Tor stopped the carriage just as we got to the edge of the bridge, and I heard the fading crunch of his boots as he walked ahead of us.

  As I craned my neck to try to see what was happening, Sybil waved for me to sit back down.

  "He's probably checking for ice. It'll just be a moment."

  Tor returned, knocking on the cabin door for me to open the window.

  "M'lady, the bridge's icy. We can try to walk it now, or wait until noon when there migh' be a chance of it meltin' off. What do ye wan' us to do?"

  "May I see?"

  "Sure thing, m'lady. Not much to see, though."

  He helped me down from the carriage and led me to the edge of the bridge.

  The surface looked slick, and wet, but not particularly icy. However, when I went to step on it, Tor was already in the process of catching me when my foot suddenly slid out from under me.

  "Aye, be careful. It's clear ice."

  I shivered a bit, imagining what might happen to the horses if the carriage's wheels began sliding off the bridge.

  "Let's not chance it, Tor. There's nothing wrong with waiting just a few hours longer."

  ---

  While we waited, I saw the Nightingales chatting and joking as they walked around, filling bags with loose brush and grit from the ground near the crossing.

  Erika searched for dry wood for a fire, but was so far unsuccessful. Most of the firewood we had been carrying had been left behind with the cart, leaving us to share warmth where we could and scrounge what little there was to find on the way.

  I had half a mind to tell her to start burning the linens in my marriage chest, but held my tongue.

  Overall, with the hope of warmth and fresh food in sight, everyone was in higher spirits.

  I was left with nothing to do but clean out the storage compartment with fresh snow and a brush in an attempt to be useful.

  When the time finally came, the warmth of the sun had failed to melt the ice, and our situation was unchanged.

  "M'lady, what'll we be doin'?"

  I stared across the bridge, at the small village ahead of the castle.

  "Should we just abandon the carriage and seek help from the locals? We've arrived here well before Adrian, we are in no hurry."

  "We could, m'lady, but even with their help, we'll still have to cross it eventually. They wouldn' do much more tha' we aren' already doin'. If they're helpful enough, they migh' 'ave better grit than what we've got, but if they're not we wouldn' have anythin' to trade excep' coin."

  At this, he looked around. "An' you can't eat coin. I reckon, given we're strangers 'n all, I can't see us gettin' a fair price for anythin' not immediately useful to 'em."

  "Not even for a future lady of Hiems?"

  Erika put a hand on my shoulder. "Is that really how you want your first impression to be?"

  I sighed. "Alright, then. Let's make the crossing. Tell us what to do, Tor."

  ---

  Every squeak and creak of the wheels made me jump in alarm, but I was managing to keep myself together.

  I was standing near the back of the carriage, helping Ruben brush and reset the grit for the rear wheels as we slowly made our way across. Sybil and Tor were at the front, guiding and comforting the horses forward. Erika was behind, clearing the path behind us as a courtesy for those who would follow.

  "Woah woah woah," I heard Tor shout, as one of the horses slipped to their knees, causing the other to panic. There was a sickening keen as the wheel nearest me scraped sideways, several hand widths away from me, and a grunt as Ruben braced against the carriage to avoid falling himself.

  Sybil checked her horse smoothly by the bridle, whispering into its ears and holding it quiet as Tor stepped in to help his horse to its feet.

  We stood there in a tense silence. I was breathing rapidly, trying to withhold my panic. I listened to the whistle of the wind through the gaps in the carriage, rubbed my thumb against the cold, dry wood of the brush in my hand. I saw Ruben grin and wink at me from the other side, and felt a bit better.

  "We're alrigh'. Everyone keep on, we're almos' done."

  The creak of the wheels resumed.

  "Well, forget running away in the dead of night."

  I packed that thought away in the back of my head for later.

  ---

  As we rested on the other side of the bridge, preparing to make our way into the lands properly, Erika made me change out of the comfortable work and practice clothes that I had been wearing and into one of the few remaining dresses befitting my station.

