Is this the Sea of Dreams like Kiki experienced? Perhaps, considering it turns out I’m half-fae—if what Leith said was true about my parents.
“I am your king,” the man says. “Torsuld.” Then he adds, “I am also your father.”
A scene appears on the snowy, white canvas surrounding us like the movies Kiki described.
Vespertine kneels by a woman’s side as tears trickle from her eyes. He says, “You had a baby boy. He’ll grow up to be strong.”
The woman smiles. She smiles my smile.” Hjaggson,” she whispers. “We are to call him Hjaggson, son of thunder.”
“Mother?” I say into the icy void.
No one hears me.
The midwife in purple robes holds the infant—me.
The woman receives the baby in her outstretched arms.
I glance around, half expecting her to appear here, wherever I am.
A raven perches in the window to her room and kraas loudly, warningly.
The midwife’s image flickers. A smirk curdles on her lips as the baby’s mouth and his mother’s turns blue. “Frosted Oblivion,” she says in a deep voice that doesn’t match her feminine face. “You wasted your life, Hedda. Your son is cursed to die and so will you.”
“No!” Vespertine instantly draws heat from the hearth, warming the baby before taking aim at the midwife with a blast of fire.
The midwife’s image flickers again as she dodges the flame and then morphs into Leith. In addition to another shot of flame, the bird’s feathers drain of color and it turns the shade of late-day sunshine. Words appear on Leith’s skin. His thoughts, his confession. Inked. He sent Hedda away and tricked Torsuld into thinking she’d been disloyal. She hadn’t met her true love. No, she’d been locked in his chamber.
“You,” my mother croaks, recognizing Leith.
All at once, the now golden raven attacks, pecking Leith and driving him from the room.
Vespertine assures my mother, “I’ve warmed the baby. I’ve staved off the poison, delayed its effects until he comes of age. That also means he won’t have access to his abilities. But—”
“But it’s too late for me. I know.” Her voice grows faint. “Please, keep him safe and hidden. Let him live his life free of the burden of this castle. It must be his choice.”
Vespertine nods. “He won’t know until he’s ready.”
“What then?” she asks.
“Like cures like, I’m afraid.”
“And now?” my mother asks.
“Now you will sleep, my queen,” Vespertine says.
“And my baby will be safe.” She goes still.
The raven’s cries echo from the window, and Leith screeches and howls in pain.
Vespertine takes the baby and they both vanish down the hall.
The vision dissolves.
The world is white, then silver, then gold. I’m ice and fire. The moon and sun. Kiki and Soren bound together.
She comes into focus as her lips leave mine.
Unlike in the vision, I’m outside the castle, amidst the ongoing battle I fight alongside the people of Raven’s Landing.
I shiver and link my arm around her, draw her close, and breathe in her sugar on snow scent. My teeth chatter as she helps to hold me up.
“You’re okay,” she says.
I don’t know that, not yet.
On the bloodstained snow, the Raven’s Rising continues to fight the guards. In the air high above, a gold bird and a silver bird spin circles, waging battle.
The vision repeats in my mind.
Keep him safe and hidden. I was sent to live free of the king. Not safe, but free I realize now.
Let him live his life free of the burden of this castle. It must be his choice. My choice. My choice for what? My thoughts dart and weave, much like the birds above. Vespertine’s comment about how life isn’t linear flashes in my mind.
He won’t know until he’s ready.
The same powerful force that compels my father’s flight, rises and rebounds inside of me like it’s desperate to escape. I know what I am. It’s my choice. I am ready.
“I think what matters most is what happens next,” I say.
As the battle in the sky continues, I reach into my pocket and produce the Holdr Horn. I take a deep breath, put it to my mouth, and blow. The earth and sky tremble. I blow again. My pulse vibrates like thunder ripping through my bones. I blow a third time, calling in the aid of the ravens, the spirit kings and battle arms in the mountain, the shield fae, and all the others from our journey. I’m sure the resonant sound can be heard all the way to the sun and moon.
That wild flapping wakes up in my chest.
Kiki looks up at me, her expression muddled with concern. “I didn’t hear it.”
No, but I did. Maybe I wasn’t summoning the others, but my true self.
Golden feathers drift like snow and the raven, my father, is nowhere to be seen. With an angry squawk, the silver bird alights on the ground and transforms back into a man emitting a pitchless laugh. “An easy defeat,” he says in the direction of the sky. “And I see you’ve thawed.” He turns to Kiki as a deadly smile spreads on his lips. “How generous; she’s sacrificed herself and taken in the curse.”
My heart stutters. Like cures like. She’s a frost fae. Frosted Oblivion must be fae magic. I thought her sacrifice to the king before was to get into his graces and make her move for the stone in the crown. Only, she actually sacrificed herself for me.
She squeezes my hand.
“I’m sorry, Soren. It’s up to you to grant the people their freedom. The throne is rightfully yours and you can carry on this
