Chapter 24

“Henri!”

His name echoed across the white peaks, carried by the deep, low notes of Cosimo. He’d made it! He’d followed the trail! He was so happy that he worried his joy was going to carry him right off the edge. He wanted to throw loose his cloaks caked in winter. He still couldn’t see through the brilliance. As if the sun had dripped into the hollow pillars of ice, the Alps crowned in a palace of light. Sun beams ricocheted around them, illuminating deep blue veins of ice, a softer hue than robin’s shell.

Even with his eyes opened, the light was a blindfold. Henri blinked. His eyelashes tinkled together like chimes, shedding their crystal tips. As he blinked he saw more and more of Cosimo. The man couldn’t be dwarfed, even by the Alps. So tall, with his arms thrown up in excitement. Henri put his hands up as the Italian charged forward.