4. The Ice Sword of Riord

SAGE I tried to come to my senses but it seemed like my whole body was frozen from all the fear. Was I saved or was this person also here to kill me? I did not know anymore. But the rider was getting closer and closer. I prepared my last artefact, not even knowing if it was going to work. I had never used it before. If I was going to survive tonight, I would definitely start paying more attention to battle artefacts. The mist was dissipating and I was finally able to see who the person on the horse was. Choking on the frosty air, I recognised the long silver hair and the navy coat too. There was no denying who that was... The very man who took my father away from me. If it was him, he was probably here to finish the job and kill me. The distance between us was getting smaller and smaller, and I started crawling back. He was an experienced warrior. I stood no chance against someone like him. But I still had to try and that was why I threw the last thing I had for my protection in his direction. The little gem turned into a firebird that flew in his direction. Hopefully, it could at least hurt him… However, one wave of his hand and a wave of cold wind destroyed my little birdie. At the next moment, Winter unsheathed his sword and raised it, still moving fast in my direction. This was the end... Officially. Well, at least the death from his hands would be fast. I closed my eyes at first, not to see how he would do it. But at the last moment, I decided that I wouldn’t give him the pleasure. Let him see me when he finishes me off. Our gazes met and his was as cold as ever. What was I thinking? Someone like him would never care… He rode past me in just one second, swinging his blade. I wasn’t moving, not realising where he hit me. Everything still seemed intact. And only when the body of one of the thugs with a dark knife in his hand dropped dead right next to me, I realised that he was Winter’s aim. Not me. Shivering from the cold and stress, I turned and saw the rider finishing off another bandit. And only after that, he slowly turned back in my direction. “Lady Satorr,” he said as his eyes shone brightly for a second like two pieces of glowing ice. It was already dusk and I was alone with him in the middle of nowhere. Creepy. “Sir Winter,” I stood up slowly on the slippery surface, not knowing what was next. “And that is exactly why I advised you to go back to your academy,” he said with no emotions whatsoever. “No, that’s not why,” I scoffed bitterly, “You just already knew that my so-called fiancé would be of no help. And chose not to tell me.” “Would you believe me if I did?” he quirked a brow up. “I guess not,” I had to admit, even though I hated it. “Come on,” he stretched his hand to me and I looked at him questioningly. We stood like that for a while. Me hesitating, but him still insisting. “It’s not like you have better options right now, lady Satorr,” he said, “There may be more assassins in the woods and I have no intention of weeding them out for you. Besides, it’s a long way from here to practically anywhere else.” “I am sorry,” I chuckled nervously, “Did you just say assassins?” “And do you think that ordinary thugs would have magic?” he smirked, stretching his hand further, “You are a student at the magical academy, you are supposed to know far too well that mages are the elite of the world. How many of them do you think wander the woods at night hoping to find a carriage with a rich lady driving carelessly without guards?” Okay. Now he just called me dumb. “Excuse me,” I flared my nostrils, “I was too busy trying to survive to think of the backstory of people who tried to kill me. And as for the absence of my guards, I have you to thank for that.” “I am not going to hold that hand forever,” he said indifferently, and I knew that he meant it. That heartless statue of a man would leave me alone here. So, no matter how much I did not want this, I had to accept his help this time. Just once. Hesitantly, I pulled my hands towards his and he rolled his eyes, grabbing me and after one swift move of his, I was already next to him on his horse. I needed his help. Yes. But it was still too awkward to sit this close to my enemy number one, to feel his hot breath on my neck… Goosebumps formed immediately all over me. But in the next moment his coat landed on my shoulders. "There is no need," I tried to take it off, but he wrapped a hand around my waist, trapping me. "I don't want you to drop dead during our ride," he explained, and I rolled my eyes so that he couldn't see, "It's not comfortable transporting corpses. Trust me." Okay, this was simply disturbing now. And when the horse moved, I saw that we were going in the wrong direction. I wriggled, trying to bring his attention back to me. “Erm, this is not the right road,” I told him. “How so?” he sounded uninterested and just kept going. “My carriage is that way,” I pointed to where I ran away from. “And?” “There is a wounded or