  I couldn't hide my disappointment from her, and didn't bother. She attempted to hide her pride in my appearance, but failed.

  "It should be her in this dress. She'd actually like it."

  The air around our stop changed, and I could sense from the quiet that something was happening. I stepped out to see the Nightingales in a loose, but ready, formation in front of the carriage, and a small group approaching us from the village.

  "Ah."

  An older man walked a few paces ahead of the group, his feet practically gliding across the patches of ice on the road in a way that belied his thin, haggard appearance.

  "Hullo there, m'lady. I'm Aaron, and I'm one of the elders of this here place. Might I know with whom I'm making my acquaintance? I see you're in one of our lord's carriages."

  He held his woolen cap in both hands, his eyes squinting as we made to look at each other above the sun reflecting off the snow.

  "I am Lady Sophia Printemps, of the Great House Printemps. I am here for my marriage to Lord Adrian Hiems. May I know what this place is called?"

  I glanced at his small retinue of men. They weren't armed, but none of the Nightingales had relaxed.

  "Ahh, welcome, m'lady. This village has no name other than Hiems' own; we're but serfs of our good Duke Hiems."

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  I grimaced. "Bump was, officially, much the same, but we had a name for it regardless."

  I missed Bump.

  "Well, may I expect your company as we make our way to the estate?"

  "Aye, you may. Welcome again, Lady Printemps."

  ---

  Aaron's men were silent, as were the Nightingales, but Aaron himself was a jovial, and talkative man once he realized I didn't intend to stop him. He waved as we passed by the huts and houses.

  A small group of villagers slowly coalesced behind us as they stood at the edges of their doors and yards to watch us, causing Sybil to bristle a bit with anticipation.

  "I know their job is to protect me, but these are just regular people... It pains me to see everyone so distrustful."

  I wondered what their relationship with the Duke was like for everyone to be so suspicious of us in their lord's own carriage.

  We came to the castle wall. There was no guard outside; only a long rope connected to a bell.

  Aaron reached to pull it, but one of his men stepped forward to do it for him.

  The bell rang out, loud and clear, and all conversation stopped as we waited.

  A man in fur covered mail slid open a steel plate in the great doors of the castle gate.

  "Aye?"

  His eyes glanced to Aaron, then to Tor, and then settled on the Hiems' family crest on the side of our carriage.

  "Ye ain't the duke. Got papers?"

  Tor stepped forward to pass a bundle of vellum through the slat in the gate.

  The plate slammed shut, and we heard the man loudly grumbling as he stepped away.

  The silence was painful.

  At last, the gate opened, and the man stepped out, a much younger boy at his side.

  The boy hopped onto the back of the carriage with Ruben, and the man came to speak to me through the cabin window.

  "Welcome to yer new home, Lady Printemps. Many fortunes bless ye and Adrian. My son'll help ye unload."

  I slowly nodded, and the man led our carriage through before closing the gate after us.

  The last thing I saw through the doors as they came together was Aaron cheerfully waving.

  ---

  Inside the castle walls, directly ahead of us and partially built into the mountain, was the keep. An imposing four story fortress made with gray and white stones, crenellated and fortified to survive the years.

  This place had protected the Lombardi Kingdom from the lands beyond since long before the duchy of Hiems was more than a margravate at the edge of the old kingdom.

  And you could feel the age of this place in every brick.

  But what drew my attention most was the group of laborers gathered to the side of the grounds, laughing and drinking as they huddled around the forge.

  Most of the workshops, like the bakehouse, the carpenters, and many others, were built to share the heat of the smithy, and I heard the ringing noise of the blacksmith's work echo across the yard.

  To our right, connected to the castle wall, was the barracks, and a growing line of knights was emerging from them to greet us.

  They were a mottle of gray and white, with various furs covering their armor, and they looked much like a pack of wolves to me.

