Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

It was the long dark before morning, and the wind whistled through the trees like a pack of wolves, howling. I curled in the thick blankets Karehl had wrapped around my shoulders when we stopped beneath a stand of tall fir. I had no idea where we were in the Bramble Fel Forest, or what time it was—it could have been midnight, it could have been near dawn.

After he had bound me, we had ridden long and hard, picking our way through the snows that battered us all night. The Snow Witch was nowhere to be seen. She had slowed her chase at the edge of the forest, turning in a different direction when Karehl—disguised as Sparrow—had led us under the cover of the trees. I flashed back, remembering the moment our path to escape had shimmered into view. Karehl was right, it hadn't been there before, but appeared when we needed it most.

We huddled around the fire, sitting on a patch of ground that Karehl had cleared. He was sitting cross-legged, watching me with shadowed eyes. I didn't like his gaze—it felt treacherous and possessive. Finally, even though I desperately wanted sleep, I decided to speak. I had remained silent till now.

"Where are you taking me?" I tried to keep my voice light, to avoid sounding accusatory. I didn't want to aggravate him.

He just stared at me harder. "Best you don't worry about that, woman."

"The name is Asajia," I said. I tried again. "Why are you out here, without your guards? I've never heard of a prince who goes anywhere without his guards."

Again, he gave me a considered look. "You haven't known many kings, have you?"

I frowned. "You're a prince , not a king, if I understand correctly."

That brought a response.

He narrowed his eyes and this time, his tone carried a threatening undertone. "Not a king… yet . My wife was right, you don't know your place." He paused, then added, "You know, she wants me to kill you." He said it so casually I almost missed it.

I glanced at the blade by his side. It gleamed, even within the sheath. So, had he disguised himself to kill me? That didn't make sense. He could just send one of his men to do the job, if he wanted to make sure I was dead. It would be easy enough for any bounty hunter worth his profession to track me down. So, why the ruse and the illusion?

I chose my words carefully when I answered. "It was obvious that she didn't like me. But the feeling is mutual. I don't take kindly to being humiliated and threatened, especially when I didn't ask to be included in the conversation."

At that, he cracked a smile, barely visible against the firelight. "You're feisty. I like feisty. It makes the chase so much more interesting."

I gritted my teeth. "No, I've just had to learn how to protect myself. And I had to learn to do so without worrying about whether or not people like me."

Karehl arched his eyebrows, but said nothing. He pulled out a small pack from beneath his cloak and withdrew a loaf of bread and a round of cheese. "Are you hungry?"

I didn't want to accept anything from him, but I was no fool. In this weather, exposed to the elements, the last thing I needed was to grow weak from lack of food. I gave him a short nod. He cut a chunk of bread off the loaf with his dagger, then a thick slice of cheese, and tossed them in the snow, next to me. Even though my hands were bound, I was able to pick them up. I swallowed big bites of the food, hungry.

He ate, still watching me. "What was it you said you do?"

I swallowed the sweet, nutty cheese, grateful for the fuel. "Huntress. I'm a huntress. My father was a hunter and he taught me the bow and how to aim true."

" Was? Is he dead?"

I didn't want to give him any more ammunition than he already had, but I also didn't want to make him angry by refusing to answer. "Yes. Both of my parents are dead."

"So, there's no one back home to wonder where you are."

Again, I got the feeling he was searching for information to use against me.

I shrugged. "I have friends…" I let the words hang, as I forced a yawn. "How long are we stopping? Do I have time to nap?"

He glanced at the sky. "Sleep for a bit. I'll wake you near dawn, and we'll be off again."

I wanted to press him, to force him to answer me as to where we were headed, but he was calm at the moment and I decided it was best to wait. I didn't have the sense that he was going to slit my throat, at least not for now. He wouldn't go through all of this just to kill me. So, though I had no clue what was going to happen, I curled up in the blankets, propping myself against a fallen trunk, and somehow, I managed to fall asleep.

