AN INTERRUPTION

 

A certain hum reverberated beneath the reindeer’s hooves. Kaley had been listening to it for a measure of the ride until the sparse trees thickened to a congested garden of pines. Though she had never been told, she had read about a breathing song such as this one: a tune the Volumes of Wisdom affectionately called “The Song of Winter.” She swore she had heard Helen hum it a time or three while folding socks or scrubbing a dish.

Kaley found the tune a soothing medicine for her weary bones now, and when she hushed her thoughts to listen, she imagined mountains, hills, and a message being told. She could see the bar in her mind’s eye, exactly as it was in the psalm book, each note glowing as it was touched by sound:

 

 

 

“There’s a village past this stretch of trees. It’s the first of many in the Green Kingdom,” Lucas interrupted her serenity. “But because I’m generous and gentlemanly and all sorts of other endearing things, I’ll give you another chance to abandon this riddlesome mission of yours, and I’ll offer to take you to anywhere else in Winter you wish to go,” the youthful Patrolman promised as he slowed the deer to a stop. He dismounted and raised his arms to Kaley. But Kaley made a face at his offer and slid off the steed herself.

Lucas exhaled, “Too proud for help, Trite?” he asked. “You seemed to be implying the opposite when you showed up at my merriest brew room back there, begging for my assistance.” He tied the deer’s reins to a branch and patted its burly rump.

Kaley eyed the creature, its prickly antlers glistening. “I needed a ride and you provided that. If you don’t want to go the rest of the way with me, that’s fine.” To prove her indifference, Kaley marched toward the sounds of a village beyond the web of branches that shrouded them.

Lucas’s fingers flashed out and caught her hand. “Ragnashuck, I never said I wanted to abandon you. I have a good measure of souls who’d send scotchy tidings my way if I did such a thing, including your beloved sister,” he said, and Kaley’s gaze flickered to him at the mention of Helen. “Just trying to change your mind before we go in.”

Her stare fell to where Lucas held her hand. His did too; he grinned.

“Fine then. Come with me, but don’t get in my way, Lucas Leutenski. Helen has a plan, and we need this crown.” Kaley tugged her hand free, blushing a pinch.

“Yes, yes, yes. Helen’s merry plan.” Lucas dragged his Patrol staff from the reindeer’s back and led the way into the woods. “Steal the sacred crown off a blood-hungry monarch’s head. For Helen.”

Kaley’s jaw stiffened.

“Let me see if I’ve got this right. You’re to distract Eliot Gray, steal a heavily guarded trophy, and then…?” He waited, and Kaley glared.

“It’s none of your business what comes next.”

“Oh, but it is.” Lucas shook a finger. “I’ve muddled up a thing or three in seasons past by not asking questions. Which is why I’ll help you help Helen on one condition: You need to tell me everything, even the naughty little secret you’re hiding from your sister.”

Kaley’s wide doe-eyes flickered back to him. “I don’t have secrets from Helen.”

“Rubbish. It’s been all over your face since we left the brew room. I’ll not take another step until you tell me.”

Kaley opened her mouth and closed it again. She huffed, and for a moment, she almost spoke but…nothing.

Lucas sighed. “Your beloved sister was flimsy and hungry all the time when she arrived here—a real peg out of its shell, you know. But you’re different.” He tapped a finger against his Patrol staff, caramel gaze flickering over her legs, her posture, her shoulders. “You’re fearless. So, I’m inclined to believe you’re either more of a daredevil than I am, or you’re just terribly stupid.”

“What? I’m not stupid. And I am just like Helen.” Kaley stabbed her forefinger against Lucas’s chest, and he winced.

“Well, I suppose. You’re both mean for no reason,” he muttered, rubbing the spot.

Kaley moved for the curtain of crisp vines again, but she paused when she realized Lucas had not followed. He cast her a forced smile.

She released a heavy breath and tossed her hands. “Fine! I told Helen what happened to me in the time pocket, and it changed her. It’s my fault Helen is on this mission in the first place. That’s why I’m here. Because I have to help her finish this to repair what I did.”

Her heavy breaths steamed the forest, and the soft hums of birds flitted through the branches above. A crystal bug scurried up a trunk.

Without a word, Lucas sauntered forward and used his Patrol staff to part the pine curtain.

“Let’s go steal a crown,” he said.

 

 

Garland-embellished, wooden pillars were wrapped with twinkling lights throughout the village. Wreathes hung on every shop door, dripping wax candles ran along each rail with sparkling yellow flames, and rustic boardwalks weaved between each dwelling.

The boardwalks bustled with a current of creatures—humans, dwarves, and elves—many with wreaths atop their heads; some of forest branches, others of garland vines. Some had wooden armour or olive-green coats with wood toggles, and an elf passed by with branches fastened to his head like the antlers on Lucas’s reindeer.

