Chapter 121: Message

LATER

Eris slept.

Finally. Deeply. The kind of unconsciousness that came from exhaustion and healing and exertion that had probably not been doctor-recommended but had definitely been mutually enjoyed.

She’d been stripped down to just the thin fabric, see-through, barely decent but at least dry now, at least not weighing her down with half the river’s worth of water.

I’d wrapped her in the frost-woven blankets.

Carefully. Making sure she was warm despite the cave’s chill, despite my natural cold, despite the fact that her fire was still sealed and her body was still learning how to regulate temperature without it.

She was cradled in my arms now.

Had been for the past hour while I’d sat there watching her sleep, memorizing the way she looked peaceful, the way her face relaxed when she wasn’t performing strength or cruelty or any of the masks she showed the world.

I hoped she’d sleep for a long time.

Days, if her body would allow it. Sleep and heal and let the river’s magic finish repairing whatever damage the dragon had done, whatever scars carrying a god had left on her soul.

But I couldn’t sit here forever.

Had responsibilities. Messages to send. Arrangements to make for the next few days while we waited for her to recover properly.

I stood carefully.

Still holding her. Refusing to wake her even though moving meant shifting her weight, meant potentially disturbing the first real rest she’d gotten since the temple.

She didn’t stir.

Just made a small sound, something between a sigh and a murmur and pressed closer to my chest like I was warmth and safety and home all wrapped into one.

The feeling in my chest intensified again.

That same fullness. That ache. That sensation of something growing too large for the space it occupied and not caring because making room was easier than trying to contain it.

I carried her to the alcove I’d created.

Laid her down on the furs with a gentleness that would’ve surprised anyone who’d seen me in battle, anyone who knew what these hands were capable of when they weren’t being careful.

Tucked the blankets around her. Made sure she was comfortable. Made sure she’d stay warm.

Then I just… watched.

For longer than was probably necessary. Longer than was reasonable. But I couldn’t make myself look away from her face, from the peace written there, from the knowledge that she was alive and safe and mine in ways that transcended marriage alliances and political arrangements.

My expression must have been disgustingly tender.

Protective. Full of emotions I’d spent decades believing I didn’t possess, that I wasn’t capable of feeling, that were for other people who hadn’t been raised to be weapons first and humans second.

But Eris had changed that.

Had made me human again. Or maybe for the first time. Hard to tell when you’d spent most of your existence being something other than what you were supposed to be.

Something I thought my friendship with Caelen would fix.

I turned away finally.

Forced myself to step back, to leave the alcove, to put distance between us before I gave in to the urge to stay there watching her sleep like some obsessed guardian who couldn’t bear to be separated.

I walked toward the cave entrance.

Stepped through the waterfall that served as a door—shimmering barrier that recognized me and parted without resistance, that would keep Eris safe inside even if threats approached from outside.

Sunlight hit my face.

Bright. Warm. Completely at odds with the crystalline cold of the cave interior, with the divine space I’d just left behind.

A familiar sound greeted me immediately:

A neigh.

Eris’s mare stood about twenty feet away, looking remarkably well-cared-for given she’d been left alone outside a hidden cave for the better part of two days.

But she hadn’t been alone.

Ice nymphs fluttered around her.

Small creatures—no bigger than my hand—made of frost and light and the kind of delicate magic that existed in places where divinity still touched the world.

They looked like tiny women carved from ice crystals, with wings like snowflakes and eyes that glowed blue-white and voices like wind chimes when they spoke.

They were the cave’s guardians.

Ancient. Bound to this place. Tasked with protecting it from those who’d do harm and welcoming those who belonged.

I’d known they’d find the horse.

Had counted on it, actually, because leaving an animal untended would’ve been cruel and they’d never allow cruelty near their sacred space.

I chuckled.

Soft. Amused. Speaking to the mare more than myself: “I knew you’d catch their attention and be taken care of.”

The nymphs noticed me immediately.

Swarmed forward in a cloud of frost and light and excited chiming that probably counted as speech in their language but just sounded like music to mortal ears.

They circled my head, tugged at my hair, examined my face with tiny hands that felt like snowflakes brushing against skin.

Then the questions started.

Their language was older than that, pre-verbal, communicated through sensation and emotion and intent rather than vocabulary.

But I understood them perfectly:

Why have you brought that woman here? Why have you sullied our sacred space with fire? Why should we allow her to remain?

The way they referred to Eris… “that woman” with undertones of suspicion and disapproval, made anger flash through me hot and immediate.

I smiled.

Not friendly. Not warm. The kind of smile that promised consequences for continued disrespect, that reminded them exactly who I was and what I was capable of even if I was currently standing here mostly naked and dripping river water.

“That woman,” I said, voice pleasant but edged with steel, “is my wife. To be. And you will show her the same respect you show me. Understood?”

The nymphs went very still.

Then they chimed rapidly, apologetic, embarrassed, backtracking so fast they were practically falling over themselves.

Your wife? Your intended? We did not know. We apologize. She will be welcomed. Protected. Honored as you are honored.

“Good.” I reached out to pet the mare, who’d come closer during the exchange and was now nuzzling my shoulder like we were old friends. “I need your help with something.”

The nymphs perked up immediately.

Always eager to be useful, to have purpose, to serve those the river had claimed as kin.

I spoke to the mare while I patted her softly, hands gentle on her neck:

“You’ve been very patient. Very brave. I’m going to send you back now, but I need you to deliver a message first.”

She snorted.

Agreement, or just acknowledgment. Hard to tell with horses.

I raised my hand and frost gathered in my palm.

Crystallized. Solidified. Shaped itself into a tablet about the size of my hand, perfectly smooth, perfectly clear, cold enough that it would never melt no matter how hot the weather or how long the journey.

The message carved itself into the ice as I thought it:

Ryse —

Eris is safe. Recovering in the River of Aenithra. We will remain here three days while she heals. Continue to the Frozen Court as planned.

Send the mare back immediately with:

– Two sets of clothes (for Emperor and Empress)

– Food supplies for three days

Do not attempt to find us. The river will not permit it. Simply do as ordered. The horse will return to me.

— S

I attached the tablet to the mare’s saddle with frost-bindings that wouldn’t melt, wouldn’t break, wouldn’t allow anyone but Ryse to remove the message.

Then I looked at the nymphs.

“Guide her to the border. To the Winter Knights’ camp. Find Commander Ryse, tall man, red haired, bright face, permanent limp, and make sure he gets this message. Then guide her back here when she returns with supplies.”

The nymphs chimed their agreement.

Swarmed around the mare’s head, weaving frost-patterns into her mane that would mark her as under their protection, that would ensure safe passage through whatever wilderness lay between here and the border.

I watched them prepare to leave.

Watched the mare toss her head, ready for the journey, probably eager to return to familiar faces and proper stables instead of standing outside a hidden cave for days.

The nymphs took flight.

A cloud of them, swirling around the horse in patterns that made her glow faintly, that lifted her hooves slightly off the ground so she moved faster than any normal animal could manage.

They disappeared into the forest within seconds.

I stood there for a moment longer.

Looking out at wilderness that was beautiful in its harshness, at mountains in the distance, at sky so blue it almost hurt to look at directly.

One last check that nothing threatened our sanctuary.

Then I turned back to the cave.

Back to Eris.

Back to the woman sleeping peacefully inside who’d somehow become the center of my entire existence without me noticing until it was far too late to do anything but accept it.

I stepped through the waterfall.

Let it close behind me, sealing us inside again.

Safe. Protected. Hidden from the world for a few more days.

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