It was shortly before dawn when Karehl woke me. He let me dart behind a bush to relieve myself, but—like his brother had—untied one hand only and kept hold of the end of the rope. I emerged, washing my hands with snow before I put my gloves back on. I was still exhausted, but he was adamant that we get a move on.

He tied my hands together again, leaving enough rope between them so that I could feed myself, then handed me more bread and cheese. After we ate, he boosted me back on Yaran—all without a word—and took up the reins. We started off, moving deeper into the Bramble Fel Forest.

I watched to the side, looking for the ice webs that indicated the Snow Witch's presence. The forest around us seemed clear of them, but I didn't trust anything concerning her. I had never heard of her a fortnight ago, and now I was terrified she might find us.

We rode for two more days, with Karehl oddly reticent. While he still seemed as arrogant as he had back at the castle, he made no attempts to harm me. I was surprised how gently he treated me on the ride, although I knew he meant business when he told me not to try to escape. He neither harmed me, nor did he try to touch me. Although I was grateful for both, I had no idea what was going to happen. He wouldn't discuss anything with me. We seldom spoke as we worked our way through the Bramble Fel. Finally, the morning of the third day we broke into another clearing.

To the left —the north—the forest floor was beginning to rise and I saw in the distance a craggy foothill that had to be close to the Eiralpine Line. We were nearing the lands of the People of the Winds.

Karehl turned onto a side road, leading me up an increasingly steep gradient. The path was slippery, and the snows to either side of the trail grew deeper and deeper. As we emerged from the Bramble Fel Forest, I could see the valley below. The forest stretched as far as I could see, the dark tops of the conifers laden with snow.

By early afternoon, as the light began to wane, we veered off on another side road, taking the left fork. I wondered where it was leading, but soon we rounded a curve on the hillside, and there, up ahead, I saw a four-story stone tower.

"Where are we?" I asked, not really expecting an answer.

Karehl turned to me. "This is your new home."

Taken aback, I fell silent.

The tower was surrounded by snow, but the stairs leading to the door had been cleared. Karehl swung off of his horse, then reached up to help me down off of Yaran. My hands were still bound as he led me up the stone stairs.

Before we could reach the door, a low roar echoed from behind the tower. Karehl shoved me, whispering "Run," but before we could reach the actual door, a large beast came racing around the side of the tower, leaping up the stairs toward us. It looked like a cross between a massive cat and a wolf, and it was pale yellow, the color of beaten eggs and milk. It had a large mane and curved fangs, and eyes the color of amber. The beast's four massive feet ended with black talons, and its eyes gleamed as it growled.

Karehl jumped between me and the creature, and began to shimmer as he shifted form into a giant wolf. This was the first time I had ever seen a shifter change shape, and it was sudden and quick, and startling. I wondered where his clothes went, but then shook away the thought. Our lives were in danger.

I turned to the door and tried to open it, but there was a lock and I didn't have the key. Frantic, I turned back around, wishing I held my weapons with me. But Karehl had taken them and stashed them in his gear.

As he met the giant beast, the fight began in earnest. Even though he was smaller, as a wolf, Karehl was strong—stronger than I would have thought. But still, he seemed no match for whatever this thing was.

The next thing I knew, arrows flew by from overhead. I turned to see an archer peering out of one of the barred windows above. From here, all I could see was flame rising from an arrow, and the next moment, the twang of the bowstring sounded and the arrow flew true to mark.

The beast caught fire and began to scream, shrieking so loudly that shivers raced down my spine. As it loped away, I grabbed up the end of my rope, intending to make a beeline for Yaran. But at that moment, the door opened and two guards appeared. They rushed out. One of them grabbed hold of me before I could run, holding me fast.

"I'm so glad I stationed you there," Karehl said. He pointed to me. "Bring her in, and then fetch the gear from the horses. Kill the charimont if it returns." He strode past us, into the tower. The guards took hold of me by the arms and carried me in before they returned outside.

