The North's Shadow

The Mark of Glacaryn

I forced myself to keep moving, despite the sharp throb in my shoulder from the wolf's claws. I stumbled after Alaric, pushing the pain aside. He glanced back once, his face a grim line, before he moved swiftly to mount a nearby horse.

Please, don't let anyone see us. Don't let this get worse.

"Come on, Reese," he urged, his voice low and sharp.

Without a word, I grasped his hand as he hoisted me up behind him. I barely managed to secure my arms around his waist before the horse shot forward, each powerful stride jarring my shoulder, making the pain sharper. Snow sprayed in our wake as we raced toward the distant silhouette of the castle, leaving behind the lights and warmth of the festival.

This isn't real. I should be laughing with Alaric and Brynja at the festival, not running from... whatever that was. I buried my face against Alaric's shoulder, each bounce a reminder of the raw wound on my arm. But my mind kept flashing back to that man in the woods, his mocking words echoing in my head.

How does he know me? Why do they keep calling me Rayna?

The castle gates loomed ahead. Alaric dismounted swiftly, his gaze sharp as he reached up to help me down. As I swung my leg over, a searing pain shot through my shoulder, and I winced, clutching my arm. Alaric's eyes widened as he noticed, his gaze dropping to my sleeve where a dark stain was spreading.

"Reese... you're bleeding," he said, alarm tightening his voice. He steadied me, his grip firm. "Let's get you patched up."

I let him guide me, grateful for his support, though dread settled heavy in my stomach as we moved through the silent corridors of the castle. It's too quiet, I thought, feeling the emptiness press in, amplifying my fear. Everyone's still at the festival, celebrating while I'm in here, hiding like... like some villain.

Alaric led me into the infirmary, warm candlelight casting soft shadows over the neatly lined cots. He helped me sit, moving quickly to gather supplies. Gently, he pushed back my torn sleeve, grimacing as he examined the wound.

"This might sting," he murmured, reaching for a bottle of tonic.

I nodded, bracing myself. As soon as the liquid touched my skin, a sharp, fiery pain flared across my shoulder, and I bit down on a hiss, gritting my teeth. Somehow, though, the pain was grounding, yanking me back from my spiraling thoughts. Focus, Reese. Don't fall apart now.

As the pain subsided, I saw the deep scratch begin to heal while Alaric worked. His gaze lifted, meeting mine with a look of calm intensity. "Alright, Reese," he said, steady and firm. "Tell me—what really happened out there?"

"I don't even know where to begin..." I whispered, forcing myself to relive the strange, terrifying moments in the clearing. "But you're the only one I can trust with this."

Alaric's expression softened as he reached for a fresh cloth, gently dabbing my wound. "Tell me everything."

"It started with a nightmare," I began, my voice barely above a whisper. "It felt real—like I was there, living it. I saw a man—older, with silver hair and... eyes like mine." I swallowed, meeting his gaze.

"He was in this stone hall, waiting for me, and he called me Rayna... like he knew me." My voice faltered. "He wore this cloak with an emblem—a twisted, thorny circle holding an icy blue gem at its center."

Alaric's hands stilled, his face growing pale. Does he recognize that symbol? My heart hammered.

"Then there was this dragon," I continued, the image vivid in my mind. "Its scales were like frozen metal, with glints of blue fire, and its eyes—they were filled with hatred, like it wanted to destroy everything in that hall."

Alaric's jaw tightened, and he muttered something under his breath, so low I barely caught it. "Myrkov Glacaryn."

A chill shot through me. "Who...who is Myrkov Glacaryn?"

Alaric's hand dropped to his side, his fingers clenching. "Myrkov Glacaryn was the head of the Glacaryn Clan," he said, his voice edged with a rare hint of fear. "A powerful mage who wielded the Heart of Ice during the War. That symbol you saw—it's his mark, a reminder of the curse he left upon the land. He was supposed to be dead."

My mind reeled, dread pooling in my stomach. Dead? That man felt as real as Alaric standing here.

"But if he's alive..."

Alaric's face darkened. "If he's alive, it means the Glacaryn Clan could be preparing to return." His voice dropped, weighted with meaning. "We'll have to tell the Duke. The stone wolf in the forest alone is a warning no one can ignore. Ice magic... it's unmistakable."

"That's not all," I said urgently, shaking my head. "Tonight, in the woods... I saw someone else. He was younger, with red eyes, and he said there's power in my blood. And... he pulled something out of me—This icy flame. I don't even know how I did it..."

Alaric's eyes widened. "Did he...have ice magic?"

I nodded, my pulse quickening as I remembered the encounter. "He called me Rayna too, Alaric. He knew things about me I didn't even know. And he left me with that wolf... as a test." My voice wavered, the fear I'd buried now surfacing. What if this changes everything? What if Alaric sees me as a threat too, just like they feared Myrkov?

Alaric took a steadying breath. "If the Duke finds out you have ice magic, Reese, he'll have no choice but to see you as a threat to Glasverne." His gaze softened, his voice barely above a whisper. "But... I can't leave you to face this alone. You're in this now, and so am I."

Relief washed over me, and my shoulders sagged as the weight lifted. He's staying. "Then...what do we do?"

Alaric set the cloth aside, his expression resolute. "For now, we keep this hidden. You'll need to learn to control this power, and we'll have to train in secret." He hesitated, his gaze meeting mine with determination. "I have some basic training—wind magic runs in my family's bloodline, though it's nothing like what you have. But...we'll need to find someone who truly understands ice magic."

I met his gaze, a spark of hope rising in my chest. Maybe...maybe I don't have to face this alone. "Thank you, Alaric. I... I don't know how I'll ever repay you."

A faint smile softened his face. "Don't thank me yet. Just...keep that magic contained." He gave me a serious look. "And promise me one thing, Reese—no more wandering alone. If the Glacaryn Clan is after you, every move you make is being watched."

I took a deep, shuddering breath, pushing the fear to the back of my mind. This is only the beginning, I told myself, clenching my hands to still their trembling. But as my gaze drifted to the shadows stretching long in the dim light of the infirmary, a cold certainty swept over me—I was no longer just a stranger in Glasverne.

I was a target. And the only way forward now was to learn exactly what made me dangerous.

"Tomorrow," I murmured, meeting Alaric's eyes with newfound resolve. "We start training."

Alaric's gaze flickered, and he nodded. "Tomorrow," he agreed, his voice a quiet promise.

...

Author's Note: You got this, Reese!