FortressofIce
LeavesofHolly Book III
Hobler
Arnella
Copyright©ArnellaHobler2025
Publisher:BoD BooksonDemand,Östermalmstorg1,11442Stockholm,Sweden bod@bod.se
Printer:LibriPlureosGmbH,Friedensallee273,22763Hamburg,Germany
ISBN:978-91-8097-797-5
RecapofGarden of Silver
Ivy and Drystan meet Cadelinthe hidden cave after escaping thecapital.He’sinjuredintheshoulderandtheyhelphimwith his wound, after which Ivy sendshim back to Casleán to support Cadmon,who’sjustbecomeHighLord.Thetwoofthemthentravel to the Market to hire awayAnder to help them gettoa mythical placecalled–rden Qwhere SueenDerwenna hadtoldIvy that the Monarch”tonewouldbe.–ttheMarket,theyAndoutthatguards fromthecapitalarelookingforIvy,andAndpostersofherfacewith thewordsBPewaretheóretenderHeirB.Here,theyhireanelfcalled Pertu Qthe sameone that foundIvy in the woods when she Arst arrivedinM-rceath.
Thus beginsthe second part of thejourney.The threeofthem travelinstealththroughtheprovinceofoldCreagán,Drystan’sanx cestral homeland. They makea stop at theruin city of Credunon, where Drystan and Ivy encountered agroup of Dalmorians who hadgonetheretoburntheirfallenking’sremains.Drystanthengot to watchhis father’s funeralpyreand sayhis goodbyesbeforethey movedon,despitebeingcaughtbyhiseOxgirlfriend–drienna.
The journey with Pertucontinued through themountain ridge whichseparatedCreagánfromCasleánlands.Rntheotherside,they enteradeepforestwheretheygetclosetothe”treamof”orrows.–s
they are walking, both Ivyand Drystanare heavily aqectedbythe stream’s magic and are temporarilylulledinto asense of ease and happiness.Duringareststop,theykissfortheArsttimesincebefore Keeingthecapital.
Fventually,the party reach –rden andIvy enter it alone.Itisan enclosedorchard where thefruit trees have silver leaves.Here, she meetstwosacredentities,;loraand;auna,wholookedlikewomen intreeform.TheygiveherthetaskofendingtheeOploitationofthe sacred”tream of ”orrowsQ whichreúuires her to traveltoMiras.
Ivy,Drystan and Pertu arethenteleportedthroughtheir spring to theprovinceof;ionnall,wherePertuleavesthem.Here,IvyAndher friends Wieran and –rion, whohelp them get to Miras in disguise aboardamerchantship.Twoweekslater,IvyandDrystanarrivein thescorchingheatoftheMirasicapital.
InMiras,theyarefacedwithanewchallenge.–sroyalguests,they are separatedbetween male and female spacesand Ivy is restricted fromseeingFmperorMiraldir.Instead,she’sthrustintothecompany ofSueenIsmeandórincessLasrania,andIvyisthoroughlyannoyed byit.”he’snowhereclosertohergoalandnowshewasinvolvedina childishloveschemethattheprincesshaddevisedforherself.
Then,newsfounditswaytotheemperorthatIvywasapretender, and she wasimprisonedfor having presentedherself falsely to the court. –s the circumstances seemedthe most dour, IvyAnally unx coveredamysterythat had plaguedher sinceher arrival there… that órincessLasraniawasinfactthelostdaughterofFlGnedin.Having foundanuneOpectedfriendintheprincess,Ivywasgivenatrialwhere shecoulddefendherself.Here,sheusedhernewdiscoverytoherown advantageQwhichgaveheraprivateconversationwiththeemperor andhisfamily.
Vith the help of Lasrania,Ivy’snamewas cleared, andshe was Anallyabletospeaktotheemperoraboutthematterwhichtheycame for.Drystanmanagedtoconvincehimtostopthetradeorderofthe substancecalledPlackmist,andwiththeemperor’ssignatureinhand theywereAnallyabletoreturnhome!withtheaddedpassengerof Lasrania,havingdecidedthatshewantedtomeetherbirthmother, FlGnedin.Rntheshipback,IvyandDrystan’srelationshipblossom andtheyarephysicallyintimatefortheArsttime.