  Near the barracks, in the far corner, was a massive storehouse with multiple stories, ascending most of the way up the wall and about half as large as the keep itself. A group of serfs was there, gathering sacks of provisions for themselves.

  When we came to a stop in front of the keep, Erika was holding my hand in hers to support me. My anxiety was plain upon my face, and I took deep breaths to begin cycling magic through my body.

  "It's time. If Diana isn't here... I hope she's here... but if she isn't..."

  The Hiems' family steward stepped out to greet us, waiting patiently for me to make my exit.

  Erika rubbed her fingers over mine.

  "Take as much time as you need, Sophie. The entire world will wait for you, here. You're the leading lady until the Hiems' return."

  I closed my eyes, and pressed her cold hands up to my forehead to cool it.

  "Please, just a minute longer."

  ---

  The great hall of the keep was high and wide, with a pit in the center that housed a roaring fire. Several knights and other staff members were tending to it as they warmed themselves by its glow.

  They all stood to attention as we entered. Tor and Sybil were at my sides, with Erika just behind.

  Further behind us, Ruben and the gatekeep's boy carried my marriage chest in, and they took it down a side passageway for storage.

  Ahead of us, past the fire, were spiral staircases on either side of a grand door, leading up to an overhanging balcony. Several more staff members lounged on that balcony, enjoying the warmth of the fire from above. They, too, straightened at our entry.

  The hall was eerily quiet, and nothing moved except the slow, steady motion of the smoke escaping through a high vent in the ceiling.

  I coughed, realizing that decorum required me to address them before any could speak.

  "Ah, good afternoon to all. I am Lady Sophia Printemps, and a future lady of Hiems. Please, be as you were."

  All present, save the steward, slowly relaxed, and their conversations began anew, if quieter than before.

  The steward bowed slightly to me.

  "Lady Printemps, I apologize. We were not expecting you. May we house you in the guest bedroom until we can arrange to furnish yours?"

  I nodded.

  "And once again, I must apologize, but the room has not been kept for several years. I will send over a maid to clean it shortly. Would you like to wait until then?"

  "No, thank you. Erika can do what's necessary until a maid of your house can arrive. I'd like to rest as soon as possible."

  As he led me to the stairs, I paused. "And please, arrange for my escort to stay where they may, and provide them food and fresh clothing. It was a hard journey, for all involved."

  The steward nodded, and at his signal one of the resting servants stood up to attend to the Nightingales.

  "It's not nearly enough to express my gratitude, but I will do everything in my power for them."

  ---

  The moment Erika and I crossed the threshold into the guest bedroom, I knew something was wrong.

  There was dust... but not nearly as much dust as the steward had implied.

  The windows leading to the balcony were slightly open.

  There were things in the room. Dresses in the closet. Silver ribbons. Makeup at the vanity.

  Some prized moonstones scattered alongside a delicate wooden box.

  And a blue ribbon that I recognized as one of my own.

  I shuddered as Erika set about tidying up.

  "Well, that's strange, no? I wonder who all these things belong to."

  "She's not here. It's dusty, so she isn't here. But she was here."

  "Erika, please don't touch anything. I'll go through it myself."

  Erika looked at me strangely, but stopped moving Diana's things aside.

  "Sophie?"

  "This is what I came for, Erika. Please... leave me be for a moment."

  Erika's eyebrow raised, and her mouth opened as if to speak, but she slowly left me alone in the room without comment.

  I knelt to the floor, holding one of Diana's dresses up to my face.

  "Why aren't you here?"

  It smelled like her. Cool, and sharp. Like beautiful, rose colored eyes and wispy silver hair.

  I let out an angry, muffled, scream into the dress, and started to cry.

  "Why aren't you here, Diana?"

  I took deep breaths, trying to calm myself, but only succeeded in filling the room with the haze of my magic.

  "I'm ruining her dress with my tears."

  But I couldn't stop sobbing for a long while.

  Until, as I began to calm down, a different thought came to mind.

  "... But why the guest bedroom?"