Winter Queen Read online

  Hours later, Ilyenna startled when she heard the ladder scrape along the floor of Darrien’s room. “Get up and get down here!” he hollered.

  She crawled to the door and lifted it. Darrien stared up at her, his face an unreadable mask. Her gut twisting into knots, she stepped down the rungs. Once her feet were on the floor, she forced herself to meet his gaze.

  He was so close that she instinctively took a step back. Still, he said nothing. She started walking away, but his voice halted her.

  “You healed Metha, her baby, and yourself. How?”

  She turned to face him. “Fairies.”

  He thumbed his nose. “Unfortunately, I am no longer allowed to lay a hand on either you or Metha.” He circled Ilyenna, close enough that his shoulder brushed across her chest. “Not unless you ask for it, that is.”

  Her hands ached to slap him, so she clenched them to keep herself in check. Not trusting herself to speak, she clenched her jaw as well.

  Drawing even with her, Darrien whispered, his lips brushing against her hair. “You’ll ask.”

  Ilyenna rushed from the room. She had to find Rone, to tell him about Darrien and Undon meeting with strangers in the dead of night. Downstairs, she stopped short at the sight of Metha sitting at the kitchen table, Harraw nuzzling at her breast.

  It was the first time she’d seen the other woman since she’d given her one of the elice blossoms. Already, some of her swelling had gone down, revealing her jaw line and the joints of her fingers. Metha met her questioning gaze with an unreadable expression. “Come here.”

  Ilyenna hesitated before moving to obey. Metha gazed down at her son. “What did you do to him, to us?”

  “I healed you. Isn’t that enough?”

  Metha shook her head. “Yesterday, I was dying. My son was dying. Today, I am stronger than I’ve been in months.”

  Ilyenna started past them, toward the serving spoon and the pot of porridge. “You’re stronger than you think.”

  Metha’s hand shot out and grabbed Ilyenna’s arm. She used it as leverage to pull herself to her feet. She gestured to a bowl of porridge circled with thick, rich cream. “First, eat your breakfast. Then you can get to the dishes.”

  Without another word, Metha left the kitchen to serve the men.

  Dumbfounded, Ilyenna stared at the porridge. She glanced around to make sure no one would backhand her before she slipped in the chair. Without bothering to stir the porridge, she ate every single bite as quickly as she could. Metha came back and put the pot in the basket. Apparently the girls had already eaten.

  Her belly warm and full for the first time in days, Ilyenna took the basket of dishes and headed toward the house Rone was building. But as soon as she stepped out, Narium joined her. Shooting a wary glance back at the clan house, Ilyenna took Narium’s arm and steered her toward the forest.

  “Last night, three foreigners came to the clan house. Two entered and met with Undon and Darrien. I sneaked downstairs, but I couldn’t make out what was said.”

  The older woman rubbed her forehead between chapped fingers. “I’ll tell Rone.”

  Ilyenna’s heart dropped. “Shouldn’t you be in the fields?”

  “Shouldn’t you have finished the dishes by now?” Narium asked testily.

  Ilyenna drew a deep breath. “I didn’t realize you were waiting for me.”

  “I wasn’t waiting,” Narium growled.

  “Narium, stop circling the sheep and put them in the pen.”

  The woman sighed. “I’ll have one of the girls bring you the dishes, the washing, and your noon meal. Stay at the river.” She turned on her heel and headed back.

  Ilyenna plunked down the basket of dishes. “Narium, wait!”

  She turned. “If you trust me at all, Ilyenna, you’ll do this.”

  Ilyenna shook her head. “Not until you tell me why.”

  “Do as I say!” Narium took off at a swift walk.

  Bewildered, Ilyenna watched her go. Whatever was going on, the other clan mistress didn’t want her to know about it until it was over. By then, Ilyenna would be too late to interfere. She glanced at the dishes and then toward the clan house. Slowly, she shook her head. “You aren’t the only clan mistress, Narium.”

  After stashing the dishes inside the forest, Ilyenna eased through the woods. Hidden behind the trees, she searched the village. Nothing seemed out of place. Cautiously, she stepped out and ran to the barn.

