The Queen That Finds Ways Part 4
Content warning for minor violence and alcohol
Chapter 4: Time is closing in
The shaking heads of Felba and Radek made everyone chuckle.
Whoever had the glorious idea to set up three versus three tournaments for the oldest teenagers for the winter festivals was either an idiot or unaware of Ivara was the common opinion as far as she heard.
Ivara on the other hand loved it. Not only because Radek agreed she was good enough to participate even if the others were still way better with their years of training but also because she built a team with Nynette and Wyborn.
“You three are sure you want to do this?”
For the hundredth time Radek asked them before the tournament. The worry glazed his voice and his eyes sat on Ivara like the overprotective brother he became to her.
“We got this”, Wyborn calmed him down, “Nyn and I will fight first and Iva will only fight if we fail.”
They told him an equal amount of time but still Radek worried. He rubbed his neck but nodded, looking at the opponent team: Serilsa, Cadoc and Perun, the girl that came with Wyborn.
“I can’t stop you anymore. Shall the heavens be on your side.”
In a weird way he suddenly looked older than his twenty-three, but Ivara pushed it away and got her daggers. She would never admit to Felba, but her master was right about once she got the hang of it, she wouldn’t want to miss fighting with them.
The first match up were Cadoc versus Wyborn. It was a quick but brutal fight since Cadoc changed his style to battle axes within the last year and Wyborn had all disadvantages on his side, except he was more agile and smaller than Cadoc which he used well. In the end Cadoc lost and it was Perun against Wyborn.
Ivara watched her closely. Somehow, she never came across her in the six months she was already on the grounds. Her red hair kept in braids and her bulky built were impressive and reminded Ivara of the berserker clans of the west. The impression grew stronger the way Perun went into the fight with a claymore. Even Nynette next to her let out a surprised yelp.
“A woman with a claymore is rare”, she whispered.
“Wyborn probably knew.”
Ivara nodded over to him and how he smirked at Perun.
“He is such a fighting obsessed idiot.”
Despite her remark Nynette snickered. She was right about this. Wyborn found many ways to fight, even if it was just testing his strength against others but it was never in ill intent. Also, it was undeniable how his shoulders broadened in the last months from the different kinds of training he underwent on the grounds.
Nynette elbowed her with a knowing glance.
“Swooning, are we?”
Just now Ivara noticed how she tilted her head. Embarassed she coughed and concentrated on the fight again. Radek next to her just smirked at her with an amused shake of his head. He clearly would say something tomorrow about it.
The fight seemed pretty much equal but, in the end, Perun won mostly because Wyborn was already tired from the fight against Cadoc. Nynette went into the ring with a mix of grim face and enthusiastic sparkling eyes. Ivara never saw her so eager to fight.
The fight lasted about five breaths. Nynette danced around Perun after her fist attack and stroke from behind with one single move. It was simple, fast and effective. And it was a side on Nynette Ivara had never seen before.
Last round was Serilsa against Nynette. A matchup that happened so often during training and it was difficult to say who would win. As expected Serilsa would choose the spear. Nynette rolled the sword hand with the sword still in her grip and a smile that was borderline creepy.
The way she moved was more fluid, almost cat-like, and with more self-esteem Ivara ever saw on Nynette. She let Serilsa attack a couple of times and watched her pattern, until again, one quick move behind her. Yet Serilsa expected it and dodged it barely in time.
Surprised by this counter move, Nynette got hit by Serilsa and lost. At the same moment Ivara realized her girlfriend never got expelled from spear training and just had no hand for healing. She was trained to become an assassin. Her heart broke for the sweet bubbly girl she loved and when Nynette came back Ivara pulled her in a hug and kissed her, heavens be damned everyone was watching.
The astonished Nynette was left baffled behind when Ivara entered the ring. Her nerves were going wild. The grip on her daggers was harder than needed out of fear she would lose them from the nervous sweating.
Serilsa tried attacking straight away just like before. No ruse or anything. Ivara knew with the spear the advantage might be in Serilsa’s hands but if she was clever, she could turn it around.
For a couple of attacks, she simply dodged and waited for Serilsa to show any changes in the way she attacked. Either she thought Ivara was too inexperienced or Serilsa was already slightly worn out because she stuck with the same kind of low attacks. With the next one, Ivara moved only a little aside, stepped on the spear in time and let it press into the dirt. The split second it took Serilsa to free her weapon was used by Ivara to move next to her, dagger at her throat.
