I stand, hoping I got all the honey off my fingers and shake hands with the man. He's not as tall as Fen, but he's very handsome in a softer sort of way. He has large brown eyes, a shock of dark hair that flops about on his head, and a kind face. "It's nice to meet you," I say.
"And you," he says, covering my hand with his as we shake. "You're prettier than Asher indicated. I think he was trying to keep you to himself."
I snort. "I'm pretty sure I annoy him too much for that."
Zeb sits with us, turning to Fen. "I have information on the matter we discussed." His voice is quiet, and he glances at me.
"You may speak in front of her," say Fen. "After all, she will be Queen one day."
Zeb nods. "I had my alchemists look into the poison found in father's room. It's, well... it's not a poison at all." Fen's eyes go wide, and Zeb continues, his voice growing more animated. "Someone weakened our father, then killed him."
"There were no wounds," says Fen.
"None that we noticed. If we reexamine the body, perhaps we'll find a small gash. Maybe they used a small needle-like weapon or—"
"You would have our father dug out from his grave?"
Zeb shrugs. "I'd consider it. Ace is keen on the idea. Don't you want to figure out what happened?"
Fen looks down and sighs. "We'll have to take this before the others."
"Ace and I are already drafting the proposal," says Zeb, smiling. He clasps his brother on the shoulder.
Fen shrugs him off and signals his wolf to stand by him. "We have to go, Zeb. But the meal was great, as usual."
Zeb frowns. "So soon? I'd hoped you'd stay for drinks. Maybe more dessert later."
Fen shakes his head. "I need to get her settled into my place so I can get back to work."
"Right. We will find out who did this, you know. They will pay."
Fen nods, and we leave the tavern. I don't ask the question that's burning in me until we are back on the boat. "Why didn't you tell him you suspected one of the princes?"
The boat begins to glide through the water and Fen stays alert and focused until we are away from the city. It seems the canals have different paths depending on where you are going: direct paths to move through the realms quickly, and side paths to travel within them. We are back on a direct path when Fenris finally answers me. "Until I know who to trust, I have to be careful. You should too. I plan to find out the truth before our month is over, so you don't end up in the wrong hands, but if I fail, don't tell any of them what you've learned. It will only put you at greater risk."
The red drink we had is making me sleepy, and despite my best efforts to stay awake, sleep claims me. When I wake, we are slowing, having already arrived in Fen's realm. The sun is rising over the mountains, a large golden globe in the sky that doesn't seem to do much to warm the land we are now in. I hadn't noticed that the further we traveled the colder it got, but now I'm shivering and Fen hands me my cloak.
"Is it always this cold here?"
"No, we have four seasons. This is the beginning of winter. We haven't seen cold yet. But it's coming."
"So... is that when hell freezes over?"
The look he gives me is funnier than my lame joke and I can't help but laugh. He remains stoic, and I nudge him with my foot. "Oh come on, you know that was funny. Lighten up."
"I am the Prince of War. I do not 'lighten up'."
We climb out of the boat and hike up a winding stone path carved with glyphs reminiscent of the mark on Fen's wrist. Dark trees loom over us, and something shuffles in the shrubbery. A squirrel runs out from the darkness, cheeks stuffed with food. I say hello to the critter at my feet. Fen grumbles something about "squirrels" and "just meat". Baron licks his lips. In a second, the squirrel disappears back into a bush, leaving behind tiny prints in the snow. I chuckle, a slither of early morning sun hitting my face, and we move on. The forest begins to part, letting more light flow onto the steps. We reach a tall wooden gate, one sentinel on either side, clad in silver steel, wielding spears, their faces covered in white fur hoods. Large trees arch over the entrance to form a shaded path beyond the walls. When Baron walks up and scratches at the gate, the guards open for us.
The city beyond the walls is just waking up. There's a scent of freshly baked pastries and breads stirring on the air, and the sounds of stores opening and people greeting one another.
The castle is in the distance, beyond the city, a sharp and jagged extension of the mountains that surround the area, forming three of the fortress's four walls.
Waterfalls cascade down the sides of the peaks, pooling into ponds and lakes that line the outskirts. I hear them before I see them, feeling their deep rumbling. They give the air a clean, fresh scent.
We walk under the trees that stretch over us, and as the sun hits the bark, something catches my eye. I walk toward one of the trees and run my hand over it. The trunk of the tree, of all the trees, is embedded with crystals of all shapes and colors. My hand lands on one particular crystal that pulses with its own light, like a bursting star set aflame in opaque quartz.
"We call that a Shooting Star Crystal," Fen says from behind me. "Many of these crystals can also be found in your world, but that is one unique to ours. It's said that it brings great power to those who know how to wield it, and can bring out great power within one for whom it is trapped. Some say it's also the knowing eye of truth, seeing through falsehoods."