Court of Ice and Ash: A romantic fairy tale fantasy (The Broken Kingdoms: Northern Kingdom Book 2) by LJ Andrews

Author:LJ Andrews [Andrews, LJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Victorious
Published: 2021-11-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Rogue Princess

We didn’t remain in the sea caves long. A bit of rest, half a hard honey roll, and a bit of watered-down wine, and Halvar insisted we make for Ruskig.

With the refugees in tow, the journey would be slower, and we’d need to be strategic on the roads we took. If we complained about the rocky paths before, they were nothing compared to the sludge and slick mud in marshes and swamps close to the fury quarries. We’d take a route that would add an extra day and lead us around the back of Castle Ravenspire.

Ulf had more than once told Halvar he was a fool and likely wished us dead to lead us on such paths.

By the morning after leaving the caves, more than one in our party believed him. Some even muttered that Halvar and the Blood Wraith plotted against us, and would abandon us close to the castle for the ravens to pick clean.

I grew weary of their grumbling, but didn’t want to stand near Valen, either. He was aggravating, and beautiful, and I didn’t wish to be bothered by any of it.

My steps slowed until I wound up at the back of the line where Brant was tied at the wrists behind a cart that held his sister, who’d only regained consciousness last night, then fell back into a troubled sleep.

Brant’s face was clean, and his beard had been cleared of sweat and debris. He wasn’t much older than me, maybe a few turns were all. Handsome, with sharp icy eyes, and a curve to his shoulders as if the world crushed his back.

I kicked a pebble. It struck the wheel of the cart. Brant followed it, then lifted his gaze to me, studying my profile.

“You are Timoran,” he said in a rasp.

“I am.”

The corner of his mouth twitched. “If I had to guess, I’d say you are not just any Timoran.”

“I am no one.”

He chuckled. “Yes, and I am not being dragged to my death.”

“You’re not,” I said.

“Really? Because the Blood Wraith said so? He is a killer himself; I do not take much stock in his word, Kvinna.” I flinched and Brant scoffed. “As I said, not just any Timoran.”

“How did you know?”

“When I mentioned Ravenspire sought you out, you reacted. So did half your people. I was too muddled to notice then, but clearly you are among them. Why did you turn from your family?”

“Because my sister and Calder are preparing to slaughter innocent people. They stole the throne through a coup. This land did not choose them.” I tugged on my braid and sighed. “This land didn’t choose anyone in my line.”

“Treasonous talk, Kvinna,” he said. Not threatening, more playful, like he’d expected I’d say nothing less.

I shot him a sly grin. “Do you disagree?”

“No,” Brant said. He peeked over the edge of the cart when Kari shuddered in her sleep. “No, I don’t disagree. Timorans are raiders. Our ancestors stole most things, then we fight to keep it.”

“What if we didn’t have to? Fight, I mean.

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