Rncebackin;ionnall,itdoesn’ttakelongfortheguardstoAnd them and the threeofthem arecapturedtobetaken back to the capital. They tryanescapeattempt while in the woods, and Ivy is capturedbyfairiesasshe’srunningfromapursuingguard.”uddenly, she’s abductedand taken to afairymound, forced to servea fairy princeathisparty.
”hemanagedtocharmtheprinceenoughtohavehiminviteherto sitbyhim.HehadtakensomethingofhersthatsheneededbackQthe whiteseedof–rden.Heforcedhertotradehereyesforit,andshe’s takenintoachamberwhereshe’sblindedbythelightofapowerful crystal.–fter gettingout of the mound, she canAnally teleport to –rdenwiththeseedandisgreetedbythe)uardians.Havingproved her worth and Anishedher task, she wasAnally given theMonarch ”tone.TheMotheralsorestoredhereyesightinherrighteye,while theleftremainedblind.
Packinthe capital, Drystan and Lasrania are caughtinabattle wheretheDalmoriansaretryingtoAghttheirwayouttosavetheir prince.ViththehelpofayoungDalmoriansoldier,Lasraniaistaken toseeFlGnedin,andmotheranddaughterarereunitedfortheArst timeinsiOteenyears.ThebattleendswhenIvyarrives,showcasingthe fullmagicoftheMonarch”toneasshe’swalkingthroughhercapital.
”hetakesherseatatthethrone,andFlGnedinisstrippedofhertitle asHighLadyaspunishment.
Drystanthenaskedherforafavour…tousetheMonarch”tonefor anincantationthatwouldbringjusticetohispeople.Ivyletherlove forhimconvinceher,andsheagreed.”hegavehimthe”toneandhe performedhis ritual down by the sacred Rld Rak,wherehespoke tothe apparition of the ancientSueen (ala who hadbanishedhis peopletoDalmor.Duringhisrage,hepushedthe”tonetoitslimit which endedupshatteringit, destroying Ivy’s trust in him. They partedways, not knowingifthey would seeeach other again,nor whathisactionswouldbringasaresult.
CharacterList by Origin
CASLEÁN
I
VY–QueenofMórceath.
CARADOC–FormerHighLordofCasleán,diedinLeavesof Holly.
CADMON–NewHighLordofCasleánafterhisbrotherCaradoc’s death.FriendandallyofIvy.
FREIDA–Cadmon'sspouse,originallyfromTyr.TheyhavedaughtersDaeraandDyllistogether.
GWENETH–HighScholarofCasleánandIvy’sformertutor.
CADEL–MasterofHuntandScoutstoHighLordCadmon.
MORA–ScouttaskedbyCaradoctohelpandsupportIvyandact asherpersonalmaid.DiedinLeavesofHolly.
NIRMA–FriendofIvy's.WorkedinthecastlekitchensbeforeIvy tookhertoFionnalltostartmusician'straining.
FIONNALL
ELÚNEDIN –Lady of Fionnall, lost the title of High Lady after accusingIvyofbeingapretender.
LISANIA–MotherofElúnedinandArion,sistertoEmperorMiraldirofMiras.
ARION –High Lord of Fionnall. Brother of Elúnedinand boyfriendofKieran.FriendandallyofIvy.
KIERAN –Newcomerwho livesinFionnall. BoyfriendofHigh LordArion.FriendofIvy.
ARVEL –Cousin to Elúnedin andArion. Next inline to become HeirofFionnallafterLasrania.
BRIALLEN –Lady of Casleán nowliving in Fionnall, cousin to ElúnedinandAriononhermother'sside.
CORDOIRE
DERWENNA–ThelateQueen,diedinLeavesofHolly.
EDMYND–ScholarandCrystalKeeperatthecapital.
PEREDUR–HeadScholarofCordoire.
HALBERT–ElfwhoworksasCastleKeeper.
GRIFFITH –Lord of Toraigh,the northernmost villageofCordoire.
ROSYN–LadyofToraighandBlessedtoLordGriöth.
DALMOR&CREAGÁN
DRYSTAN –King of Creagán and Dalmor, loveinterest and supporterofIvy.
RENLYR–FormerKingofDalmorandfathertoDrystan.Diedin LeavesofHolly.
ADRIENNA–ScoutandDrystan'sex-girlfriend.
CATHREN–ScoutandfriendofDrystan.Commanderofhisarmy x
inCreagán.
