Alorah's bed stood near a large window, with dozens of pillows as decoration. A painting of her, in a sheer nightgown, lying on a thick-furred rug, hung above it. An archway led to a library with a marble desk in the center.
Earlier, the Queen summoned Aurelie to a private breakfast. It was cold outside on the balcony. Unfortunately, it bothered nobody by Aurelie. There was a table inside but Alorah went with the option that would make Aurelie suffer most.
The steel cup one of the servants placed before her had lost all heat and no longer warmed Aurelie's hands. She'd ask for another, but Alorah had sent all the servants away. Wrapping her coat tighter around her legs, she parted her teeth to hide the chattering.
"There is this fantasy of love that simple women have," Alorah said out of the blue, "where passion is valued above commitment to oneself." She gave Aurelie a sharp glare. "Maybe I would have been the same if given a choice. Though, I don't think so. I could never love a man without condition and that's a requirement, I hear. The only man I had the option to love rampaged through my little kingdom, claimed it and took me. I think I could have loved him if that was all he did." Holding out her hand, she looked at her wedding ring.
"This is about Lukas, I gather?" Aurelie asked and crossed her legs. A cold gust of wind blew past her and caused a shiver. Her patience was waning fast. There was a hope that she was summoned to discuss the curse, but that did not appear to be the case.
Alorah nodded and looked out at the grounds. "Lukas is a little boy. He will never grow up. It's my fault. His father was one of my guards. I enjoyed his company and I suppose that made me be a little more fond of Lukas than the others."
Aurelie raised a brow, wondering if this was more trust-building from the side of the Queen.
"Surprised?"
"Quite," Aurelie said once Alorah turned back to her.
"When my late husband stormed the castle, he killed my youngest sister first." She laughed. "She wasn't pretty enough for him and he needed a wife others would want. Then he went after my eldest sister and her husband. My brother escaped. About a year into our marriage, he was caught trying to take a ship to the Neamon Islands. He let me kill him to prove my loyalty."
Aurelie felt uncomfortable with the conversation. "Why are you telling me this?" The King being a monster didn't excuse her son being one too. There was no lesser evil, only lesser power. Aurelie didn't want to be around when Lukas became King.
"Sometimes we have to do things we're not happy with to achieve greater things."
"Was your brother's life worth these greater things?"
"Absolutely. Lukas is the son of a guard that was assigned to spy on me. He killed my family and I killed the chance of his line retaining the crown. That was my first offense."
"What was the second?"
"Poisoning his wine."
Aurelie needed to get away from all of them. "So your argument is marrying Lukas now because I can always kill him later?"
"Don't be silly, it doesn't fit a Queen." Alorah stood from the chair and leaned against it. "I'm saying that there are other options. Marry him for the alliance and send him off to a different castle. Bare his heir and your job as wife is done. It does not have to be a happy marriage. It does not even have to be a real marriage."
Funny it was how now that Alorah had the portal she was able to speak freely of the union. Aurelie wasn't surprised. She would have put her kingdom first too. However, all the time spent in the Icelands now felt like a waste. Lukas wasn't going to become her husband. There was no way that he would get his way with her too. It became more and more clear that Alorah would not send her army off to fight another kingdom's war. She would have to offer something and she had nothing to offer but herself.
"I wish you had given me the terms when I first came here. I know it wouldn't have been to your benefit, but I still wish it," Aurelie said.
"Oh no," Alorah shook her head, "you misunderstand me. I will not go back on my word. Our deal stands as it is, however, an alliance would benefit us both. My men would fight more fiercely for their own, just like any would. Aurelie," Alorah said, placing her frozen fingers on top of her hand, "I'm going to need trade. Seeds will have to be imported. All our agriculture restored. We need to rebuild, replant and reeducate. I need you on that throne. I do not plan to go back on my word."
"Lukas saidâ
Alorah slammed her hand on the table, rattling the dishes. "That boy is a fool. Immortality has been a blessing as much as a curse. If he were left to rule after my death there would be nothing left of this kingdom apart from his litter of illegitimate children. I was hoping that the years would have done something for his intellect but to no avail. Your marriage would do my kingdom a bigger favor than you think. But never mind that, I will not push you further. Not today."
