Winter’s Rebirth: B1 - 2. Winterhelm (Patreon)

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Author Note: I decided to add this chapter between the current chapters 1 and 2 before what happens in what will now be chapter 3. It adds a lot of world building, lore, and introduces us to Winterhelm and Victor's family life with foreshadowing. Let me know what you think! Because Chapter 2 is currently free to everyone, I decided to just give this one out as well. Chapter 5 will be for $10+. I'll work on Chapter 5 tomorrow!

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Sir Alden Winterhart woke before the first light touched the sky, the pre-dawn chill seeping into his bones despite the heavy quilts and fires, managed by the servants. The basement spa stream cycling through the open vents helped to mitigate the lingering winter frost; still, even if it was spring, it would be another several weeks before the temperatures rose above sub-zero.

He glanced to his side, a smile creeping across his face as he took in the sight of his sleeping twins and wife, Anna. Her fiery red hair spilled across the pillow, a vivid contrast against the white linens. The twins, barely two years old, lay nestled between them, ensuring they wouldn’t roll out of bed during the night.

How did I get so lucky? Alden wondered, his heart swelling with affection. For as far back as he could remember, Anna’s presence had been a beacon of warmth in the harsh, frozen landscape of Frostholm and the northwestern frontier.

He took a moment to admire the way her long lashes brushed her cheeks, her serene expression as she slept in the faint light of the low-burning fire in the corner, and the way she held their children protectively even in slumber. She hadn’t been in bed when he’d gone to sleep, having spent the night soothing the fussy toddlers.

How late did you stay up after I went to bed? Probably a while. What fussy children we have, but you somehow manage. What can I do today to lighten your load? I doubt you’ll let me greet Baroness Morgana at the gates since that would be stepping too much on your duties to welcome our guests into our community, so… flowers from outside and maybe a snack of fresh crowberries for a pie? That sounds lovely.

Careful not to wake his family, Alden slipped out of bed and slid his hands through his messy brown hair to smooth it back. The cold air bit at his exposed skin, but he ignored it, focusing instead on getting ready for the day.

His hand slid on instinct to the bedside table, his fingers brushing against the dual amber and ruby bolo tie that signified his station as the head of House Winterhart.

The power within them sparked to life at his touch, and in the fraction of a second, he was presented with three options: an endless line of swordsmen to dodge, trekking through a hellish landscape, or enter a nightmarish battlefield with meteors raining from the heavens.

Alden didn’t hesitate, facing the swordsmen without a thought as he mindlessly weaved through their slashes with trained instinct. The battle of tug-of-war between keeping his focus on channeling the magic stone and functioning normally was something long overcome for him, at least on the Tier-1 level.

The darkness peeled back as the amber’s energy infused him, reinforcing his frame with the strength and fortitude of the earth while enhancing his senses to a superhuman degree.

Now able to navigate the dark space with ease, he dressed in layers: a thick woolen shirt, sturdy trousers, and his heavy, fur-lined coat. He pulled on his boots, each movement deliberate and silent.

Upon repositioning the amber and ruby bolo, he stared into the mirror, tightening it over his wool shirt where it continued to meet his skin. The Tier-3 magic stones gleamed in the darkness to his enhanced, illuminated lime-green eyes. Throughout his twenty-six years of life, he’d only channeled the dual gems to their highest degree a handful of times, unlike his father, who had mastered them.

The amber provided strength and vigor with the added benefit of the earth element, while the ruby fed a warmth into his body and allowed him to channel the fire element—both essential for his duties as the Marshal of the Frostholm Expedition.

Just as he was about to leave, he heard a soft rustling from the bed. He turned to see Anna’s striking green eyes fluttering open. “Were you planning to go without my promised kiss?” she murmured, her voice heavy with sleep. “Trying to break our agreement, are we?”

Alden’s smile widened at the familiar tease. He’d made that promise on their wedding day, a vow to greet her with a kiss every morning. He walked around the bed, leaning down to press his lips against hers in a gentle gesture before placing a second on her forehead.

