House of Winter

Chapter 37, Part 2

Inside the palace, chaos reigned.

Everywhere they looked, ords were racing through the halls, following a cacophony of orders shouted from the servant masters. They were carrying paintings, vases, and some even carried statues, out of the finely decorated rooms of the palace and presumably to cellars below ground.

As the three of them and their kinnlings walked through the hall, it was like they were witnessing the palace being robbed. It went from the most beautifully gilded and decorated place that Lumi had ever seen, to bare bones before her eyes.

Katja called to servants, and some of them looked at her, bewildered, seeing their princess in rough riding clothes, without her usual beautiful braids. But a few of them were able to point her in the right direction. Helvig, Katja's wolf, led the way through the chaotic hallways, until they reached a drawing room so large a kinnling could comfortably fly around inside it.

The ceilings of every room of this palace were tall, but this room seemed larger still because of its huge windows facing into the snowy gardens. Every wall had a painting that spanned the length of it. They were huge, larger-than-life depictions of pale women and men, in ecstasy. They were painted in pastel hues, dancing half-naked in beautiful gardens with gold tables and marble columns, and fruit and wine.

Even the ceiling, Lumi realised, was a fresco, spreading across the dome of the room, but she didn't spare another glance towards the fresco's occupants, because she was instead focused on the occupants of the room.

Lumi had met Queen Lisbet of Norrlund when they were both in Lombardia, and the woman had made a lasting impression. She was seated on a sofa, drinking tea, and looking like a picture of calm surrounded by a cyclone of chaos.

Across from her, also sitting on a sofa, was Ari, looking very much like she didn't belong. She was staring at Queen Lisbet as if clutching to driftwood in a surging sea.

On the other end of the drawing room stood General Virani, and Osvald van Dael, with Sanna in between them. Flanked, as she was, by her parents, Lumi finally recognised just how much Sanna looked like Virani. Lumi had almost not noticed before how very Fire-like her features were, until she saw them in comparison to her father's Norrlish colouring.

Virani's white tiger, Osvald's wolf, and Sanna's wolf were standing as a barrier against the far wall and the door, blocking any entrance or exit.

"Ah," Queen Lisbet said, standing up. "The guests of honour."

"Mama," Katja said, rushing forward to greet her mother. She clutched onto her mother's arms, to check that she was okay, before looking over to Virani and Osvald.

"Did they tell you the truth?" Katja asked.

"Indeed," Queen Lisbet said. "I've just heard the most intriguing tale from my husband, who claims he was not in fact a widower when he met me."

Lumi looked at her aunt, and then at Sanna. "Where's Tai?" she called across the room, in the Fire tongue.

"You know as well as I do, Lumiko," Virani said. "You can feel the absence of his surge, can't you? He's not here."

"But he's close," Lumi murmured.

"And what's all that, happening outside?" Katja asked, flinging her arm toward the hallways, where they could still hear servants moving paintings and vases.

"You know how precious I am about my art," Queen Lisbet said. "We didn't have much warning of the approach of the fire army, as my winter army was out at the docks to greet the envoy of Lombardians. It seems the General Virani was aware of this, and took a swift approach when she had the chance. I'm taking all precautions with my collections."

"The Fire Lands are not attacking Norrlund," Lumi said, more as a question that a statement, as she looked between Queen Lisbet and her aunt Virani. "Why is the army here?"

"Of course we're not, my love," Auntie V said placatingly. "The Fire Lands would never attack Norrlund."

Queen Lisbet smiled. "See? There, we have it. We are merely being politely threatened by our Fire neighbours. Nothing to fear. There are higher orders of business to attend to. Tomas, I'm glad you could make it. I need to speak with you, my dear."

Lumi was startled, and turned to look at Tom.

His jaw was hardened, like he was gritting his teeth. His wolf, Kobuk, stood behind him with ears flat to his back, in a threatened stance.

"If it please you, Your Majesty," Tom said. "I know what you want to say, and I already have my answer. I refuse."

Lumi was bewildered, staring between the Queen and Tom. She had no idea what Tom was talking about. All she could think was that Tom was refusing Katja's hand in marriage. Had Queen Lisbet orchestrated the plan, once Raphael was dead?

"Lisbet," Osvald said, sounding exasperated. "This is a coup."

His wife glanced at him, and then turned away and back towards Tom. "I really must insist, Tom. As a winter starrling, you are my subject, no matter that you were born in Lombardia. You understand why that is important, don't you?"

"Is this a coup?" Katja asked wildly, staring at her stepfather. "Osvald, what are you doing?"

"We are taking the Norrlish seat," Osvald said.

"You are not," Queen Lisbet said. "Or you would have killed me long ago. Yet here I stand. And there is a fleet of Lombardian ships in my harbour. I suggest we greet them as allies."

"Lisbet, you sound half mad," Osvald said. "We are taking your palace by force. There is a fire army on your doorstep, waiting to take the palace."

"And yet they haven't," Queen Lisbet said. "We're all just standing here talking."

"Mama," Katja said hopelessly.

Lumi tugged at Tom's sleeve. "Tai will be with the army. If I can quell him, I can quell all of them. Then the fire army won't be a threat."

Tom nodded stiffly. "Be safe," he murmured.

That had to be enough, Lumi knew. It was too late for apologies, from either of them. There was no time.

"You too," she said, and as she slipped away she saw the way he watched her go.

... to be continued

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