“What?”, Serilsa stated surprised.
“Ivara wins.”
Both dropped their weapons and Serilsa looked at her utterly confused.
“How did you learn this?”
“Felba. She said to play dirty if needed.”
Ivara simply shrugged only to find herself in a group hug by both teams the next second. She wanted to dish out a sarcastic remark about the need to breathe but got stopped by thundering headaches.
Pictures of a wedding, blood, the crown on the castles ground, the person with the other pearl turning into a young man not much older than Radek smiling satisfied. Then everything went dark.
The smell of herbs and medical alcohol hit her nose first, followed by nausea. Groaning Ivara tried to move only to realize someone laid half on her upper body and this person was heavy.
Her eyes opened reluctantly. The dimmed light of early dawn filled the room with its orange light.
“Heavens be damned…”, she mumbled angry and closed her eyes again.
“Iva?”
Wyborn’s voice was raspy from sleep or lack of it. She raised her hand to signal she was awake. The next moment someone else launched themselves onto her. She would recognize that soft hair everywhere.
“Hey Nyn.”
“Don’t scare us like this ever again.”
“Can’t promise.”
“The pearl’s effect?”
Radek’s voice was sleepy but sounded most awake from all three. Slowly Ivara opened her eyes again and hushed everyone off of her. Siting up she nodded.
“Pearl?”, Wyborn asked confused.
The expression in Radek’s face said it was up to Ivara if she wanted to tell Wyborn.
“A strange item that can give some people strange powers. I happen to be one of them.”
“What power?”
The honest worry in Wyborn was confusing. It was one of those moments when he behaved older than his age.
“In my case visions. This was just the second time it happened and for some reasons I blackout after.”
Nynette took her hand with a fierce gaze.
“What did you see this time?”
Even Radek had moved closer with a worried look but also curious.
“Bernia’s wedding. The king’s death, and the other pearl being in the possession of a young man a few years older than Radek.”
The gaze of Radek darkened and he narrowed his eyes on her.
“Ivara…”
She sighed, closed her eyes to hide the tears forming.
“It starts with her wedding.”
“Are you sure?”
“As sure as I can be with the fragments I see.”
The eyes of Wyborn moved back and forth only understanding half of the conversation.
“What starts?”
With a sad sigh Nynette turned to him.
“The war.”
The rest of the winter festival Ivara ignored Wyborn’s questioning gaze or the worried look Radek wore whenever she caught him. A resolution began to grow in her mind. With Bernia’s refusal to marry and suddenly her wedding being part of her vision Ivara was sure that the King had spoken a final word about it and that meant her time was running out.
The last day of the festival she sat in a dark corner and watched her friends being silly and getting drunk as shit. The way Nynette clung on Wyborn told everyone she had still that crush on him and Wyborn wasn’t averse to her either. With a small sigh she took a gulp from her tankard to gain the strength to do what needed to be done to protect those she loved. Visions be damned.
When she lowered it, Perun stood before her, still mostly sober and with a tankard of her own in her hand and analyzed her. Her head went over her shoulder to Nynette and Wyborn and back to Ivara. The next moment she fell next to her on the small bench.
“You look like someone who is about to do something stupid, princess.”
Ivara snorted a laugh.
“How do people look in this case?”
“Desperate, sad, heartbroken, close to get so drunk they will sleep for the next three days.”
“Sounds good to me.”
The deep throaty laughter of Perun came unexpectedly. The hall was too full and too loud for anyone to notice.
“So, I was right. Tell me what is bugging you?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I try.”
“Try me”, Perun teased with a teethy smile.
Shaking her head, Ivara glanced at the tables where Nynette and Wyborn were still in the middle of conversation, now with Serilsa and Cadoc, before she took another gulp and began explaining Perun everything about Master Andrius, the pearl and the visions she got so far and how it connected to the things she already noticed back at the castle. Perun listened carefully, only asking two or three questions when she wasn’t sure she got it right while sipping away while around them the festival was in full swing.
When Ivara finished, Perun took a long gulp, rubbed her cheek with her hand going down her neck as well and looked at Ivara with a grim expression.
“In other words, time is running out on you.”
“Yes.”
“And that is why your emotional not so smart ass wants to push Nynette into Wyborn’s arms.”
