Ice Country (34 page)

Her timing is so uncanny I’m beginning to
think she really does have magic inside her.

“I’ve made a decision,” she says.

“I have too,” I say, inviting her in with a
sweep of my arm.

My mother greets her with a fierce hug. “How
are you feeling?” Wilde asks.

“Better than ever,” Mother says. “I’ve got my
daughter back.” She motions to the bed, where Jolie’s sitting up,
even though I’ve told her time and time again that she needs to
rest a bit longer.

“Are you…are you from fire country?” Jolie
asks, eyes wider and whiter than snow-covered boulders.

“I am,” Wilde says, approaching my sister
with graceful steps. She takes Jolie’s hands in hers. “It’s a true
pleasure to finally meet you.”

Jolie stares at her, as if mesmerized, taking
in every part of her, from her long black hair to her brown skin.
“You look strange,” Jolie says and I suck in a sharp breath.

“Jolie!” I say, feeling embarrassment flush
my skin.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it,” Jolie
says, not sounding that sorry. “I mean you’re beautiful, but not
like my mother is beautiful. Different.”

“It’s okay,” Wilde says. “You’re beautiful,
too, in a way that’s different too. A very good way.”

At that, Jolie smiles, and I’m happy she’s
getting on with one of my new friends, but it doesn’t change what
has to happen today. “You said you came to a decision?” I say.

Still holding my sister’s hands, Wilde says,
“Yes. I’ve decided to stay.”

“What?” I blurt out. “Stay where?”

“Here. With your family. With your mother,
for a little while.”

Her words float across the room, but they’re
strange and I get the sense that they’ll drift all the way into the
fire and burn to ash if I don’t grab ahold of them. “But the
others, they need you,” I say.

“No,” she says. “They need
you
.”

Jolie claps her little hands. “See, I told
you, Dazz.”

“Nay, I can’t,” I say. “I can’t.”

“Yes, you can,” Wilde persists. “You needn’t
worry about a thing while you’re gone. We’ll stay here for a while,
until your sister recovers, and then they’ll travel with me to fire
country. My people need me now more than ever, and I fear I’ve been
gone too long already.”

“To fire country?” I say.

Wilde nods. “If they’re willing.”

“Oh, Mother, can we?” Jolie says, practically
squirming with excitement.

“Mother,” I say sharply.