To Aurelie's own surprise, she believed the Queen more than was probably safe to. Though, her suspicion was never-ending. And her instincts weren't leaning in any specific direction either. She wanted the army, but not enough to stay and risk her life to find out whether Alorah was genuine. Above all, she wanted to go home. Wherever that would be, as long as it wasn't here. "Can you tell me about this curse?"
Alorah smiled. "Yes, I suppose it's time." She stood and looked out beyond the balcony. "The mist is heavy this morning. Else you would have seen her from here."
"Seen whom?"
Alorah seemed taken aback by the question. "Valice, of course. The dragon that carries the curse."
Aurelie's mouth fell open. "A dragon? Well, what am I meant to do to a dragon?"
Alorah picked up a silver bell that stood atop the table and rang it for the servants. "Valice is thought to be the last surviving dragon, though very few believe that she'll live again. She carries the curse around her neck. Goodness, I thought you knew."
"Live again?"
The door to Alorah's chamber was swung open by a hefty guard. A servant girl in a black furred coat came rushing through the doors. She stopped at the entry to the balcony and curtsied.
"The curse froze her in place. There are people who believe she's still alive. We call them fanatics. Once, the lot of them tried to steal her. Apparently, we didn't do a very good job of looking after her. So," she rolled her eyes in memory, "they had about a thousand of them gathered to move her. Of course, they didn't even shift her an inch but it was rather amusing to see them try." Alorah turned to the servant girl. "Send word for Mr. Knombes to ready the carriage."
Aurelie looked up in utter shock. "Now? But you haven't even told me what it is I have to do and now there might be a live dragon involved. I don't know what it is you see when you look at me but I sure hope it isn't a dragon slayer."
"You have to consume the magic within the amulet around the dragon's neck. And the dragon's very much dead."
"How do I consume it?" Aurelie asked once the servant left the room.
"The Dranoirs are masters of consumption."
Aurelie huffed. "Clearly not all of us."
"And how would you know?" Alorah made her way toward the door and waved for Aurelie to follow. "You're alive because you consumed your grandfather's magic, aren't you?"
Aurelie noted that Alorah shouldn't have known how she survived, especially not that she did so by consuming her grandfather's magic, but showed no sign of having noticed what had happened and followed her down the icy hallway where paintings of the Queen and her children hung. They were all almost identical. Aurelie couldn't tell the girls apart at all.
"That was given to me in a vial to drink. I certainly didn't master the art of consumption." Aurelie lowered her voice so the guards wouldn't hear her as they passed them. The last thing either of them needed was for rumors to spread after the speech Alorah gave the nobles. She had proclaimed certain victory just days ago. "So you have no plan?"
"My plan was to get you to come here. You're here."
"How about after?" Aurelie jogged to keep up with Alorah; most phrases had to be whispered over her shoulder. It didn't bother her enough to slow down, not because she was being rude but because Alorah was not taught to notice others. When they turned the corner, she increased her pace.
"I have a rose from your grandfather's garden. You'll practice on that and then once you're able to consume it, we'll start on Valice." Alorah stopped mid-way, nodded to herself and continued walking, giving Aurelie just enough time to catch up.
"A rose compared to a curse that big?"
"They're identical."
Aurelie scowled. "Well, you'd say that, wouldn't you? The curse isn't about to kill you."
"It won't kill you." Alorah turned, frowning.
When they turned into the great hall, Aurelie noticed Gregor, the old man she met at the very beginning of her trip, waiting for them with a couple of guards. She hadn't noticed him around the castle since they left him in the middle of nowhere. Looking at his glum expression, she wouldn't be surprised if he had only just arrived back.
Alorah smirked once her eyes fell on him. "He was my husband's adviser. Sometimes, I think that he believes he became King with his death. I like to put him in his place from time to time."
"Has he just arrived?" It was awfully cruel to leave an old man out there without any supplies for so long. With all the rebels roaming around, it was a miracle that he even made it back.
