Jim Hines - The Snow Queen's shadow

“Would she know how your mother controlled this demon?” asked Danielle.

“She might. Not even my mother could have worked such magic alone.”

“We’ll take the Phillipa,” said Danielle. “She’s the fastest ship in the Lorindar navy. If we can intercept Snow before she reaches Allesandria, we’ll try to rescue Jakob. If not, we find Noita.”

“How do you plan to steal Jakob away from her?” Talia demanded. “She took Jakob from the heart of the palace. When I faced her, I barely escaped with my soul intact.”

“So don’t face her,” Danielle snapped. “While we engage with Snow, you sneak onto her ship and find my son. Snow might be too powerful for us to stop, but you’ve had no trouble dealing with her other victims.”

Unspoken between them was the fact that they had no idea how to save Snow herself. Talia dug her nails into her palms, but nodded once. “The Phillipa was Bea’s ship. Captain Hephyra’s oath was to her, not to Lorindar. With the queen dead, she might already have left.”

“Not yet.” Danielle was already hurrying toward the door. “Her crew were men of Lorindar. She would need time to raise a new one. Pack your things. We leave at high tide today.”

Talia found Danielle in her quarters a short time later, stuffing clothes into a brass-studded carriage trunk. It was a measure of Danielle’s distress that she wasn’t bothering to fold them.

Talia coughed softly so as not to startle her. “I’ve asked the kitchen to search for some of that tea mix Snow used to make, to help your seasickness.”

“Thank you.” Danielle stifled a yawn as she shoved a jacket and a pair of boots into the trunk, followed by a thick brown cloak.

Talia glanced at the second trunk sitting beside the bed. “Armand?”

Danielle’s shoulders tensed. “Still in the chapel. Father Isaac will continue to search for ways to free him from the demon’s influence.”

Talia pressed the door shut behind her. “When I faced Snow, the things the demon said… you can’t parry words. To hear those taunts from the one you love lodges the barbs deeper.”

Danielle bowed her head. “Snow makes for Allesandria because, deep within her heart, some part of her longs to return home, to regain those dreams. That longing is real. What does that say of Armand’s heart? Deep down, did he choose me not for love, but for simplicity? Because I was safe?”

“Perhaps some part of him did.” Talia shrugged. “Just as a part of you wanted him because he could help you escape your stepmother and stepsisters.”

“I love him,” Danielle insisted, turning away from the trunk.

“I know.” Talia leaned against the doorframe, arms folded. “You love him now. What was it you loved that first night, when you knew nothing but his name, his looks, and the fact that he danced like a drunken ox?”

A smile tugged briefly at her lips. “He wasn’t that bad.”

“You should have seen him when he was learning. He nearly crippled three of his mother’s handmaidens.” Talia sighed and joined Danielle, helping to gather her things into the trunk.

Danielle was holding up thus far, keeping her emotions under control while she dealt with the crisis at hand. Talia had seen her like this before when Armand was kidnapped, and again a year later when Beatrice was attacked. But she didn’t know how long Danielle could keep going with both Armand and Jakob endangered. Danielle was exhausted, her body tight with the strain, as though the next blow might shatter what strength she had left.

“Danielle, are you certain about this? Whatever this demon is, it will fight us. Perhaps you should remain behind to keep Lorindar from falling apart. I know Theodore would appreciate the support.”

Danielle yanked a pair of trousers from Talia’s hands and refolded them. “She has Jakob.”

“So you would give her the future queen of Lorindar as well?” Talia kept her voice soft. “A single cut from her mirror and she’ll own you, just as she does Armand.”

“Then I’ll trust you to keep me safe, as always.” Danielle rose. In addition to her sword, she wore a long dagger on her belt. Talia nodded her approval. “Talia, I have to go. I can speak to the animals of the sea, ask them to help us.”

“What of your husband? If Jakob-If we can’t stop Snow… you and Armand-”

“I know what you’re not saying,” said Danielle. Her cheeks were wet. “I know my duty. Chancellor Crombie has already expressed his ‘concerns’ over this voyage. He feels as you do, that I should remain here while others search for my son. Should Jakob be lost, my responsibility is to bear another heir, to protect the Whiteshore line.”

Talia made a note to punch the chancellor in the face at the next opportunity. “You know how I feel about Jakob. I’ll do everything in my power to-”

“There will be no other heir, Talia. We’ve tried. Whatever magic the Duchess’ darklings performed on me, it left me unable to bear another child. Snow confirmed it two months ago. I asked her not to speak of it.”

Danielle spoke without inflection. From the weariness in her face, she had already shed her tears over the news. Talia stood mute, uncertain what to say. Of all the arguments she had prepared for, this one had never occurred to her.

She understood why Danielle had asked Snow to keep this secret. Once it became known that the future queen was unable to bear another child, it wouldn’t take long for certain individuals to suggest Armand turn elsewhere “for the good of Lorindar.” This would only encourage those who condemned the prince for marrying someone they considered beneath his station. From the expression on Danielle’s face, she knew this all too well.

“I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t know.” Danielle rubbed her face. “I don’t need sorrow or sympathy. I need you to help me find my son.”

“You know I will. But you should-”

“You know better,” Danielle said. “Tell me, what words could make you stay behind? What responsibilities could keep you off that ship while others search for Snow and Jakob?”

Talia tilted her head, acknowledging the point.

“We’ll get them back, Talia. Both of them.” Danielle turned away to resume packing.

“Do you truly believe that, or are you trying to convince yourself?” