The Iron Seer

(Bonus) Chapter 23 - Tangled Webs

Arriving in the large courtyard at the palace entrance, I surveyed my surroundings. It was just before dawn, the light of the faery lights in the sky flickering like distant stars, the air somewhat suppressed of the dim twilight it held in daytime; I'd hardly been able to sleep, so I had departed early.

Towering behind me was the palace in all its icy glory, the large arched door and guards standing on either side of it. Around the perimeter of the courtyard was a shadowed overhang, held up by pillars of ice as thick around as trees. The cobblestones were dusted in a fine layer of snow, which was constantly being kicked up by the horses and carriages moving across its surface. The stables appeared to be through the archway on my right.

I considered visiting Wind; though the moment after dawn came, I must hurry back here and wait for Snowberry. I was afraid that if she came and I wasn't here, she would leave and I would miss my chance to learn what she had to know.

So I set off for the stables, dodging servants and soldiers until I came to the adjoining courtyard and gigantic wooden building that were the stables at the Winter Palace. The familiar, comforting smells of horses filled my nostrils as I entered through the open doorway, passing a stablehand lugging a bucket of water.

I wandered the labyrinthine rows of stalls, admiring the vast variety of horses. Faery steeds, those like Wind, were the most abundant, but there were mortal steeds and other, rarer breeds as well.

One horse, at the end of a row, stared at me over its stall door, long neck arched, ears pinned back against its head. The horse's hide was white, as slick and shiny as a seal's, and its eyes were blood-red.

"A kelpie," I noted to myself. It still watched me, unblinking and unmoving. Who knew the Queen kept carnivorous beasts in her stables. Though, there's hardly any difference with what she keeps in the castle, I mused, continuing on as another one of the countless stablehands tossed the kelpie a strip of juicy red meat, which it snapped up greedily.

It was Wind who found me first. A whinny and thundering hoofbeats drew my attention, and I looked forward to see her galloping toward me, a stablehand chasing after her.

"Wind!" I called with a smile, and she pranced around me once in a circle before allowing me to wrap my arms around her neck. I ran my fingers through her ivory mane, which was silky and shorter than I'd last seen it. Her stormy grey hide was also spotless and smooth under my hands, and she appeared to be in good physical condition - muscular and well-fed.

The stablehand finally caught up, breathing hard. He brushed a strand of long brown hair out of his eyes with a grin. "She's fast," he said, recovering his breath. "She's your horse, I take it, Lady...?"

His friendly smile, the first sincere one I'd seen from any residents of the castle, relaxed me. I smiled back. "Call me Ariella."

I surveyed the stablehand. The horns curving up out of his hair, the hooves and white fur-covered legs marked him as a satyr. Following this realization, I blinked the image of blood-soaked snow and a holly bush with bright red berries out of my eyes, troubled.

"I'm Bram." The satyr took ahold of Wind's reins, and I was surprised when she did not protest. "I was just taking this beauty out for some exercise. Would you like to come along, Lady Ariella?" He raised an eyebrow. "Unless you have somewhere you need to be."

I nodded in apology. "Some other time." It was nearly dawn, and I should be getting back to the castle gates, but I couldn't leave without acknowledging his help in some way. "You have taken good care of my horse," I said to Bram, smiling gratefully.

The satyr winked. "It's my job." I watched as he led her away, curious about the strange man, before making my way back to the meeting place with Snowberry. He was out of the ordinary for servants in this castle - for anyone in this castle, for that matter. The servants I had met were silent, near-reverent, in my presence, out of fear or respect I did not know. But he had smiled and asked my name.