A Queen for the Frost Giant (Legends of Rahasia Book 0)

Chapter One

Three seasons ago...

"She kisses like a fish besides." Karol snickers at that, preening his golden locks back from his face. "Do you think she was born underwater? It would only make sense why she can't breathe very well above land."

His friend, a faceless dandy, joins in his mirth. They pace circles in the snow in the clearing where, they wrongly believe, they are free to gossip as they please. Little do they know that these grounds are palatial property even if they are far from the main city of Ymir. My guards patrol this area often, and they have attentive ears to report back to me with. "Did she taste like a fish too?"

Karol's tongue runs along those sparkling white teeth of his. Sparkling white teeth which I'd like nothing more than to watch ground into a fine powder and scattered on the wind. "Depends, doesn't it?"

Their laughter, how their laughter made me ache from the inside. I could not have it. I would not have it.

How dare they not know their place?

I remove my hood as I order my men to my side. Karol's nameless friend flees quick enough, but I would not have Karol do the same.

No, Karol. You've royally screwed up.

He tries to spin around and flee, but another guard steps from behind the tree. Karol's lean body is no match against the legionnaire's war hardened figure. I hope Karol cracks a tooth from slamming into the soldier's breastplate. I raise a hand before they draw their swords, "stand down."

"Please, Cass, it was only in jest." Karol gets on his knees, crawling towards me. He hugs his arms around my thighs, burying his tear-streaked face against my skirts like a child. He whimpers as he sees the glint of blades beneath the legionnaire's gloved fists.

I kick him away and he falls to his hands and knees in the snow. "How dare you call me Cass." My lip curls. "Like we're as intimate as you claim."

"Please..." He gestures to where the long-gone friend of his has long fled. "My friend made me say it."

"He made you do nothing." I sigh, pretending to check some dirt beneath my fingernails as he grovels and whimpers before me. "I could have you executed for this." I fold my fist and the soldiers unsheathe their swords entirely. Karol's sobs grow even higher in pitch. I step closer to Karol, watching as he buries his head in the snow. I lift him by the hair. "Tell me, does the ground taste like fish?"

"I loved you." He wails.

"You loved the money my father's advisors paid you to say those pretty words." I point to the trees. "You have family far from here, right? I'm sure they miss you after carousing in every tavern south of their borders. Run from the city of Ymir, little lord. Run as fast as those feet will carry you or I will have you executed."

"Executed?" His jaw slackens, "for what?"

I grin at that.

"Displeasing me."

I chuckle as I watch him flee, coughing a little in my fist. One of my guards goes to check on me. I push him away.

"But your lungs, princess... the cold air might make them weaker..."

I wave his concern off. "The only thing I'm in danger of dying of is laughter at seeing Karol's pretty calves hit a snowbank." I hold up a coin purse. "Come, sneak me back to the palace before my father finds out I've went to spy on his advisors' favorite little lord. I'll pay for your meals at the tavern." The soldiers cheer. "That's the last time they try to marry me off to a fool. Weak lungs or no, I will rule Idriola as it was written."