Questions
In my wildest imagination, I had never expected to return to Fen castle this early. Just four months in the expected ten. Yet the place had seen great change. Unlike when I left that only the Coldfire castle had a different weather than the rest of the world, now the whole city was wrapped around with the mystical power of winter. Above the sky dark clouds swirled, thunder cackle as if it would rain, while only snow fell instead of rain. It was like winter and spring were having a duel up there to decide who dominates the city.
We came through the front gate, unlike how we left, that means we rode through the center of the city. My first surprise came then. Refugees occupied the side of the road begging; most were wrapped in rags and half dead too, staring at us with vacant eyes. A woman cradled her child while crying and a man stared at his limbs weak from frost bite helplessly. It was like the war had hit already. I was stunned and horrified for a moment then realized it was expected. After all the storm that followed the finding of the 'Eye' had devastated even Kingsground not to talk of here where it had started.
Adding it all up to look like war times troops patrolled the streets in Japanese like armors, holding spears in their hands. Yet no one stopped or questioned us as we went, some even looked at us with recognition. That's how we continued to the Coldfire castle.
At the front of the throne house we saw a red haired woman in a wide sleeved black robe standing by the entrence of the tower when rode into the courtyard. "Mother," I said as I dismounted and approached her. She quickly pulled me into a hug as I drew close.
"You grew taller," she said smiling,____ 'she looked older,' I thought___ then she released me and hugged Celestine next, before hugging Kina last. "I'm glad you are all here already, a good day, I dreamt of this yesterday, and this is Sainty's birthday too."
"A dream? That was why you were waiting out here?"
"Yes," mother grabbed my face and pinched my cheek. "What did you do to offend Estine?"
She meant the little princess. "How did you know?" I asked.
"Woman thing,"
"Not a mother's thing?"
Mother grinned at me then turned to Celestine and pinched her on the cheek too. "Now what did you do to my son?" Celestine looked like a deer caught in the headlights. I grinned. That's why I love you mother.
We continued into the throne house. They call it the throne house but the upper floors of the tower was a keep. Instead of going towards the secret door like I had expected we left the throne room through the antechamber. The halls were busier than I ever thought possible as we bumped into hurrying soldiers and castle servants. All on errands or so.
The place we headed was the last place I would have guessed. Boss Viktora's bed chambers.
Mother just pushed the door open and walked in, and we followed behind her. The winter queen, wearing a light green dress, was leaning against the window staring outside. "Sister," Mother called.
Viktora slowly turned, she had her blond hair let loose, and her eyes looked red and puffy as if she'd been crying. I was stunned, she looked older and vulnerable not like the scary person I know she's. She slowly walked away from the window and walked to Celestine. A simple pat on the little princess' head was all she had for her daughter. Which annoyed Celestine more than anything, yet I felt her press down on her frustration and asked in worry, "what happened mother? You have been crying.....?"
"Don't worry about her," my mother sighed. "She's not crying for what happened but for what she would do,"
"What could be so horrible?"
"You will know when you are old enough,"
"I am old enough, aunty,"
"No you are not, and calling me aunty won't make me tell you," Resfiya rolled her eyes.
Celestine pouted in dissatisfaction but said nothing. She knew if these two decides something on their own no one could change their minds so she has no choice but to wait for when they deem her worthy, as asking more will only make her look childish. As Viktora say you have to learn to deal with life throwing trash at you. As for me I didn't care much, after all what don't I know? It must be one of the things I know from the novel; like the coming war, or Vala, Celestine's father. Especially the later which I suspect very much.
"How is the mood outside the Coldfire region?" Viktora suddenly asked.
"Bad," Kina answered. "Most folks are scared and hateful, especially scared. They'll go to war if called though,"
"I see..."
"Really what's happening you two?" Celestine said staring challengingly at her mother. "Why are we suddenly going to war? Or am I still too young to know this too?"
Viktora gave her a quiet expressionless look. She looked to have just been crying but her intimidation did not reduce one bit. "You know I have been hunting for the Eyes of winter?" Boss Viktora asked. "I finally found it,"
I pretended to look surprised. "What?!" Celestine asked.
Viktora suddenly closed her eyes and waved her hands in the air. A black amulet as big as a fist and the shape of an eye appeared hovering before her chest. The amulet looked oily like tar and it was hard to make out its edges or its real size as it kept shifting. It gave out an ancient terrifying aura and demanded my full attention. I stared at it fixedly, its mystical allure pulling me in bit by bit like an expert hypnosis. I started walking to it drawn completely.
Suddenly it vanished and I snapped out of the trance.
I blinked in confusion then saw Viktora's smirking face and got angry. "What does it do mother?" Celestine asked.
"Well it does an important thing," Viktora answered. "It can change the weather from winter and not. Imagine manipulating the weather so you could farm during winter, I am sure they'll not be that much famine around here anymore,"
"Or you can turn your enemy's region to winter so they can't farm and hold the weather at ransom." I added.
Viktora's head snapped to my direction in surprise. "I miss your sharp head little runt,"
"I'm glad,"
My aunt stared at me silently for sometime then glanced at Celestine. "You touched my daughter's mind," she told me casually, but there was a hint of coldness in her voice.
I could feel the temperature in the room drop, whether by the little princess' doing or by the fright I suddenly felt. I swallowed a lump and took a deep breath as I stared into Viktora's cold eyes. "We encountered a monster a while back. I had a plan for us to survive but had to nudge Celestine to a particular direction for it to succeed. I just pushed against her mind in the direction and she got it and moved."
"That's what happened mother," Celestine helped me lie.
Viktora kept staring at me for a while then finally nodded. She gave her daughter a smile to assure her then turned to Resfiya and said, "since our kids are all here I don't see a reason why we should keep delaying the war. Summon the winter court,"
Resfiya nodded then turned to Kina. "Go to Liam and tell him to summon the court,"
"Yes mistress,"
After Kina left mother nudged me on the shoulder so I left with her leaving Celestine and Viktora alone. The winter wars was starting but me and mother were only interested in catching up. We went to her room where we kept on chatting. I told her most things that happened in the academy and on the way to it, except the clone thing and little loli of course. She had a good laugh nonetheless. While scolding me other times at how I treated Celestine.
In short we had a good time. A kind of calm before the storm.