“Time for noonday-feast,” Lucas announced as he slipped into the river of bodies. Kaley’s pulse sputtered and she jumped in, trying to keep an eye on his raven-black uniform. But his hand came out and found hers; a warm clutch, even through his gloves.

“How will we find something to eat?” Kaley ducked to avoid a folk’s swinging stick-antler.

“Not to worry, darling.” Lucas latched his staff to the contraption on his back and swivelled around, brushing against coats and capes. His free hand came down to press something into Kaley’s palm. She glanced down at it, and her eyes widened.

“Did you just…”

“I was a child-thief. Purchased straight from a den of ring-hungry bandits,” Lucas bragged.

Kaley held up the gold ring as Lucas turned again, arms and fingers brushing scarves and pockets. “Purchased by who?” She slid the ring into her pocket, but not before Lucas displayed a handful more.

“By a sturdy, wise, cunning folk named Mikal,” he explained, tossing the rings to her one by one. She missed catching the last one and it rolled away.

“Yes, I’ve heard about him. Helen had some good things to say about your old mentor.”

“Well, she’d better have. And he wasn’t just my mentor.” Lucas stopped talking, the sparks leaving his eyes. He turned away, his knuckles grazing a burlap satchel as a richly dressed lady pushed past.

Kaley cleared her throat and decided on a subject change. “It’s wrong to steal. You know that, right?” But she still took the four more rings he passed along.

“Oh, I’m sure the Volumes say a thing or three of that sort. But don’t muddle your buttons over it; I thought you said you were fearless.” His twinkle returned as he nodded toward the crowd, and Kaley slowed.

“Wait, you don’t actually want me to…” She looked at the bustling creatures, at their pockets.

“I dare you, daredevil.” Lucas bit his lower lip through his grin. “Unless you’re not really fearless after all.”

Kaley stopped walking. Her eyes caught a man with a large pocket coming her way. “I’ll rob him,” she decided, nodding.

Lucas’s grin widened. “Excellent.”

Kaley slowed her breathing as the man came by. Just as she lifted her fingers, Lucas stuck out his foot and the man tripped. Kaley found herself catching the folk instead, her eyes as round as saucers.

“Pinespittle…” the man cursed, not even thanking her as he regained his footing and shoved his way back into the crowd.

Lucas’s laugh was loud and raspy. He slid an arm ‘round Kaley’s waist to weave her out of the rush.

“Stealing is wrong, Lucas Leutenski,” Kaley stated as she composed herself. “I don’t care what you think it proves.”

“Well, frostbite. You want to eat, don’t you?” He drew her to a porch where a dozen plus two candles cast traces of light against a spruce-branch awning. There, he let her go, and Kaley shuddered at the sweep of cold that came after. Scents of cooked vegetables and spices leaked from the cracked door to her right.

“Of course I want to eat,” she said.

“Well quit your nattering, and I’ll buy you a feast.” But brassy-orange swept over Lucas’s irises, and he glanced at the road. “Or perhaps we ought to scuttle back into the forest. We seem to have a pesky ashworm on our trail.”

Kaley turned but saw only commotion, antlers, and green coats. “Wait…” she tried, but Lucas was already trotting down the porch stairs.

When she followed, Lucas rounded and placed a hand against her shoulder. “Stay, Trite,” he whispered and pulled up his hood.

“I’m not a peg out of its shell, Lucas. I can keep up.” Kaley’s words faded when a figure appeared in the village crowd, marching headstrong in a silver, fitted, velvet jacket whose pearl buttons looked ready to pop off over his tight chest. In fact, one of Eliot Gray’s buttons was missing already.

“Should we run for the trees? I bet I can outrun you,” Kaley whispered in challenge.

The corner of Lucas’s mouth curled but he stayed put. “I don’t think so. To both.”

Kaley fought the impulse to act as Eliot strutted past. She turned her face away, and Lucas slinked around, tugging Kaley with him. His hand swiped Eliot’s pocket, and their mutual foe did not bat an eye.

The pair moved in silence down the road, past the veil of pine ivy, and back into the forest.

Kaley sighed in relief as Lucas turned and splayed his hands to show all that had been in Eliot’s pocket. A pearl button rolled around amidst the collection of lint, rings, two brass tins, and a crumpled paper.

“I guess we know he wasn’t carrying any weapons.” Kaley reached for the button and laughed as she held it up. “Should we hold this ransom? Tell him he won’t be able to wear his stupid coat anymore unless he leaves us alone?”

Lucas grinned, but the smile fell away when he unwrinkled the paper and read its contents. “Ragnashuck,” he whispered. And with a flick of his wrist, he had the paper folded back up and tucked away in his own pocket.

