By the second morning in Ratha, the stares had lessened. When Kai and Kestrel went downstairs for breakfast, the inn was not as packed as it had been. There were still a few people seated at the tables, but they had their choice of seating.

The innkeeper’s greeting was less enthusiastic now that he was no longer playing to an audience. He took their orders and disappeared without comment.

“I want to head back to the market today,” Kai told Kestrel while they waited for their food.

“You think they’ll talk today?” she asked.

Yesterday he’d learned Ratha did not have shops, but rather employed an open air market system. Although they’d tried to visit, they hadn’t been able to make it there before being mobbed by more people eager to know what they were selling. Kestrel had suggested they take a walk around the city instead.

The buildings and homes they’d come across had all been in disrepair. This was not unexpected given how long the city had lived under snow. The residents had done their best to survive and improvise with what they had.

Then they’d seen the graveyard.

Marker after marker protruded from the snow, many of them with multiple names etched on them. When they’d asked a passerby about it, they’d learned of the blood fever that had ravaged the city.

“Oh, our population used to be double—no triple—what it is now,” the woman had told them. “But with the snow came the fever, and there’s no stopping it. It took whole families. Once you got it, you’re as good as dead.”

They’d also learned because of the frozen ground the markers were just that—markers. No bodies had been interred because they’d been burned.

“How awful,” Kestrel said after the woman had left.

Kai had looked out over the markers, wondering if his sister’s name was among them. Were they too late? He’d never know for sure because he didn’t know her name. She hadn’t been given one before his mother had declared her dead. Perhaps they would return home and find the council had already discovered the new heir, and there was no need to worry about their magic disappearing.

He might never know what had become of his sister.

They’d spoken to others throughout the day, but much of what they’d learned was the same. Endless snow, the fever, and a few mentions of a beast in the woods. No one wanted to dwell on their problems for long and would rather ask questions about the outsiders.

“Don’t know,” Kai said, “but worth a try. Who knows? Maybe we’ll come across her ourselves.”

This time, when they arrived at the market, they found it quiet. The locals talked amongst themselves, but only in whispers. Today, their stares were guarded, and no one approached them.

While Kai appreciated the new disinterest, he couldn’t help but feel there was something he was missing about the sudden change in reception.

They decided the best course of action would be to split up and try to talk to as many as possible before their visit to the castle.

They made their way down aisle after aisle until they returned to the place where they had entered.

Kestrel poked at a pile of woven rugs in one stall, while Kai talked with a man a few stalls away. As soon as the man realized Kai wasn’t interested in buying anything from him, the friendly conversation died. He’d experienced something similar with almost every vendor. The minute he turned the conversation to something besides the product, they clammed up. 

Kai moved away from the stall and waited for Kestrel to finish speaking to the weaver.

“That was interesting,” Kestrel said a few minutes later, falling into step beside him.

“Did you learn something?” he asked, ducking beneath a hanging piece of tarp to return to the street.

“I’m uncertain, but I believe I was just accused of being Fae.”

“What? What did you say to her? You didn’t let something slip, did you?”

Kestrel waved his worries away. “No. Nothing like that. I wished her a good day, and she said she doesn’t do business with the Fae because we are nasty creatures, and if we know what’s good for us, we will give the girl back.”

“Are you sure you didn’t say anything else? What could have made her say that?” It was the first time a human had ever called them Fae. There had been stares, and the occasional rumor about magic users, but they’d always been careful to never give away who they truly were.

“I don’t know. I swear I didn’t say anything to her or anyone else that would make them suspicious. When I asked her to explain herself, she refused to say anything more.”

“Perhaps it would be best if we steered clear of the market entirely, at least for a few days.”

“I agree. I don’t know what she meant about giving back a girl, but we don’t need those sorts of entanglements,” Kestrel said. “If she spreads rumors about us, we’ll need to leave the city whether or not we find your sister.”

Kai frowned. He hoped it wouldn’t come to that. He still felt like he was close to finding her if only he had enough time.

In the late afternoon, Kai and Kestrel arrived at the castle for their visit with Lady Zahara. If luck was on their side, they’d find Jensira serving in the guard here. Then they could question her about his sister.

“Right this way,” a servant of the castle said when they identified themselves. If the lady kept guards, they were nowhere to be seen around the premises. They’d been able to waltz right in the front door.