“I’ll be back for breakfast,” he whispered. “We can discuss our plans for the day then. Get some rest—you deserve it.”

Anna smiled, her eyes drifting shut again as she settled into the pillows. “Be safe, Alden.”

With a final glance at his peaceful family, Alden left the master bedroom to enter the upstairs hallway of their large manor, practically a castle; his father had constructed it to last generations and act as a central hub given its hot spring access. Even the servants weren’t up at this hour, excluding the night shift that kept the many hearths burning to counter the dying winter chill.

The controlled hotspring channels below the town were one of the few reasons they could survive in this harsh northern region through the winter, and had been why his father had founded the frontier in this location. Its warmth giving waters radiated moisture and heat through the vents that would be closed in several weeks from now with the arrival of summer.

Silently waving at a few of the serfs who bowed when he passed, he noted how vigilant they’d been. Most of the candles lighting the hallway were out, only the occasional one lit to provide just enough light to squint your way through the darkness. However, by channeling the amber around his throat, the hallway was as clear as midday to him.

He proceeded downstairs, where Mathis waited, his Constable, aiding him in the full command of the northern expedition. He snapped to attention beside the door, fist over heart while greeting him in the frigid morning, a similar bolo tied around his neck, only Tier-2 or pebble-sized rather than his walnut-sized united stones.

“Lord Marshal.”

Alden paused, the cold air filling his lungs with each deliberate breath. His gaze swept over Mathis, who stood tall and ready beside the manor’s grand oak doors. He’d been a knight before he’d promoted his old rival.

“How was the night patrol?” he asked, accepting a thick snow hare fur cloak from a servant. The familiar weight of the hare fur settled around his shoulders, a welcome shield against the biting chill.

He didn’t like using his ruby to heat himself when he didn’t have to. It didn’t sit right with him when his subjects didn’t have the same privilege since it was best to lead by example; something his father had drilled into him.

“All quiet. No signs of predator activity or human threats. The perimeter is secure.”

Alden nodded, fastened the cloak around his shoulders, and collected a basket to store the surprise goods for his wife; first spring was yesterday, which meant the northern-adapted crowberries would be ripening under the frost.

“Good. Let’s walk the wall and rouse the soldiers. I want to see the town for myself.”

The tenant opened the first door, allowing them to quickly exit before too much of the retained heat leaked out. Mathis unlatched the second opening for them to step out into the predawn darkness and freshly fallen snow, the shadowy courtyard gradually coming into focus.

The cold air bit at his face as he glanced around at the front courtyard of the walled manor, spotting a few feet of powder; it was light for what should have been the last fall before the dry months of spring. The warm summer rains would melt much of the southern landscape but the northern tundra to the glacial mountains would be perpetually covered in ice.

Alden channeled the amber around his throat to cut past the deeper outside darkness, still within the Tier-1 category but only just barely; the imaginary swordsmen attempting to break his concentration became more precise and faster, not that it mattered to his iron-willed focus.

His vision sharpened further to cut through the shadows, once again the environment opening up as if it were midday. Every detail sprang to life. with sources of light within houses becoming blinding: the texture of the stone walls, the patterns of frost on the ground, and the faint outlines of the town’s structures against the dark sky became vivid and striking.

The path from Winterhart Manor to the main section of town was well-trodden and steep. Mathis had already cleared much of it of the powder when coming to meet him. They moved quickly, the few patches of snow left crunching under their boots.

Mathis distanced himself by a meter and Alden breathed a sigh while pivoting away from the swordsmen and taking the more difficult path: he stepped onto the outskirts of the meteor-stricken warzone. He had to focus a tad more now, mixing the ruby and amber’s powers in a dual channel while advancing the ruby to the beginnings of Tier-2.

“How are the serfs holding up?” Alden asked.

His Constable matched the radiant heat Alden generated with his ruby as it melted the snow along their path; it was something he and his few knights did daily in the morning to provide easier movement throughout the town while training their channeling endurance.