A confused “Huh” was all Ivara could muster much to Perun’s amusement. A muscular arm got wrapped around Ivara’s shoulder and forced her to look at the table where Cadoc was teasing Nynette and Wyborn. Nynette blushed like crazy.
“Look at them. Yes, they clearly have a crush on each other, but you missed one thing. Nynette worships the ground you walk on and Wyborn isn’t any different. He gets this lost puppy eyes whenever you are around.”
“You are exaggerating.”
“Trust me, I know him since he was a day old.”
Surprised again, Ivara looked at her and found Perun grinning broadly at her.
“Princess, I am two years older than you three. I just waited to do the test because I couldn’t let this idiot who wears his emotions on his sleeve go alone. Who would think I would run into you. For someone so observant and clever you are incredibly stupid when it comes to feelings.”
Grumpy, Ivara frowned and tried to break free of the embrace, but Perun wouldn’t let her go.
“Thank you, I know this.”
“So why did you try to act out of emotions? You want to protect them. The best protection is to have them around you.”
Just now it finally dawned on Ivara Perun actually believed her with everything. She stopped her attempts to break free and blinked at her comrade.
“You really believe me.”
Perun rolled her eyes, shaking her head.
“You had enough beer tonight, sweetie. Your thinking is slow. Yes, I do. My father is from the berserkers in the west. They have stories of people like you. They call them visionaries.”
“Oh…”
Not knowing if the heat on her cheeks was the embarrassment or the alcohol Ivara decided it was the alcohol.
“I really should drink less. “
“Told ya. You should also tell Wyborn. It is not fair to him to keep him in the dark about the whole visions thing.”
“He knows but thank you.”
A slight blush appeared on Perun’s face and she wiped it away.
“Not that. Consider me your friendly fairy tonight.”
Both laughed as Ivara got up, emptied her tankard and went over to the table. Cadoc just finished a story and made everyone roar with laughter when she reached Nynette and Wyborn. With her hands on their backs, she let herself known.
Immediately both turned around. Ivara took a second to look closer only to realize Perun was right. Wyborn wore the same love-stricken gaze as Nynette the moment he noticed her. Something inside started to tumble and move again as intended but stronger within a few deep breaths. Under the smirks of Serilsa and Cadoc, Ivara’s hands moved up on Nynette’s and Wyborn’s back to their shoulders to witness equal reactions.
The noise of the festival fell to the background when all her senses suddenly concentrated completely on these two people in front of her. The way Nynette’s lips curved a little bit. How Wyborn’s pupils were blown wide and his neck clearly showed this one vein pulsating as if he had just run around the whole grounds. Her own blood rushed in her ears, pulsated in her fingertips and let Ivara think they should feel it as well.
“Iva?”
Wyborn didn’t speak loudly but she heard him perfectly.
“I wanted to let you know I’ll go back to the dorms. I am already thinking too much to drink tonight.”
Nynette’s eyes flickered to Wyborn with an amused sparkle as her hands squeezed his tight.
“I’ll bring you. I should stop for tonight as well before I tell embarrassing things”, Wyborn stated thoughtful.
“Worried we would tease you for the next year?”, Cadoc threw in teasingly.
“That is my part”, Nynette stated and leaned forward, elbow on the table, eyes fixated on Serilsa, “There are still some things I like to press out of you two.”
“First winter festival we are allowed to drink and Nyn gets spicy.”
Serilsa snickered clearly drunk already. Satisfied Nynette leaned back and stretched her neck for a kiss. Ivara leaned down with a smile.
“Be nice to her.”
Nynette stroke her ear with a smirk into the kiss.
“I will”, she whispered after, “You be nice to him. I come a little later.”
The twinkle in her eye grew and left Ivara unknowing what it meant. Wyborn leaned in to kiss Nynette on the cheek before he got up.
On their way out of the big hall, they passed Radek who smiled knowingly. The thought, it was because he won another bet against Felba crossed Ivara’s mind for a second but vanished the moment she stepped outside.
Their teeth chattered almost instantly after the warmth of the hall. Wyborn moved closer.
“Maybe this helps.”
“We should move fast.”
Despite the alcohol and having their furs with them the short trip to the dormitory felt like thousand needles on their skin and at least sobered Ivara up again. In a hurry they closed the door behind them and rested with their back against it.
