Her smile now was real, but so were her tears. "But how can we dare to hope when one so great failed?"
"Just as Noman chose to give everything and all, we can choose to live. He's given us that chance. So why not spend the afternoon with Graeden? I know you want to. I've seen the way you look at each other."
She stood and started clearing the table. "We're not a good match."
"What does that matter? The heart wants what the heart wants."
She sat back down. "I am a princess of the realm. I must remember my station."
Xith murmured something softly that Adrina couldn't hear, then said clearly, "Here, there are no kings or queens, no princes or princesses."
"I am promised to Rudden Klaiveson."
Xith laughed openly. "Breaking a pledge made to a blood relative of a Tyr'anth is fitting, and you wouldn't be the first Alder to do so. I think that honor goes first to your mother who wisely chose your father over a Tyr'anth and second to your sister Delinna who chose service and priestess robes instead of a Tyr'anth."
Adrina sucked at the air. Her angry eyes showed her hatred for the Tyr'anths and all they stood for. "But the Tyr'anths got what they wanted in the end. Didn't they?"
"It is the end of the matter when we say it is. Still, if your return to Great Kingdom is to be accomplished, you must return with the troops of many armies at your back."
"And just how would we get such armies?"
Xith's expression became solemn. "Noman and I chose the Ice to keep hope alive. We fled here because of our bonds with the peoples of the North. Your nephew, Vilmos, is now their Watcher, and perhaps you could become their queen."
"A queen? You just said there weren't--"
"I know what I said, but there are things in motion that you don't know. There is precedent. Among the men of the north there was once a king, just as there was once a queen. Do you think we stayed in this harsh forsaken place for so long for nothing? Do you think Noman gave everything for nothing? He gave everything for hope, for a better tomorrow."
Adrina became agitated and spoke quickly. "I don't understand. My brother, Valam, is heir to the throne of Great Kingdom. Delinna and Calyin are the eldest daughters. As a male, even Vilmos--"
"Yes, if we were talking about Great Kingdom, but we're not talking about Great Kingdom. We're talking about the Ice, about a union between the King of the North and another. Calyin is wed. Delinna is with Ansh. That leaves you."
"But you said there wasn't a king?"
"There's not a king yet, but there is precedent."
"I don't understand." Adrina shifted in her chair. "And Graeden? How does he fit into this?"
Xith said plainly, "He doesn't, but you could use the distraction."
Chapter 8
Warbær raced on, a few spans behind Lilbær, and rapidly closing the gap. As Vilmos looked back, he saw dozens of snarling trolls ripping their way out of the warren and up the hill. He gulped at the air, tried to remain calm, but what he saw along the path ahead as he turned back chilled him to the bone.
"Giants?" he screamed, uncertain whether to rein in Warbær or continue charging ahead into the tangle of giants. What was this about? Was this because he had used magic again?
He leaned forward, gripped the saddle tightly with his legs. Whatever was going on, Ærühn wasn't slowing down.
Ærühn shouted out a battle cry as he raised his twin blades.
Having caught up to Lilbær, Vilmos guided Warbær alongside. His own sword was lost in the troll warren, and he had no other weapon--except for his magic. "Ærühn, no!" he shouted. "The giants aren't our enemies."
Ærühn charged on, urging Lilbær to race faster and faster. "Giants and men are nothing to each other. You'd do well to remember that."
Vilmos coaxed Warbær into a faster run. "Think! The giants helped us yesterday and fought beside us. Windstorm himself declared me their Watcher."
Ærühn pointed with one of his swords. "Do you not see?"
Vilmos stared long. He squinted, saw a figure clad in long black furs. She was kneeling, head bowed, and her long dark hair was blowing in the wind. Staring wide-eyed, his mouth fell open.
"Mother? Mother?" he called out as he reached out to the well source of magic and forced a steady flow of strength and power into Warbær.
"Run! It's a trap," Delinna shouted, her despair seeming to grow at the sight of him. "It's the Void Stone. Warn Noman. He must not fight it. It will kill him--it will kill everyone."
Warbær thundered past Lilbær, reaching the giants before Delinna's final words fell from the air. Vilmos drew in more and more power, and the raw energies of creation flowed through him causing the very air around him to swirl and crackle with lightning