Many hours passed in the same manner. The two fools behind me continued to chatter on and on endlessly while Andrei and myself kept a cautious eye on our surroundings. If there were bounties already placed upon our heads, then those bandits wouldn’t be the last enemies.

Listening once again to the conversation behind me, I understood the essence of the dialogue. My little brother was talking about the snow bunnies that would occasionally fill the palace courtyard.

‘I’m glad he sounds happy, but I wish he would exert some caution around the peasant. There’s no telling what his motives are, and just how much of what he’s said is a lie.’

A feeling of regret filled me. Perhaps I shouldn’t have made Andrei save the man. Worst case scenario, he betrayed us and attacked Feliks when we found ourselves in trouble once again. Best case scenario, Peasant was a cripple, and a liability to our safety.

There was no winning here. ‘Save for the fact that the peasant could entertain my little brother and distract him from our grim reality, he’s pretty useless.’

“Andrei, can you guess where we are on the map?”

He pulled out the parchment that had been helping us keep track of our journey for the past day.
“Still a few day’s travel from the border, I can assure you that much Pr— Queen Kira.”

I ignored his slip up. Though always a loyal warrior, Andrei must still hold out hope for my family. I did not. If the siege had gone as expected, my entire family was long dead, or hostages. 

“Then I assume this road is still the best route to get near our destination?”

“Barring more potential bandit attacks or bounty hunters, then yes. Though I assume those won’t be a hindrance without such a large target.”

Andrei gestured back towards the direction where the wagon had become rendered useless to us. We’d be without our rations, spare clothes, and other comforts for this leg of the journey.

‘No place to bathe means the two men are going to stink. Would it be so wrong to make them sleep outside?’ I thought to myself, though a little more seriously than I had intended. 

Any time spent in the snow would be detrimental. I didn’t doubt the fact that Peasant was going to die of infection. He seemed resilient, but that can only go so far. He’s got a solid wound on each limb. Anymore and he’ll just be more baggage to drag along. 

Though, that engineering prowess could prove useful in some rather situational circumstances. 

Until then, he’d need to be watched. I could do that myself. 

Peering out into the snowy expanse, I pictured the road as it wound through the dead winter forest. The snow on the road only reached our ankles, though I thank the massive army that had quite recently made its way through here.

Above the trees, I spotted distant, faint tendrils of black swimming to the sky. Smoke. A fire.

Andrei immediately followed my gaze. “If I am correct, there’s a village not far off this road. The closest one to the south. A splinter of their army must have remained back here, perhaps expecting deserters or other refugees to come this way.”

“And so our journey has only just begun to grow difficult.”

“Not necessarily so, if we circumnavigate the village with a wide enough berth, there’s a decent chance we avoid being spotted by any patrols. If you were to provide us with the cover of snow as well, our chances are only better.”

“Yet you are suggesting I leave our people under the control of our enemy. I’m not any sort of oracle, Andrei, but I presume that soldiers left to idle around common folk will find their defenselessness a boon to their boredom.”

Andrei stopped in his tracks, and the conversation behind us also quieted at the sudden tension.

“Your Majesty, I must insist for your safety that we do otherwise. Only more suffering will come to those people if we intervene. There are too many factors we cannot account for. Those caught in the crossfire will either be a liability or a casualty. We know our enemy is brutal, they will have and use hostages.

“Even if it’s a splinter of their forces, it’s enough to pose a threat. Soldiers cannot be compared to those we’ve faced before. No matter what action we take, there will be consequences, and I am unsure if you can yet shoulder the burden they will create.”

I couldn’t help but glare at the man. The man who stood nearly two heads higher than myself, but still became so small in my eyes as I mistakenly revealed my anger at his words. I reeled myself in. ‘He’s just looking out for me, as he’s always done. Since my early childhood.’

I didn’t reply just yet. Instead, I looked again at the rising plume of black smoke. Black smoke indicated that a fire was burning, a big one at least.

I weighed the risks in my head carefully, turning back to the two behind us. ‘A cripple and a child. The only ones capable of fighting were me and Andrei. Soldiers, maybe enough to equal the village, awaited ahead.’

