Iron Frost - Clan of the Rim Chronicles #1

18

"QUEEN? W-WHAT? DON'T you think it's a little soon?"

"No, I believe it is the perfect time to crown you. You've had quality training from Calder, and you've seen the way things are run around here-"

"I've only been here two MONTHS. I don't have the qualifications yet to be queen. I'm not ready! I'm not even eighteen yet!"

I felt a panic attack starting to surface from my chest, and I found myself pacing the floor.

"Your birthday is shy of just three weeks away, Eerika," Eeira pointed out, and I stopped abruptly in my place.

"What?" I questioned her in surprise, making sure I heard her correctly. Had my days here made me lose so much track of time?

"Time moves differently here than the ephemeral world, you know that."

"Either way, I'm not ready. I didn't ask for this in the first place. You have to respect my time and let me prepare."

"There is no time to prepare," Eeira shot back, giving a sigh to calm her voice again. "Eerika. . . Sylvi has been waiting back, building her armies for her chance to attack. She already gave her warning when the knights charged the outer castle. She is not going to wait much longer to attack, herself.

You must take hold of your destiny over the throne and prepare your own army. Calder has been prepared for this since he was trained a knight. Just as he is destined to lead your army into battle, you must be their queen to command them to fight."

I felt my hands begin to shake and I clasped them together to get them to stop. The dream—or what seemed more and more like a vision the longer I stood there—flashed behind my eyes.

"We have to go."

"I will protect you with every ounce of my life, My Queen."

"If I have to die I will pay that price for a thousand eternities, if it meant keeping you safe."

"Run! Go!"

"I can't do this," I spoke with a shallow breath, feeling a bucket's worth of vomit churning inside my stomach and threatening to escape.

"Eerika-" Eeira tried to reason with me, but her voice was nothing but white noise as I had already dashed out the door.

I shoved past the staff in my way as I pushed my wobbly legs towards the castle entrance to reach outside. I needed the fresh air to bring some to my lungs. I needed the snow to cool my feverish skin though the heat was all in my mind. I just had to get out of there before the imaginary walls closed in on me.

Tears now streaming down my face, I bursted through the doors and stumbled on the steps. I sucked in as much of the frigid breeze as I could, but still I felt so breathless. It was as if a ton of bricks were weighed on my chest. Within a few seconds the vomit preparing its debut in my gut spewed from my mouth. I gripped the icy stone wall for support as I heaved onto the snow.

In between the sounds of the ringing in my ears and my gagging I heard crunching footsteps start to approach. A voice that sounded like an echo spoke to me, and it was worried.

"Eerika?"

When I didn't respond they said my name again, and was then at my side holding my hair from my face. I sensed the familiarity of the touch and my muscles tensed though they should have been relaxed. Calder's cold fingers pressed to my forehead as if to soothe me, and for a small moment it did before the heat flushed my body again.

"Are you alright?" Calder softly asked me as I rose up from my hunched position, but I couldn't bring myself to look at him.

"We do not grow ill, so something must obviously be the matter," he continued. "What is it? Did your meeting with Eeira not go smoothly? What did she have to say?"

At those last words another few tears streaked down my face, and Calder took notice.

"Hey, hey," his hand hastily came up and stroked them away before cupping my face with both of them. "Why are you crying?"

I wanted to tell him. I wanted to tell him of it all, so badly. But what would have been the consequence if I did? Would the vision change, or its outcome be worse if it came to pass?

"Don't cry," Calder hushed me. "Please, do not let those beautiful eyes shed any sadness. It's alright."

He then gently pulled my shaking body to him and wrapped his arms around me, kissing my forehead as my tears splattered agaisnt the breastplate of his armor.