Frost in the Snow

Randle crouched behind the low wall as a snowball soared over his head. He scooped up some snow of his own and prepared to return fire. He poked his head up and just barely managed to get out of the way of the next one. He popped up and launched one back. Cassidy had just popped up to prepare another attack and he got her in shoulder. She dramatically spun around and collapsed, making a speech about being too young to perish.

Randle was so distracted by Cassidy’s theatrics he didn’t see the oncoming assault from Dex. It got him square in the chest. Dex stood cheered.

“I WON!” he yelled enthusiastically. “I did it!”

Cassidy was still on the ground, lamenting her last words. Randle grinned but rolled his eyes. His cousin had always been over the top. It was one of the things he loved about her. He admired the way she was unapologetically herself in all things. He didn’t have the courage. He was too afraid of what the court would think. He didn’t know if Cassidy got away with it because she was closer to the throne or if they were amused. He could never rule anyway. Princesses ascended, not princes.

“Ok, I think we need hot chocolate,” Cassidy said as she climbed to her feet.

“Hot chocolate sounds delightful,” Dex said. “However, I feel I am unable to join you.”

“Why?” Cassidy asked as brushed the snow off her coat. “You’re with me. They aren’t going to tell me no.”

Since her birthday earlier in the year, Dex had been spending a lot more time with the two of them. He didn’t flinch nearly as much when she used contractions now. He still struggled with it a bit sometimes. He also wasn’t used to being invited everywhere. Cassidy was third in line for the throne. If anything happened to their aunt, Cassidy would become the Crown Princess. Very few people in the palace would tell her no.

“I do not wish to make trouble,” Dex said.

“You aren’t,” Cassidy said with a snort. “I am, and they can just deal with it.”

She looped her arm through Dex’s and started to pull him toward the palace door. Randle shook his head as he followed. He loved his cousin for making sure Dex was always included. Most of the royals didn’t approve of Dex. He was one of the lowest levels of worker. They would never condone Randle’s relationship with him, but Cassidy did.

“Go up to my rooms and I shall find someone to bring up hot coco and something sweet,” she said.

She skipped off toward the kitchen and Dex lingered awkwardly. He wanted to hang out with them, but he was also afraid of consequences. Randle couldn’t blame him. The fae were not known for being kind in their assumptions.

“Cassidy has ordered you to spend time with her,” Randle said. “No one here can touch you.”

“I fear I shall be causing her undue burdens for her kindness,” Dex replied, shifting slightly.

“Cassidy is more than capable of causing her own undue burdens,” Randle said with a grin. “She is rather known for it around here.”

Dex chuckled and let Randle take his hand. They walked quickly up to Cassidy’s rooms, not wanting to be accosted by anyone before Cassidy could join. While the people of the palace were more than willing to tattle on Cassidy for breaking the rules, who she spent time with was not a rule. There was nothing they could gain from doing anything with the information.

The Frost Festival was in a few days. It was a busy time around the palace. Dex didn’t have family to spend it with, so Cassidy had been going even further out of her way to make sure Dex had festive things to do and focus on. She’d even gone out to get him presents.

He might never be able to have an official family with Dex, but Cassidy was determined to make it feel like one. As soon as their aunt produced a direct heir, Cassidy was going to see about leaving the palace. Randle wanted to go to. He had a better chance at it than she did, but he didn’t want to leave her there. He was more capable at getting along with the other royals than she was. He wouldn’t be alone like she would be. He wouldn’t leave without Dex either. He wasn’t sure if Dex would agree to go.

There would be time to figure that out later. The lighting of the festival tree was later in the evening. For now, he wanted to enjoy the company of his friends by the fire. 

Contracts and Power

Claudette sighed. The two men at the table with her were still screaming at each other; both claiming to be the victim, both wanting some kind of retribution. She’d barely been able to get them to the table in the first place. She didn’t know that anyone else could’ve. Fredrick had called her about problems in his business. Word was traveling that she had no fear and there wasn’t much she was unable to find. Someone was skimming coin from him, and he wanted to know who.

