I had been in the abbey's library for hours, searching for the name Willow. Eight tall stacks of books stood guard on the table I had chosen. The wolves had positioned themselves around me as I flipped through each one. I absentmindedly traced odd patterns in Kian's fur while I looked through a chapter in a book called 'The Lords and Ladies of the East'. Finding nothing that was of use to me, I moved on to 'Royal Tragedies'. This fruitless effort continued through the next six volumes.
I was just about to give up when Kian nudged me to my feet. She padded off into one of the aisles. Curious, I followed her. She brought me to a shelf with newer books on it. I ran my finger along them as I tried to decide which one to take.
'The black one. In the middle.' the she-wolf advised. I pulled it free. In gold lettering, the title was written. 'The Rulers of Arkenon: Past and Present'. I rolled my eyes and began to put it back. Kian barked sharply. Her urgency shocked me. With no other choice but to obey, I carried it back to my messy table. I opened it to the first page. It seemed to be a sort of time line. A family tree. I traced it back to the time of Maldein. My finger traveled down the line of her direct descendants, the High Throne. Near the bottom was written Lord Gallahein Willow, Son of Salazar. Next to it was High King Aidan Willow, Son of Salazar. Beside him was High Queen Catriana Willow, Daughter of Amaranth.
That was it? All this time I had been searching for His Majesty's name? I groaned and leaned back in my chair. Then, I noticed something extraordinary. Queen Catriana and King Aidan had a line connecting them. There were names below it, but they were quite faded. I got closer to the page to see if I could make out any of the letters. I ended up with T S N N S R. The rest was illegible. Determined to figure who those mystery people were, I flipped to the back of the book to find them. I was just getting to their hidden identities when a presence could be felt behind me.
"Drop it, Sindri." a familiar voice ordered. The tone that usually filled me with joyful warmth was then cold and hard. I turned to face the source.
"You know I can't, Mason. Tristan stole my past from me. I intend to get it back." I said with an equally icy edge.
"I don't want you getting hurt." he argued.
"Too late for that. Why are you here?" I questioned.
"I made a promise." he replied with a shrug. I could sense an underlying purpose. I folded my arms over my chest. He sighed and handed me a scarlet envelope sealed with gold wax and stamped with a sun. I opened it and began to read.
My eyes widened as the message registered in my mind. "I'm the High King's personal servant?" I cried. "He can't do this! I won't be allowed to use my powers!"
"Orders are orders, Sindri. You know that." Mason reminded me. I groaned. The wolves growled, their fur standing on end. I dropped the letter on the table and began to back away, preparing to run for the exit. Mason grabbed my good wrist. My eyes narrowed to thin slits.
"You wouldn't." In a split second, I was in our quarters... at the High Palace.
"I just did." he chuckled. I glared at him. Knowing I had no other choice, I snatched my white nightgown from the wardrobe and changed behind the screen. I emerged to find Mason watching me intently.
"What?"
"You're going to hate me." he replied.
"I could never hate you." I said, and climbed into bed with him.
"Even if I did something horrible?"
"Never ever."
"Good. You're beginning etiquette sessions tomorrow." he announced. I stuck out my bottom lip exaggeratedly.
"I lied. I hate you now." I stated, trying to suppress a grin.
"I'm sure you do." he agreed sarcastically. I rested my back against his chest. With his arm draped over me, I fell asleep.
*******
- RYON'S POV -
The evening meal was just coming to a close. I had hardly eaten, for there was no sign of Sindri. Just as I had dismissed it as an early slumber, Argon, a midnight black wolf, ran into the room. He whimpered, then walked away. Used to his communication, I excused myself, and followed him out of the dining hall.
I was led to the library. We walked up two flights of stairs. Inside the room we came to were the wolves, all laying around a table. Books were strewn across the surface. A thick book lay open. The page it was at showed the history and achievements of High King Aidan and High Queen Catriana. I groaned. Sindri. She had been so close to her past, but was torn away. It was then that I noticed an open letter sitting next to the volume. It read:
To Whom It May Concern:
As of September eighth, Project Frost is terminated from the military service of the High Army. Her Training shall not continue beyond this date. Frost is hereby stripped of all war-related rank and honor, as well as ownership of weaponry. Project Frost's efforts are to go unrecognized so as to avoid unsettling behavior within the Royal Court. She shall be transferred to the direct services of High King Gallahein, effective immediately. Beyond this point, any exercise of her power is forbidden, unless direct order from His Majesty the High King decrees otherwise. This message has been approved by the Northern Throne.
They had stolen Sindri. She was gone. Taken to be a slave for the False King. The wolves all watched me, waiting to see my reaction. My features hardened. She may be lost to us, but that didn't mean I was going down without a fight. I dropped the letter back on the table and exited the room. Sensing my intentions, the Pack followed me.
Once inside my temporary quarters, I packed my things and lashed them to Kian.
'Where are we going?' the wolf asked.
"I think it's about time Prince Tristan gets his twin back, don't you?" I responded. Kian nodded eagerly.
'The Pack needs their leader. We will happily fight along your side.'
"Good. We'll need all the strength we can get."
'Shall I assemble the remainder of our ranks?'
"You may." Kian ran to the window and released an ear-splitting howl. I grinned. I didn't think that it would ever get old. I led the wolves downstairs and into the main courtyard. By the light of the crescent moon, I mounted the snowy wolf. Without so much as a goodbye, the Pack charged into the blackest night, carrying me away from my childhood home, and toward blood and war.
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Hmm. I feel a back-story coming on. Happy Holidays to all my lovely readers! I have a present waiting for me under the tree, and I know exactly what it is. I've been waiting for the book to come out since February, and now there it is, less than a meter away, MOCKING ME!! I don't believe I've ever felt so torn: between reading it now and suffering punishment, or waiting and making a (hopefully) believable act of surprise when I open it three days from now. Decisions, decisions...
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Please enjoy the following illustration of a polar bear in a snow storm:
Pretty, isn't it? The blank was a mistake. You can blame my kitten. (She likes to push my laptop buttons, then pounce on the screen when letters show up. XD)
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The Blood in Our Veins
Fantasia(Book One in the Storm Trilogy) Sindri Willow is next in line to become High Queen of Arkenon. She accepted this responsibility with a heavy heart, though she may need to rule sooner than she wanted. Her uncle, Lord Gallahein, plans to take the thro...