The tower was the size of my house in Renmark, at least in diameter, and there was a center circular staircase. Karehl took me by the arm and dragged me over to the stairs, pushing me ahead of him. I thought about trying to fight, but with the guards outside, and potentially more hiding in the tower, I wouldn't stand a chance. Even if I did get away, that creature— a charimont?—was still outside, probably lurking, waiting for dinner.

The first level was relatively empty, with several benches, a stone lavatory, and a stone pillar that stretched from the floor to the ceiling. Near the stone pillar was the circular staircase. Karehl pushed me up the stairs, leading to a door at the second floor. He leaned around me, opening it, then gave me a little shove.

"Inside," he ordered.

I stepped through.

Inside, the second story consisted of a small kitchen, with a table, a fireplace, and a pantry that looked full of food. A sink stood next to a small well.

By my estimate, the well stood right where the pillar of stone was on the floor below. I peeked inside the well, but couldn't see the bottom. It looked like it was built down through the first floor, deep into the ground. A bucket on a long rope sat to one side. The rope wound around a cross piece, attached to the handle. The circular stairwell continued upward.

"What is this place?"

"I told you, this is your new home. You'll stay here and wait for me. My men will replenish your food and water every fortnight, so you won't go hungry." He motioned for me to follow him.

As it slowly dawned on me that I was truly being imprisoned, my alarm began to grow and I frantically looked around for another way out. There were a number of windows, but they were all barred, with shutters on the inside to keep out the snow and cold.

Trying to remain calm, I followed him up the staircase. The third level was a bedchamber, with a bathing area, a stone latrine, and another hearth. From what I could tell, the fireplaces were all connected by the same chimney against one wall.

We continued to the fourth level, which was a sitting room, with a library of books and paper. There was yet another fireplace, and what looked like a dumbwaiter down to the first floor. I assumed that it was to haul food and water up and down without having to maneuver the stairs.

"Why are you keeping me here?"

Karehl was silent for a moment, then he said, "My brother has broken out of the dungeon. Several of the Lorani managed to free him. I will not have him finding you. Nor do I consider it wise to kill you. You will stay here, and I'll visit you when I have leave." The latter was said with a veiled threat.

I held his gaze. "You're keeping me here for your use, aren't you?"

He laughed softly. "Be grateful. If you had not caught my eye, you'd have been tossed into the dungeons with my brother. But Giselda warned me to keep the two of you apart. This should work to that end. My men are loyal, and they are the only one besides Giselda who knows where you are."

I thought about the witch. I'd been a fool to trust her. I wondered if Sparrow had ever been real—or had it been the prince in disguise all along? There were questions I knew he wouldn't answer, so I didn't even try.

"Here," Karehl said, dragging me down the stairs to the third floor. I caught my breath, terrified he was going to rape me, and decided that—if he tried to put his hands on me—I'd do whatever it took to stop him. But he just opened an armoire and tossed a dress at me. It was pretty, with a low-cut neckline. "Change now. You no longer need your traveling clothes."

"Turn around," I said.

He snorted. "Change, or I will order my men to strip you bare."

Angry, but trying to temper my response, I turned away from him. My cloak would cover my backside, and I quickly slipped out of my trousers and tunic, managing to step into the dress rather than pull it over my head. I was able to change without him seeing me naked, and he didn't try to interfere. I turned around, wearing the rose-colored frock. It was nice, but impractical.

Karehl whistled and one of his guards appeared from the bottom floor. "Leal, gather her clothes and take them. Her cloak, too."

Leal, a young, lean-looking man, silently took my clothes and cloak. My weapons were nowhere to be seen, though I still had a dagger hiding in my boot sheath. But Karehl pointed toward my feet.