Their senses heightened further, allowing Alden to see finer detail, the world to slow in his mind’s eye, and to expand his field of vision. Ears sharpening as the sub-zero chill instantly left his bones, he caught the distant sounds of the town waking up. Hearth fires crackled in the homes, their glow seeping through shuttered windows, the light now more tamed and controlled than at the heights of Tier-1.

“They’re resilient. The preparations for spring are underway. We’ve had reports of some issues with the expansion, though. The south wall and the new living quarters are progressing slower than expected.”

Mathis’ steps were measured and confident, despite the consistent focus to maintain the dual channel that few knights could manage. “They’re splitting their efforts,” he continued. “The miners are torn between extracting stone for the new buildings and gathering magical gems for the Imperial Capital quota.”

Alden’s brow furrowed as they reached the town’s twelve-meter-tall defensive wall. They climbed the covered stone steps, the cold surface firm underfoot as steam swirled around them. Reaching the top, they walked along the wall, overlooking the town, soldiers snapping to attention as they passed.

The pre-dawn inactivity painted a serene picture, the silence only broken by the distant sounds of serfs preparing for the day. Alden’s gaze swept over the totally fortified town, the dark silhouettes of Frostholm’s buildings’ high and steep roofs etched against the faintest hint of light.

Pondering his constable's concerns, he rested his arm on his sword hilt. “We need more miners,” he said, almost to himself.

“We do,” Mathis agreed, gaze darting to his sheathed legendary starmetal blade. “If the emperor allowed us to train more, we could use amber and rubies to increase production several times our current rate.”

Alden shook his head, a sigh escaping his lips, the cloud of evaporated snow swiftly dissipating in their passing. “We already have sixty miners, fifty carpenters and builders, twenty stonemasons, and thirty blacksmiths. We can’t stretch our resources further without causing tension from neighboring regions. Baroness Morgana has already voiced her orders on the matter.”

Mathis nodded, understanding the delicate balance they had to maintain with the jealous southern and eastern regions. “We’ll work with what we have, Sir Alden.”

“We need to increase our population,” Alden muttered, staring at the southern road, their only road to the outside world. The framework of the next town expansion could be seen, ready to continue at full force when summer arrived. “More hands will allow us to maintain the percentage of magic stone users while expanding our workforce.”

“Easier said than done,” his constable chuckled. “Who wants to live in this biting frostscape? The snow only truly melts for four months out of the year, and how long has it been since any of the inner kingdom has even heard about the predators we hunt here or their mystical powers?”

“The frozen north really is a refining fire,” he said, shaking his head.

They continued along the wall, Alden’s mind turning over the logistics. He felt the weight of his responsibilities pressing down, but his resolve remained firm to see his father’s vision through. There were treasures in the north he’d teased him about all his childhood, being one of only two people who had fully explored the north.

As they reached the northern gate, he spotted a patch of crowberries poking out of the snow, uncovered by the howling wind and glistening in the very beginnings of dawn.

“Hold on,” Alden said, hopping down the fifteen meters to the ditch, cutting through the snow like butter to gather the berries.

Filling the basket, he smiled at the steaming hard ground around him, licking his lips as his radial heat cleared away more patches to powder to reveal more crowberries. Anna will appreciate a fresh pie for the baroness, maybe three with this number; the first pie of the year.

Mathis observed silently from above with the alert nightwatch, keeping an eye out for any prowling snow leopards, dire wolves, or blood hares that may be hunting in the early morning. Alden straightened once his basket was full, licking his dyed fingers to taste the tart flavor that would sweeten once cooked.

He used a thick mound of snow to clean his hands before setting his foundation, concentrating on both gems, and advancing to the medium level of Tier-2. A surge of fire erupted around him, g-forces launching him upward twenty meters into the air to smoothly land on the wall again, his cloak billowing around him. Mathis smirked as the soldiers looked at him in awe, and his constable shook his head as they resumed their patrol.

“Showing off, My Lord? Lady Anna isn’t here to clap at your proficiency in dual channeling to collect her berries.”

“No, but someone can talk about it later,” Alden chuckled, passing the basket to him. He took one of the tart berries and popped it into his mouth, the strong flavor puckering his lips.