dead coachman,” I tried to explain. “Definitely dead,” he snorted, and this was the first time there was some kind of emotion there. Not that it was pleasant, considering the topic. “And my things,” I added. “That’s more like it. It’s your things you are looking for,” he stated plainly, and kept the horse moving in the opposite direction. “That’s all I’ve got thanks to you,” I gritted through my teeth and felt the hand he was holding me with tightening its grip. “Still just things,” he said after a while, “I am alone, and we don’t know what’s out there. It would be unwise to go there now for a few trinkets. Trust me, your life is more valuable than any jewellery and dresses in the world.” “I only had my late mother’s jewels there,” I clenched my fists, “I never knew her, and this was all I had left to remember her by. There are also my instruments for work. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to earn a living. And now this is essential for me, as you may guess.” “That’s very… sad,” he commented matter-of-factly and spurred his horse. That. Monster. We were riding for a while before he slowed down finally. The land around us was unremarkable and I still had no idea where we were. And now, when I was able to think clearly again, was it really a good idea to go with him? Who said that he wasn’t the one who hired those assassins in the first place? And what if he was taking me now to a more secluded place to actually finish the job? Every muscle in my body tensed. He was our family enemy after all... “Oh, no,” I heard something resembling a snort, “The adrenaline wore off and now you are scared of me again?” “Should I not be?” I couldn’t help but ask, the tension was too much for me. Everything today was too much. And I didn't know how much else I could handle. “I just saved your life,” he reminded me. “And before that you ruined it,” I pointed out, shivering. But this time from the cold. My cape wasn’t much help. “Your father ruined it,” Winter wasn’t giving up, “And I was just doing my job.” “My father was falsely accused!” I gritted through my teeth. No one would be insulting my Dad! “Do you even know what he is accused of?” the man next to me chuckled again. For an icicle, he seemed to be in a very good mood now. And I hated it. “No,” I exhaled sharply, “You didn’t tell this when you were taking him away along with all our knights.” “Because this is restricted information.” He was clearly unimpressed with our whole conversation. “You know, you really live up to your reputation!” His attitude was starting to annoy the living hell out of me. “And what reputation would it be?” He chuckled. “I am sure you are well aware of it,” I remembered who he was just recently and did not want to repeat all those things that people said about him while I was in his full power. “Please, do tell,” he insisted, “It’s not often that I get to talk to the young ladies of Riord. I am really interested in finding out the latest gossip.” And now he was calling me a gossip?! My blood boiled. “Fine,” I said in a ridiculously high-pitched tone and then cleared my throat to sound normal again, “You are the Ice Sword of Riord! The cold man with no heart. The cruellest of them all. Killing people for you is not a problem, you also tend to send young boys to die at the Rupture and you show no mercy to anyone. Be it your lovers, your countless enemies or even your soldiers. You have next to zero friends and everybody who personally knows you hates you. Even your servants are not your biggest fans and you have trouble keeping any of them. The king only keeps you because you are ruthless and that comes in handy at the Rupture or during wars. When none of those occurs, you are usually politely asked to stay in the North where you live. They also call you The Cold Winter behind your back. Happy at the latest gossip? Are you going to tell me now that these are all lies?” “No,” he replied calmly and unbothered, “All is true.” Really? He wasn’t even going to deny any of it? He had nerves of steel, that was for sure. But at least after this, we both got quiet and we were able to ride in peace. I was thinking of what to do next. Now that I had no belongings, my situation was even worse. I could go back to Yara, of course, and take some of the jewellery I gave her for the servants. But what would that make me? That fridge of a man would probably drop me off at the next village. I could try and earn some money by making their crops bigger, perhaps? I bet they would like that. I needed to think outside of the box. Luckily, I could still think as a modern girl and was not afraid to work or use whatever I had to survive. “We arrived,” Winter said suddenly, taking me out of my thoughts, and I looked around, gasping. Where the hell did this crazy man bring me?! AUTHOR’S NOTE: Thinking about how Winter looks like: Legolas is a no, no, no. Witcher is a yes, yes, yes. But cleaner and with slightly lighter and longer hair. And a bit younger too lol.