“Now I know why everyone is sober the next day”, she stated chuckling.
“The winter”, Wyborn joined.
He took her hand in his, which was strangely warm despite the cold. With a deep breath she pushed herself from the door and pulled him with her.
“We freeze if we stay here.”
“Even if you would be the most beautiful ice sculpture, we should prevent this.”
“What a weird compliment but thanks.”
All the way down the corridor Wyborn held her hand, toyed with her fingers and kept strangely silent for someone who usually threw in a remark here and there.
“I still owe you a longer explanation”, Ivara began.
“You don’t need to, if you don’t want.”
She wanted to smack him right there and stopped only a few rooms away from hers. The oil lamps flickered along the walls.
“You need to know. Nyn knows, Serilsa and Cadoc too. Damn, I told Perun to explain the situation and since you were also there you should know too.”
A small smile appeared on his face, and he lifted her hand to his face to place a kiss on her hand.
“Do you know how wonderful you look when you get angry?”
“Wyborn, please stay concentrated.”
“I am, on you.”
“That is why you need to know! This strange pearl, Andrius has it and some time ago it was used give Wayfinders those powers. Today only my family has this kind of blood as far as everyone knows. Everyone else is a lucky chance. Andrius keeps track of bastards of the royal line and from the few nobles who are known to have the same kind of blood. You are one of them. Just like Radek. He uses us like chess pawns.”
Ivara didn’t got loud but hissed at him furious. It went into smoke and dust when he pulled her into a hug against his broad chest. The fact he was almost a head taller made it another level of worse because she felt endlessly safe. Ivara needed a new word for all this when she felt herself melting against his warmth and the smell that was all him.
“Heavens, what did you do to deserve such a fate.”
“Wy…”
“Shht. I believe you. The war that had been swelled as long as I can remember the adults talking about will finally break out. Knowing of this nefarious plot to strengthen this unusual ability that only brings you sorrow and pain. Neither this, nor the fact you are the king’s niece can change the fact I love you, Ivara. And even if you don’t love me back, I will always be there to protect you. I know your heart is already taken.”
He let her go from the embrace, suddenly looking all small and shy.
“If just everybody would stop trying to die for me.”
Ivara turned around and left him standing there, her shoulders dropping low defeated. The moment she went to open her door his hand suddenly came up to the doorframe right next to her head.
“You don’t get it, don’t you?”
Even if Wyborn still tried to sound calm there was a hint of anger underneath.
“Get what? That all of you are too brainwashed from your training to think for yourself? That Nyn and you are too lovesick to have an ounce of self-preservation? That you try to keep putting yourself in my way with the hope I will pick you as my Wayfinder because you love me? What of all this do I not get?”
This time she raised her voice, but the tone was cold as she turned around wedged between him and the door. One hand in the back to nestle for her dagger.
Wyborn took a step back laughed.
“She knew you would do this.”
“What?”
“Nyn. You have been brooding for days. She knew you would try to push everyone away. As determined as you are and as good as your observation skills are, emotions are not your best suit. Good thing it is only on a personal level.”
Ivara hit his chest with her fist half-heartly.
“You idiot. You did this on purpose.”
Grabbing her wrists to stop her from more attacks, Wyborn gently nudged her back.
“No, I meant every word I said. Just like you.”
The last days caught up on Ivara, and she simply fell back against him.
“I am tired of this. Tired of waiting of the things to happen. Tired of knowing the things I do without being able to do something.”
She felt his hand on her back. A soft hum filled the air, and it took her a moment to realize it was Wyborn who was humming soothingly.
“You don’t need to have all the answers yet. Even with the vision you can’t know how things unfold. Maybe you stop worrying about this and concentrate more on today.”
Ivara simply nodded but couldn’t move. Her whole body felt heavy like it did on her first morning after the first training with Radek but not in the good day. Wyborn shifted his weight a bit and lifted her up bridal style.
“You need to sleep.”
His voice got the softness back as he carried her into her room and laid her down on her bed. Carefully he pulled her boots from her feet and wrapped her up in the bedding. The second he turned to leave; she reached for his hand.
“Stay, please.”
“Whatever you wish.”
Wyborn wanted to get the chair, but Ivara still held on his hand.
“You want me to sleep next to you?”
“Please…”
A simple nod and she let go to give him space to get out of his own boots. She fell asleep before he even found a comfortable position on the small bed.
