Kingdom of Darkness

Chapter I

Gods, it was positively freezing in this ice-capped excuse for a kingdom.

Or perhaps it only felt that way because Wren Staghorn had flat out refused to wear a bulky fur coat despite the fact she'd been outdoors since mid-morning, her boots soaked with snow.

And gods, she was tired of snow. Sick of the bland, white, crunchy powder that coated every rutting thing. If she never saw another fleck of snow again, it would be much too soon.

Mostly because all she'd been able to afford for shelter when she reached Alsorook four weeks ago and had headed for the capital city, Xandria, had been solidly built igloos.

She'd resorted to slipping into the cellars of people's homes at night since her money ran out, not long after she'd spotted the heavily fortified ice palace, the trained guards, the silver banners flapping about proudly in the cold air.

So it had been one-sided slumber parties... and rabbit meat. The tough meat from the rabbits that made their home in the mountains had pleased Wren at the very first taste.

She reached for her rucksack that she'd lugged outside that morning. Feeling about for it, patting around in the snow and then-

She swore. Where in hell was her sack?

The world went blindingly bright as she hoisted herself out of the narrow entrance to a cave she had been resting in. Mountain goats scattered in surprise, keeping well away from the entrance to a different, much less noticeable cave as well. In the distance, the city was a brilliant loom of color and faint sound, full of barking huskies, merchants waving their wares, clothes made for below-zero temperatures, and sleds scraping against slate-grey cobblestones. But where in hell was her-

Ah. There. tucked beneath a rock to keep it protected from the wind. Just where she'd stashed it hours earlier, when she'd gone into the cave to rest her weary muscles. Or whatever she'd thought sounded like a reasonable excuse to sleep half the day away.

Wren dug through her rucksack to pull out a bit of rabbit meat- or tried to. She was out, which she supposed was a sign from the gods that she needed to get off her ass and stay focused. She needed a bite to eat and some water. And maybe something for the magnificent blisters and numbness on her hands she's earned when digging through snow.

Sighing, Wren stood and surveyed the city a half-mile away. She knew the guards keeping watch over it by now- had marked their faces and weapons, just as she had with the guards patrolling atop the tall castle walls. She'd memorized their rotations, and how they opened the two gigantic gates that led into the palace. It seemed that she would never slip into the palace to talk to King Ebxul of the Moon Elves, not with how very seriously the royal family seemed to take security.

It had been three weeks since she's arrived in Xandria itself, after traveling quickly and lightly from the coast. Not because she was particularly eager to meet the deadly king, but because the city was so huge that it had seemed her best chance of avoiding the immigration officers, whom she'd given the slip instead of registering with their oh-so-benevolent work program. Hurrying to the capital had also provided much welcome activity after weeks at sea, where she hadn't felt like doing anything other than lying on the narrow cot in her cramped cabin or rushing to the rail to get seasick.

I will do everything in my power to see you again, my Wren. I won't let them change me. I won't, Luca had said to her.

Every rock of the boat had echoed it. I won't... I won't... I won't... The words had trailed her across the ocean.

She had made a vow- a vow to save him. So, in between moments of despair and fury and grief, in between thoughts of Luca and the Moon Elves that had taken him and all she's abandoned and lost, Wren had decided on one plan to follow when she reached these shores. One plan, however mad and impossible, to free her beloved suitor: to find and obliterate King Ebxul. She'd gladly destroy herself in order to carry it out.