Thread: Winter's Kiss (Ursus Peregrinus & Candy_demon21)

Prince Nikolai Kostchei Kolya watched the girl as the carriage carried them up the hill. He didn't respond to her words right away, might not even have heard her for all the reaction he showed to her huffy tone. But her voice struck a chord with him. Looking out the window he considered her words and finally a slow smile curled the corner of those blue-black lips upwards, a faintly mocking expression. You may well be bold, Odette Bellarose, the name rolled off his tongue, and Kolya reflected on the taste of each syllable. This girl, what was it about her. So familiar, and yet just beyond his reach. Though whether it is wise to be so bold... that is for you to consider. You're brave, for a child. Yes, a child. I can call you that, I have the right. After seeing three hundred winters and more, I have that right. There is none in my lands who is not a child to me now. Those dark eyes fixed on her again, examining her face in the pale light of a midwinter sun. Those cheekbones, so fine, her skin so pale and yet flush with life. The line of her chin and the graceful curve of her throat. Most of all her eyes, luminous and green, bright with life. A pale green so fine that looking into those orbs left him thinking of chips of jade in a glacial stream. He was not so cold that beauty did not stir something within him. It might be a cold, faint remembrance, but still it woke. You raised your hand, Odette. And so placed yourself in MY hand. To be my guest, for three days, three nights. The voice of my people. Brave, for such a pretty young lass. One unmarried and without children, and who stings from the lack of them, hmm? The Prince let that barb go home and watched her reaction. Reckless, headstrong child, but beautiful. Young and beautiful, but with no young man to guard her? To step forward and take her place like young fools so often did? That had surprised him, though Wilhelm Horst's offer to take her place had surprised him even more, knowing the Mayor as he did from so long ago. As the carriage rumbled closer to the castle, the Prince smiled again. I hope you will find my hospitality to your liking. I have little need for comforts, but what my home has to offer is yours for the asking. His gauntleted hand gestured at the black walls, Odette could see that they were hung with icicles like spears, sheets of ice clinging to the granite walls and iron gates. The mist that hung about the castle wreathed it in ice that reflected what sunlight pierced the clouds, made the cold stone glitter like diamonds for a brief moment before the mist blocked it once again. The spires of the towers rose up in points of black slate, and as they came closer Odette saw great black ravens hanging on the walls and circling overhead. Then they were rumbling through the gate and rolling to a stop in an icy courtyard. The Prince opened the door, stepped out and collected the heavy case of coin as though it weighed nothing at all, passing it to one of his wolves to carry away. Come, Odette. Allow me to give you a brief tour. My father's keep, and his father's, all the way back to the first of my family to come to this land out of the east. As Odette stepped down, the carriage rumbled around in a circle and left the castle, the driver giving her one last look before passing through the castle gates. They remained open, as though inviting any who dared to enter. Apparently the Prince did not fear trespassers. The courtyard seemed deserted, stark snow on the ground and black stone walls rising around her. Some outbuildings that looked abandoned were scattered about, though the stables soon proved not to be empty after all. One by one a dozen or so timberwolves, the largest of them almost great enough for Odette to ride upon them, crawled out into the sunlight and greeted their master with wagging tails and yipping calls. Several moved close to her, sniffing her, nuzzling at her legs until the Prince's whistle called them away from her. No wonder he did not bother to close his gates, with such guard dogs at his beck and call. tag