Bitter Winter

  Bitter Winter

  Ilyon Chronicles - Book Five

  Jaye L. Knight

  Copyright © 2018 by Jaye L. Knight

  www.ilyonchronicles.com

  Published by Living Sword Publishing

  Ilyon Map © 2014 by Jaye L. Knight

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the author. The only exception is brief quotations in written reviews.

  All Scriptures are taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

  Contents

  Map

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Returning Characters

  New Characters

  Dragons

  Locations

  Race Profiles

  Ryriks

  Talcrins

  Cretes

  Giants

  Companion Novella

  Book 6

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Another empty snare.

  Jace sighed and tugged off his gloves. He loosed the snare wire from the snow and tucked it in a pouch before blowing on his already numb fingers. This bitter cold sucked the warmth from any exposed skin. He looked around the forest. Nothing but white snow and stark gray tree trunks surrounded him. Their brittle boughs creaked and groaned, but no other sound broke the frigid stillness. No bird calls. No signs of life. Not even tracks in the snow.

  A chill shivered deep into his core and ached in his bones, especially in his left arm that he had broken over the summer. He shoved his fingers back into his fur-lined gloves and turned to Tyra, who stood in the trail he’d made. Not even his wolf could find signs of game.

  “Let’s get back.”

  After over two weeks of empty snares, he didn’t bother to set a new snare line today—not with the temperature dropping like it was. He glanced up at the heavy sky. Snow threatened, and the last thing he wanted was to be caught in a deadly blizzard. He pulled his cloak tight around his shoulders and set off the way he had come, praying the snow would hold until he reached shelter. Precipitation threatened constantly, and they seemed to face a new blizzard every week. At this rate, their cabins would be nearly buried by spring.

  Despite wearing snowshoes, the deep snow fought his progress. He and Tyra trudged through the drifts until their trail converged with another. They stopped at the split, waiting. Tyra sat down at Jace’s side and leaned against his leg as if trying to share warmth. Even her thick winter coat was barely a match for the extreme elements.

  A few quiet minutes passed before snow crunched faintly, and Holden approached from the south.

  “Anything?” Jace asked.

  Holden shook his head, his gray eyes matching the foreboding bank of clouds above them. “Nothing. Not even a squirrel.” He brushed away the snow clinging to his pants. “Most of the snares were drifted over, the bait untouched.”

  His taut, stormy expression reminded Jace of the days when Holden used to glare at him over the fire during meals. He’d never imagined Holden becoming one of his closest friends, but they’d been through some dark times together. This was yet another challenge they had to face.

  “Same here.” Jace looked back in the direction he had come from. It seemed the hard winter had either driven away or killed the wildlife in the area.

  They hiked the remaining distance to camp in silence. Along the way, Jace contemplated their rapidly depleting supplies. Between all three camps, they had a village to feed. Though they’d preserved meat before the winter set in, they hadn’t anticipated being unable to supplement it with fresh game. The failure of crops in the region had made it difficult to set aside much else.

  Jace prayed every day for success in their hunting and trapping attempts. Though the prayers so far remained unfulfilled, he clung to faith. Elôm had brought them through war and many worse situations. Surely they hadn’t come this far only to die of starvation. Whenever doubt crept in, he reminded himself of standing beside Elon in Valcré. Elon loved them so much he had given His life for them. That love didn’t change just because their circumstances did.

  Smoking chimneys and the warm glow of cabin windows soon welcomed them into camp with the promise of shelter from the harsh climate. The Altair cabin drew Jace’s eyes as well as his heart, tugging him in that direction. Warm company was just as desirable as warm shelter. However, he had things to see to first.

  “I’ll let Trask know about the snares,” he told Holden. “You go on.”

  His friend nodded in thanks.

  They split up, and Jace walked deeper into camp, to Trask and Anne’s cabin. He hated to bring bad news and didn’t envy the camp leaders who would have to decide what to do about their food crisis. So many relied on them. Jace didn’t think he would stand up well under such a heavy responsibility. He didn’t have the people skills to keep everyone calm and content.

  When he reached the cabin, he removed his snowshoes and knocked on the door. A moment later, Trask opened it and invited him in. Warmth from the fireplace engulfed him as he stepped through the door with Tyra. Inside, he found his sister setting the table with Anne. Elanor’s happy smile boosted his spirits. She looked so much like their mother with her dark hair and deep indigo eyes. He missed his mother lately, but his sister’s bubbly personality made up for her absence. He greeted her warmly, though his attention shifted to a fourth person in the cabin—Prince Daniel. He nodded in greeting to the prince and sent Elanor a curious look. She ducked her head before meeting his gaze again.

  “Anne invited us for supper.”

  While not odd, her use of “us” held hints of more than passing familiarity between her and Daniel. At least it did so to Jace. The two of them did seem to be spending a suspicious amount of time together these days. More so than they would as mere friends. Jace wasn’t sure how he felt about this. Part of him bristled just a little at the idea, yet he could find nothing to actually base his feelings on.

