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[Rough Draft] Chapter 62: The Mountain and the Moonlit Path
Somewhere beneath the cold shroud of her subconscious Carina felt her heartbeat slow to a barely noticeable tremble. Beyond her frozen eyelids, an all-consuming darkness waited that she was all too unprepared to witness—again.
She focused her senses outward slowly, attempting to connect with her numb limbs and lungs, but found them far beyond her reach.
‘What is this? What’s happened? Am I—dead?’
A light surfaced somewhere in the darkness. Carina’s eyes remained stubbornly closed as it drew closer. Its cold light beckoned to her, not with warmth, but a chilling sort of certainty, that this was where she belonged, this—was exactly where she was meant to be.
“I have been waiting for you, Viktor.”
Carina’s cold subconsciousness flinched beneath the light and surprisingly young voice. A heavy weight wrapped itself around the ice witch as feeling returned to her body. The cold, which once provided such comfort, now only accentuated the aching joints, taunt and tired muscles, and weariness that settled upon her frame.
“Hypatia,” Viktor rumbled, his voice barely more than a faint gust of wind pushing through a curtain. “I can’t leave yet. She is not ready.”
Unable to restrain her need to see Viktor, Carina opened her eyes.
A snow-covered mountain loomed before her, buried beneath the bright radiance of the child who stood upon its path, marked by boulders that seemed to flicker with brightly burning stars.
The child, a small girl with moonlight white hair and eyes as deep as the abyss, smiled as she held in Carina’s direction. “Viktor. You would not be here unless you had made a choice. Carina has your immortal power now. The rest is up to her.”
“But she is not—”
“A god?” Hypatia raised a single pale eyebrow. “You knew it would not be that simple.”
“Then how? How do I protect her?”
The mountain rumbled as Carina stepped closer. Hypatia tilted her head back further still, but it was not the heavens above upon which she focused her gaze.
“You are worried for her. That is but the natural burden of being a parent.” Hypatia shook her head with a small smile. “But you cannot walk the path for her, nor can you remain by her side. Carina is to succeed; she must do so through her own decisions.”
“And if Ramiel bars her way?”
Hypatia’s patient expression hardened for a moment as her gaze turned briefly towards some unseen vision. “I cannot account for the actions of my brother’s children. Even now, I feel Ramiel’s impatience flickering at the edge of the mortal world. His judgment is coming.”
“Carina is not prepared to face that—”
“Carina is whole.”
“But—”
Hypatia raised her offered hand as her black eyes narrowed.
Carina, who had begun to realize this vision was not hers, felt a prickled of fear run through her core as Hypatia’s gaze seemed to pass through Viktor and settle upon her.
“If there is one indelible truth about tyrants, it is that they are all cowards with something to hide and an image of themselves they wish to protect.”
Hypatia’s cold expression softened as she lowered her hand and extended it once more to Viktor. “Come, my son. Carina is not lost to you forever. All the stars in my kingdom shall bear witness to the final battle of Viktor’s heir.”
A sudden burst of pain burned through Carina’s chest as the vision before her blurred into shadows. She bit back a scream as the sensation of skin being ripped from her body flooded her lungs and senses with agony. Just as quickly as her torment began, it ended, and Carina blinked through her tears to watch the man step forward on the moonlit path to meet Hypatia.
Viktor’s long white hair glittered in the light of the stars. His garment of frost swept across the snow while his footsteps left no trace. The immortal approached and knelt before the child, who glowed like the moon. Hypatia clasped the man’s face in both of her small white hands as she offered him a tender smile.
Carina watched in silence as the moon leaned forward to kiss Viktor’s head. Her ice-blue eyes burned into the back of the immortal’s head as she waited, desperately hoping Viktor would turn so that she could see his face. But the moment Hypatia’s lips touched the man’s, his glittering form crumpled into a cloud of white snow that swirled tightly into a small glowing star trapped between the moon child’s hands.
“The second of my children have returned to me,” Hypatia whispered with a bittersweet smile. “My third child wanders, lost her own darkness.” The moon child’s dark eyes reflected the radiance of the star she held. “Parama continues to feign ignorance, even as his own children push this mortal world closer to destruction.”
A deep resonating sigh echoed around the mountain as Hypatia closed her eyes. Viktor’s star flickered brighter and seemed to swell in size until it all but burned the mountain path beneath its celestial glow. “Be at peace, my son. You are home,” Hypatia whispered as she lifted the start effortlessly towards the sky and then released it.
