Fire's Hart: Tales of Evermagic, Book 2

By Jessica Lorenne

Rose’s stepmother has finally done it. She’s hired a huntsman. The Evil Queen may not realize that she is the Evil Queen of Snow White, but Rose does, and she’s been waiting for this day since she realized she was reliving her ancestor’s story. It was bad enough to be directly descended from the first Snow White. Now she is one, and the magic haunting her is playing its tricks.

But Rose is safe. She doesn’t have raven hair, or snow white skin. She’s a red head who doesn’t brush her hair, and has copper freckles all over her body. Certainly no threat to the regal queen that her stepmother is. At least no one thinks so until she’s dressed with jewels fit for an Indian princess. By trying to make her stepdaughter look foolish by over dressing her the queen has unwittingly uncovered Rose’s type of beauty.

Now the games begin. The queen plots, the huntsman offers to teach Rose how to kill him should he ever turn against her, and Rose must not only save herself, but her entire kingdom from the monster that is her stepmother and the ghost that haunts her fairy tale.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jessica Lorenne
• Release date: May 14, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311939012

Jessica Lorenne

Jessica Lorenne started writing for assignments in elementary school, but didn't begin her first attempt at a novel until the age of 12 when she was inspired by Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, which she then read along with other works by Tolkien. This first story turned into the Bearer of Power series from which other relating projects have emerged.She grew up in western Oregon where the national forest was her backyard. It became the backdrop for her stories, and fed the fantasy realm of her imagination. She started rewriting fairy tales while studying theatre, voice, and writing at Brigham Young University-Idaho, beginning with Cinderella.As a result of her constant immersion within her own imagination, she has begun to have imaginary arguments with her characters. Through these encounters she has learned about them, and begun to tame them. These meetings can be read on her blog Character Arguments on wordpress.

Book preview

PRAISE FOR FIRE’S HART

Bold and firey, the main character seems to have total control over her fairy tale. Then, through a series of events perpetuated by the Queen, things change quickly. Unexpected thrills accompany you through this journey. Enjoy the adventure!

—Jennifer Wiseman

Copyright © 2014 Jessica Lorenne

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner, save for brief quotations in printed reviews without written permission in writing from the author.

All characters are fictional. Any resemblance to actual people are coincidental.

Cover design by Jessica Lorenne

Copyright © 2011-2012 by Sorkin Type Co (www.sorkintype.com),

with Reserved Font Name Metamorphous.

***

For Nanna

my sister, my ally, my confidant,

and the one who encouraged me to write a new Snow White.

And for Michael. Who didn’t do anything.

Special Acknowledgment to Sunny,

Thanks for not letting me get away with anything.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 22

EPILOGUE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CHAPTER 1

Once upon a time...

I have a confession to make. I spy on my stepmother, Gudrun. I’m always watching her. She’s a vain, arrogant woman and powerful with sorcery. I hide near her to make certain she doesn’t lash out at any of the servants. She married my father soon after my mother died. But unlike some Snow Whites—a common reliving in this world of fairy tale lives—I knew my mother well. 

It was only two years ago when she passed away––when I was fifteen. After she was gone, my father wanted someone for me to look up to and emulate. He chose well. Gudrun was the perfect second wife and a supportive stepmother.

But things changed when my father passed away in a riding accident. I didn’t blame Gudrun for it. I was never suspicious that she had some part in his death. She was content with my father and delighted in his compliments. But after his passing and as I grew, she became less interested in me. I was too wild and too passionate.

Her treatment of my subjects was mostly fair. But she sometimes had bursts of anger that made people fear her. I had no reason to run away. My life wasn't awful, though she gave me much of the servant’s work to do for my more—masculine nature.

Today, I look in on her as she interviews for a new head huntsman. She’d sent me weeks before to the hunter’s guild in the neighboring kingdom to find royal-worthy hunters. I’m not certain if that is where this one was from, but he is strange. A half dwarf half human mix. A rare person for our times. He looked ready and willing enough to take on the task. And he answered Gudrun’s questions appropriately.

The servants with me gawked, and the ladies whispered of his looks. He was handsome I suppose, but I was wary of him. Despite what many thought, I was cautious for my fairy tale. I couldn’t trust a huntsman. That meant I couldn’t let my guard down around one whom my stepmother hired for the position. And it seemed she might pick this man to be my enemy.