Indeed the chances seemed slimmer with every consideration I gave it. Inside the village were those with no training whatsoever, who could at best hold a pitchfork level and pray to the gods above to save them.

As a member of the royal family, I had a responsibility to these people, but maybe in that pursuit I could cause them more harm. I did not like the idea of never knowing either.

There was no winning in this situation, only losing less. Andrei was well aware of that, as a man who had lived through many of these situations, and perhaps trusting his judgement was best here.

“I would like to witness the sight myself. I will ascertain whether it’s to our benefit or not to aid them. Investigating is my priority, so let’s proceed with that in mind.”

Andrei understood very well that I wouldn’t back down from this and relented. “It goes without saying that this will be quite dangerous.”

“Of course, isn’t anything nowadays? The bounty on my severed head is slowly becoming enough to purchase an estate.”

“That’s very concerning Pri-, my Queen. However, I’d hope you have a way we might reduce this danger to ourselves?”

“As always, I have my schemes. The mana of the North has always held me dearer than any of my family after all, and I intend to ask for its favor.”

Andrei raised an eyebrow at me. The curiosity was etched all over his features.

While I had Andrei keeping watch closer to the village, the rather talkative duo stayed with me. However, it was becoming increasingly more difficult to focus with all the noise they were making.

“For the love of the gods, will you two be quiet for just a moment? I’m sure your talks are very important but unless we’d all like to be publicly executed this evening, I would like to complete my ritual.”

Without looking back, I could feel the sudden shock as immediate silence fell over us. I allowed a short sigh of relief to escape me before continuing my work.

“To the frost that protects my home, the spirits of snow, descended from the heavens above, I ask of you this favor. Bring upon the winter’s raging winds. Let the sheets of white conceal us from view. To the frost that protects my home, the spirits of snow, descended from the heavens above, I ask of you this favor.”

‘Mother always said these mantras were only learning tools when I was younger, but honestly I feel they are so much more than that. Hopefully I might be able to show her myself one day…’

As I repeated the mantra, I felt again the mana about me coalescing. The world I perceived as a mage from a royal bloodline differed far more than that which a nonmagician perceived.

“Can you see it, sister?” Came Feliks’ voice.

I nodded, smiling to myself. “I can.”

“It’s beautiful.” 

I looked back to meet my brother’s wide eyes, and an absolute stunned look upon Peasant’s face. ‘Either a great liar or a real nobody.’

The view that he was missing was indeed beautiful. The way a magician sensed mana was a sort of sixth sense, it was not wholly sight, nor was it something you could touch. You simply knew it was there, envisioned as specks, felt as snowflakes, heard as wind.

“It’s like a snowstorm… but it’s so comforting.” The surprise only grew on Feliks’ face. His hands reached out in the winds of mana, as if trying to grasp the magic twirling around him excitedly.

“This is what your older sister can do when it’s all quiet. Not so worried now, are we?”

“Never was! I was just… pretending. To make you think I was worried.” Feliks stumbled slowly over his words. 

‘What a blessing he is to have right now.’ I just smiled back knowingly.

“Andrei should be returning soon. We’re just going to pass into the village for the day before we move on.”

My little brother just nodded and agreed. Now his face certainly looked unmarked by worry. One could only hope it remained that way.

From beyond the rising clouds of snow, the hulking shadow of Andrei’s figure approached.

“It seems the ritual was successful, Your Majesty?”

“Indeed it was, did you happen upon anything of interest?”

“The nearest homes to us seem to be those occupied by the people, Queen Kira. If we are to seek shelter and information, those are the safest option.”

“Then I suppose it’s all about finding a way inside without too much of a ruckus. Let’s get on with it, shall we.”

The trio all returned with affirmative nods and grunts of approval. It was very difficult not to laugh at the circumstances, as my eyes scanned over them one last time.

There was my poor little brother, dwarfed by the other two, whose size only spread wide due to his furs. 

Then the invalid, who may have once been in perfect working condition, but now looked as if he was approaching the end of his days with a paling face, drooping eyes and the snow whitening his hair. 

‘I wonder who would win in a duel, Feliks or Peasant?’ I shook my head quickly. of such inappropriate thoughts

Then of course, the massive Andrei, who looked ready to storm to battle all on his own. ‘What a group this is.’