Carina watched in aching silence as the star floated towards the heavens. It quickly gained speed as it broke through the thin layer of clouds above and pulled away from the world’s gravity. Soon Viktor was little more than a distant light sparkling amongst thousands of celestial stars, forever out of her reach.
“Viktor wanted you to see this,” Hypatia said soothingly even as her gaze remained lovingly focused on the heavens above. “He wanted you to understand that he is not truly gone.”
Carina blinked through the all but tangible barrier that separated her from the mountain and moon. She swallowed the lump of grief and heartache and focused on forming a response. “Is this—because of me?”
“This choice was Viktor’s to make,” Hypatia replied with another deep sigh. “You are wondering if it was the right choice?”
The ice witch blinked and slowly nodded.
“While not every parent would sacrifice their power and existence to safeguard their children—I believe this was a decision Viktor made long ago, on the day you were born.”
Carina frowned as she focused on the moon child. The stars on the boulders flickered out one by one as the path and sky around them darkened.
“You are whole again, Carina, First of the Isbrand Queens. The Immortal Witch of Winter.” Hypatia smiled even as her words seemed to flicker with a hint of scorn. “But for all your titles, names, deeds, and power—you are still mortal.”
The moon child glowed brighter still. Her radiance burned against Carina’s eyes as the ice witch felt herself being pushed further away from the mountain’s path.
“Still, you are my grandchild and Viktor’s heir, so I will allow you to return to the moonlit path when your time upon this mortal realm has ended.”
“You mean—when I die—”
“As all mortals are doomed to end.”
Carina swallowed and nodded.
“You do not protest?” Once more, Hypatia’s voice contained a flicker of mockery. “How different you are from Kirsi, who once threw herself at my feet, begging for power and vengeance.”
The ice witch clenched her fists at the mention of the Scarlet Witch’s name but remained silent.
“Perhaps that is why Viktor held on as long as he did,” the moon child mused quietly. “Very well—for the sake of my beloved children.”
Carina blinked as the barrier between them suddenly vanished. With a startled gasp, she fell upon her hands and knees and stared at the familiar pale surface of the icy lake within the frozen heart’s cortex. A strong, foreboding sense that she was not alone kept Carina where she knelt as Hypatia approached her.
“Minerva gave her life to protect Viktor and his child. Her heir remains upon the mortal world as well. He has turned his back to his mother’s legacy—and my existence.”
The hand that briefly settled upon Carina’s bowed head burned a blinding image of a man’s face into her memories.
“The Mountain gives refuge to Winter as she gives shelter to the earth until spring. You two are bound by fate to be a shield and guide to one another.”
Carina blinked as the image of Beaumont’s face slowly faded behind her eyes.
“Guide Beaumont back to his purpose. Until Minerva’s heir accepts his mother’s legacy, the path of rebirth shall remain closed to all the lower gods.”
“I-I don’t understand,” Carina whispered. Even behind closed eyes, she could not hide from Hypatia’s blinding glow. “How-how do I convince him?”
“While in mortal form, even a god may fall prey to the blinding delusion you mortals call love.”
The ice witch flinched as her fingers dug into the ice below. “You want me—to seduce Beaumont?”
“You have already snared his interest, Carina. Surely that has not escaped even your notice.”
“And how does that—guide him back to you?”
“You ask questions when you already possess the answer. Every mortal that steps upon the path of power does so for only one of two reasons: to destroy or to protect.” A touch on Carina’s chin raised the ice witch’s gaze to Hypatia’s dark eyes. “Power without purpose is easily corrupted. Life without purpose is easily lost. Be careful of your heart, my granddaughter. The path of righteousness blurs easily with the path of destruction when one loses their purpose.”
***
“Kirsi.” Hana’s tired voice trembled. The Viscountess ignored her aching back and shoulders as she leaned against the mattress, clutching the Duchess’s cold hand tightly. “It’s been three days, Kirsi. Why haven’t you woken up?”
Hana flinched at the sound of wings rustling outside the bedroom windows draped in heavy curtains. “Please, Kirsi. I’ve already forgiven you. Please wake up.”
A heavy knock at the door sent a jolt of panic through Hana as the Viscountess straightened in her chair.
“Yes? Who is it?”
“Lady Larissa.”
Hana let out another shaky breath as her shoulders slumped. “What do you want?”
“The Earl of Hawthorne has returned to Bastiallano’s borders, demanding an audience—”
“Tell him the Duchess will send word when she is ready to—”
“He also brings a summons from the Royal Palace.”
The Viscountess snorted scornfully. “The Dowager again?”
“No. The summons comes directly from the Crown Prince.”
“When?”
“In two days, Lady Hana.”
