Night Vision (17 page)

And it was just that easy. A sense of watchfulness filled
the air, and every other serpent in the chamber rose to attention. I turned back to the guardian snake.

“What’s your name?”

“Dark Fang. By this you shall know me. I stand for you, Cicely Waters. I shall stand for your queenship.” And then he moved out of my way, slithering to the side, and I passed on.

Once beyond the crystal chamber, I entered a long hallway. There I found a brigade of skeletons, unmoving, carrying axes. I gazed at them carefully until I found the one that looked like the leader. All too aware that their blades looked deathly sharp, I approached him and looked him over. A ring lay at his feet. I picked it up and slid it on my finger. Immediately, the warrior snapped to full attention, as did his company.

“Guard these halls for me. Let none enter who seeks to harm me.” It sounded as good as anything and was the only thing I could think of.

The skeleton bent down to one knee, his bones creaking as he did so. He bowed his head. “As you will.” The wind whistled through his teeth, rattling like a stiff breeze through quaking aspen.

As I passed, they closed ranks behind me, guarding the way.

I continued on, curious to see what the third guardian would be. Somewhere, in the back of my brain, I had a premonition as to what might be waiting, and I prayed I was wrong. Myst used them, and they were deadly and cunning and magical, but I really, really didn’t like them. But as I entered the next chamber, I saw that my intuition had been right.

A forest grew here. How it grew beneath the ground I did not know, but trees stood tall, swaying in the breeze, and dark bushes filled in the undergrowth. All were covered in snow. The sky was a pale silver, but I knew it was actually a ceiling. From that ceiling, an intricate web of lacework, spun from frost and snow and spidersilk, spanned the ceiling. And hanging from the center, ice spiders. Huge, white
with golden accents, they were intelligent and fierce. I shivered, staring at them as they waited.

I can’t show my fear. They may react, whether or not I’m to be the Queen. I have to show strength and control.

My heart was pounding, but I forced myself to walk up to the web of the nearest—and biggest—spider. She stared at me with glittering faceted eyes and let out a low hiss, moving one jointed leg ever so slightly.

I didn’t flinch, just stood, waiting. This was a game of poker, and as of yet, she was the strongest guardian—and strongest foe—I’d faced.

Lowering herself to the ground, she scuttled to stop directly in front of me. I didn’t step back, didn’t look away. After another false run, she seemed to deflate a little. “You wish me to guard your chamber?”

“I do. Guard it against all enemies who would seek to destroy me.”

A light flashed between us and she backed away, returning to her web. “Pass, Queen of the Realm. My sisters and I shall stand sentinel.”

I crossed through the snowy underground forest, pressing on until I came to another opening. The chamber into which I stepped was empty, but behind an alcove lay yet another chamber and I knew this was my goal. I glanced at the seat by the doorway. No one was there. I had to trust that all was as it should be, and I passed by the empty chair and into the next chamber.

At the center of the chamber was a tower rising into the air. The chamber soared so high I could barely see the ceiling, and a rock quarry was off to the far right. The tower was circled by stairs made of ice, and I knew exactly what to do. I’d seen the result once before. I hurried to the pillar and began to climb the stairs. Below, a dizzying panorama spread out; the chamber was at least the size of a football stadium.

I hurried up the round staircase that encircled the tower, and when I reached the top, I found a dais. An indentation waited—just the size of the box with my heartstone. Untying
the knot in my hem, I cautiously pulled out the box and opened it, one last time. I didn’t touch the gem, merely watched the slow pulse of blue in the heart of the jewel. This was me. This was my essence. My life, and I held it all in my hands, in that one little box, encased in a gem that would—with luck—rest here until I was ready to walk into the mists.

Slowly, reverently, I placed the box on the dais. For a moment nothing happened, and then a dome of crystal covered the box, and the dais descended into the center of the tower. A rumbling caught my attention—the tower was shaking. Without thinking, I flung myself off the side and transformed into an owl, but instead of getting caught in my gown, as would normally happen if I forgot to undress, the gown shifted with me and I swung up and around the tower as it began to lower itself into the ground.