MADDOCK–YoungwarriorwhometLasraniainCordoireduring the!ghting.
TYR
EIRIC–SonofChieftainSveinofS(dertorn,brotherofFreida.
SVEIN–ChieftainofS(dertorn,thesoutherncapitalofTyr.Father ofFreida
LEIF–EldestsonofChieftainSvein.BrotherofEiricandFreida.
MIRAS
MIRALDIR–EmperorofMirasandfatherofLasrania.Elúnedin andArion'suncle.
ISME–WifeofMiraldirandmotherofLasrania.
LASRANIA –PrincessofMiras, naturaldaughter of Elúnedin of Fionnall.FriendofIvy.
TARA–Courtmedicinewoman.ComeswithLasraniatoFionnall.
OTHER
BERTU –Elf and Way!nder. Found Ivy in the woods during The Reaping.
The Crystal Keeper
The walls were closinginwithasmotheringdarkness.Ivy’s ungersscratchedandclawedtoundawaythropghthedam,b earthywallsbJptitwasnopse.Therewasnowayopt.Thecloserthey camebthethickerwastheairbspfocatingherwithanoverwhelming sweetness.…pst as the thick dirtJegan,ressing against her Jodyb HorcingherarmsclosertoherchestbamenacinglapghterechoedHrom JehindbtapntingherS
Ivy’seyesshoto,en.PerentireJodywasclammybherJreathing laJopred.BhetookamomenttogatherherselHJeHorecrawlingoptoH herJed.Dpllingtheheavycrimsoncprtainstothesidebshewasmet Jyagloomymorning.úelowbthecityoHC–nWordoirelookedlikeit wasHplloHactivitybandyetitwasn’tlongaHterdawn.
Ivy’sthopghtsstilllingeredontheeventsoHthe,reviopsdayasshe washedanddressedherselH.PowshehadleHtCrystaninWredpnon xhislookoHa,athyashehadtprnedawayHromher.1ellbitwasno psetodwellonitnow.
Per urst a,,ointmentoHthe daywas oneshe hadJeenlooking HorwardtobandwhenPalJertcametoescorthertothearchivesthe eAcitementdistractedherHoramomentHromhergrieH.Thewaytothe
archives wasJarredJymplti,lelockeddoorsxthe reason Hor whichwasclearassoonasIvyentered.
There were rows p,on rows oH Jookcases and shelveswith all kinds oH treaspresband as,indlyYlooking oldman emerged Hrom one oH themb carrying astack oH Jooks. Pe had a,ale and sprly lookaJopthimb as thopgh he hardly ever leHt the archives and wasn’ttookeenonvisitors.
Mjopr qa:estyb’ he said with adry voicethatremindedher oH ,archment ,a,er. Pe made aHormalJowbJpt hiseA,ression remainedpnmoved.
MBcholarOdmyndb,leased to meet yopb’ answeredIvy witha ,olitenod.
Odmyndwas?picktogetdowntoJpsiness.NssoonasPalJert had leHt themb he gave Ivya topr oH the archivesb showing her all sortsoHrecords andold Jooksb along with treaspres and :ewels that were the inherited,ro,erty oHthe qonarch. Ivy tooka mental note oH aHew ,iecesthatshe des,eratelywantedtowear HorHormal eventsb Jptshe ke,t ?pietashe,resentedthe items. Pewasn’tthesortoH,ersontoins,iresmalltalk.
MI have taken the liJerty to collect aHew volpmes Horjopr qa:estyto,erpsebatyoprleispreb’hesaidoncetheywereJackat thestartbgestpringtowardsthe,ileoHJookshehadJeencarrying whensheentered.Ivyhada?pickglanceatthemandsawthetitle oH the one at theto,2CrystalHeritage –The VariousUses of the MonarchStone.Itgaveheraknotinherchest.
MNctpallybIwas pnderthe im,ression that Iwas to seethe crystalcollectiontodayF’sheaskedbeagertochangethespJ:ect.
MNhSindeedb’heansweredrelpctantlybMwellthenbHollowme.’ ;
TheywentintoasideroomlockedJyanadditionalHoprlocks.Ivy wasn’t spre what she had eA,ectedgoing inbJpt it certainly wasn’t this.Theinsidewasasmallbs?pareroomlinedJymostlyem,tydisY ,layshelvesandadeskHplloHtinkeringtools.Therewerenocrystals insight.