Rose and the servants peeking in to watch Gudrun interview the hunter, scurried away when the meeting ended and the hunter dismissed. When he walked out of the throne room, he glanced about. It was as if he knew the people hiding behind the tapestries and the servants dusting the walls weren't meant to be there. Barely blinking at them though, he walked on and then Gudrun came out. Spotting Rose’s mass of ratty hair, she went to her, gliding as if carried by rolling water.

Roswitha, she called, standing so straight and proper it hurt for Rose to look at her. 

Rose stepped out from the crowd of servants and curtsied to the queen, then she lifted her head to face her. Gudrun was tall and beautiful as a willow with her flaxen hair tied in an intricate knot. Only the best hairdressers could achieve her style. And it glistened in the light as she tilted her head as if to show off how well it was cared for. She looked at Rose with a bored expression and then glanced the way the huntsman had gone.

Stepmother? Rose tilted her head in a mirroring gesture, waiting for instruction or comment. It at least seemed that Gudrun was oblivious to the tale they lived, so she didn’t see her as a threat. There were some Snow Whites who were not so fair that their stepmothers hated them to the point of killing them.

Rose hoped that be her case. She wasn’t vain, and she didn’t care how she looked. But there was some other kind of beauty that often got her lot into trouble. The appearance of a Snow White wasn’t always the biggest threat.

You heard? Gudrun inquired. She was already familiar with Rose’s habit of eves dropping in all her conversations––political or social.

Rose pursed her lips and curtsied with a nod of apology. She was lucky Gudrun hadn’t seemed to mind so far. I did, stepmother, she admitted.

And? Gudrun inquired with the raise of her brow.

Rose blinked and her eyes shifted to the servants, who now stared with a kind of gawking in their manner. You mean to ask my opinion? She asked to clarify.

Gudrun sighed and pressed the tips of her fingers to her eyes. I am trying, Roswitha, to be a good queen to these people. But I know nothing of hunting as you have been raised to. This is a land of forests, boars, and bows. I was not trained to know such tasks. I did not have you taken from the door because I meant to ask for your help. I need a good huntsman not only to act his duty but to prove myself a competent ruler of this land, she said.

Rose frowned, for she felt sorry for her stepmother. She had been left with an arduous task after the king’s death. Rose nodded. As you know, though she doubted Gudrun did, the head huntsman is in charge of the hunting dogs, squires, other huntsmen, and the stag hunt, she began, listing the duties off with her fingers. He answered your questions well and appears to be knowledgeable of his tasks. I see no reason to not give him a trial period in which he proves his wisdom can be applied... She paused and considered. Is he of this land or our neighbors?

He made no claim to any kingdom. He traveled before coming here. It seems he is a part of our neighbor’s guild where your friend has become princess though, she replied.

I suspected so. Rose considered a moment. She did want to be helpful. Gudrun didn’t shower her with motherly attention or love, they weren’t really friends either. But she did want to be a good ruler. And this was to be Rose’s kingdom after all. She didn’t want to inherit a mess when it came her turn. I can make inquiries of his character from my friend. She may not know him, but her husband can get what information we need to check. Would that suffice?

Gudrun sighed, seeming to relax a little. Yes. Thank you, Roswitha. She made a quick glance at the servants then and frowned. They tensed, shrinking away from her eyes and waited for her to turn angry as she sometimes did. Return to your tasks, she snapped. He has gone! She shooed them away so they rushed off to obey her command.

Rose chuckled after them. And then, with a quick curtsy, she hurried off to write to Nicolette, the lower class noble who’d become a princess because of sorcerers and her Cinderella fairy tale. Rose smiled fondly to think of her. She’d recently helped Nicolette escape from the witch of her prince’s own story. He’d been a Scarlet Pimpernel and had caused much trouble with the magic of his tale. But they were happy and settled now with a child on the way.

She envied Nicolette’s content, loving life. But she also knew better than to think she could stand such calm. She required action, quick tasks, and long projects. She couldn’t stand sitting, tatting, painting, or cooing over a baby. 

Well, perhaps she could have fun with a baby. They were a good source of entertainment, loud and obnoxious just as she liked it. A fact she knew for the cook’s hoard of children whom she’d helped to raise and often played with. Though not always in a fashion the cook mother approved of. Rose was laughing to herself at the thought when she ran around a corner and hurdled into a person at full speed.