I flew down to the bottom and transformed back. As my clothing shifted back with me, I smiled faintly. Another perk of being the Queen.

The tower rumbled and grumbled its way into the floor, turning and twisting like some behemoth, and when it vanished, stones began to fly up from the quarry to the right. A structure built itself as I watched, each stone fitting in place until the top of the tower was hidden from view and the hole into which it had sunk could be seen no more. Lastly, a door sealed the front of the stone compartment. The door was silver, with a lock, and within that lock, a key. Lainule’s heartstone had been locked away behind two keys—one for Summer, one for Winter. But I had the feeling that had been altered to be that way when the Queen of Winter had been murdered.

I reached out and slowly removed the key, holding it in my hand.

Now what? My heartstone was sealed away, but I couldn’t keep the key with me. At that moment, a faint humming echoed from just outside the door and I followed it, the key firmly in hand. A woman sat on the chair that had been empty, and behind her a doorway was now visible.

She regarded me carefully, then handed me a velvet box. The box had a velvet cushion within, and an impression the size of the key. I set the key within the box and then closed it, looking up at the woman. She did not speak, but I knew what she was and I didn’t want that deafening voice echoing in my head.

“You are an Air Maiden, are you not?”

She inclined her head.

“You will guard this chamber.”

Again, she nodded. And then she curtseyed and I curtseyed to her—the Air Maidens were terribly powerful and their voices could rack the brain.

Satisfied, I turned back to the recess behind her and turned the doorknob. The door opened with a start, and I stumbled into yet another chamber. As I’d expected, there was a large pond, but the pond was iced over, and a dark shadowy woman knelt by the side of it. She watched me, saying nothing, as I walked to the edge.

There was no boat, no way to the center, but I knew where I had to go. I struck out on the ice, praying it would hold my weight. Once again, I found that I could glide across it with no problem. I crossed to the center of the pond and looked down. A hole, some twelve inches wide, marked the center, and I knelt down and breathed onto the water churning below.

“I have come. Reveal yourself to me.” It sounded good, and it was what my instinct told me to say.

At first nothing happened, but then I glanced up to see the dark woman crawling along the ice. She reached the other side and spoke in some guttural language that had its roots in a culture so primal I doubted anyone could understand her. A moment later, a dais rose up from the center of the ice, and on that dais rested a silver bowl with cover. I quietly placed the box with the key into it, then replaced the cover and stepped back. With a low rumble, the dais withdrew back into the water, and the ice covered over as if it had never been anything but one solid sheet.

The woman pointed to me, then to the other side of the
lake, and I nodded, following her direction. As I came to the shore, I turned back. She was watching, waiting, and the entire chamber felt like it had gone on high alert. I stepped onto the shore, and there my Ice Elementals waited. I was about to say something when one of them blew on me with an icy breath, and I went tumbling into the darkness.

When I opened my eyes, I was back in my room—the one I shared with Grieve—in bed. I sat up, wondering if this had all been just a weird dream, but one look at his face told me that it hadn’t. Grieve was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding my hand, watching me.

As I struggled to shake myself awake, he pulled me into his arms. “You’re all right.” He let me lean back against the headboard but pressed my hands to his lips, and I realized how frightened he’d been.

I blinked. “What time is it?”

“Morning, my love.” He shrugged. “Tonight is your coronation. But for all intents and purposes, you are the Queen of Winter now. You’ve created your heartstone and the guardians accepted their posts.” He paused, then leaned down. “May I kiss you, Cicely?”

“Why do you ask?” I murmured softly, wondering at the look on his face.

He smiled softly. “You are the Queen. You will choose your consort. It’s only proper for me to ask.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” I draped my arms around his
neck and pulled him against me. “You are the only man I’d choose for my Consort. Grieve, when will you understand how much I love you?” I kissed him once, twice, then spread my legs. I was still naked under the covers.

