As the afternoon wore on, Kat found herself growing drowsy.
The swaying of the carriage, the rhythmic sound of hoofbeats, the warmth of the sun through the window—all of it combined to make her eyelids heavy.
“Sleep if you need to, miss,” Renna said quietly.
“We won’t reach the inn for several hours yet.
Might as well rest while you can.”
Kat wanted to protest, to stay alert and watchful, but exhaustion won out.
She pulled one of the fur blankets over herself—it was incredibly soft and smelled faintly of pine and smoke—and let her eyes drift closed.
She didn’t dream this time.
Just fell into a deep, dreamless sleep that felt like mercy.
________________________________________
She woke to Renna’s gentle touch on her shoulder.
“Kat.
We’ve arrived.”
Kat blinked, disoriented, and sat up.
Through the window, she could see they’d stopped in front of a large timber building—the inn, presumably.
It was built in a style she’d never seen before: heavy logs fitted together with expert craftsmanship, a steep roof designed to shed snow, and small windows with thick shutters.
Smoke rose from two chimneys, and warm light spilled from the windows.
It looked solid.
Safe.
Welcoming, even.
Aldric opened the carriage door and offered his hand.
“Welcome to the Frost and Flagon, Lady Ashford.
It’s not fancy, but it’s clean and the food is excellent.
The innkeeper is an old friend—he’ll take good care of you.”
Kat took his hand and stepped down; her legs stiff from hours of sitting.
The air was noticeably cooler here, carrying the sharp scent of pine and woodsmoke.
The sun was setting behind the mountains, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple.
The inn’s door opened, and a large, bearded man emerged, grinning broadly.
His hair was long and decorated with colorful ribbons woven through thick braids, and his beard was adorned with small metal rings.
“Aldric Stormwind!
By the old gods, it’s good to see you!
And you’ve brought company, I see.”
“Gareth,” Aldric said warmly, clasping the man’s forearm in greeting.
“Good to see you too, old friend.
This is Lady Katriana Ashford.
She’s to be the Archduke’s bride.
We need rooms for the night—something comfortable for the lady, and space for my men.”
Gareth’s eyes widened, and he immediately bowed—that same brief, northern style.
“My lady!
What an honor!
Please, come in, come in.
I’ll have my best room prepared for you immediately.
And dinner—you must be starving after such a journey!”
He ushered them inside with the enthusiasm of a man who genuinely loved his work.
The interior of the inn was warm and inviting: a large common room with a massive fireplace, sturdy wooden tables and benches, and the mouthwatering smell of roasting meat and fresh bread.
Several other travelers looked up as they entered, their eyes widening at the sight of the northern guards in their armor and furs, their decorated hair and adorned braids marking them as warriors.
But Gareth paid them no mind, leading Kat and her escorts toward the stairs.
“Quiet, comfortable, with a proper bed and a washbasin.
I’ll have hot water sent up, and dinner as soon as you’re ready.”
He opened a door to reveal a modest but clean room: a large bed with thick blankets, a washstand with a mirror, a small table and chair by the window, and a fireplace where a fire was already crackling merrily.
“Will this do, my lady?” Gareth asked anxiously.
“It’s perfect,” Kat said, and meant it.
The room was simple, but it was warm and clean and felt safe.
“Thank you so much.”
“My pleasure, my lady.
Truly.” Gareth beamed.
“I’ll have that hot water up in just a moment, and dinner shortly after.
Is there anything else you need?”
“No, thank you.
This is wonderful.”
After Gareth left, Renna helped Kat remove her traveling cloak and get settled.
“I’ll be in the room next door,” she said.
“If you need anything—anything at all—just knock.
I’m a light sleeper.”
“Thank you, Renna,” Kat said.
“For everything.
You’ve been very kind.”
Renna’s expression softened.
“Just doing my duty, miss.
But…
you’re welcome.
Get some rest.
Tomorrow, we continue north, and the roads only get rougher from here.”
After Renna left, Kat stood alone in the room, listening to the sounds of the inn: voices from the common room below, footsteps in the hallway, the crackle of the fire.
She moved to the window and looked out at the darkening landscape.
Somewhere out there, beyond these mountains and forests, lay Blackwoods.
Lay Theron.
Lay her future.
She should be terrified.
Part of her was.
But another part—the part that had survived twenty years of cruelty and neglect, the part that had learned to hope even when hope seemed foolish—that part was almost excited.
Because for the first time in her life, she was moving toward something instead of just enduring.
For the first time, she had a chance to be more than the cursed daughter locked away in the library.
She didn’t know if she’d be happy in the North.
Didn’t know if Theron would be kind or if their marriage would be anything more than a cold arrangement.
A knock at the door announced the arrival of hot water, followed shortly by another knock.
Kat opened it to find Renna standing there with a tray laden with food.
“Thought we could eat together,” Renna said with a slight smile.
“Unless you’d prefer to dine alone?”
“No, please,” Kat said quickly, stepping aside.
“I’d welcome the company.”
Renna set the tray on the small table by the window—roasted chicken and root vegetables, fresh bread with butter, and two mugs of mulled cider that filled the room with the scent of spices and warmth.
They sat together, and Kat found herself relaxing in a way she never had during meals at Ashford Manor.
There was no tension here, no need to watch every word and gesture.
Renna ate with the unselfconscious efficiency of a soldier, but she wasn’t crude or careless.
“This is good,” Kat said, savoring a bite of the chicken.
“Much better than I expected.”
“She’s got a gift for it.
Wait until you taste the breakfast—her porridge with honey and cream is legendary among travelers.”
They ate in comfortable silence for a while, the crackling fire and distant sounds of the common room below creating a peaceful atmosphere.
“Can I ask you something?” Kat said finally.
“Of course.”
“What made you become a warrior?
Was it…
difficult?”
Renna considered the question, taking a sip of her cider.
“My father was a soldier.
He taught me to fight when I was young—said every person should know how to defend themselves, regardless of sex.
When I was old enough, I joined the Archduke’s guard.
It wasn’t easy, but I was good at it.
Better than many of the men, if I’m honest.” She smiled slightly.
“Theron doesn’t care if you’re man or woman, as long as you can do the job.
That’s all that matters to him.”
“He sounds…
fair.”
“He is.
Hard, but fair.
He expects a lot from those who serve him, but he gives loyalty in return.” Renna met Kat’s eyes.
“You’ll be all right with him, I think.
He’s not the monster the southern rumors make him out to be.”
Kat wanted to believe that.
Desperately.
They finished their meal, and Renna collected the dishes.
“Get some rest,” she said.
“I’ll be right next door if you need anything.”
After Renna left, Kat washed in the hot water, changed into her nightgown, and climbed into the bed.
The mattress was stuffed with something soft—feathers, perhaps—and the blankets were thick and warm.
She lay in the darkness, listening to the unfamiliar sounds of the inn, and thought about everything that had happened today.
She’d left Ashford Manor.
Left her family.
Left the only life she’d ever known.
And she’d met Aldric and Renna—northern warriors who treated her with respect and kindness, who didn’t seem to care about omens or curses or the color of her hair.
Tomorrow, they would continue north.
Every mile would take her farther from the past and closer to the future.
But she knew—with a certainty that surprised her—that whatever awaited her there, it had to be better than what she’d left behind.
And that was enough.
For now, that was enough.
She closed her eyes and let herself drift toward sleep, lulled by the warmth of the fire and the comfort of knowing that, for the first time in her life, she was safe.
Tomorrow, the journey would continue.
Tomorrow, she would move one day closer to her new life.
And tomorrow, she would be one day farther from the family that had never wanted her.
That alone made the fear worthwhile.