  It was then she heard it. The rhythmic slap, slap, slap of the strap. Someone was being beaten. Cautiously, she peered out. She recognized Darrien immediately. But who was he beating? Long, blond hair. A Shyle dress. Ilyenna stepped closer.

  Larina.

  The strap connected again. Ilyenna shut her eyes and winced with each blow. Why was Darrien beating her? And why didn’t Narium want her to see this? Did she think Ilyenna would try to stop it? She wasn’t a fool. Interfering would only make it worse.

  Knowing there was nothing she could do, Ilyenna hurried back to the river and washed the dishes as fast as she could. She was so distracted she didn’t notice the apple blossom until it was hovering over the water directly in front of her. She smiled. “Thank you for bringing Leto.”

  Jablana tipped her head to the side. “You asked for my help.” The fairy’s tiny wings beat faster, and she zipped back to the apple tree. But just before she flew out of sight, she paused and held her hands over the apple blossom. The petals fell off. The area behind the pollen-coated tips grew fat and green then red.

  Jablana pulled her hands away. Her wings beat tiredly, but she was smiling. “They don’t taste as sweet without a touch of frost.”

  Ilyenna felt her mouth hanging open and closed it. “Apples are my favorite.”

  The fairy’s wings perked up and Ilyenna could see the wide smile over her pale pink skin. “Apples like winter’s kiss. Perhaps this is why I am drawn to you.” Her wings darkened with what Ilyenna could only guess was a blush. Jablana darted away.

  Ilyenna reached up and plucked the apple from the tree. It was warm beneath her hands. She bit into it. Jablana may have been right about it not being as sweet, but after a winter of withered fruits and vegetables and days of half-rotten, infested food, it was the best apple she’d ever eaten.

  Long before midday, Jossa arrived with a basket of washing and Ilyenna’s noon meal. “Metha’s actually feeding you now?”

  Unwrapping her food, Ilyenna found a handful of fresh peas, a chunk of ham, and a piece of fresh bread. She palmed the whole lot of peas into her mouth. “I’ll be sure to stay on Metha’s good side from now on.”

  Jossa had already scooped up the clean breakfast dishes and headed back to the clan house.

  “Jossa?” Ilyenna called after her. The girl paused but didn’t turn. “I know something’s going on. What is it?”

  Jossa hung her head. “Nothing, mistress.”

  Carefully setting down her food, Ilyenna stood. “Jossa, I am your clan mistress, not Narium. Now tell me what’s going on.”

  Jossa slowly turned, tears forming in her eyes. “Nothing’s going on, mistress.”

  Ilyenna blinked in surprise. Jossa was lying. This was much worse than Ilyenna had thought. She placed her hand on Jossa’s shoulders, and the girl gasped in pain.

  Ilyenna turned her around and pulled her hair to the side. Angry red welts stretched up her neck into her hairline. She’d been beaten with a soaked strap. “Darrien did this? Why?”

  Jossa’s started backing away. “Please, mistress. Please don’t. I promised I wouldn’t say anything.”

  “Stay here and finish the washing,” Ilyenna ordered.

  Without waiting for the girl’s reply, she ran all the way to the women’s house and yanked open the door. What she saw stopped her cold. All of the women, even Narium, lay on the floor, strips of rags soaked in witch hazel across their backs. “By the Balance . . . ”

  Wincing, Narium sat up. “What’re you doing here? You’ve work to do.”

 
; Ilyenna stepped into the room. “I want to know what’s going on, and I want to know now! Why did Darrien beat all of you?”

  No one answered. Ilyenna looked at each of her clanwomen in turn—Wenly, Kanni, Parsha, Bet, Larina—then at Narium and her clanwomen. None but Larina would meet her gaze. The young woman was glaring at her like she’d stolen all her spring lambs.

  Cold fear shot through Ilyenna. “Larina, you want to tell me what this is about?”

  Narium shot Larina a look that would’ve singed the bristles off a pig. “You say anything, and you’ll have me to deal with.”

  Larina opened her mouth to argue.

  “Think what you’re doing, Larina,” Narium said. “He won’t touch us again till we’re healed. And by then the Council will have freed us.”

  Larina glared at Narium before turning away.