  Setting aside his musings for now, he focused on Trask. “I just wanted to let you know Holden and I didn’t find anything in our snares. There weren’t even tracks.”

  Trask let out a long sigh. “I was afraid of that.” He glanced at the door. “I think it’s time we called a meeting. When you see the others, let them know I’d like to see everyone in the meeting hall tomorrow after breakfast.”

  “I will.”

  He turned to go, but Trask stopped him. “If you’re not in a hurry, I have something to show you.”

  Jace nodded. His heart might be in a hurry, but he did have time.

  Trask walked to the table, where his coat lay over the back of a chair. He paused behind Anne and put his arm around her, kissing her hair near her ear. “I’ll be right back.”

  Jace looked away from the intimate exchange, but smiled to himself. It was good to see the two of them finally married and how much they loved each other a
fter everything they had been through with Captain Goler last summer.

  Slipping on his coat, Trask joined him at the door.

  “If you don’t have plans for tonight, feel free to join us for supper when you’re done,” Anne invited, gesturing to an empty spot at the table.

  Though Jace would have liked to accept and observe his sister’s apparent connection with Daniel a bit closer, he couldn’t give up his previously made plans. “Thank you, but I’m having supper with Kyrin tonight.”

  Besides, she would surely have some insight as far as Elanor and Daniel were concerned.

  He followed Trask outside, where a few light flakes had begun to fall from the sky. They walked through camp along one of the packed paths with Tyra trotting ahead of them. At the far corner, they stopped at a small cabin with darkened windows. Jace zoned in on it, his heart rate accelerating with his thoughts. Could it be?

  Trask opened the door, and they stepped inside. The cabin was dim and unoccupied, but Trask lit a candle that sat on one of the window ledges.

  “I did some relocating and the cabin is now vacant. It’s all yours, at least until spring. We may get more refugees once the snow clears and have to share again, but until then, feel free to make it your own.” Trask’s eyes gleamed. “I wouldn’t waste any time if I were you. I know you didn’t ask for this just to have a place to stay by yourself.”

  Jace bent his head, but a huge smile broke across his face. He’d hesitated to make such a request. A private cabin was a luxury for anyone these days. It must have seemed odd when he’d been perfectly content sharing a cabin with Rayad, Holden, and some of the other men, but Trask had him figured out.

  “Thank you. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.”

  Trask clapped him on the back, the twinkle in his eyes growing. “I’m sure Kyrin will too.”

  He then left Jace and Tyra alone. Once the door closed, Jace scanned the cabin. A bed sat in the corner and a table near the cold fireplace. Aside from a couple of shelves, there wasn’t much else, but it would do. It just needed a little cleaning and a few finishing touches.

  He knelt down and rubbed Tyra’s neck. “What do you think? Do you think she’ll like it?”

  The wolf nosed his chin and wagged her tail. He smiled. “Yeah, I think she will too.”

  Anticipation thrummed inside of him as plans for the next few days fell into place. He would certainly heed Trask’s advice not to waste time. His growing eagerness and impatience would see to that. Finally, it was time. He drew a deep breath to keep his nerves at bay. There would be no backing out or allowing uncertainty to distract him. He was ready for this despite the doubts that threatened to creep in.

  With a firm nod, he pushed back to his feet, and the comfortable warmth of contentment filled him. Though it had been a long time coming, this was right.

  He motioned to Tyra. “Come on. We don’t want to be late.”

  They braved the weather outside once more, but Jace couldn’t keep from looking back at the cabin as they walked away along the icy path. He’d never owned a home of his own before—had never even imagined it. Even if it was temporary, the weight of it exhilarated him. The sight of the Altairs’ cabin only fueled these emotions. Now he just had to keep the news to himself if he wanted to maintain the surprise. Such a goal would be a challenge with Kyrin, but he would have to try.

  When he knocked on the door, he only had to wait a moment before it opened. Kyrin stood on the other side to greet him with a warm smile that never failed to inspire him.

  “Come in.” She motioned him inside.

  He crossed the threshold and had to battle the urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her with all the enthusiasm stored inside over the excitement for their future. A future where he could kiss her whenever the inclination arose and hold her for far longer than would be appropriate for an unmarried couple. Before his thoughts wandered further, upraised male voices around the table distracted him. He glanced at Kyrin’s brothers, who were in the middle of a friendly argument with Talas. The crete came to supper almost as much as Jace did.

  Chuckling at the rowdy exchange, he unbuttoned his coat, but his gaze focused again on Kyrin. In the two and a half years since he’d met her, she’d never been more lovely. Her soft eyes squinted slightly. Staring at her surely didn’t help his attempt at secrecy, so he slipped his coat off and turned to hang it up.

  “All right, boys, that’s enough,” Kyrin’s mother scolded gently. She smiled at Jace as he faced the gathering again. “Come have a seat.”