"The boots, too. Off with them. There are slippers in the armoire. Choose a pair." He waited while I slowly unlaced my boots. I tried to think of a way to hide the knife, but he saw it before I could, and held out his hand. I thought about stabbing him in the palm, but there were too many guards around. Reluctantly, I handed over the knife and boots.

The slippers were thin-soled and all were a little too small, but I chose the most comfortable pair. After I was dressed I turned back around.

Karehl eyed me up and down. "When I come to visit you, you will dress your hair and bathe. I will send my guards in advance to give you warning. There is plenty of food for now, and the well has water in it. Don't try to escape. The door to the stairwell will be locked from the first floor, and it's heavy enough you can't splinter it open, even with the hatchet we're leaving you for kindling. The windows are all barred. I will have a special patrol swing by every few days to check on you." With that, he started to leave, but then turned suddenly and grabbed my wrist and pulled me into his arms.

I struggled, but he fastened his lips on mine and kissed me. My first instinct was to slap him, but I forced myself to stay my hand. Again, I didn't want him to decide I was too much trouble and kill me, nor did I want to excite him to do anything else. After a moment, he pulled away, frowning.

"I have to track my brother. I'll be back in a few days. Don't try to escape. The charimonts are dangerous, but there are far worse dangers in the forest, and none of them will take pity on you or have mercy." He pushed me back, then clambered down the stairs. As I followed, he vanished to the bottom floor and slammed the door closed, leaving me trapped. I tried the door leading to the first floor, but it was firmly locked.

As soon as I heard their voices outside, I ran to one of the windows and watched as they disappeared toward the east. After a few minutes, my heart stopped racing and it hit me: I was alone. I was alone, locked in a stone tower, in the middle of nowhere. What the hell was I going to do now?

I shivered. It was cold, and even the fires in the hearths weren't staving it off. I closed the shutters, running up the stairs to the third and fourth stories to close those as well. I decided to conserve firewood. I didn't know how long they'd be gone, and even though there was a complete wall of split wood and kindling that covered part of the inner tower on the kitchen level, I didn't want to waste it. So I lit a fire in the cookstove, then stoked the fire higher in the bedroom.

Steel mesh screens covered the hearths, keeping sparks and cinders from popping out of the flames. I found a candle—there was a large stash of them—and fit it into one of the glass-topped lanterns. I prepared two more and had them ready to carry up to the bedroom later.

Finally, I lowered the bucket and brought up enough water for a couple days, then capped the well with the wooden cover I found lying in one corner. That done, I decided I needed food, so I rummaged in the pantry.

There was wheat to grind into flour with a mortar and pestle, some bread that was still fresh, cheese, dried meats, dried fruits, a large container of butter, and some fresh birds waiting to be plucked as well as some rabbits that had already been skinned, along with a bin of apples, one of potatoes, and a barrel of hazelnuts. The pantry was icy, and the door was so thick that the heat of the fireplace and stone oven wouldn't touch it. The food would stay fresh for a long time, given it was winter and the snows were raging outside.

Tired of bread and cheese, I sorted through another box and found dried vegetables and corn. I decided to make a stew, so I carried a rabbit, a couple of potatoes, some dried tomatoes and corn, back into the kitchen and set them to stewing in a cauldron over the fire. I sliced off a thick piece of bread and buttered it, then drizzled honey on it and settled into a rocking chair near the flames to breathe and think.

I was safe, for the moment. I had food, shelter, fire. But the fact was, I was a prisoner. And I was at the mercy of Karehl and his men. After I ate the bread, I decided to check how sturdy the bars on the windows were. I checked all three stories, but each window's bars were firmly sealed into the stones. They were wide enough to fit my arm through, but there was no way my body could follow. I closed the shutters again, sighing.

Then I decided to try the door that led to the first floor, but it was barred shut—or at least that was the way it felt. And the floors were stone, so I couldn't hack my way through them, even if I could find a suitable weapon. Finally, I returned to my seat and settled in to wait for the stew.