Summer's Frost

Chapter 15

I know, I haven't updated in quite a while :( I'm sorry. Can I be forgiven?

One week.

       It has been one week since they threw Slick in their dungeons, and I've done nothing. I'm not allowed to see him, which is a sign that the king doesn't trust me. The prince, Jack, has shown me around the castle. They have a big library, which might normally make me happy, I like to read sometimes. But I don't feel happy. Not when they serve me delicious foods, or when Jack and I talk and walk through the corridors.

       The plan was for me to talk the king into some sort of peace treaty, while Slick returned home to talk to Eric and his father, the king of Summer. Now, Slick is locked away, and I wouldn't be surprised if they were torturing information out of him. I shudder at the thought, at the image of my friend suffering.

      Jack notices and asks if I'm cold. I just shake my head. Soon, we're back at my room, and Jack leaves me be. When I walk in, I notice something new. I have a desk near the door; that was normal, but on it lays on folded piece of paper.

       A letter.

       Immediately, my heart speeds up. I doubted it was from Jack or the king; they'd just send someone to fetch me if they wanted to see me. Or just show up at my door, in Jack's case. The only other one's I know are Slick and Eric.

       I beg for it to be from Slick. I need to hear from him, or even of him. Jack said he wasn't allowed to tell me about Slick's conditions, which just infuriated me.

       I sit at the desk and open the letter. The handwriting seems faintly familiar.

Kassie,

       I had wanted to apologize. I wanted to not make you feel like you were being used. I wished for you to want to stay. I had wanted to tell you that it was wrong of me to rush your gifts, to put the weight on your shoulders that you were the key part to a war and that you had great power to wield. I wanted you to know that I'll wait for your gifts to show up on their own, in their own time, and stop forcing them.

       But when I went to tell you this, you were gone. There was a note left on your bed the next morning, and I recognized it as Slick's handwriting. The note was brief, lacking in any detail. When I read the letter over many times, I couldn't believe it, that he'd taken you to the Winter kingdom.

       Maybe they won't see you as their enemy. Maybe you'll be safe. But for goodness sake, why didn't you tell me? I have a head full of if's and maybe's on your safety, along with Slick's. He said he'd return. It's been a week, and there's no sign of him. I worry, but maybe he stayed to protect you. Another 'maybe'. For all I know, you are locked away and Slick is hiding somewhere, trying to figure out how to set you free.

       While you're there, I can't protect you. If you'd told me, I could have at least warned you of their king. He has a harsh soul under his fake shell of kindness. He wouldn't hesitate to torture Slick if it was discovered that he was our spy.

       Of all the things, why'd you leave? I'm sorry I made you feel used. I'm sorry for rushing you into everything. But if you had stayed, I would have helped you. I would've tried to make it better.

       But you ran. Foolishly, you left us, you left me, and went to the one place I couldn't protect you. If you're still safe, and Slick, please find a way to let me know. I didn't just keep you around because my father ordered me to.

-E

       I read through the letter twice. He says he would have warned me of the king, but I know he wouldn't, because he would have never agreed to let me go in the first place. He apologized, more than once, but that doesn't change the fact that I was never given any choice. What if I don't want powers at all? Even if he's willing to wait, he may be waiting forever. Slick gave me that option. I could do something without being forced into using some strange 'gift' I never even knew I had.