Iron Frost - Clan of the Rim Chronicles #1

4

ON OUR JOURNEY TO the castle I couldn't help but let my mind race with all of these questions left without answers. Like why my parents had kept so much from me for seventeen years, had hidden me away from this world. Why they didn't tell me I had powers. . .

The ice crystals that had formed on my fingers after I froze Blane were gone, and hadn't reappeared. Thinking back on the whole experience now a shudder coursed through me.

Meanwhile sunset had bursted over the sky, and the snow flurries had stopped. It had been nothing but silent for hours. The only sounds being made were the wind rustling the trees and the horse's breaths as his and Calder's feet trudged through the snow. It was an awkward, uncomfortable silence and it killed me. I looked down at Calder who hadn't set his eyes on me since telling me his name, and I decided to speak.

"Why did the knights kill my parents?"

I watched Calder clench his jaw and pause a moment before he replied. "They weren't your parents. They were your protectors. But the iron guards were there for you, not them. Hanir and Linnea were just in the way."

I felt a small amount of bile rise to my throat, but I swallowed it back down. Again my mother's words echoed in my head.

"I'm not your mother sweetheart. We were never your parents."

"So if they weren't my parents, then. . .who are?"

Again Calder was a moment silent. "I can't discuss this, not now. Not until we reach the palace and I can take you to the Clan."

"No I want to know now," I demanded, trying to keep my voice from quivering though failing. "I was with my other parents for seventeen years and didn't know a single day that it was a lie. Why was I not with my real parents all these years? Why did they give me up and send me to the real world?" I questioned, feeling so silly to say that. "And who is the Clan? I want to know everything now before we reach the palace, otherwise I'm not setting one foot in it until I get my answers."

Calder's face was a brooding statue, and with more silence looming over us I'd had enough of this. It was all too much for one day after eveything I'd already been through.

"Stop the horse."

"What?"

"I said stop the horse, I want off," I ordered, thrusting my cape out of the way to sling my leg over.

"No, we can't stop until dark to make camp for the night. I have orders to get you to the palace as soon as possible. If we stop now we won't make it on time."

"I don't care. I'm not spending another minute with you until I get some respect and answers to what I need to know."

"Respect?" Calder gave a dry laugh. "You may be the princess and future queen, Your Highness, but by your actions right now I don't think respect is deserved."

I froze a moment at hearing the word queen, and thought of my dream, but quickly shoved it in the back of my brain. I steadied myself to jump off the horse and hoped I wouldn't krill an ankle on the way down, but I'd take my chances.

"What are you doing?" Calder questioned with an aggravation in his voice.

I tried to get my foot latched in the saddle stirrup as I slipped off, but clumsily failed and began to fall. Calder quickly stopped the horse and grabbed onto my waist, placing me on my feet. I felt a blush rise to my cheeks even though I was annoyed with him.

"Are you out of your head? You could have hurt yourself," Calder pointed out, again treating me like some fragile child. My blush turned to burn.

"I told you I'm not a child, now let me go," I spat, jerking out of his hold.