Book 3: Chapter 66: The Crypts of Winter
Hana did her best to put on a benevolent smile as she faced the eight sickly villagers who had chosen to trust Kirsi’s magic. Even from a distance of at least ten feet, she could smell their unwashed, rotting bodies mingled with the scent of charred wood they carried from their destroyed homes—which only triggered memories of her childhood that the Viscountess preferred to forget.
“Welcome. I am Viscountess Hana of Sommerset. You may call me Lady Hana. I will be assisting you in preparing for your long rest. The process is simple, relaxing, and even enjoyable for some. Our first stop will be the bathhouse you see right behind me. The men’s bathing rooms are situated to the left, and the women’s rooms are to the right. Children may go with either parent or guardian. Once you’ve finished bathing, you will be given a simple pair of robes and slippers before you'll be guided to the next building.”
The Viscountess gestured over her shoulder toward the towering icy walls of the Winter Crypt that overshadowed the faint smoke rising from the single-floor bathhouse. “Once inside, you will be led to your individual preparation chambers, where you will drink the magic potion the Duchess has prepared.”
“What—happens then?” one of the women asked stiffly around the crusty sores that framed her mouth.
Hana smiled as she stepped forward and gently placed her hand on the villager’s shoulder. “I have seen it countless times. You fall asleep, a peaceful and painless sleep, and then you join the others waiting for a cure inside the Winter Crypt.”
“How did you make a building of ice?” one of the children asked, her inquisitive hazel-green eyes widening beneath the bandages on her face. “It’s not even winter.”
“Yes, that’s right,” Hana answered with a beaming smile. “The Duchess made that building with her magic to ensure those of you sleeping inside remain safe until it is time to wake up. You can think of it like hibernation. Just pretend that you’re a bear who needs to sleep for a very long time so it can wake up when spring returns.”
“But don’t bears eat lots of food before falling asleep?”