I turned swiftly on my heels and began marching to the village, this time under the cover of a growing snowstorm, the white powder rising and shielding us from view.

Despite this, I was still on high alert. I looked side to side constantly, looking for any sign of a lookout as well as disturbances in the mana.

Only enough so the group could hear, I spoke over the wind, “It seems those left behind have gotten lazy. There’s no one in sight and I can’t detect any traces of magic use.”

Like a bear’s growl, Andrei returned a grunt. To no one’s surprise, the two other fools were conversing again, though quietly enough that I had no issue with it.

‘If Feliks learns enough about him, perhaps he could be the key to learning who that crippled fool really is.’

Though we travelled at a snail’s pace, eventually, I could sense the presence of mana ahead, unrestrained. 

‘That’s a good sign. It means they aren’t on any sort of alert. Perhaps no bandits made it out of the scuffle after all.’

Andrei patted me on the shoulder, a questioning look in his eyes. “Safe?” he mouthed to me.

I nodded swiftly, slightly embarrassed at having forgotten the fact that I was the only one of the four able to read magic off living bodies. It wasn’t a special talent, but it was something very few bothered to learn.

‘However, at least novice mages would have been taught how to conceal their mana before being sent to war.’ I shrugged to myself, proceeding closer, until the first buildings came into view. 

I felt something behind me run into me, and I snapped my head around, nearly yelling before putting a hand over my mouth, and stumbling forward a few paces.

I looked to see Peasant sprawled on the ground, his left leg twisted and caught, the prosthetic he had made himself caught between the roots of a tree.

I let out a sigh of disappointment. “I hope you weren’t staring again and got distracted again. I understand how difficult it can be, but you really must restrain yourself, or you might find that I won’t be able to do that myself.”

I let out another “tut” of disappointment, shaking my head at Peasant before watching the spectacle of Feliks attempting to pry him free, finding success after a few tries.

Peasant’s head hung low, his cheeks gaining a small amount of color finally as he avoided eye contact. ‘How adorable, seeing someone who seemed so lax finally flustered.’ 

I smirked to myself as Peasant bowed his head, “I am very sorry Your Majesty, I won’t make a fool of myself again.”

I sighed again at the apology. “There’s no need, I already know you will soon enough. And the more I see it, the more I doubt you could ever be an effective spy. A spy needs to be stealthy, and you two are anything but.” I pointed fiercely at the talkative pair and it was Feliks’ turn to be flustered. 

“Now, we’ve chatted in one of the most dangerous territories enough, may we return to our empire-saving journey or will we be making more stops?”

I was satisfied when there wasn’t a response.

Turning back towards the village, I observed the homes, their thatched roofs covered with sheets of snow, while the gutters hung with icicles. 

“Let’s just find the first one that’s unlocked and work from there. If there’s none, we’ll reconsider the strategy, but might as well take the quickest route first.”

Andrei grunted his affirmation and the other two responded by heading immediately towards the walls of the further homes. 

I took the nearest one, and first tested the backdoor, but found no luck. I couldn’t hear anyone inside over the sounds of the wind either.

‘Windows it is.’

I checked each on the first floor around the back, but they were shut and locked tight, but I hadn’t given up hope yet, for the house had a second floor.

Against my better judgement, I began climbing up the wall, gripping the edge of the logs tightly to avoid slipping, but the snow and wind certainly wasn’t helping. 

I glanced down at the snow below, and thanked the gods that no one was below me, but for reasons other than just getting caught, considering the clothes I adorned. 

Finally I reached the first window, and tested it, pushing on it a few times, but it wouldn’t give, the glass creaking.

“For once I would hope people would be careless in times of war, I may have just wasted all of our time here.”

The wind picked up again, nearly tossing me off the wall, but I held tight and slowly shimmied over to the next window, pressing myself against it. As I prepared to push it open, the latch gave in and I felt myself launch through into the home, rolling along the floor and ending up in a plow pose against the opposite wall inside whatever room I had just flown into.

The very first thing I heard was a sharp gasp, and a surprised voice somewhere beside my overturned and curled up body. “Your Highness?”