The two men in front of her, Gaven and Dawson, were the most likely. High enough in the organization to be less suspicious, but low enough to be spiteful. She leaned back in her chair, drumming her fingertips on the armrests. She had thought they would tire themselves out by now, but they weren’t showing any signs of slowing down. They were giving her a headache.

She reached down for the briefcase she brought with her. She lifted it up and dropped it, opposed to setting it, onto the table. The metal slammed into the wooden table. Both men flinched and turned to her, the blush of anger all over Dawson’s face.

“This is what we’re gunna do,” Claudette said, immune to their glares. “Both of yall are going to put your butts back in the chairs. I’m tired of the way this is going.”

She looked at them both in turn. They wanted to defy her. She was new in this field, so it didn’t surprise her in the least. She held their stares until they lowered themselves back down to the chairs. She leaned forward and popped the latch on the briefcase.

“I know it was one of you,” she continued. “I thought maybe I could figure out which while sitting here. Alas, I cannot.”

“We both know it was him,” Gaven sneered. “I shouldn’t even be in this meeting! I’ve never done a single thing against Fredrick or his business!”

“Sounds like something a guilty person would say!” Dawson fired back.

“I have two contracts here,” Claudette said, as if they hadn’t spoken. “One is an agreement with me, that the money will all be put back by the end of next season. That gives whichever one of you did it, time to get the coin put together.” She slid the pair of contracts over the table to each of them. “The other is a contract you will sign designating half your pay for the next year to go into Fredrick’s fund for orphaned children.”

“I will not be signing anything!” Dawson yelled.

“I thought you might say that,” Claudette said with a nod. “So I brought these too.”

She lifted the lid to the briefcase again and pulled two folders out, plopping one down in front of each of them, gesturing for them to read. Claudette crossed her legs and leaned back, tipping her head to the side as she watched them. As they flipped through the pages, they paled. Gaven swallowed hard and wiped sweat off his brow. Claudette’s lips twitched into a smile.

She might be new to this business, but she wasn’t new to finding information. Becoming a problem solver was what got her off the streets. Becoming the best at it would keep her in her new comfortable life. Both of these men had gotten their fingers in a lot of pies. Fredrick would not be pleased. It hadn’t even been that hard to find, all things considering. People in taverns liked to talk, especially when you ply them with the drink of their choice.

“As I was saying,” she continued as they slowly closed their folders. “You will sign the contracts, you will eagerly donate to this worthy cause, and you won’t stir up any more trouble. Otherwise... I’m sure Fredrick would love to see these files.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” Dawson growled. “You would never be safe in this town again.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and held his gaze, not even remotely threatened by him. She’d been up against men much scarier than the two in front of her. She wasn’t about to be afraid now.

“Try me, Mr. Lane,” she said, voice level. “I’m not the one with something to be afraid of.”

She pulled pens out of the briefcase and held them out to the two men, forcing them to lean toward her to take them. It was the small things that showcased power. They were both grumbling now, reading over each contract. Neither wanted to sign. It was expected. She knew they would with a little nudge.

“This offer expires in 60 seconds,” she said as she stood. “After that, it will be up to Fredrick.” She picked at her nails as they glared at her, trying to find a way out of it. “Time’s almost up.”

Dawson sighed dramatically and scrawled his signature over both contracts. Gaven let out a string of creative curses she had to give him credit for as he signed. She took the contract agreeing to repay the money, and left the agreement to donate their pay to charity for them to deal with.

“It would be best if you turned those in quickly,” she said, slipping the other contracts into her briefcase. “I’ll be watching.”

With that, she snapped the latches closed and walked out of the room. She could feel Dawson’s magic crackling in the air, but didn’t change her pace. He wanted to make her flinch, and she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.