He bowed, and when I held out my hand, he stared at it for a moment.

“Your Majesty should not shake hands with those beneath her,” was his abrupt reply.

Taken aback and mildly annoyed, I frowned. Before I could help myself, I snapped, “That’s how they do things where I come from.”

The words didn’t even faze him. Strict shrugged. “Your Majesty is no longer in the world outside. I’m here to advise you, and that is what I will do. You must act like a queen to inspire the respect for a queen. Incline your head gracefully if you wish to show favor upon meeting someone. Do not, or look away, if you wish to show disfavor.”

Struck by how rude he was, I let out a little huff, but my father stepped in before I could say anything more.

“He speaks the truth, Cicely. You must learn to compromise, and in this case, it does not mean you win more than fifty percent of the argument. You have chosen to take the queenship on your shoulders. You must act the part.”

Part of me wanted to rail—to say I chose by default, without realizing—but we were long past that point. Maybe I hadn’t known, when I went to rescue Lainule’s heartstone, what the result would be. But I knew that it would be life-changing and I’d agreed to follow through, without finding out what the consequences were. I had no one but myself to blame, and when thinking about the option—seeing Lainule fade and die or go out like a light when Myst found her heartstone—there was no question about it. I’d make the same choice again, if given a do-over.

Strict was waiting for my response. He wasn’t afraid of me, and though he’d no doubt treat me with the respect accorded to the Queen, I had the feeling that he’d been matched to the job with a perfect fit. The advisor had to be someone who could point out the hard truths.

Slowly, I withdrew my hand and gave him a soft nod. “Pleasure to meet you. What do I call you? What’s your title? I should know these things before we ever appear in public together.”

“Call me Lord Strict. And for the Queen of Summer, my sister will be your advisor. We were born to a pair, much like you and your cousin, only we truly are twins. I came to the Winter Court to be fostered when I was barely off my mother’s breast. The nature of this land suits me, and so I stayed.”

Rhiannon, having watched the dressing down I’d gotten, inclined her head. “And your sister’s name?”

“My sister’s name is Lady Edge. She will be waiting for you back in the Marburry Barrow.” And with that, Strict turned and left, not waiting for a dismissal.

I glanced at my father. “Intimidating.”

“Good. You will need firm counsel. Both of you. There are so many things you do not know about our culture—your culture. And you must learn as much as you can in the next few weeks. But now, Lainule awaits. She insists you must return to the Marburry Barrow to rest.”

He turned and slipped out of the room. I glanced at Rhiannon but she shook her head, and so we followed him, in silent formation, into the chill winter that waited outside the Barrow. Lainule had already gone ahead by the time we reached the portals, and so we slipped out of the realm of Winter into the hell of winter on earth. As we exited the Twin Hollies, I could smell blood on the horizon, and smoke, and an ill wind racing through. Old leather, black roses, and skeletons dancing on the graves of those who were long dead. Myst was out here, that she was—waiting. And Leo and Geoffrey, white snow-serpents hiding in the drifts.

We headed back to the Marburry Barrow, and I realized we were trapped in a frozen ocean of blood and pain. The austere beauty and coldness of the Eldburry Barrow beckoned to me. It had gone from being an unknown to being home. And I wanted to go home and hide my head under the covers.

Shivering, I pulled closer to Grieve as we began to slog our way through the drifts.

Chapter 6

There was no word the rest of the day from the Crimson Court about Crawl, but then, since most of the vampires were sleeping, we didn’t expect any. Lainule had ordered steaming baths prepared for Rhiannon and me, and—mystified—we bathed in a large dressing chamber.

“I think there’s something in the water,” Rhia said. “Can you smell it?”

I inhaled deeply. “Yes…some herb or oil, but I can’t place it. What do you think Lainule wants?”

“It could be anything, but I have a feeling…Cicely, will you be all right in the realm of Winter? It’s cold there, and stark, and it frightened me.” She shivered. “I could never live there. I don’t think I have the stamina it takes.”

I thought about what she said for a moment. “But the unending summer—it’s going to be hard to adapt to that. No autumn, no spring or winter. Just summer forever. I think…I’ll prefer the winter.”

