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He wrapped an arm over her waist and tucked her close against his chest.

She let out a sigh and snuggled closer, as if appreciating his added warmth even in her sleep.

A good sign, that she was responding to touch.

Rharreth let himself relax. It had been a long journey to get here, and he needed rest as much as she did.

Tomorrow he would worry about retaking his throne and protecting Melantha and facing the remaining length of the journey before them. Tomorrow would be filled with worries and pain.

But, tonight, he would rest.

ESSIE HAD A BITE ofeggs halfway to her mouth when Julien burst into the kitchen of Buckmore Cottage, Farrendel trailing behind him with that bewildered furrow in his forehead.

Julien was grinning from ear to ear. “The pond is frozen. All the way frozen this time. The guards tested every inch of it and deemed it safe to allow the royal family on it.” He didn’t even wait for her response before he ducked back out the door.

“Yes!” Essie stuffed the rest of her eggs into her mouth as quickly as possible, gesturing to the stove where Miss Merrick was keeping Farrendel’s breakfast warm. “Hurry up and eat!”

The bewildered look remained on Farrendel’s face, but he claimed a plate from Miss Merrick, sat beside Essie at the table, and ate his eggs and breakfast sausage.

She still finished well before him, and she gathered their warm clothing while Farrendel ate. He had no sooner popped the last bite in his mouth, than she shoved his cloak, warmer socks, hat, mittens, and scarf at him. All things he left behind for his morning exercises since he stayed warm enough that he didn’t need them.

She hopped up and down as she put on one wool stocking, then the other.

Farrendel raised his eyebrows. “What are you so excited about? Is there an Escarlish tradition about frozen ponds that you have not shared with me yet?”

“Maybe it’s new, maybe not. Have you ever been ice skating? Do elves do that? Or is that just a human thing?” Essie sat to tug on her boot.

Farrendel laughed, and the sound came out clear instead of haggard and rusty, for once. He gave a gentle tug on her braid. “Of course, I have been ice skating before. We elves invented it thousands of years ago, back when elves and trolls were still two branches of the same people. You humans are not the only ones to invent things, you know.”

“Oh.” She should have realized that. She laughed and tapped his chest. “Well, then, I shall expect you to be exceptional at it, like you are at everything.”

He just grinned and clasped his cloak around his shoulders, adjusting it so that the folds fell around the swords he had strapped to his back.

When they were bundled in their warm clothing, they hurried outside and headed for the pond. Julien was already there lacing on his skates, sitting on the beam that had once been Farrendel’s practice beam over the water and was now sitting along the edge of the pond, forming a bench. Large snowbanks surrounded the pond where the servants had shoveled the snow.

“Did you find an extra pair for Farrendel?” Essie fished through the pile of skates to find hers.