“Fair enough. Katie…”

One of the female soldiers on duty snapped to attention by the wall as they approached, blinking sleepily and showing signs of fatigue from channeling her Tier-1 amber through the night; amber didn’t keep you warm, and she was shivering heavily.

“Y-Yes, Sir—eh, Constable, Lord Marshal! You’re both up early,” the blonde choked through her dry throat. Her sergeant smiled, knowing he didn’t need to be so formal. “No sign of m-movement,” she continued, “except for a dire m-moose that was t-tracked for the hunters!”

“At ease, Katie,” Alden chuckled as Mathis handed the confused and tired recruit the basket; her quakes eased in their heated presence. “If I carry these around while on patrol, I might end up cooking them and making Lady Anna cross. So, why don’t you head to the manor and drop these off to the door tenant before getting some rest. You’ve earned it.”

“Yes, My Lords!”

Relief came across her red face as she stiffly hurried off to accomplish her order.

Her sergeant sighed when the girl was out of earshot, watching her almost stumble down the stairs as the wind picked up, throwing her against the railguard and causing her to just about drop the basket.

“Katie comes from a decent squire family, and she’s powering through the initial break-in period, but being most proficient at amber and not ruby is really causing some trouble for her.”

“That’s not surprising,” Alder whispered, shifting his back to the strong wind and dialing back his channel as they paused. “Where is her heat-buddy? If she’s proficient in amber, then she should have a ruby partner to huddle next to.”

The sergeant grimaced and rubbed the back of his neck while looking out across the dark northern tundra, his Tier-1 ruby shard keeping him warm. “That would be Liam, Lord Marshal. He’s not exactly that proficient in channeling, but just scraped by to become a soldier.”

Alder lifted his hand to stop him before moving to the wall to stare down at the bundled figure of the squire’s daughter, hurrying through the partially cleared road.

“I know about Liam. He came with Katie from last fall’s recruits out of Ravenshade, if I recall. Let me see if I understand: he couldn’t last the full night, the shift needed to be filled, she offered to take it despite the lack of ruby support and it being sub-zero nights. I instituted the buddy-system for a reason. Ruby users don’t have the enhanced senses as those who use amber, and amber can’t last the night without ruby to be a portable fire.”

The sergeant gave a helpless shrug. “It’s why I’m here, on duty for thirty-eight hours so far and channeling my ruby in ten minute intervals to keep active. We need more soldiers to fill the positions, and despite her thick skull, Katie has some of the sharpest eyes out of my whole squad. It’s a tough position.”

Alder’s frown deepened as she disappeared into the town. “What’s her story?”

“She turned sixteen mid-February. A squire’s daughter, which means her father never made it to knight and she has something to prove. Her father refused to recommend her to get on the patrols in Ravenshade City, so she rebelled by volunteering to join the northern expedition…”

Mathis hummed, rubbing his thick beard and no doubt thinking about the closest city where their baroness ruled from to their south. “Katie’s made it through the winter, which is no small feat—better than sixty percent of the recruits we get who become liabilities, either quitting and getting assigned tamer duties or die.”

“You say that,” the sergeant growled, rubbing his stiff shoulders, “but almost being frozen to death three times in the past season due to her rock-hard head, determined to prove herself isn’t the best start either. If it weren’t for Liam, she’d be long dead.

“Amber makes her a damn good physical brute in combat, and she’s got martial potential… She volunteers for physical labor efforts, which is going the extra mile, but if she loses her fingers or toes, then she’ll be handicapped for life.”

Alden patted the concerned man on the shoulder. “It’s lucky Lady Anna is proficient in emeralds and can heal frostbite then. The girl’s sixteen, and her father told her she won’t cut it. I bet there’s also some arranged marriage involved she’s skipping out on back home. Unmarried at fifteen for a squire’s family is rare for women. Put her on Lady Anna’s guard detail for the next few weeks. I'll talk to her today and see what magic she can work on the girl.”

“Thank you, Lord Marshal,” he laughed. “I’ll leave her to Lady Anna then because she’s not going to listen to a blunt man like me. Damn privileged kids are too proud to let common sense and former serfs kick them in the ass. She can be as stubborn and tough as nails as she likes, but the moment it compromises the integrity of the unit, I’ve got a problem.”