She looks at me, at Jolie, at Wilde, and then
says, “We can and we will.”

~~~

It’s almost time to go and I still can’t
believe I’m going. I still don’t know if I should. But iced if I
can argue with Jolie, she’s got a stubborn streak a mountain high
and wider than fire country.

Jolie’s met everyone, and although she still
seems somewhat in awe of my friends from fire country, she seems
perfectly at ease with them too.

First she thanked Feve about a million times
for saving her life, which was sort of funny to watch because he
didn’t seem that comfortable with all the praise. Eventually he
left to wait for us outside.

Then, when she saw Siena and Circ holding
hands, she thought it best to investigate their relationship,
asking every question she could think of about how it started, how
long they’ve known each other, and everything in between. Her
curiosity made me laugh because it wasn’t that different than my
own, when we were in the dungeons.

When she got tired of that, she latched onto
Skye and now appears intent on talking her ear off.

“What’s it like to live on sand? I don’t
really know what sand is, but it sounds nice. Saaand. It’s even fun
to say the word. How hot is it where you come from? Hotter than
summer here? Is my brother a good kisser? I bet he is. Will I like
fire country?” Jolie continues to let loose a random assortment of
questions, answering half of them herself, as Skye scratches her
head. Even she’s baffled by what to make of my sister.

“Uhh…” she says, probably wondering which
question to answer first.

“I think that’s enough for one day, Joles.
I’m sure Wilde’ll be happy to answer your many questions over time,
while we’re gone,” I say, sitting on her bed next to Skye.

“You’ll be back soon, right Dazz?” Her nose
crinkles up earnestly.

“I’ll do my best,” I say. “But you’ll be safe
with Wilde and with Mother.” I can’t believe I’m saying it and
actually meaning it, but it’s true. Mother’s better than she’s been
in a long time and I have a feeling this time it might stick.

Jolie’s nose uncrinkles and her eyebrows
lift, her eyes widen. “Dazz, you find her, you find that girl, and
all the rest too,” she says, hugging me tight.

I hold her close, feel her warm little body,
so real, so alive, her heart pumping. The world is right again. So
right. “I will,” I whisper into her hair. “We all will.”

I stand up, trying to hide the tears in my
eyes. Mother awaits.

“You don’t worry about anything at all while
you’re gone,” she says. “I’m better, and with Wilde here, I’ll stay
better.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” I say, embracing
her, feeling her frail body fold into mine. “Goodbye, Mother.”

“Goodbye, Son.”

Somewhat solemnly, we leave, Siena then Circ
then Skye then Buff.

I start to follow but then turn in the
doorway. “Thank you, Wilde,” I say. “Thank you for everything.”

She just nods and smiles. “Go,” she says.

Out in the autumn-cold, I pull in a deep
breath of cool, crisp air, hold it for a second, and then push it
out in a cloud of steam. Watching me, Skye says, “I still can’t get
over how we all breathe smoke up ’ere.”

I just smile and drape an arm over her
shoulder, which earns me a punch in the gut that I think is meant
to be soft and friendly, but which hurts like chill and leaves me
gasping. I try to hide how much it really hurts while Skye
laughs.

We make our way through and out of the Brown
District, ignoring the stares we get from all the Icers who still
haven’t gotten used to seeing brown-skinned folk walking around
town. You’d think after having the dark riders charging around they
wouldn’t bat an eye, but sometimes change don’t sit so well with
folks. After a couple of glances though, they go back to whatever
it is that they’re doing—repairing burnt houses, shoveling snow, or
chasing their kids around.

Cutting across the space that connects the
four Districts, we head for the White District. Entering the
upscale area, it’s strange to see so many of the beautiful houses
devastated by the fires set by the Stormers. A roof missing here, a
once-beautiful mahogany door charred black there. But the really
interesting thing: there are Brown District men repairing
everything. Even after all that’s happened, the rich folk can’t
bring themselves to do an honest day’s work, relying on the sweat
and muscle of the lower classes. Things are changing alright, but
sometimes change is slower than you want, while other times it’s
faster than a dark rider’s gallop.

As we pass a familiar house with a red door
that evidently escaped the Stormers’ fires, I see a familiar scene.
The door is thrown open and a guy pops out, chased by a vase, which
hits him in the back of the head, sending him tumbling out into the
snow. “And stay out!” a shrill, witch-like voice hollers after him
before the door slams, jarring clumps of snow off the roof.

I laugh when I recognize the guy. Soft-hands
LaRoy, previously known as girlfriend-stealer. Little did he know
he was doing me a favor. It seems things didn’t work out for him
and the witch so well after all.

I approach him, chuckling to myself.

When he sees me he shrinks back into the
snowdrift, hands above his head. I fake a punch and he shrinks
further still. Smiling, I extend a hand, which he stares at with
the most disturbed look on his face. “Take it,” I say.

