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Authors: Kelly St. Clare
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Avalanche, is standing directly in front of me.
It can’t be. How common are dog sleds?
When I make out Rhone standing on the back of the sled a squeak leaves my mouth. Avalanche turns to me. I shake my head and glance over my shoulder.
We’re between two snow-covered rises. The rounded corner of one is only a few meters behind me. The other is massive, with no cover on its steep incline.
I slow so the men behind me pass. Everyone’s attention is on the approaching sled. I duck around the other side of a mound and push through knee deep snow, which hasn’t been packed down like the muddy snow on the path. The width of the mound is much deeper than I initially thought. I continue all the way around its massive girth, my breath puffing out as my feet slip.
I still as the sound of Jovan’s voice reaches me. The demand in his tone is unforgettable. There are mountains in the distance, but no other cover in the space between. None that I can see. If he comes around here, I’ll be caught.
“A child ran around the back of the knoll. Why?” Jovan commands. I creep around the side, sticking my head out. I can’t see them.
“He’s pissing, m’King.” I hear Alzona slur. “Should I gets Bobby f’ya? He’d make a bang up servant. Has most of his teeths, too.”
“Not necessary,” he says in his authoritive tone. “Carry on.”
Rhone shouts his command, “Hike!” and the dogs bark as they pull forward - hopefully far away from me.
I wait until the sled is on my other side before rejoining the group with my hood pulled up over my hair. I move next to Shard. He doesn’t say anything, but I see a speculative gleam in his eyes.
“Why did you run off round there, girly?” Ice blurts out. Blizzard smacks him over the head.
“No questions, dumbarse, you know Alzona’s stupid rules.” He shoots a quick look at Alzona. Everyone forces a laugh, but I can feel tentative eyes on me. I wish Tricks’ group hadn’t seen that, though they are the most trustworthy of the other barracks I’ve met.
I’m in a bit of a daze after the near miss.
But why do I consider it a near miss in the first place? Jovan would have recognized me and taken me back to the castle. He wouldn’t have given me away. His blank features could fool the best card player. Rhone may have figured it out, but I doubt anyone else would have. So why did I run? Was I afraid of his anger? Jovan would be furious, but the thought of his reaction doesn’t bother me as much as it used to. My memories of him almost seem reasonable after dealing with the Bruma in the whore’s courtyard. It takes me a few seconds to come up with a reason. But I remember now. I can’t leave until I find out more about the arrows. That’s right. I knew there had been an explanation.
The others are staring. I realize they are waiting for an answer to Ice’s illegal question.
“I don’t like dogs,” I say lamely. Avalanche snorts and thumps me on the back, pushing me face first into the snow. I sit up sputtering, snow through my hair and eyelashes. That is when I learn what a real snow fight is.
Sixteen pit competitors use complex wrestling moves to stuff snow down other’s trousers and shirts. They burst snow balls with punches and high kicks. And five men hold Avalanche down so I can push snow into his ears.
It is the most fun I’ve had in my life.
It’s only after, when my guard is down, that I can admit the truth. I didn’t hide because my business with the arrow was unfinished. I hid because this place and these people are starting to feel like home.
Chapter Six
I feel free as I sit on my step watching the people in the whore’s courtyard. People shy away from me because they know of my skill, not because I wear a mask. Fear of my mother doesn’t keep them away. It’s fear of what I can do. A respect I’ve earned. My whole life I’ve known who I was going to be, what the plan was. I would suffer my mother’s abuse until she died and then I would
It can’t be. How common are dog sleds?
When I make out Rhone standing on the back of the sled a squeak leaves my mouth. Avalanche turns to me. I shake my head and glance over my shoulder.
We’re between two snow-covered rises. The rounded corner of one is only a few meters behind me. The other is massive, with no cover on its steep incline.
I slow so the men behind me pass. Everyone’s attention is on the approaching sled. I duck around the other side of a mound and push through knee deep snow, which hasn’t been packed down like the muddy snow on the path. The width of the mound is much deeper than I initially thought. I continue all the way around its massive girth, my breath puffing out as my feet slip.
I still as the sound of Jovan’s voice reaches me. The demand in his tone is unforgettable. There are mountains in the distance, but no other cover in the space between. None that I can see. If he comes around here, I’ll be caught.
“A child ran around the back of the knoll. Why?” Jovan commands. I creep around the side, sticking my head out. I can’t see them.
“He’s pissing, m’King.” I hear Alzona slur. “Should I gets Bobby f’ya? He’d make a bang up servant. Has most of his teeths, too.”
“Not necessary,” he says in his authoritive tone. “Carry on.”
Rhone shouts his command, “Hike!” and the dogs bark as they pull forward - hopefully far away from me.
I wait until the sled is on my other side before rejoining the group with my hood pulled up over my hair. I move next to Shard. He doesn’t say anything, but I see a speculative gleam in his eyes.
“Why did you run off round there, girly?” Ice blurts out. Blizzard smacks him over the head.
“No questions, dumbarse, you know Alzona’s stupid rules.” He shoots a quick look at Alzona. Everyone forces a laugh, but I can feel tentative eyes on me. I wish Tricks’ group hadn’t seen that, though they are the most trustworthy of the other barracks I’ve met.
I’m in a bit of a daze after the near miss.
But why do I consider it a near miss in the first place? Jovan would have recognized me and taken me back to the castle. He wouldn’t have given me away. His blank features could fool the best card player. Rhone may have figured it out, but I doubt anyone else would have. So why did I run? Was I afraid of his anger? Jovan would be furious, but the thought of his reaction doesn’t bother me as much as it used to. My memories of him almost seem reasonable after dealing with the Bruma in the whore’s courtyard. It takes me a few seconds to come up with a reason. But I remember now. I can’t leave until I find out more about the arrows. That’s right. I knew there had been an explanation.
The others are staring. I realize they are waiting for an answer to Ice’s illegal question.
“I don’t like dogs,” I say lamely. Avalanche snorts and thumps me on the back, pushing me face first into the snow. I sit up sputtering, snow through my hair and eyelashes. That is when I learn what a real snow fight is.
Sixteen pit competitors use complex wrestling moves to stuff snow down other’s trousers and shirts. They burst snow balls with punches and high kicks. And five men hold Avalanche down so I can push snow into his ears.
It is the most fun I’ve had in my life.
It’s only after, when my guard is down, that I can admit the truth. I didn’t hide because my business with the arrow was unfinished. I hid because this place and these people are starting to feel like home.
Chapter Six
I feel free as I sit on my step watching the people in the whore’s courtyard. People shy away from me because they know of my skill, not because I wear a mask. Fear of my mother doesn’t keep them away. It’s fear of what I can do. A respect I’ve earned. My whole life I’ve known who I was going to be, what the plan was. I would suffer my mother’s abuse until she died and then I would
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