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Chapter 15
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Frozen Heart Chapter 16
Close to dawn, Nordmar was already blooming with activity. Hunters were departing to track game in the dense forests, woodcutters were sharpening their axes, or fishermen were returning from nearby lakes. The Royal Palace was as busy as the rest of Nordmar. From the cook preparing breakfast to the maid serving it. From the butcher bringing fresh meat to the stable boy preparing horses for riders. It was during this time that Ayla, dressed in dark brown pants made from the hide of a mountain troll, a matching jacket, warm black boots and gloves made from the hide of a buffalo and stuffed with polar bear fur, and a white cloak made from the fur of a shadowbeast, stepped out of the castle and headed to the Royal Stables. A young servant accompanied her. The Royal Palace of Nordmar was in the heart of the kingdom. Long before the First War with the Orcs, only Snow Elves lived in Nordmar—the Frozen Land. When humans crossed the Jade River and claimed the North belonged to the
Frozen Heart Chapter 17
Milton was waiting for her in front of the Royal Stables, wearing a new magic robe. A messenger bag was in his hands—a beautiful messenger bag if Ayla was sincere. The servant bowed before making his way back to the palace. Milton gave her a friendly smile. “Good morning, my Lady,” he said. Each time Milton called her lady, she wasn’t sure if he was mocking her or trying to be polite. Perhaps the latter. “Milton,” she greeted him. The Fire Mage extended his arms. “I wanted to give you this before we go inside the stables.” Ayla’s eyes widened. The messenger bag looked expensive, something that someone of a high ranking would have. While she has only caused problems since arriving in Nordmar, she wanted to start working so she could pay her debt and, in time, earn her freedom. If she took the messenger bag, how many years would she have to work for it? “I don’t think I can accept this. This is too much.” Milton muttered something under his breath in old Nordmari
Frozen Heart Chapter 18
The King approached her. “I always knew you were spoiled, but for you to have never mounted a horse. If you expect to sit in a carriage with your ass on a velvet cushion, then forget about it!” Ayla tried to reason with the King. “I will slow everyone down.” “I am aware, and I am already starting to regret taking you with me. Gorn, bring me her horse.” The Paladin brought a chestnut mare. “Then let me stay in the palace. I will work and....” Ayla said fast. King Rhobart chimed in. “Work? You? You can’t even sew, not even if your life depends on it.” Ayla blinked. Did Galian tell King Rhobart how useless she was? That no matter how much she tried and practiced, her attempts to embroider looked worse than those of a five-year-old child? Her grandma had Ayla sew so much that she now hated doing it. But it still hurt to know how little the King thought of her. But damn if she would let the King show how much his words hurt her. The King kept speaking. “
Frozen Heart Chapter 19
When they passed close to a place in which at least a battle took place, and bones or broken weapons were still scattered around the snow, Ayla lowered her head, the hood of the cloak covering her face. She felt as if everyone was glaring at her, accusing her, hating her for being King Amul’s daughter. It was almost dark when the King said that they had finally reached the camp. Ayla was so relieved to hear she could finally get off the mare. Even if all she did all day was to be on top of Star, doing nothing, Ayla felt exhausted. All she wanted to do was to curl up under a warm blanket and sleep until the next day. The moment her feet touched the ground, muscles she did not know she had hurt so bad that she yelped. It wasn’t just her legs that hurt. Even blinking brought discomfort. Her legs shook, and she fell to her knees. Tizgar took Star away while Milton called her name, but she was too tired to reply. She closed her eyes, thinking how perfectly happy she would be
Frozen Heart Chapter 20
Ayla slept poorly that night, not only because her ass felt as if it was on fire but because she could hear Milton and the King arguing in low voices. She wished she could have understood them, but it was a bit difficult when they kept talking in old Nordmarian. It was a strange language with difficult pronunciations, but Ayla was determined more than ever to learn it. When they would return to the Royal Palace, she would spend as much time as possible in the Royal Library studying books in old Nordmarian. Maybe she would find someone to help her learn it. She knew she could always ask Milton for help, but she didn't want the King to learn of her plans. When Gorn and Tizgar woke up, Ayla was still ashamed of what had happened the previous night. But she knew she could not hide beneath the furs and hoped everyone would magically forget what had happened. She gritted her teeth, got up, arranged her cloak and gathered her furs and blanket, and tied them to Star's saddle. After that,
Frozen Heart Chapter 21
After Ghost left, a parchment from the King in the metal cylinder, the small party resumed the journey. Earlier, the King talked with Gorn and Tizgar about hunting, but ever since he received the parchment from Droyn, he appeared to be worried. Very worried. ‘What could have contained that message to make him this worried?’ Ayla thought while she kept stealing glances at him. Tizgar and Gorn talked in low voices while the King sat on his horse in silence. He kept looking at the trees every five minutes, his brow furrowed. Ayla nudged Star to get closer to Milton’s horse. “What is he looking at?” Milton, who was lost in his thoughts, blinked at Ayla a few times and asked, confused, “What?” “The King, he keeps looking at the trees, then forward, then back at the trees as if they hold the answer to some riddle.” “They do. Well, in a certain way. Old Nordmarian runes and symbols are painted or carved on certain trees, or ropes with knots or colored beads are t
Frozen Heart Chapter 22
Early in the morning, King Rhobart, together with his Paladins, Milton, Ayla, and Kristoff, went to the barracks to see the war prisoners. Ayla spent many hours on top of Star while thinking about how King Rhobart treated the war prisoners. Many times, she imagined her people in cold cells, without blankets to keep them warm and slowly dying of hunger or because of their untreated wounds. But when she stepped inside the warm barracks and saw beds covered with warm furs and around thirty men that appeared to be in good health, she pondered if she had misjudged the King. Her gaze found his—he stood in the middle of the barracks, next to Kristoff, his black eyes on her. She gave him a curt nod and silently thanked him. He returned her nod as if to tell her, ‘You are welcome.’ The war prisoners sat at tables playing cards or rolling dice. A few of them were reading. “King Rhobart is here to talk to you.” Kristoff said, and the war prisoners rose from their chairs.
Frozen Heart Chapter 23
“Milton!” No reply. “Tizgar!” Still nothing. “Gorn!” No one shouted back. “Kerra!” When not even Kerra appeared, a sob escaped her lips. “Anyone?” Her voice was barely a whisper. She was panicking, for she didn’t know what to do. Star kept advancing through the blizzard, and Ayla tried hard to calm her nerves. How could she have gotten lost in the snowstorm? She thought she was right beside King Rhobart. What should she do? She did not know where the camp was or how to get there. She was lost and alone in Nordmar. Fear crept into her heart. What if a wild animal attacked her? She had no weapons. It would not matter if she had weapons, for in Myrthana, women were not allowed to touch any. She never learned how to fight. Ayla inhaled deeply until she felt she was in control of her emotions. Star kept walking, and Ayla had no idea in which direction they were heading. Should she stop the mare and wait for the
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