  Looking between the two, Ilyenna felt a sob on the edge of her throat. They’d all turned against her. Her own clanwomen! After everything that had happened, she didn’t think she could bear that too. Tears burned her eyes. “Fine. Don’t tell me,” she said, her voice trembling. “I’ll ask Darrien.” She stormed out.

  “Get Rone,” she heard Narium shout.

  Ilyenna was halfway to the clan house before Rone grabbed her arm. She whirled, pushing the tears off her cheeks. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

  Rone dropped her arm and stared at the ground. “They won’t tell me either, only that it’s best I not know. I believe them, and you should too.”

  Ilyenna threw her hands in the air. “Isn’t that for me to decide?”

  He shook his head. “Not this time. Leave it alone, Ilyenna. Just leave it alone.” He turned on his heel. She watched him head back to where the men were laying the foundation for a house. A large house, much larger than even the clan house. This couldn’t be a tiam house.

  She hurried into the kitchen. Metha was standing at the table, changing her son’s bottom. She looked up when Ilyenna stormed in. “Where’s my laundry?”

  Ilyenna stopped short. “I left Jossa to do it.”

  Metha frowned. “The girl was just beaten with a soaked strap, and you’re making her do your work?”

  “I—”

  Metha pointed at the door. “Get back to that river and do your job. Now.”

  “I want to speak to Darrien.”

  Metha’s finger jabbed the air. “Now!”

  Ilyenna stormed back to the river, determined to get something out of Jossa. But as soon as the girl saw her coming, she fled as if Darrien himself chased her.

  Helplessly, Ilyenna watched her go. What secret was so dangerous Jossa would run from her, injured as she was? She didn’t get a chance to find out. Hanie brought her supper and the last of the dishes. Ilyenna tried to get information out of the girl, but she claimed not to know anything, though her pained face spoke otherwise.

  By the time Ilyenna was finished, her hands were wrinkled and raw, and deep night had come on. Balancing the basket on her hip, she went back to the kitchen. Metha was at the table, patting Harrow’s tiny back. “Darrien’s already gone to bed. You’re to sleep in the hallway.”

  Ilyenna stared at the woman’s back, trying to will Metha to tell her something. As if sensing her, Metha half turned. “Don’t, Ilyenna.”

  Fine. She’d ask Darrien herself. Up the stairs, she eased into his room. Drawing her courage, she shut the door. Instantly, she was plunged into darkness. Her heart lurched into her throat.

  “Hello, Ilyenna.” It sounded like he was in bed after all.

  She breathed a little easier that he wasn’t lying in wait for her. “Why did you beat all the tiams?”

  “Come closer and I’ll tell you.”

  Her eyes had begun to adjust to the dark. He was in his bed. A warning pounded in her head. Narium, Rone, and Metha had all told her to leave it alone. But she couldn’t. He was hurting her clanwomen. If she could do anything to stop it, she would. She came to the side of the bed, making sure to stay out of arms’ reach. “Why?”

  “Why, Ilyenna?” She smelled whiskey on his breath. Cringing, she stepped back, suddenly full of terror. “Because they disobeyed. Just as you continue to do.”

  Faster than she thought possible, his hand snaked out and grabbed her wrist. She twisted and strained. He surprised her then, lunging out of the bed and knocking her to the floor. He pinned her beneath him. She cried out, shoving and beating against his chest.

  He grabbed her arms and held them above her head. He pressed against her, his hungry fingers working her dress up. No matter how hard she fought, she couldn’t stop him. He was so much stronger. “Please, no! Please!” she cried out.

  He worked faster.

  “You swore you wouldn’t!”

  He paused.

  Tears streamed down Ilyenna’s face and soaked into her hair. Twisting, she strained to get as far away from him as she could.

  Releasing her hands, Darrien lowered his head, his breath coming hard and fast against her neck. “You were smart to bargain for that right. Very smart. But you aren’t the only one I can hurt.”

  All the blood in Ilyenna’s body went cold. “No,” she gasped.

  He leaned in and whispered into her ear. “I told you I’d make you pay, Ilyenna. And pay you will. I will beat each and every one of them until you marry me or tell me the secret of your healings.”

