Meanwhile, by the third morning after the Woodlands left Snowland, mist clung to the surface of the sea as the ships glided toward the docks of King's City. The sails hung heavy in the damp air, snapping only occasionally when a gust of wind passed over the water.
Woodland banners fluttered from the masts.
Dark blue. A dove and an ice sword.
Men along the harbor stopped what they were doing to watch the ships approach. Fishermen leaned on their nets. Dockworkers paused with ropes in their hands. The arrival of the Warden of the North was not something the city saw often.
The ships groaned against the wooden docks as they were pulled into place.
Ropes were thrown. Anchors dropped. The long journey from Snowland had finally ended.
Soldiers moved first, stepping down onto the docks and securing the gangplanks. Edmond Woodland followed soon after, his boots striking the wet wood with a dull sound.
Behind him came Bianca. Then Sonia, and John.
And little Titiana, who struggled to keep her excitement hidden but failed completely as her eyes darted around the enormous harbor.
The ships were quickly unbranded. Banners lowered. Sails tied.
Horses were brought forward from the cargo hold one by one, snorting and stamping impatiently after days confined to the dark belly of the vessel.
Edmond placed a hand against the neck of his horse and steadied himself as he mounted.
For a moment, his fingers trembled. He drew in a slow breath. Bianca noticed immediately.
She had been watching him since the ship touched the dock. "What is it, my lord?" she asked quietly as she guided her horse beside his. Her eyes studied his face carefully.
"You look disturbed."
Edmond kept his gaze ahead. The city stretched beyond the harbor walls like a great stone beast waking from sleep.
He nodded slowly. "The last time a Woodland girl came to Kings' City." His voice trailed for a moment before he finished the thought.
"She fell in love with the wrong man."
Bianca said nothing, she knew the story. She was there when it all unfolded.
The memory hovered between them like a shadow.
"..and broke her oath to her betrothed."
Edmond tightened his grip on the reins. "That is not the experience the Woodlands are known for."
Bianca exhaled softly. The past was stubborn. It followed families for generations, no matter how far they tried to ride from it.
She placed a calming hand against his arm. "I agree," she said. "Your sister was foolish." The word hung carefully in the air. "But trust your daughters."
Her eyes moved briefly toward Sonia riding a short distance behind them. "They won't end up like her."
Edmond glanced back as well. Sonia sat straight in the saddle, her expression composed. The morning light brushed softly across her face as her horse walked beside Titiana's smaller one.
Bianca allowed a small smile.
"And besides," she added, her voice lightening slightly, "it is a Woodland that is getting engaged to the future king."
Her gaze flicked toward the towering palace visible in the distance. "Not a Keenwool."
That finally pulled a laugh from Edmond.
Short, rough, but genuine.
The tension in his shoulders eased slightly. "Yes," he murmured. "That is true."
They urged their horses forward and rode into the city. King's City swallowed them quickly.
The streets grew narrower as the harbor faded behind them. Stone buildings leaned over the roads like watchful giants. Merchants shouted from open stalls. The smell of roasted meat drifted through the air.
But the noise began to quiet as people noticed who rode through their streets.
The Warden of the North was not difficult to recognize.
Whispers spread quickly. Heads bowed. Men stepped aside. Women pulled their children out of the road.
The Woodland party rode through the city like a silent storm.
At the great city gate leading to the inner palace district, the guards straightened immediately when they recognized Edmond.
Their spears struck the ground in salute. The gates opened. Edmond and his family rode through.
The palace of King Robert Rendell rose before them at the end of a long courtyard.
Tall, and heavy.
Crowned with banners that snapped in the growing wind. Servants hurried forward to take the horses as the Woodland family dismounted.
Without wasting time, they moved toward the great hall.
The throne room doors opened before them. Inside, the vast chamber glowed with torchlight despite the daylight pouring through high windows. Nobles lined the sides of the hall, their colorful robes forming a sea of shifting fabric.
