House of Winter

Chapter 10, Part 2

L U M I

"Kobuk," Lumi said, grinning at the huge black wolf. "I never expected to see you in Singtsu."

Kobuk nudged his head forward and Lumi hugged the huge, shaggy black wolf. Then she pulled back, suddenly feeling shy and vulnerable. She realised there were tears in her eyes, from the crushing disappointment of realising that Jinni wasn't here, and the surprise of seeing Tom.

She finally had a chance to look at him. His dark curls were a little longer, a little messier. His grin was still the same one she had started to like when she was at the school. He wore a kinncharging uniform meant for battle, with the symbol of a wolf and a falcon on the front.

"What are you doing here?" Lumi asked him. But it wasn't Tom who answered.

"Dear Azinni here came to visit me. He was quite adamant I return with him."

Lumi stared into the darkness, at the familiar voice of Doctor Hart.

Mondli the lion stepped up to flank his tiger counterpart, and the tiny chancellor of the school stepped up beside him. She was dressed not in her usual skirt suit, but instead wore smart riding clothes. Lumi realised that if they had flown here, they must have been flying for days.

"Doctor Hart! What are you both doing here?" Lumi asked. "How did you know Azinni?"

"Ah, Azinni and I have known each other a long time," Doctor Hart said solemnly.

"Well, it looks like we're all here," came a sharp voice in the Fire language.

Lumi whirled around to face the new arrival in the forest.

Empress Kiyo, brandishing her walking stick, was approaching through the trees.

Lumi couldn't remember the last time she'd seen her grandmother beyond the manicured gardens of the palace. She was sure her grandmother didn't usually descend the steps into the grounds. And now here she was, in the middle of the night, walking through the forest.

Lumi stared between the empress, the chancellor, and Tom.

"What is happening?" Lumi asked.

"I needed a quiet place to talk where we won't be overheard," the Empress said quietly. "Joan, it's so good to see you."

Doctor Hart opened her arms, and Lumi stared as Empress Kiyo and Doctor Hart embraced.

"So good to see you too," Doctor Hart said, in perfect Fire tongue. "It's been so long, old friend."

"You know my grandmother?" Lumi asked, bewildered.

"Of course," Hart said with a smile as she pulled away from the Empress's embrace. "Didn't you know, Kiyo and I went to school together?"

Lumi glanced at Tom, who was grinning.

"And what are you doing here?" she exclaimed, switching to Starg as she stared at him.

"Well, Doctor Hart needed someone to accompany her to the Fire Lands, and I offered. I was... well, I was worried, after the Midwinter Championships. Are you okay?"

Lumi opened her mouth to respond, but then she couldn't help but look back at her grandmother. Her grandmother, who had been ignoring her and dismissing her ever since Lumi had been back in the Fire Lands.

"We won't have much time," Empress Kiyo said. "I'll need to be back at the palace soon before someone notices I'm gone."

Lumi swallowed.

"Lumiko, it appears the council of Yontang and Liaohua have decided to pledge allegiance to Taikku, and no one else. They heard what he did in New Hamilton and they believe he will be the new Emperor of the Fire Lands, to follow in his father's footsteps. They aren't willing to wait until Tai turns eighteen. They want him coronated now."

"But... Yontang and Liaohua can't decide that," Lumi said.

"If a meeting of the general council votes in favour, they can remove the regent and instate the successor early. Yontang and Liaohua's council are in favour. Rajashapur could be next. It could be a matter of hours before Tai is crowned. If he is placed as ruler, I will have no power over the Fire Army."

"But... Auntie V..."

"I have no reason to trust General Virani," Empress Kiyo said darkly.

Lumi took a startled intake of breath. It was the first time her grandmother had ever spoken a bad word against her aunt.

"I am only Empress while you and your brother are children. The council have the right to instate the true ruler at their behest, and they believe Taikku is the true ruler. They will not listen to me that either of you could be next. They have chosen him."

"It is worse than I thought," Doctor Hart said gravely.

"This is why I have called you here," Empress Kiyo said. "My trusted friend, I know you will protect Lumi, and help her flee this place. She is no longer safe here."

Doctor Hart nodded. "I swear to keep her safe, Kiyo."

"I trust her life with you," the Empress said.

Finally, Empress Kiyo turned to look at Lumi. She reached out and gripped one of Lumi's hands. Her bony hands, covered in rings, were surprisingly strong.

Lumi stared into her grandmother's eyes.

"Tai will be crowned. I can only watch. I will have no power here, Lumiko. That is why I have needed to distance myself from you. I cannot let General Virani or Taikku know that I am sympathetic to your cause."

"My cause?"

"You must go to the furthest reaches of Sredsibirsk, to Reunsgar, where your mother is from. In your mother's village there will be a master who can guide you in learning the quell."

"The quell," Lumi whispered.

"It's the only way, Lumiko," Empress Kiyo said. "You must learn to quell magic, and no one will be able to teach you more than the Reunsgardians. And when you have learned to quell, you must quell your own brother's power. When he is no longer a starrling, then he will never be able to be king. And then you may claim your throne."

"I can't..." Lumi murmured.

"You must. If you stay here you shall die. The mountains of Sredsibirsk will protect you. The winter will protect you. When you look to the Dorthmost points of the map, what do you see?" Kiyo asked.

"Nothing," Lumi said. "It's just darkness that far Dorth."

Kiyo nodded. "But before the Dorth?"

"Sredsibirsk and Norrlund meet, somewhere there on the ice," Lumi said.

Kiyo nodded. "The further you go, the closer you are."

Empress Kiyo pulled Lumi into an embrace. Lumi was so surprised that she went stiff in her grandmother's arms, but then she wrapped her arms tightly around her grandmother. Her grandmother was warm as fire, and she held her tight, but it wasn't long enough.

Soon enough she was pulling away, and reaching out to her tiger, Azinni. "My kinn," she said. "I have missed you."

Kiyo tucked her walking stick under her arm and then swiftly swung herself onto her tiger's back.

"Farewell, Lumiko. Go Dorth, and then further still."

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Question of the chapter:

What's your favourite ice cream topping?

elle xx