She humphed but didn’t bounce back. Instead, her momentum carried her forward until the other person was the one who fell. She caught herself before crashing to her hands and knees and then looked down at the person who’d fallen on his rump. She stared, trying not to laugh, and covered her mouth in an attempt to hide her smile. The hunter, who’d only just left his interview, stared up at her with a scowl.

Do the servants here make habit of nosing into private affairs and pushing people about? He asked, getting to his feet.

I am sorry. She laughed openly and glanced at where he’d fallen. The floors were hard stone and not at all smooth. He’d be uncomfortable in his bones if not bruised. I didn't mean to hurt you. Are you all right? She asked, checking him for spots he might’ve been cut up. He seemed fine and only stared. She smirked. Well, you are not injured or dead. That is at least something. The last poor sop I clopped broke his nose on the floor. I should be more careful— she was speaking at a horse’s lope. It was convenient to talk fast, and not having to force herself to slow her speech for Gudrun made it even easier to get carried away. Maybe even slow down. But I can't help it. I run everywhere, so next time, keep an eye out and stay out of my way, she warned him. She moved to hurry off but then paused for realizing she couldn’t make inquiries of him without knowing his name, and so she turned and faced him again. What are you called?

The hunter stared still. He really was handsome, though his appearance suggested that if he was of her kingdom, he was from the North. That was where most blond haired, blue eyed Gerans came from. Ulrich Bor, he said with surprise.

Good then. Ulrich Bor. Ulrich Bor, she repeated to herself so to not forget. With that and his wide eyed stare, she ran off again, repeating his name for fear that she might forget before writing it down.

CHAPTER 2

I wrote to Nicolette as soon as I came to my rooms. And because I was so fearful of forgetting Ulrich’s name, I’d repeated it too many times. It was now seared into my subconscious, and I found myself thinking it without meaning to. It was like trying to remember all the chores I had to do. And even after I’d checked one off my list, I still thought about it.

I was starting to get sick of hearing his name in my head. But at least the letter was sent and all required of me was to report whatever Nicolette returned. She was a dear heart and so good, so I didn't doubt she would find time to help me.

But it occurred to me after sending the letter that I should have inquired of her well being and asked of her life. I’d forgotten in my rush to complete the task though. Maybe I could force myself to remember in my next letter. For now, I couldn’t be bothered by worrying over it. I had other things to do.

My lady! Rose was walking out to the front courtyard when a servant called to her. It was a young woman, a new hire who’d not yet developed the strength sometimes required of the servants. She was holding onto a rope from the well under the shade of some trees, no doubt trying to pull up a bucket of water.

Rose hurried to her aid and grabbed the rope with her. They pulled together and quickly retrieved the bucket the girl had struggled to bring up.

All right then, Gertrude? Rose asked. The girl was out of breath unlike Rose who was undeterred. She smiled at Gertrude’s relief and patted her arm. No need to be prideful about it. If you need help, ask for it. And if they don’t give it to you, send me word. People may fear the queen’s rage, but I get things done, and it is rare I ever get no’ed.

Gertrude nodded, her hand on her chest. Her limbs were shaking, so Rose pointed for her to sit a moment in the shade and asked where the bucket was going. Gertrude directed her, and Rose was soon on her way with the thing. As she went, the water remained smooth and still rather than slosh around for clumsiness.

She was an efficient worker and didn’t lose a drop. And in no time, she came upon the workers who’d required the water and left it with them. When she returned to the well, the hunter Ulrich was sitting with Gertrude. Rose raised her brow to see them together. He seemed intent with the girl, and she blushed for him to be sitting with her. She answered his questions diligently and appeared to have recovered from her earlier ordeal. Though Rose didn’t want to be mistaken for being bossy or mean, she couldn’t afford to let her sit any longer.

To the pins Gertrude to the pins! She called across the way and waving her arms at her.

Gertrude gasped. She stood quickly, bobbed a curtsy, and hurried off. Ulrich watched her go and then looked around at Rose. By the time he did, she was already grabbing a broom to sweep the stones clean of dirt, hay, and other things.

You are too young to be a head servant and bossing people around, he said from behind her.

She turned around to flick the broom,