“I want to—oh, how I want to, but I can’t.” He kissed me again, then pushed himself back away from me. “I cannot touch you again until after you’ve taken the throne.” He groaned as I let out a sigh. “Don’t make this harder than it already is, woman.”

I giggled and ran my hand over his crotch. “Oh, it’s hard, all right.”

“Pity, woman. Pity!” His expression melted my desire to torment him, and I pulled my hand away.

“When I have that crown on my head, I expect you to fuck me so hard, so long that I can’t even remember my name.” Wrapping my arms around my knees, I yawned. “I can’t believe I’m still tired.”

“You should be exhausted. The creation of the heartstone, it’s a harsh process and you’ll feel odd for a while.” He glanced at the clock. “Lannan wanted to see you last night. Lainule sent word that you won’t be available to anyone until after the coronation. He was
not
amused.” Grieve didn’t look very happy either.

I grumbled. “Lannan…what the hell does he want? Don’t answer that. It’s bound to be bad news, no matter what. So, since I’m Barrow-bound until coronation, and sex is a banned activity, what should I do?”

At that, Grieve laughed. “Get up and get dressed. Your advisor, Strict, is waiting for you. It’s time for a conference. I shall be sitting in, as King-Elect.”

Oh great. Homework already?

“Is there a chance for me to see Rhiannon? I want to make sure…” I wanted to make sure she was okay, that they hadn’t been telling me just what I wanted to hear.

“I think I can make that happen.” He kissed me again, this time on the forehead. “You get dressed and I’ll go talk to Lainule.” As he headed toward the door, my gaze was fastened on his butt. He was wearing tight jeans, dark black,
and a pale silver long-sleeved satin shirt. He’d switched his style, I realized. Instead of summer colors, he was now wearing darker ones—the shades of winter.

As Grieve closed the door behind him, I slipped out from beneath the covers and padded over to the long mirror. As I stared at my reflection, searching for any sign of where the heartstone had been extracted, I noticed that my skin had paled even further…and…what? I leaned closer.

What the fuck?
My eyes, which had been a warm emerald, were now icy blue. The look was striking against my stark black hair and pale skin. I was still me, but a heightened me.

The door opened and Druise entered. She smiled at me shyly and dropped into a deep curtsey. “Your Highness, may I help you dress? The Lady Lainule has asked that you come down to breakfast directly, so there’s no time for a bath. I’ll make sure to prepare one for after your meetings.” Her voice shook.

I winked at her. “Of course.”

She crossed to the wardrobe and opened it, pulling out a long black skirt embroidered with sparkling stars, and a silver corset. “Will this be acceptable?”

Nodding, I turned to her. “Are you nervous, Druise?”

Blushing, she ducked her head. “Yes, Your Highness.”

“Why? What’s going on?”

Her cheeks grew even redder. “You…you’re…the heartstone. Everyone knows you and your cousin have passed through the journey to create your heartstones. You are about to take the throne. Then…you really will be the Queens and everything will change. And I will be…” She paused, pressing her lips together.

“You’ll be the Queen’s personal maid. And this will impact your family and you in ways that you’ve never expected?”

At her look of relief, I knew I’d hit the nail on the head. She teared up, and dashed the tears away before they fell.

“Yes. I’m ever so happy. Please don’t mistake me, Your Highness. But it’s overwhelming. I’m not sure…am I
grand enough for the job? My family, they depend on me.” At that, she sank down, covering her face.

I leaned down and tipped her chin up so she was looking at me. “Druise, listen to me. This is overwhelming for me, too. I wasn’t born to this—I never expected any of this, and it’s all happened in the past few weeks. We’ll learn together, okay? And speaking about grand…I’m not grand enough for the job, but it’s mine and I’ll do it. So we’ll muddle through together, okay?”