  “I told you. The fairies did it. They gave me a flower, but I used it all.”

  Her searching fingers found something smooth and hard under the skin rug. The onyx. She fumbled to pull it out without Darrien noticing. “I’ll kill you,” she said through clenched teeth.

  He laughed. “You proved it with Metha. You’re a healer, a clan mistress. Not a murderer.” He took her earlobe between his teeth. “Not like me.”

  She clenched her eyes shut, not wanting to see what was coming. “Why? Why are you doing this?”

  She felt him smile against her neck. “All my life my mother spoke of the Balance. But she was always so weak compared to my father. I realized the truth when she died. It’s the strong side of the Balance that survives—that leads, that rules. I’m stronger and smarter than anyone else in the lands. And one day they’ll all be mine. Let me hear the words, Ilyenna”

  He’d given her no choice. They both knew it. He’d won. Unless . . .

  Her finger tightened around the onyx stone. It would cost her life, but so would agreeing to what he wanted. She slammed the stone against his head. His weight collapsed on top of her, his breath hot on her throat. Wiggling, she managed to get out from under him. Already, he was starting to moan.

  Dropping the bloodied stone, she ran.

  13. Falling

  The clan-house door cracked against the river-stone wall as Ilyenna streaked through. Metha cried after her, but she didn’t stop or slow. She flew down the path, the trees shadowed blurs as she passed. At the river, she paused to catch her breath and listen. Nothing. But he would come.

  She ran until the path disappeared. Not much deeper, the forest grew too dense to move through, forcing her to run parallel to the river. Dodging a boulder, she splashed in, soaking herself to her knees. A little farther down, the trees crowded so close to the bank she had no choice but wade in the water up to her waist. Water that terrified her. But Darrien terrified her more.

  Suddenly, she felt the slippery stones shift beneath her. She slid and went under. Immediately, she was ten again, drowning under the ice. She clawed at the water. Her braid came loose and her hair flared around her like a dark sheaf of wheat.

  Fighting the current, she finally managed to get her feet back under her. The river had carried her downstream to where the bank wasn’t as steep. She scrambled out and ran.

  The water grew swifter and the crashing sound louder. Just as she was starting to wonder what it was, she leaped over a log and her ankle gave way. With a cry, she crumpled to the ground. She was soaking wet, her dress clinging to her. Now her ankle throbbed. But over her fr
antic panting, she could hear them. Dogs barking. She lurched to her feet and began hobbling as fast as she could.

  The river narrowed and deepened. The air was thick and heavy with the smell of moss. With a sense of foreboding, she climbed up the bald expanse of a flat boulder and looked down.

  A waterfall crashed down a cliff, hurtling into a deep pool. Rocks and boulders ringed the pool like the teeth of a hungry maw. An updraft blew against her. For leagues in either direction, the cliff went on. She had nowhere to go. The dogs were very close now. She was trapped.

  She stared at the pool, her whole body screaming to live.

  The dogs crashed through the trees, baying happily when they found her. She turned. Darrien was astride his gelding. What would he do to her?

  He rubbed the back of his head. “That’ll cost you.”

  He was going to take everything she held dear. By the time he finished, she wouldn’t be Ilyenna anymore. Yet if she didn’t bend to him, he’d destroy her clanwomen. Only one choice remained for her now. She peeked over the edge and looked down.

  “Come here now,” Darrien said softly.

  She turned. From the look on his face, it was clear he knew she planned to jump. She closed her eyes. Drawing every ounce of courage, she inched backward. She was the clan mistress. She protected her clan, no matter the cost. With each step, she expected to feel nothing but open air beneath her.

  “Ilyenna, no!” Rone came crashing through the trees, his face white with fear and exertion.

  She gasped out the breath she’d been holding. Her heart leaped within her. Why couldn’t he have loved her?

  Darrien made no move to stop Rone as he cautiously approached her, his hand outstretched. “Come with me, Ilyenna.”

  She shook her head violently, tendrils of her damp hair swaying. “I can’t. I have to protect them. Protect myself.”

  Rone’s eyes were filled with pain, taking her back to when she’d teetered on the edge of the ice. “We’ll find another way.”