Odmynd went toone oH the shelvesand ,plled opt asmall JoA. They satdownJythe desk as he o,eneditb showing Hopr glowing crystalsinsideátwogreenonesboneyellowandoneJlpe.
MIsthisSthewholecollectionF’askedIvyinastonishment.
MIndeedbjoprqa:esty.’
KpiltwashedoverherHorhowmanyshehads,entontele,ortaY tionp,tothat,oint.BheknewsheowedJothKwenethandWadY monnewcrystalsbaswellastheoneshehad,romisedto-asrania.
MI will need threetoJedistriJptedtonoJleswho are cprrently withoptcrystals.TwotoWasle(nandonetoGionnall.’
BcholarOdmyndlookedastonished.
MBoononemightaswell:pstcallmea)ee,erxastherewillJeno crystalstokee,S’hemptteredasheheldopttheJoAHorIvy.
‘nceshe had chosen the crystals3green HorWadmonb Jlpe Hor Kwenethand yellow Hor-asraniazand ulledopt the ,a,erworkHor thembshetprnedtohimwithonemorere?pest.
MI waswondering’ xshe ,pt herhandinher ,ocket xMiH Icopld havethissetintoa,endantFItneedstoJedetachaJlethopgh.’
Bhe handedhim the whiteseed shehad Jeen given Jy the KpardiansoHNrden.Itlooked?piteinsigniucantneAttotheglowing crystalsbandOdmynd’spnim,ressedHaceshowedthathethopghtsob too.
MWertainlybjoprqa:estyS’here,liedashetprnedtheseedoverin hishand.
MIasspreyopbitisoHgreatvalpeb,erha,sevengreaterthananything ke,tinhere.’
MIshallhandleitwithcare.’
MNndsomethingelseS’Bheretrievedasmallvelvet,opchHromher dress ,ocket andem,tied thecontents in her ,alm. They were the deadcrystalHragmentsHromtheqonarchBtone.
MNhxwhatisthisF’heaskedcpriopslybtopchingthenonYglowing littlegemsinherhand.
MLothing s,ecialb they carryonly sentimentalvalpe. Iwopld like themtoJepsedinthe,endantdesignaswell.’
They conclpdedtheir meetingwith him,romising to have it all readyHorherinacop,leoHdaysbandthpsIvywasonherwaytoher neAta,,ointmentátheo,eningoH‘ld‘akWoprt.
Nssheenteredbshelookedp,attheancientgreatoakbitscano,y oHleavesJrownandJrittleintheweakmorninglight.Itsapragreeted herwarmlybcapsinganotherstingoHgpiltasshewasremindedoHthe tragedywhichhad occprredpnder itonly days JeHore. The carved woodenchairwaitedHorheronthedaisbJehindwhichsatPalJertb aswellasthePeadBcholarandhisscriJes.Ces,itehavingJeenp, onthedaisJeHorebitwasdiferentthistime.Lowbshewentp,there as theurst occasion oH anew roptineb and there wasanpndeniaJle ceremonialHeelingaJoptit.
Mjoprqa:estybwehaven’tJeenHormallyintrodpcedxIamDereY dprbPeadBcholaroHWordoire.NsI’mspreyopknow.’
Pe wasanelderly manoHconsideraJlesiíewith aJald head and cleanYshavenHacebmakinghisópshedcheeksallthemore,rominent. PegaveherasleeksmileandJowthatshowedhiseA,eriencedealing withroyalty.MItisanhonoprtositJyyoprsideasyopo,enyoprurst coprt.qayIhaveyopr,ermissiontoreadyoptheorderHorthedayF’
IV Y’S PE AC E
The crown is Ivy’s –but the realm is far from safe. Strange happenings in the north demand her attention,even as herbroken heart pulls her south. Old enemies resurface, new threats close in, andIvy must lean on the bonds of her chosen family to endure. Yet to save herkingdom, she must face her greatest adversary of all: her own trauma.
Meanwhile, Lasrania’s proclamation as heir to Fionnall thrusts herinto agildedcageofpower. Admired, envied,and endlessly watched,she soon learns that every reckless choice carries consequences –eventhosemadeout of loyalty.
The LeavesofHollytrilogy began withajourney, continued witha challenge, and ends with one final question:
