Chapter 9 The Windram Household

❄ Snow ❄

The group arrived at Randal’s home without further trouble. This was primarily thanks to Windram and his beasts in clearing a large portion of the old district, including the south gate.

The white, three story home acting as a much needed reprieve from the chaos happening in the city. The bulk of knightly guard took up posts surrounding the property, surrounded by the snowy plains that were prominent outside of the city walls. The area was deathly silent as well, save for the howls, growls, and hisses of war beasts that could be heard coming from a nearby and walled off barn.

Snow was in the kitchen of the house seated at the table alone. The only other person in the room was a silent knight whom she didn’t know the name of. She hadn’t been allowed to stay in the room where Gravis was getting cared for, so she wasn’t sure how her sister was doing. Her thoughts interrupted each time the ever ‘silent’ knight shifted causing his plated armor to rattle slightly. She looked at him with growing annoyance.

“Sir knight, if you were to give an assessment of the pantry, what would you identify as possible threats?”

“Um, none, princess? You are completely safe here.” He nearly looked inside the pantry. Which would have been funny if her sister wasn’t in peril.

“Exactly, there are no threats in the pantry, and the Windram household is clearly friendly with us. However, the outside is a different story and I’m not talking about the savage beasts of war who seem to be sufficiently trained if knighted as a royal guard.”

The knight still seemed to be confused, aggravating Snow enough for her to drop the subtly.

“There are no threats in this room, use your judgment and place yourself where you think you will be most useful, preferably out of my sight.”

The knight seemed surprised at the order and was about to challenge it until he saw the look on her face and sighed.

“Right away princess,” He replied, then left the room.

Snow closed her eyes, cupping her face with her hands while leaning on the table. Weighed down by guilt she prayed that Gravis would be okay.

“I’ve never heard such authority from you Snow.” Mrs. Windram said as she entered the kitchen shortly after the knight left. She turned on the stove fire, setting up a tea pot before coming to the table and taking a seat next to her. She put on a smile and tried being playful to ease the mood, but Snow wasn’t buying it.

“Now I’m sure your sister is okay. No need to worry Snow. Gravis is a frostblood after all. Trust me, with all the injuries Jarles has gotten wrangling with beasts day in and day out, taking care of your sister is probably a walk in the park for him.”

“She’s hurt because of me. I brought us to the Old District. It’s completely my fault.” Snow hunched over the table with darkened eyes.

“Snow, you lot were attacked by an organized group who came after you and your sister for a reason. I don’t think it would’ve mattered if you were in the Old District or not. You can’t blame yourself for that.”

“That’s right, it was not your fault Snow.” A dry voice was heard. Mr. Windram had entered the kitchen, wiping his hands on a blood-soaked towel.

“How is she?” Snow fearfully looked at the towel, just before he tossed it in the bucket.

A heavy silence settled over the room that was unbearably long as Mr. Windram took a seat at the head of the table.

“I’ve got good news and bad news. What will it be first?”

“Just give me the bad news.” Snow braced herself.

“Bad news is that I just broke about fifty laws in the past two hours.”

“uh…and the good news?”

“Gravis is just fine, the cut was large, but I cleaned and stitched it the best I could. I even added a little insect sap to speed up the healing process; she’s stable now. But I do have one question for you. Can you tell me how many times she’s used her frostblood abilities today?”

Snow thought back...

( “Just make an opening with your Emerge ability, so we can get to the knights.”

“I used it too much, surprised the last one worked.”)

“Gravis used it at least three times today. Once at home, and twice in the old district. I remember her telling me she was surprised the last one worked.”

“Okay, that makes sense then. Based on the history I know, losing a lot of blood is a very dangerous thing for a frostblood. Based on that and considering that she overused her abilities, things could have been a lot worse. There was a good amount of ice growing over her back, but it’s mostly receded.”

The tea pot started hissing over the stove, signaling it was ready. Mrs. Windram retrieved it and poured a cup for each of them. Windram took a moment to drink his cup and enjoy the taste before continuing.

“But yeah, all in all, she’s going to be completely fine. At least my animals got a free meal today, since certain individuals disturbed the marketplace, preventing me from acquiring this week’s meat.

“Thank you, Mr. Windram.” Snow’s shoulders began to loosen up from the relieving news.

“Of course, I don’t care what type of restrictions are placed on me, you’re family. Once my son told me you lot were getting attacked in the older district, I opened all my cages.”

“Do you know who those people were, Mr. Windram? Gravis said she thought they were from the mercenary guild.”

“Aye she’s right, that brown and gray armor is from that guild. The mob crowd were also from the Republic. Looks like someone from the Mountaineer Republic has a hand in this and I doubt it’s the king, since he’s just a boy.”

“Any ideas?”

“No, perhaps it was a response against the law your mother just decreed about abolishing slavery in the mountaineer republic. If it is, the list of people who could be involved would only increase.”

Before he could continue, a commotion was heard just outside the kitchen.

“Princess Gravis! You need to go back to bed!” They heard the voices of knights coming from behind the door. Gravis pushed the kitchen door open with two knights hovering behind her. She had a wrap of bandages over her torso and an exasperated frown on her face.

“I’m fine, leave me alone dammit.” She shrugged off the guiding hands of the two guard knights behind her.

“Up already? Not bad, I’d expected you to be out for at least a whole day!” Windram exclaimed, pulling out a chair for her.

Gravis sat on it and put a confident smile on her face, though it appeared a little strained.

“Please, I’m Gravis Regalia, it would take a lot more than a puny sword to put me down for long.” Her prowess reasserted, she looked towards Snow.

“Snow, are you ok?” Gravis asked, as she looked her up and down.

“Am I okay? Look at yourself! Are you okay?!”

“Never better.” She exhaled, leaning back only for the sounds of crackling ice to appear as she completed the motion. The sounds were accompanied by Gravis gritting her teeth in pain causing her to quickly lean back forward. Snow peeked over her shoulder and could see a thin line of ice growing over her injury, poking up from beneath the bandages.

“That’s what you call okay?” Snow questioned, a skeptical look on her face, but Gravis just rolled her eyes in response.

“This ice is infuriatingly painful I will admit, but nothing to fret over.” Her nose seemed to pick something up at that point and started sniffing at the air, before looking towards the oven.

“What’s that?”

Windram noticed and started laughing.

“In the mood for some ribs?”

Windram, Randal, Gravis and Snow were seated at the dinner table, and enjoying a contented silence, having just finished a hearty meal.

Mrs. Windram entered with several plates topped with bones. She dumped the dozen or so bones into a bucket before placing the dishes in the kitchen washbasin before taking a seat next to Mr. Windram.

"Those knights seemed to enjoy my food, not a meat left on those bones." She said in a subtle boast.

"I'll give the bones to the animals later." Mr. Windram said acknowledging her.

“Wish there were more, those were exquisite.” Gravis completely cleaned the bones on her own plate.

“It’s moma's secret recipe!” Randal grinned.

“Please dear, no need for all that.” Mrs. Windram seemed embarrassed.

“Guess I’ll tell Lamille she has competition, right Snow.” Gravis nodded to her.

“Yeah, If you have a death wish maybe.”

They both shared a quick laugh.

Gravis looked at the table and everyone seated at it.

“You know this isn’t too bad. I think I understand why my sister sneaks out here occasionally.”

“What are you talking about?” Snow questioned defensively.

“Please Snow, are you going to tell me that hanging out here where you aren’t treated like some formal trophy or having a relationship that isn’t fabricated for self-interest isn’t the ideal vacation away from our life? Is that not what you do?” Gravis crossed her arms. “You sit at this table and look more comfortable than you do at home.”

Snow replied with silence.

“Don’t worry I won’t tell mom. However, my duty of silence may only be maintained by these delicious ribs I’m afraid.”

“So the future high queen has already shown her willingness to accept bribes.” Mr. Windram jested.

“Well these ribs have no business being this delicious. Any more Mrs. Windram?” Gravis raised her plate looking like a dog who just couldn’t accept there wasn’t any food left in the bowl. It made Mrs. Windram giggle.

“Sorry Princess Gravis but there isn’t any more.”

“Dreadful, how many sword strikes must I take before more is available?”

“I have a special connection that lets me get salted pork from the elven forest. I guess you can say that it is my business… but it’s been hard of late because of the Great Forest Recovery Act.” She leaned on her hand.

“Bloody elves, ever since the war they don’t want to allow anyone in their forests. How long will they maintain that stupid policy?” Mr. Windram huffed.

“First the elves ban humans from their forests and now the Republic attacks us. The high queen must have her hands full.” Randal added.

“I wish you had your hands full of my reins boy.”

“Come on dad, those were just horse reins!”

“That was good leather!”

“Jarles, come now, be reasonable. I am sure Princess Gravis here will reimburse you for the loss of such reins, maybe perhaps as a reward?” Mrs. Windram gave Gravis a subtle wink. Snow knew what Randal’s mother was doing, she was deceptively smart.

“I’m not going to ask her for a reward dear, what do I look like? I am Jarles Windram!”

“Your adventuring days are over Jarles. We don’t have it like that anymore.”

“Reimbursement can be arranged; I’ll tell my mother. You all deserve it. I’ll be sure to await the day for that next shipment of ribs; please, you must send word when the next batch is ready.” Gravis winked.

Windram grunted while Mrs. Windram smiled.

“Of course, dear.”

The family moment was ended by a bang on the front door.

“Looks like that’s for you girls.” Mr. Windram nodded, and they all got up and made their way to the front door, except for Randal who stood behind to collect the plates. Snow stopped at the kitchen door and looked at him. This may very well be the last time she would be able to speak to him for a while.

She called his name.

“Randal.”

“Hm?” he looked at her.

Snow ran up and hugged him.

Randal’s face turned as red as a tomato.

“Woah, woah! What’s up?”

“Thanks for being such a good friend. Nice work today out there.”

Randal smiled, some smugness creeping onto his face as his eyes rolled up to the air.

“Yeah, you should have seen it Snow, there were these guys who managed to block me in the alleyway. But I ducked through them and practically led them straight to my dad! They were so dumb. I can’t believe that plan worked. It was genius! Lucky you got me because we are such a good team!”

She just smiled at him; she didn’t have the heart to tell him that she was banned from seeing him. Maybe after what happened today her mom would say otherwise…but it was her mother after all. She probably wouldn’t. Words were getting caught up in her throat and she couldn’t say anything.

“So when’s the next time we’re going to hang out?” He asked.

“…After today it’s probably going to be a lot harder to sneak out, so we should probably let things calm down for a while. So, it might be some time, okay? “

“Yeah, that makes sense, hopefully things calm down quickly because I wanted to show you this cool spot I found down near the cisterns. It’s this cool new secret hangout a lot of the district kids go to. They don’t usually let me in, but if you’re with me then they have to!”

“That does sound really cool, Randal. We can check it out whenever I am back.”

He put on a peculiar face.

“…Are you crying? What’s wrong?”

Snow brought a hand to her face, and for the first time noticed the small set of tears that were rolling down her cheeks.

“Oh, it’s nothing!” She quickly rubbed her eyes. “I’ll see you later; try not to do anything stupid while I’m gone, okay?”

“Me stupid?! Okay, Miss ‘let’s taunt a bloodthirsty mob nd have Randal do ALL tha’ work.”

“You said you knew the old district better than me so...”

“I do! Which is why I played them,” he said confidently.

Their conversation was interrupted by Windram.

“Are you two done? Snow, your folks are trying to leave.”

“Right…goodbye Randal.” She hugged him one last time, before running off to the entrance.

“See you soon!” He shouted after her.

“Hopefully.” She mumbled under her breath.