“What was that?” Kaley tossed the button into the snow.

“It’s not a thing,” Lucas swore, shaking his gloves to rid himself of the rest of Eliot’s pocket-contents—except for the two brass tins. He raised one to study it.

Kaley tilted her head. “Why don’t you want me to see that paper?” She tried to lunge for his pocket, but Lucas caught her ‘round the waist and spun, wicked smile returning.

“It’s a secret for now, Trite.”

Kaley pushed him off. “I thought we decided to air out all our dirty laundry back there,” she said.

Lucas made a repulsed face. “Air out our what?”

“It’s an expression. It means we decided to keep things out in the open. What’s on that note?” she asked again. “Does it involve me?”

A twitch of his mouth. Another of his left eye. “No.”

Kaley drew back. “What does Eliot Gray want with me?”

“Well, I’d like to have my frostbit things back, for starters.” Kaley and Lucas jumped at Eliot’s voice booming through the trees.

Kaley pressed a hand against her settling heart as she took in Eliot’s dark, furrowed brows and his mouth tipped down in an ugly scowl.

“Apologies, Gray. She threw your button over there.” Lucas nodded in the general direction.

But Eliot’s eyes sank to murky blue. “Give it back, Leutenski.”

“Hmm,” Lucas thought about it. Then, “No.”

Kaley looked between the two and backed away a pinch.

“I’d fancy a quarrel,” Eliot said, gripping a Patrol weapon he had not been carrying before, and Lucas smiled.

“At last.” But Lucas’s jests turned cold as his eyes dipped to rust. He unhooked his staff from his back. “For Mikal,” he added, and Eliot’s hard face drained of colour.

“Leutenski…I didn’t have anything to do with the unmerry tidings that befell Mikal.” Eliot’s words had less steam now.

“Scrape his name from your tongue.” Lucas’s staff exploded with silver hairs of ice. “We’ll settle this as Patrolmen. We’ll settle this the way my mentor would have proposed.”

Eliot’s shoulders tightened. “Fine.” Icicles grew from his weapon too.

“First to drop the other in the snow?” Lucas proposed.

“First to draw blood,” Eliot countered, and Lucas’s topaz gaze narrowed. “And you’ll wish you’d given me my belongings back when I asked.”

“What’s the prize? Your creepy letter?” Lucas braced himself on his heel.

“The prize is a visit with Helen.”

Kaley’s attention fired to the curly-haired ex-Patrolman. “You’re not going anywhere near my sister.”

“That’s all I want. I’ll take nothing less.”

“Ragnashuck, I guess I’d better win, then. And when I do,” Lucas cut in, “you must stay far away from both Trites.”

Eliot’s face changed. “For how long?”

“For the remainder of your unmerry timestring. Forever.”

Eliot’s Patrol staff dipped, and he raised a flat hand. “Wait. I cannot agree to that.”

“You raised the stakes.”

“No, Lucas. You don’t understand—”

“That’s him!” A new voice entered the woods, and an elk-antlered woman pointed at Lucas with a crooked finger. “That’s the sputtlepun who stole my rings!” Ten plus one men blocked the path back to the village. They wore long, emerald capes and wood armour with silver axes and tight-strung bows in their grips.

“Well. Frostbite,” Lucas muttered, and the ice slithered back into his Patrol staff.

The men’s eyes fastened on Lucas as they came, but Eliot rushed between them, a single finger raised, nose in the air.

“Halt. I demand it,” he said, and the soldiers slowed. “I am an emissary for the Second King of the East. I’m expected at Timber Castle in an hour or three, so I forbid you from arresting my guardsman and…guardslady. A simple apology from my sticky-fingered guard should do, even if his actions are,” Eliot risked a glare at Lucas, “revolting.”

The woods turned quiet, and Eliot raised a brow at Lucas.

It took Lucas a pinch. “Oh…” he said when he realized his part to play. “Yes. I apologize. Though, unmerry lady, you should consider carrying your rings in a satchel next time, not in your wide open, gaping pocket—”

“There you have it. Now, the snow globe has been shaken, so we’ll scuttle off now before the storm rolls in,” Eliot stated.

“You are the emissary for the Second King of the East?” one of the men asked, tapping a large finger against his axe and eyeing Eliot’s expensive coat. “You do not look like a folk of the East.”

“I am the emissary. My guardsman is carrying the two tins of frankincense I was given by the Second King as gifts for the Queen of the Pines.” Eliot’s words were clipped, and Lucas reluctantly reached into his pockets to produce the brass tins.

“How about a personal escort to the castle, then?” the man said. Men moved in and took Lucas and Kaley by their arms as Eliot fumbled through an indecipherable protest.