feel them. She pulled them out to see they were bright red.

“You’ve really never seen snow before?” Valerio asked from behind.

Isabella turned around to look at him. The ship that they’d come in on was looming in the distance, its anchor lowered. They had taken a small boat on the side of the ship and rowed to shore.

“Once, they brought some snow in to the royal gardens on a cart,” Isabella said. “Some of the favored royal children were permitted to play with it. I was among the last granted permission. By the time I was, it had mostly melted. It was just a pile of slightly cold water with flakes of white in it.”

Valerio walked closer. “You mentioned something to Arthur about an examination. How did that end up?” He didn’t know because he had been spending all of his time diligently bringing the ship through the treacherous arctic waters.

Isabella recalled what had been said and concisely summarized it in her head before she said, “He was concerned about it. It’s the mark of the soul, without a doubt, but he thinks that it’s something more insidious than transference of the illness alone. He wasn’t permitted the opportunity to study it in great detail in his last life, but things are different now. He claims it’s the work of the Eagileteh.”

“Even Sosen has no insight on them,” Valerio said, staring off to the side. “It’s vexing.” He seemed to notice something, because he grabbed her shoulder and maneuvered her so that she was looking in a certain direction. Isabella was confused only for a moment until she saw something.

“A seal?” Isabella asked, uncertain.

It was as if it heard her question, because the small seal quickly slipped away into the water. Isabella’s eyes widened when an utterly gigantic white bear plodded out, one heavy step at a time. Isabella thought it was thwarted, but it dived into the water immediately after the seal.

“How can they stand the water?” Isabella pondered aloud. She had dipped one foot in the water by accident while coming ashore, and it was cold enough to make her teeth shake.

“You could probably stand the water by now,” Valerio informed her, placing an arm around her. “You’re a Thalvassë, the same as myself. You have a better constitution than most things alive. You can’t be infected, can’t grow ill. When we have the time, I’ll have to teach you how to defend yourself.”

The water stirred near them, and that giant bear they’d seen moments before hauled itself onto shore. Isabella gasped, and Valerio neatly placed himself before her. He drew a knife.

Isabella grabbed his arm, saying urgently, “Don’t kill it.”

Valerio clicked his tongue, but put his knife away. The bear eyed Valerio silently. With a wave of his hand, fire erupted—the terrified bear roared once before slinking back into the water.

“Let’s not linger near the shore,” Isabella decided, then pulled him away.

A shadow passed overhead, and Isabella turned her head in time to see a green woodpecker descend, landing on Arthur’s shoulder. The familiar faded into nothingness, and Arthur opened his eyes once more. He placed his hand upon his knee and rose to his feet.

“Looks like they’ll be coming around that bend soon,” Arthur gestured.

The first to crest the snow-covered hill was someone that put Isabella’s heart at ease immediately. Knight-Commander Gaspar—or perhaps that would be former knight-commander—galloped forth as quickly as possible. In a movement that was too graceful, he slowed his horse and dismounted to kneel before her.

“Your Highness,” he said. “You have no idea exceptional it is to see you well again.” He looked up with bright blue eyes. “You… are well again, yes?”

“Absolutely,” Isabella confirmed brightly.

“There’s much to tell you about the situation. But…” Gaspar looked back, where no further words were needed.

A woman on horseback came into view. For a few moments, Isabella thought it was Abigail. Her mind grew confused when another horse came into view, and on its back was the one who was definitely Abigail. Her mind placed the incongruity immediately.

Allison of Balat, the heir to the archduchy, Isabella reflected. I haven’t heard very much about her. I believe that Abigail said that she was lively and vibrant, the opposite of herself.

Their party didn’t seem in especially foul spirits. Isabella thought that was hopeful—if things had already turned for the worse, that would be unfortunate. Regardless, it was time to start the plot against King Edgar.

Abigail spurred her horse forward, and forged ahead of the rest of the retinue. Once near, she slowed, and then dismounted. Abigail rushed forward with a smile on her face.

“It’s gone! Your… your disease, it’s…!” Abigail declared happily, embracing Isabella. “How did you…? I mean…”

Isabella returned the hug. She ought not find so much joy in what was about to come, but there was no denying she had deeply missed her friend.