Hana groaned softly. She leaned forward and pressed Kirsi’s cold hands against her lips before leaving the Duchess to open the door.
Larissa tilted her head politely towards the Viscountess before her ocean-blue eyes turned towards the bed.
“As you can see, the Duchess is in no condition to answer a summons,” Hana murmured as she stepped aside and waved Larissa into the room.
The water witch complied, her brows furrowed pensively as she studied the small, slumbering Duchess. “What should we do? Kirsi can’t remain like this for much longer.”
“I can sustain her for a few more days at least,” Hana replied as she pulled back her sleeve to reveal the healing scar. “We need to buy Kirsi more time.”
“How much more time?” Larissa replied skeptically.
“As much as she requires!” Hana retorted sharply.
The water mage sighed and raised her hands submissively. “I’m afraid it will be difficult to put off a royal summons from the Crown Prince.”
The Viscountess shook her head stubbornly. “I’ll write a letter to his Majesty. Explain that the Duchess is unwell and unable to travel.”
“Or you could just tell him in person,” Larissa replied with a rueful grimace. “His Majesty has requested your presence as well.”
“Mine?” Hana blinked in surprise before her delicate brows narrowed above a frown. “Why?”
Larissa held up the open envelope with its broken royal seal and shrugged. “He did not say. However….”
“What do your spies tell you?”
“It would seem the Royal Palace received an unexpected visitor last night, under cover of darkness. And today, the sacred residences inside the Royal Cathedral have been made available to that visitor.”
“You—mean—” Hana trailed off as she turned away and drew in a heavy breath. “Jericho is here.”
“It would seem so,” Larissa confirmed grimly.
The Viscountess clutched her hands tightly as she stared at Kirsi’s sleeping figure. “Then—I must go meet him.”
“And what of the Duchess?”
“You will protect her while I am gone,” Hana replied firmly. “Keep the Earl and everyone else away from Kirsi until I return.”
“And if—you do not return?”
Hana’s turquoise-blue eyes snapped towards the water witch. “Why would I not return?”
Larissa adjusted her knight’s cloak with a look of impatience. “I am well aware of who you are, Hana. The Pope is your brother. While the rest of Lafeara believes that he is here to bless Nicholas’s coronation personally—you and I know there is another reason.”
Hana unclenched her hands and folded them over her stomach as she turned to face the water witch fully. “I will always return for Kirsi.”
Larissa slightly arched a single brow as she studied the Viscountess, then sighed and looked away. “Either way, we need a plan. A way to get you in and out of the palace without jeopardizing your freedom.”
Hana stared at the water witch for a moment before a soft chuckle escaped through her lips. “Kirsi already prepared a way for us.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean the stipulations that Kirsi put into place—for situations like this.”
Larissa’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “I wasn’t aware of any—”
“If the Duchess is temporarily unable to fulfill her role, whether due to either sickness or death, I am to assume her position and responsibility as temporarily acting Duchess of Bastiallano,” Hana whispered with a weak smile.
Larissa’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Can you—prove that?”
“Of course, the papers are locked in Kirsi’s office desk.”
“And you—know where she keeps the key?”
“Yes.” Hana straightened as she met the conflicted expression on Larissa’s face. “Surely that will be enough to prevent even the Pope from abducting me?”
“I—” Larissa dragged a hand down her face as she let out a mangled groan of frustration. “I think it would be best that we reveal this letter and the Duchess’s condition to Colonel Isaac as soon as possible. Your position, however temporary, only holds weight if Bastiallano’s military power stands ready to back up the Duchess’s transference of power.”
“Alright. And then?”
Larissa folded her arms thoughtfully around her waist as her gaze narrowed on Kirsi. “We will need another powerful noble to act as witnesses to convince the court as well. Two would be better but—”
“Can’t we just show the letter to the Crown Prince?”
“No,” Larissa said firmly. “That letter must remain in the Duchess’s office under lock and key until Kirsi wakes up.” The water witch’s eyes narrowed with a look of determination. “While you remain as acting Duchess, you, Kirsi, and Bastiallano are protected from outside influence. We can’t risk losing that now more than ever.”
“But—who do we ask?”
Larissa shrugged. “The Earl is still at the border.”
“No!” Hana shook her head firmly. “Lord Percy can’t be trusted.”
“Can you think of anyone else who would willingly step forward to protect you and the Duchess right now? Someone who’s word Crown Prince Nicholas will trust?”
The Viscountess remained still for a time. Her turquoise-blue eyes narrowed uncertainly as she raised a trembling hand towards her throat. “There is—one person—that his Majesty trusts with his life.”