  He followed Kyrin, and they both took seats next to each other at the table. Tyra found her usual spot on a small rug near the fireplace. While the others traded a few more passive-aggressive comments, Kyrin leaned in close to Jace.

  “Something has you in a very good mood and me very curious.”

  He looked at her, unable to hold back the smile that only confirmed her observations. He would have made a terrible spy. “It’s a surprise.”

  “Oh?”

  “I hope I can tell you soon.”

  Her lips turned up in a little smile of her own. “Well, I won’t ask any more questions then.”

  Elôm help him, Jace had never loved anything or anyone so much in his life. Some girls might have tried to pry the secret out of him—Kyrin probably could have easily figured it out—but she was content to wait for the moment he wanted to share it with her. It tortured him not to be able to kiss her right now, but he didn’t want to send her brothers back into an uproar.

  The talk around the table quieted when Lydia joined them, and they all bowed their heads while Kyrin’s oldest brother Marcus thanked Elôm for the food and the opportunity to enjoy it together. Jace silently thanked Elôm for the cabin. This set things in motion that he had prayed about for a long time.

  When they passed around the food, Marcus looked at Jace. “Was there anything in your snares?”

  Jace shook his head, and concern eclipsed some of his joy. Threat of starvation could seriously affect his plans. “Nothing.”

  Usually the calm and stoic one, Marcus grimaced, betraying his own concern. “We need to start finding other ways to get food. There’s no way we can sustain this for much longer.”

  “Trask wants to have a meeting in the morning after breakfast.” Jace served himself from the pot of soup on the table. It was a bit lean on meat and vegetables, making Marcus’s statement all the more true.

  Though the problem might have lingered in their minds, it did not linger in their conversation. Instead, talk quickly turned to Ronny’s thirteenth birthday next month.

  “Can I have a sword?” He held his spoon in the air as if wielding the weapon right now. His hair, which was getting a bit long, flopped into his eyes in his enthusiasm. “A real one? Not just a practice one?”

  Lydia passed a plate of rolls around to Jace. “I think maybe we’ll wait with the sword.”

  “But Michael has one!”

  His mother sent him a pointed look. “Michael is fifteen.”

  Ronny heaved an exaggerated sigh, dunking his spoon back into his soup bowl. “I hate being the youngest. I’m always last to get anything fun.”

  “Swords aren’t fun,” Lydia said seriously. “They’re weapons and must be handled appropriately.”

  “Yes, Mother.” Ronny’s tone suggested he’d heard this lecture before.

  Jace could understand his disappointment. It probably wasn’t so much the sword he really wanted but to be one of the men. Yet, Lydia was right too. To carry a sword came with a huge responsibility—something Ronny would learn over the next couple of years of practicing with his brothers. He may not think a practice sword was much fun at the moment, but that would no doubt change once he saw the one Jace was making for him as a gift along with a matching wooden dagger. He’d be the envy of the other boys in camp when they practiced sparring.

  Despite the disappointment of being denied a real sword, Ronny’s excitement for his birthday rushed back, and the
y enjoyed their meal in good spirits.

  Once they’d finished sometime later, Jace helped carry dishes to the washtub. When he turned back to the table, movement outside caught his eye. He pushed aside the curtain on the window. Across camp, two people meandered toward one of the cabins, where they paused to speak for a couple of moments before one of them entered.

  “What are you looking at?”

  Jace let the curtain fall into place and looked down at Kyrin, who joined him at the window. “Elanor had supper tonight with Trask and Anne… and Daniel. I just saw him walk her to her cabin.”

  Kyrin’s expression lifted a little. “They seem to be getting serious.”

  “They do.”

  “Does that bother you?”

  Jace shrugged. Could he really say it didn’t? The emotions that wove in and around his sister’s possible relationship were very new and not simple to navigate. “Of course I want her to marry and have someone to take care of her… I just want her to choose wisely.”

  Kyrin’s gaze turned to the snow drifting into camp. “Are you afraid Daniel isn’t a wise choice?”

  Jace chewed on this question as he considered how he’d gotten to know Daniel over the last few months. Daniel had allayed all of Jace’s suspicions or uncertainty concerning his royal upbringing. “No. He’s a good man.” Jace breathed out a slow sigh. “It’s just strange to think of Elanor with a prince.”

  “It is,” Kyrin reached for his hand and squeezed it, “but as long as they’re aware of the challenges, I think they can work it out. After all, look what you and I have worked through.”

  The loving way her eyes sought his coaxed a smile from his lips.

  “Does she ever talk to you about him?” he asked.

  Kyrin tipped her head with a cute little grin. “Sometimes. She thinks he’s quite handsome, but I’ll spare you the dreamy girl talk.”

  Jace’s smile deepened as he ran his gaze over her soft face, pausing at her lips before rising again to her eyes. It was definitely time they were married. “I should probably go before the snow gets any heavier.”