Instead of taking them deeper into the castle like Kai expected, the servant led them back outside and across a snow covered garden. Dead tree limbs dusted with snow and dripping with icicles reached bony fingers toward the sky. He might have thought it beautiful if he didn’t know it was supposed to be spring. 

The servant opened the door to a glass covered structure and ushered them inside. There they found row after row of green plants and warm humid air that quickly bled away the cold from the outside. The air smelled of growing things, a sharp contrast to the winter air on the other side of the glass.

“My lady,” the servant announced with a bow, “your guests have arrived.”

A human woman around the age his mother would have been had she still been alive, turned to greet them. She wore a pale green dress with voluminous skirts. Her reddish-brown curls, streaked with gray, were pinned up in an elaborate style. She would have looked as regal as a queen if not for the smudge of dirt on her cheek. 

Kai bowed politely. Here he wasn’t a prince. “My lady. Thank you for the invitation to your home. It is an honor.”

Beside him, Kestrel also murmured a greeting.

“I hope you are enjoying your stay in my city,” she said. Then, without waiting for an answer, “I’m sure you are wondering why I invited you here.” She leaned over a nearby bush and plucked one of the large pink flowers, bringing it to her nose.

Kai watched in silence. He was indeed wondering why they’d been invited, but knew it would be rude to ask outright. 

“You see,” Lady Zahara continued, “we suffer from a slight problem here.” She gave them a tight smile. “The snow makes it difficult to grow food and with the blocked mountain pass, it is also difficult to bring in trade. I do the best I can with my greenhouses.” She used the flower to gesture at the plants growing around them.

Kai had seen similar structures around the city yesterday, but none as elaborate as this one.

“However, it doesn’t provide nearly enough. Therefore, when I hear of visitors who might be able to bring us what we need or at least news of the outside world, I must take the opportunity.”

Kai admired that she hadn’t left the city. She’d the resources to get herself out, and he knew many who would have done so to save themselves. It was unfortunate that they were neither traders like she hoped for, nor could they bring her any news she might be seeking. The only thing Kai cared about was finding his sister. Human affairs mattered little to him.

“I’m not sure we will be of much help, my lady,” he admitted.

She regarded him with shrewd eyes. “You never know. Why don’t we speak indoors and have some tea? I can offer that to my guests, at least.”

It was on the tip of his tongue to refuse, but before he could get the words out, Kestrel jumped in.

“I would love some tea,” she said. She asked questions about the greenhouses while they walked back to the castle, leaving Kai to trail behind them. He hoped she had a plan to explain what they were doing here.

They settled into a receiving room that was comfortably appointed with sofas whose rich fabric was a little worn, but well-kept. A fire roared in the hearth, chasing away the cold while a servant—a different one than before—poured cups of tea for them.

Kai accepted his, inhaling the fragrant steam that rose from it.

“I used to bring tea in from all over the country, but now I must grow it myself,” Lady Zahara said. “I do my best, but it isn’t quite the same.”

“It’s lovely,” Kestrel said, after taking a sip.

“Thank you. If I have a chance, I’d like—”

The door burst open, and a girl rushed in. “Lady Zahara, I must speak with you about an urgent matter. Oh,” her eyes went round as she took in Kestrel and Kai seated on the sofa, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had company. Forgive me.” She curtseyed low, holding it until Zahara bid her to rise.

“We will speak when we are done here,” Zahara said.

“If it is urgent, please do not wait on our account,” Kai jumped in, hoping to stall a little longer and perhaps get a moment alone with Kestrel to make sure they both told the same story.

“Very well. What is it, Ariya?”

“I—um, well,” she stumbled over her words, eyeing them uncertainly, before focusing on Zahara, “you see my friend, who works as a scribe in your library,” Ariya tugged on her sleeves, which Kai noted were speckled with black, while she spoke, “her sister went missing last night. Do you think there is anything you could do to help?”

Lady Zahara sighed. “Children go missing all the time,” she said gently.

“But she’s not a child. She’s fifteen.”

Beside him, Kestrel shifted, leaning ever so slightly forward. His sister would be around fifteen now, but it was surely a coincidence, especially if, as the lady had pointed out, children went missing all the time.

“She’s a very pretty girl,” Ariya went on, “with the most unusual silvery hair. Kind of like yours.” She was looking at him now. “We think she was kidnapped, and my friend doesn’t know what to do.”

Kai went statue still. No. It couldn’t be.

“Perhaps we could be of service. We will do anything we can to help your friend,” Kestrel said. “Tell us everything you know.”