"Oh no, I sent a carriage as soon as we got to the castle. He's still bitter because you saw it, is all." Alorah placed a hand on Aurelie's shoulder. "Honestly, you think me so cruel? Whatever have I done to warrant that?"
Freezing one of the rebels didn't quite help. However, when the Dragon King's men attacked the inn, Aurelie wasn't one to spare any of them. Alorah managed to keep the bloodbath to a minimum and she let the others escape without sending her guards to follow them. "I don't know what to expect."
"We've got years to work on that." Aurelie nodded reluctantly. Her aunt taught her never to count her days.
Gregor opened the door once they were close enough and bowed his head. "My Queen, am I to join you on this morning's journey?"
Alorah pursed her lips and looked up in thought. "No, that won't be necessary. How many guards have you gathered outside?"
"Twenty men."
Alorah turned to Aurelie and winked. "That should be enough to protect us damsels."
"Who will protect them from us?" Aurelie joined the joke.
"Not a soul, dearest."
Gregor's mood had fallen even further into despair. He avoided looking at either of them, folded his arms and waited till Alorah led Aurelie away.
"I should stop teasing him," Alorah said once they were outside. The carriage was already waiting with rows of guards on white horses. They had the thickest manes Aurelie had ever seen. "I'll give him something important to do tomorrow. That should keep him happy for a week or so."
Aurelie turned back to look where Gregor had gone. He was no longer at the door but further down the hall. Lukas had his hand wrapped around his shoulder and was leading him away.
A servant opened the carriage door and helped both Aurelie and Alorah inside.
The door of the carriage closed and seconds later they were off. "Is she far?"
"Just beyond the maze. I hate the damn thing but in this weather, if I were to make them remove it, it'd just be a white field. I prefer the dead branches for now. At least they provide some shape."
Aurelie smiled, unsure of what to say. She hadn't been much interested in scenery. Even the garden back at the cabin was a chore. Alorah remained silent for the remainder of the journey. The gentle rocking of the carriage appeared to be making both of them tired. Aurelie leaned her head again the wall of the carriage and struggled to keep her eyes open.
A slight pull brought her back to full attention. She looked around and noticed Alorah stirring to see what she was doing.
"What is it?"
There was a force around her. Much like the one, she felt when her father was near. It felt as if it was trying to pull her upright. "I don't know. I feel strange."
After a moment, Aurelie wasn't sure whether it was her own intention to stand or whether something was making her want to. The need for it grew so strong that her knees began to ache.
Alorah swept a curtain to the side. "That's because we're near." She tapped the roof of the carriage and they came to a halt. Aurelie followed Alorah out of the carriage.
The invisible force was stronger outside. She had to stop herself from running toward the long spiraled staircase that went up right to the dragon's head. It stood in the distance, about three hundred meters away.
Valice was magnificent. Though the ice formed a thick coat around her body, her eyes seemed to retain their spark. Aurelie hoped that it was the sun that created the spark on the ice. Fighting a dragon was not on her list of priorities, but rather something she'd avoid, or run away screaming from. Either way, as much as she hated to admit it, she understood why the fanatics believe Valice was alive.
Aurelie was the size of Valice's talon. A thick layer of ice covered her scales and made her look as if she were made of glass. Aurelie's scales would seem like thorns in comparison.
"A black dragon, though you wouldn't say because of the ice. Makes her look much lighter," Alorah said. "And there," she pointed up toward the dragon's neck, "is the curse."
The chains themselves were frozen, but the medallion at the top was clear of any ice. Lava swirled within its circular setting. Pins and needles shot up her legs. She couldn't draw her eyes away from the medallion.
Come, Princess.
"Aurelie, wait," Alorah called. Something pulled Aurelie backward.
Just a few steps. Come on.
Aurelie turned and gasped.
Alorah was bent over forward, clasping onto the sleeve of Aurelie's coat. "Let's get you back inside." She turned Aurelie away without allowing her to take another look at the dragon.
"I," she started, hearing the alarm in her own voice, "I hadn't realized that I moved."