Fire Under Ice

Chapter 1

Joshua's POV

I, Prince Joshua, second son of King Cesar, prince of Weyarn, was very displeased. My devious father had sent me on a wild-goose chase based on a rumor- the Pritalenian princess, believed dead, was actually alive. My king has acted quickly, throwing me to the wolves in a manner of speaking, sending me away to either confirm the rumors and arrange a state marriage, or send word to my father of the opposite. I had no inclination to believe the rumors (if the princess had actually survived, why hadn't we heard of her far earlier?) but I had always wanted to travel beyond my country, so off I went to Pritalen.

My journey was uneventful enough but now, in the great castle hall, I was hopelessly lost. I had brought only my valet, and he was at the inn in the village until we were sure of our welcome. A noble act, but now I realized it was extremely impractical. Here I stood awkwardly, waiting for a maid or a butler to just tell me where on earth to go.

A soft humming stirred me from my loud thoughts. Thanking my lucky stars, I spotted a young woman striding rapidly across the room. Judging by the simple white shirt and navy skirt, she was one of the maids. I set off at a jog, hoping to catch her before she disappeared into the maze of rooms and hallways.

When I finally caught up to her, the first thing I noticed were her striking green eyes, and my stomach twisted into knots. There was no denying it, she was a lovely woman, and her light humming and carefree demeanor were endearing. But when she saw me, the smile fell off her lips and she glared at me with a fiery hatred.

"What do you want?" she demanded forcefully.

"My name is Prince Joshua of Weyarn. I'm looking for Princess Nicole," I said, throwing a winning smile her way. 

She seemed to miss the flirtatious gesture altogether, instead tucking a stray curl behind her ear and declaring firmly, "Well, she's right here. You're welcome to leave at any point now."

The full implications of her statement soared right past me as I foolishly looked around the otherwise empty room, perhaps thinking the mysterious princess would jump out from behind the large bookshelf against the wall. After a moment (longer than I'd care to admit), I realized what she was saying.

I chased after her and grabbed her wrist, forcing her to turn and look at me. "Are you saying you're the princess?"

Her eyes blazed with rage and something else. Amusement, maybe. "Yes, dimwit. I assume you have something between your ears, so I propose you use it more often. It really does make one's life more fulfilling." She wrestled her wrist from my grip and gestured to a matronly woman striding towards us. "This is Mrs. Baxter. She will show you to your room." The anger from earlier disappeared, replaced by an emotionless mask. She turned to go, and this time, I let her.

Mrs. Baxter watched her retreating back before swinging her gaze to me. When she spoke, it was not what I was expecting.

"What did you say to her?"

Caught off guard, I responded with my own question. "Is she really the princess?"

She shook her head sadly. "You wouldn't know it by looking at her, but she certainly is. The best future ruler we could ask for."

"What happened to her?"

Her gaze sharpened on me again. "Who are you, and why are you so curious about Princess Nicole?"

"I'm Prince Joshua of Weyarn, my father sent me to confirm rumors about her, and possibly arrange an marriage with her for the benefit of the country."

Mrs Baxter smiled. "That would explain it. She generally looks down on the majority of the nobility, particularly their luxurious, wasteful, ignorant lifestyles."

"So why is she working as a maid, and not living like them? And why haven't I heard of her until now?"

A guarded look came into the woman's eyes. "I really shouldn't say, it's not my place."

"Please?" I wheedled. "My intentions are purely honorable."

She sighed. "Fine. Her mother is intensely paranoid that Nicole will try to steal her power, that's all."

I considered that for a moment. "Would she succeed if she tried?"

"Probably," answered the matron. "The people love her. She is preparing for her future role as queen by identifying the needs and wants of the poor and less privileged and coming up with solutions she will carry out once she has the resources to do so. She is more concerned with the well-being of others than herself. Your suite is right here. Would you like me to announce your presence to the queen?"

I was rather taken aback by the abrupt change in subject. I hadn't even realized I was walking until the housekeeper stopped. "No, thank you. I would like to find out more about her situation before I'm plagued by balls, or celebrations, or....other stuff."

She stiffened. "Just don't try and get it from the staff. We are loyal to our rightful ruler, and you are a stranger." She suddenly remembered her place and dropped a quick curtsy. "Very well, Your Highness," she finished, electing to ignore the last part. She spun on her heel and exited the room to return to her duties.

I threw myself onto the large and comfortable bed. I hardly had time to consider all that I had learned before I was dead asleep.

A/N : Hi everyone, it's Cassandra. I accidentally took down this book while I was starting the sequel to this story. Please consider leaving your comments again, and as always, vote and share!