“As my mother said, fire and ice.” Rhia gave me a rueful grin.

“Amber and jet.” I grinned back at her. “Twin cousins…born to a day but to two seasons.” Closing my eyes, I leaned back in the tub. “Eldburry Barrow is beautiful, if stark. I think I can make my home there.”

“Do you feel like you’re changing? Already, I mean?” Rhia’s voice was soft, and when I peeked at her from beneath my lashes, I saw that she had relaxed into the heat of the water, too.

I inhaled a sharp lungful of air and then let it out in a slow stream. Was I changing, already? “The truth? I barely remember a month ago. I barely remember what it was like before I came back and found Grieve again, and Myst…so yes, I think I am.”

And with that, I closed my eyes for real and let the warm sloshing of the water drag me under. I was dozing lightly when Druise and Mayja—Rhia’s lady’s maid—entered the room to dry us off.

“Her Majesty the Lady Lainule requests you come to the throne room,” Druise said, to both of us.

“Can we have a bite to eat first? I’m hungry.” My stomach was rumbling and I wanted nothing more than to gnaw on a chicken leg or something.

“I’m sorry, but she bade you come before you sup.” Druise stared at the towel, and I could tell she was hoping I wouldn’t put up a fuss. Sighing, with my stomach grumbling loudly, I let her dry me off.

The girls dressed us in long, loose robes—Rhia’s was gold, mine was silver. They were shimmering and sheer, but as we moved the light reflected off them, glimmering brightly in the glow of the Fire Elementals. After pulling our hair back with a band, the maids led us through the hallway to the throne room.

There Lainule was seated on her throne, and she motioned for us to approach her. As we did, she gestured for us to kneel on matching pillows that sat at her feet. Lainule had never forced me to kneel in front of her before. Something was up.

I glanced around. Grieve and Chatter stood to the side, at attention, unmoving. Peyton, Luna, and Kaylin were sitting on a bench near one wall. They kept their gazes downward, and none of them looked at us.

Rhiannon and I knelt as Lainule waited. After a moment, she motioned to one of her maidens and the girl picked up a tray and knelt in front of us. On the tray were two chalices—ornate, one silver, one gold. They were foaming over with mist, and the faint scent of mint and chocolate rose from the silver goblet, while the scent of rose petals and honey rose from the gold.

“Tonight, you begin your journey. Tonight, you undergo your initiation.”

Rhiannon gasped at the same time that I did. I knew it would be sometime soon, but Lainule hadn’t given us a firm date. But now, it was here. It was time.

“I ask each of you, and your answer is binding. There will be no return from here out. No second chance either way.” She stood, and—holding her scepter in her hand—said, “Cicely Tuuli Waters, do you accept the challenge to walk this path, to journey to the throne of Snow and Ice and take it firmly to heart until the day you so do die?”

Startled by the swiftness, wondering if this was the initiation itself, I stammered out an answer. “I accept the challenge.”

“Rhiannon Lasair Roland, do you accept the challenge to walk this path, to journey to the throne of Rivers and Rushes and take it firmly to heart until the day you so do die?”

Rhiannon let out a long breath. “I accept.”

“Then drink deep from the Chalices of Seelie and Unseelie.”

As I slowly accepted the silver chalice, and Rhiannon the gold, Lainule spread her hands over our heads. “Drink now, slowly,” she said. And then she began to chant.

From heart to tongue, from skin to bone,

From soul to soul, you now shall roam.

From night to day, from day to night,

From light to dark, from dark to light.

From wind and fire, the spell’s begun,

From sun to moon, from moon to sun.

From fire and wind, we call the years

To wipe away all hope and fear.

To mark the deal as ever done,

To make the soul ever young.

To free the heart, to build the stone,

To mark the flesh, to brand the bone.

To sear the path forever more,

Destiny closes all other doors.

Her voice echoing in the background, I drank. The mist rose out of the chalice to surround me, and suddenly, I couldn’t see Rhiannon anymore—or anyone. I was alone, and the sweet nectar slid down my throat like the strongest of liqueurs, flaming through with a frozen brand.

