#einarr

Alice took a deep breath before stepping through the glowing mirror before her. She couldn’t wait to return to her home. There was finally good news to bring to the others.

“Alice! You’re back!”

Alice gripped the frame of her mirror as she tried to focus, her head always took a while to catch up to her when she traveled, “Yes, and with good news.”

“Alice, you need to rest!”

Alice smiled softly at the familiar chastising of Kazimir, she missed everyone, “I’m fine, Kazimir. Where’s Jason?”

The silence that followed was deafening. It didn’t take long for her to feel the familiar dread growing within her. It was the same as when Jason had to tell her that her father was dead.

“Gilbert, where is Jason?”

She watched closely as Gilbert refused to meet her gaze.

“He was captured a few weeks ago, Queenie.”

Alice flinched at the new voice, “Einarr? What are you doing here? And what do you mean by weeks?!”

Einarr frowned, “I thought you’d be happier to see me. Jason wasn’t very welcoming either. My idiot younger brother betrayed my declaration of neutrality and was helping the Andersons. When I found out, I rushed out here to personally warn you and Jason. I didn’t want to drag the kingdom into this war, but I don’t want my friend and cousin dead.”

Alice allowed Kazimir to guide her to her desk, “That doesn’t explain where Jason is.”

Einarr sighed, leaning against the wall, “I got here too late to warn you. You were gone, and Hannah caught wind of it. Leifr helped her use the secret passages under your castle, the ones that connect the Lund and Sweeney castles.”

Gilbert eyed his feet, handing his head in shame, “We were overpowered by them, they had magic. We weren’t prepared for all of that… Samantha said they were taking Jason prisoner…”

Einarr pulled a small white bracelet from his pocket, “He made me promise to give this to you. He said it was Christa’s. I think they planned on torturing him for information on where you were.”

Alice nodded, numbly taking the bracelet, “Weeks ago…”

“We made a few attempts to get him back, but with everyone still recovering we just didn’t have the forces. I ordered your people to prioritize survival over rescuing him. I don’t want to lose my last family, but I couldn’t risk you losing this war either at this point. Leifr and I have chosen our sides.”

Kazimir was the one to stop the conversation, “Alice, you must rest. We can finish this tomorrow. We will plan another offensive, but you must rest.”

She nodded, allowing herself to be guided to her bed. Her mind was racing, but she felt numb. Her best friend was gone, captured, tortured, while she was enjoying herself visiting her friends and cousins. Sure she managed to gain treaties that would help their war effort, but what was the point if she couldn’t even protect her best friend. For gods sake, he was her betrothed!

As the night began to overtake the kingdom, her restless mind began to imagine what Jason was going through. She needed to save him, even if it was the last thing she’d do. She couldn’t sneak into the enemy camp with others, they’d slow her down. She quickly sat up, reaching for her spell book.

“I’m not an idiot.”

Alice jumped as her hand was caught by a familiar tan one, “Firmino…”

Firmino sighed, standing up in his old leather armor, “You aren’t going alone. Gilbert and I knew you’d want to go as soon as your magic replenished. He has two horses ready. If you want to do this, we’re going with you, or I can have Kazimir restrain you here because you can’t be trusted not to get yourself killed right now.”