Frost Thornridge's Arc

Chapter 1 of 1

Frost Thornridge climbed the ridge path with a bundle of white furs on his back and no idea how to give them away. His clan sent unmarried men down the mountain with a pelt and a plain question. The rival clan on the far slope did something else. They sang, or they fought, or they traded riddles at the fire. Frost did not know which. He only knew he wanted Kael Ironheart, the rival chief with the black topknot and the red war-paint under his eyes, and he had one season to win him before the thaw closed the courting months. He found Kael splitting wood outside the lodge at the hot spring, shirt off, breath white in the cold. Frost dropped the furs in the snow between them. "I don't know your customs," he said. "I'm supposed to court you. I'll do it wrong and insult your clan and lose before I start." Kael set the axe down and looked at the pelts, then at Frost's face. "You're asking me to teach you how to win me." "Yes." "That's not how it works." "I know." Frost's hands stayed at his sides. "Teach me anyway. Inside, where your people don't see. I'll trade for the lessons. Whatever you name." Kael picked up the top pelt, weighed it, and threw it back down. "Furs won't do it. My clan doesn't count skins." He walked to the lodge door and opened it. Steam rolled out over the stones. "Come in before you freeze. We'll start tonight. You'll owe me a truth for every lesson, Thornridge. One question, one honest answer. Refuse once and we're done." Frost stepped inside. The timber walls held the heat of the spring, and the water behind the lodge hissed against the rocks. Kael shut the door and bolted it. "First lesson," he said. "Sit. Don't speak until I do." Frost sat on the bench by the fire. Kael poured two cups of dark tea and set one at Frost's knee. Then he sat across from him and did not speak for a long time. Frost's shoulders began to ache from holding still. When Kael finally raised his cup, Frost understood the lesson had already been given, and he had passed the smallest part of it. "Your truth," Kael said. "Why me, and not one of your own?" Frost opened his mouth and found the easy answer was a lie. He swallowed it and gave the harder one. Kael listened, nodded once, and refilled the cup. The bargain was struck. Frost had bought his lessons, and he had bought them with the one thing his clan had taught him to hoard.