It sent me sweeping out of my body, into the mists, into the winds, into the cold of ice and snow, and I realized I was blind. I could not see, could only hear the howling of winds in the blackness. There were no words in my throat, no screams, no tears, no voice of any kind. Too startled to panic, I followed the ride as it coiled me round, swept me this way and that, and then, after a slow descent, I felt myself settle again back into my body. My vision began to clear. I let out a gasp but still could not speak. My tongue was frozen, my vocal cords unable to respond.

I wanted to glance at Rhiannon, but something inside said, Don’t, and so I kept my gaze on Lainule, who was still standing there over us. I realized someone had taken the chalice from my hand.

“The initiation has begun.” Lainule leaned down, looking first at Rhiannon, then at me. “You will meditate in silence until we come to get you.”

And with that, two guards lifted us to our feet and led us out of the chamber before we could say a word or even look at each other. They separated us, keeping us at a distance, and Rhiannon was taken down a corridor to the right, while I was led down a passage to the left.

We stopped in front of a locked room, and the guard unlocked it, then escorted me in, glanced around, and left again.

The light was dim—emanating from the walls. I could see through the shadows enough to note that there was a bed, and a vanity, and a chamber pot.

As he shut the door softly behind me, I turned to find Druise waiting in the shadows. She curtseyed and pointed to a tray on the vanity, then quickly, silently, exited the room. I opened my lips, but nothing came out, so I crossed to the vanity. A sheet of paper—delicate and crackling—lay rolled in a scroll, tied with a blue ribbon. I picked it up, holding it for a moment before I pulled one end of the ribbon. The bow fell away, and I gently put the tie on the table, then unrolled the scroll.

A fine handwriting, delicate and yet at the same time strong, sloped across the page. As I began to read, the lights fluttered—the Fire Elementals flickering as if they were trying to escape.

By the order of the Royal Court of Unseelie, the Supreme Court of Winter, it is decreed that upon the tide of Midwinter, at one hour before the striking of midnight, Cicely Waters, Cambyra Fae and Magic-Born Witch, shall ascend to the throne of the Court of Snow and Ice, in the northwest territory of the Northern Continent, where she shall reign until her death.

By the order of the Royal Court of Seelie, the Supreme Court of Summer, it is decreed that upon the tide following Midwinter, at one hour after the striking of midnight, Rhiannon Roland, Cambyra Fae and Magic-Born Witch, shall ascend to the throne of the Court of Rivers and Rushes, in the northwest territory of the Northern Continent, where she shall reign until her death.

Let nothing interfere with the fulfillment of this decree, upon pain of death.

Evanshide, Queen of Unseelie

Lyanshide, Queen of Seelie

The words blurred slightly as I stared at the scroll. Midwinter was…tomorrow. Tomorrow. The suddenness once again struck home and I slid to the floor, leaning back against the bed, shaking. What had seemed like a strangely distant future had now become immediate. When we’d visited the Eldburry Barrow, I’d logically understood it was going to be my home, but I hadn’t thought of myself as Queen. As…

Another image floating through my mind struck me cold, putting a stop to my train of thought. The heartstone. I’d rescued Lainule’s heartstone.

I forced my lips to form a breath of air, barely enough to send it on the slipstream.

Ulean, are you there?

You are supposed to meditate in silence. But what is it? Are you all right?

I picked at the blanket hanging off the bed next to me. Lainule had a heartstone. Tabera had a heartstone. Will…Rhiannon and I…how…will we…

Will you have heartstones? Yes. Every Fae Queen from time immemorial has undergone the initiation.

Is that what happens? Does it hurt? How do they…I paused, realizing that of all the things I had feared, it was the creation of the heartstone. I’d seen Lainule’s heartstone melt back into her, but how…how did they get it out of her in the first place?

I cannot tell you anything about the procedure, Cicely. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to wait. You’ll have to walk through the ice without my help. And now, I have to leave you for the night. And she was gone.

The night passed slowly. I thought about disrobing, but they hadn’t said we could and I didn’t want to get into trouble, so I tried to sleep without ruining my gown. But my mind kept returning to the message. There was no backing out now. The Great Courts of Seelie and Unseelie knew what was going on. They had ordered our ascension to the throne.