At the far end stood the throne. King Robert Rendell sat upon it. A large man. Broad shoulders.
A thick beard that framed a face both fierce and warm.
His belly pushed against the golden plates of his armor as he leaned forward to see who had entered.
Then his eyes lit up. He pushed himself up from the throne with surprising speed.
"That is my man!" he groaned loudly, his voice rolling across the hall like thunder.
Edmond and his companions immediately fell to their knees.
Robert ignored the formalities completely. He stomped down the steps of the throne with heavy footsteps and grabbed Edmond by the shoulders.
The king pulled him into a crushing embrace.
Edmond laughed despite himself as Robert squeezed the air from his lungs. "It has been too long," the king declared.
He finally released Edmond and turned to Bianca. Without hesitation, he placed a gentle kiss upon her forehead. "You are still the most graceful woman to ever step into my hall."
Bianca bowed her head politely.
Robert's attention moved quickly. His eyes fell upon Sonia. He studied her carefully for a moment. She reminded him of someone else. One that he had desired with everything within him.
Then a wide grin spread across his face.
"You must be Sonia." Sonia nodded.
"What a beauty."
The king chuckled. "You are as beautiful as your aunt, Maria."
Edmond's body stiffened. The name struck him like a quiet blade.
Maria.
Even after all these years, hearing her name still stirred the same uncomfortable knot in his chest.
Robert did not seem to notice. His attention had already shifted again. He turned toward John. "And you must be John."
The king placed a heavy hand on the boy's shoulder. "Heir to the Ice Throne."
John nodded respectfully.
Robert studied him with approval. Then his attention fell upon the smallest member of the Woodland party.
Titiana.
Without warning, he scooped the girl up into his arms. "And this must be Titiana Woodland!"
Titiana blinked in surprise before bursting into delighted laughter. "The woman with the ambition to become a knight of the Nine Kingdoms!"
Titiana nodded enthusiastically. Robert laughed deeply and set her back down.
Meanwhile, Sonia's eyes had wandered. Between the throne steps sat two young men. One of them caught her attention immediately.
He was beautiful. Strikingly so. Fair skin. Light hair that fell neatly around his face.
There was something almost angelic about him, as if the gods had taken their time shaping every detail.
Sonia stared without realizing she was doing it.
Robert noticed.
He turned and gestured proudly. "And this," the king announced, "is my heir."
The young man stood. "Ryli Rendell." Robert clapped him on the back. "The Woodlands' in-law to be."
Then he gestured to the second boy. "And the other."
"Rickon Rendell."
"My second son."
Rickon offered a polite nod. But Sonia barely noticed him. Her gaze had returned to Ryli. He truly was beautiful. More than they had described.
Even Titiana had gone quiet beside her. Bianca, too, watched the young prince with subtle interest.
Robert laughed loudly again.
"And where is your daughter?" Edmond asked.
The king waved a hand dismissively. "Rita has her own path." His grin widened. "She does not want to belong to the court."
Across the room, Ryli had not been listening. His attention had drifted somewhere else entirely.
His eyes rested on Sonia. But not on her face.
But lower.
His gaze lingered on her legs.
The way her weight leaned against the support beside her.
Ryli leaned closer to the woman seated beside him. Queen Freya, his mother.
His voice dropped low enough that only she could hear. "Do not tell me." His eyes flicked again toward Sonia. "…it is the cripple I am expected to engage in?"
Freya's lips tightened. She nodded once. Irritation curled slowly across her face. The sight of the girl also didn't please him because of the state of her leg.
Ryli's jaw hardened. A bitter expression twisted his features. "I would rather die," he muttered coldly. "...than have a cripple as my queen."
The words fell on Sonia's ears. She closed her eyes, savoring the insult. Discomfort crept in and she suddenly wished the ground could open and swallow her.
Without another word, Ryli stood. The movement echoed sharply through the quiet hall.
Several heads turned as the prince walked away. His footsteps faded down the stone corridor. Leaving the entire throne room wrapped in an uncomfortable silence.