Alden patted him on the back and continued his rounds with Mathis. Light was beginning to brighten the sky when he made it to the smithing district, apprentices hurrying to get the flames stoked in the giant furnace, working the bellows. There was always something that needed to be fixed or made.

By order of the emperor, only designated specialists and soldiers could use Tier-1 magic stones, and those were tiny shards of the gems. Serfs and common folk were forbidden altogether. Tier-2 were reserved for knights, commanders, and constables, while Tier-3 were for lower middle nobility, which he technically fell under at the lowest level as a marshal.

These blacksmith apprentices had the opportunity to work with a ruby, if they showed the proper talent for the craft and the jewel. Alden lingered for a minute, watching them and thinking back to his own smith training under his father, only his training had been far more intense, learning the secret craft of forging starmetal, one of the mythical metals.

Will Victor and Elara have my jewel attunement or Anna’s? Children typically follow their parents’ talents…but not always. His fingers brushed against the stones around his throat, smiling as the apprentices tripled their work output under his gaze. Since Anna comes from royal blood, it’s likely they’ll be somewhat proficient in all the stones. Wouldn’t that be something? Although…when will her mother’s sins come back to haunt us?

Turning his thoughts away from the unpleasant warnings of his father and the actions of Winterhold’s former queen against the emperor, Alder tried not to think about the reason Anna, a princess of Winterhold, had grown up as his adopted sister. His father had paid the price for that decision, and now, Alden revered him more than he could express.

He’d been bitter toward his father after his death. He’d been eighteen at the time, thrust into the position to take over his duties. But that hatred had changed over the years. His beloved wife, his closest friend, would have died at the age of three without his father’s intervention—without accomplishing the impossible task the emperor gave him in the north.

It’s about time for my princess to wake up, he mused, looking up at the sky as dawn began to make her presence known and his stomach pushed him to get moving.

On his path through the town center, he passed the Temple of Flames, its hearth always lit since its construction. His constantly turning mind moved back to Katie at the thought of his wife and how to address the subject.

Breakfast sounds nice right now. Anna likes to pick up troubled teens to eat with us, so Katie joining us for dinner seems likely, even with the baroness’ arrival. Hmm. Speaking of surprises… Baroness’ biennial visit will be an unusual one. She was pregnant at the same time as Anna, so she couldn’t make the trip and sent her second husband… With his premature death last winter, will she come with a new suitor?

His gaze drifted to the Hearth Inn and Hearthstone Tavern, hearing the sounds of the early-morning chores being done. Those who didn’t yet have a home stayed in the well-established community buildings, which also welcomed travelers or noble emissaries. However, the baroness would naturally be staying in the manor.

The baroness gave birth to her third daughter the same year, the sole child from her second marriage. I’m sure talk must be circling the kingdom, which isn’t something we’d be in on in our isolated northwestern frozen bubble, but she may be defensive… Even Baroness Morgana, as cold and hard as she appears, has a heart.

It’ll be best to allow her to guide the conversation, but I have Anna to help with the social etiquette. I suppose us having children the same age gives us something to talk about… In addition to some of the strangely intelligent behavior our children sporadically exhibit.

Crawling at four months old, walking unassisted at seven, and they’re starting to run, jump, and climb things now that they’re two. They’re even starting to talk and form complex sentences. I wouldn’t be surprised if they started reading soon… Anna is an amazing teacher, but we’ve also made a pair of gifted children.

He slowed while waving at the manor guards as he entered the grounds. Was there some truth in what Dad said about Anna wearing that pendant? It can’t be legal, and it’s not even in any of the noble books on magical gems… Yet, undoubtedly, it’s set in mithril. Anna is convinced it helped her conceive… No, a stone that helps pregnancy? That’s preposterous. It would be the talk of the nobility.

Trying to shake the uneasy topic, Alder let elation wash over him again at what the future had in store for them, awaiting the look on his wife’s face when he returned.