After a moment’s hesitation he does, and I
pull him to his feet, using a hand to brush the snow off his back.
“Trust me,” I say, “you’re better off without her.”

He shrugs and then flinches when I fake
another punch. Despite all that’s happened, it’d feel good to hit
him just once, but I won’t today. There’s always another fight to
be fought, and although I’m looking forward to the next one, I now
know I can control myself.

I return to Skye’s side. “What the scorch?”
she says, raising her eyebrows.

“Long story,” I say. “Maybe I’ll tell you on
the way to storm country.”

She punches me in the ribs again and I’m
beginning to think that means she likes me, which is good enough
for me.

We leave the village, and with the setting
sun trying to push red light through the thick, gray cloud cover,
we march into the forest, two Icers and four fire country natives,
off to save the world, or at least a few kids. They’re someone’s
daughters, sons, brothers, sisters—special to someone. Special to
Skye and Siena.

And I’ll do everything I can to save every
last one of them. Just like my sister.

Just like Jolie.

~*~

Keep reading for a sneak peak at the
action-packed sequel, book three of the Country Saga (a Dwellers
sister series),
Water & Storm Country
, coming June 7,
2013!

Acknowledgments

As always, I have to thank all the readers,
new and old, who have stuck with me through this series. Between
the three books in the Dwellers Saga and the two so far in the
Country Saga, I know it takes a huge level of commitment to be a
part of it, and for that I thank you. But we’re not done yet! I’m
especially excited about the third book in the Country Saga,
Water & Storm Country
, which will answer a lot of your
questions about the Cure and who’s behind, in Siena’s words,
the
’spiracy
. And then, of course,
The Earth Dwellers
will
smash the two series together in a final seventh book (may the sun
goddess and Heart of the Mountain be with me as I attempt to not
screw this up!), in what I hope will be an epic end to a long
adventure. Thanks for sticking with me!

My wife, Adele, gets the biggest hug ever,
for being the ultimate supporter and challenger, keeping me from
making stupid (and cheesy) decisions in my stories. You are more
than just a friend and wife, you’re my soul mate and partner for
life and beyond!

Thanks to Rhomy at Black Lion Book Tours, who
put together the perfect blog tour to get the word out!

To my remarkably talented cover artist,
Regina Wamba, you’ve created the perfect book cover to contrast the
cover for Fire Country, and I’m sure your two covers will grace
many a bookshelf. Thanks for your dedication to my vision and to
the series.

Next, a rapid-fire thank you thank you thank
you to my beta readers. You really rocked on this book, taking it
to levels even I didn’t realize it could hit. So thanks to Laurie
Love, Alexandria Theodosopoulos, Kayleigh-Marie Gore, Kerri Hughes,
Terri Thomas, Lolita Verroen, Rachel Schade, and Ventura Dennis for
being awesome. And a special thanks to Mr. Anthony Briggs Jr. for
pushing me to develop my story in ways I never imagined. Many of
the jaw-dropping moments in the book are a result of your gentle
but honest feedback.

To my super-secret street team (shhh, don’t
tell anyone who you are), thanks for being even more vocal (if
that’s possible) in promoting my books than ever before. I get
tears in my eyes when I see what you do for me on a daily basis.
Your friendship is for a lifetime.

The saga continues in other books by David
Estes available through the author’s official website:

http://davidestesbooks.blogspot.com

or through select online retailers including
Smashwords.com.

The Dwellers Saga:

Book One—The Moon Dwellers

Book Two—The Star Dwellers

Book Three—The Sun Dwellers

Book Four—The Earth Dwellers (coming
September 2013!)

The Country Saga (A Dwellers sister
series):

Book One—Fire Country

Book Two—Ice Country

Book Three—Water & Storm Country (Coming
June 7, 2013!)

The Evolution Trilogy:

Book One—Angel Evolution

Book Two—Demon Evolution

Book Three—Archangel Evolution

Children’s Books by David Estes

The Nikki Powergloves Adventures:

Nikki Powergloves—A Hero Is Born

Nikki Powergloves and the Power Council

Nikki Powergloves and the Power Trappers

Nikki Powergloves and the Great Adventure

Nikki Powergloves vs. the Power Outlaws
(Coming in 2013!)

Connect with David Estes Online

David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/70863-david-estes-fans-and-ya-book-lovers-unite

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Estes/130852990343920

My blog:
http://davidestesbooks.blogspot.com

Smashwords:
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/davidestes100

About the Author

David Estes was born in El Paso, Texas but
moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was very young. He grew
up in Pittsburgh and then went to Penn State for college.
Eventually he moved to Sydney, Australia where he met his wife and
soul mate, Adele, who he’s now been happily married to for more
than two years.

A reader all his life, David began writing
novels for the children's and YA markets in 2010, and has completed
14 novels, 12 of which have been published. In June of 2012, David
became a fulltime writer and is now travelling the world with Adele
while he writes books, and she writes and takes photographs.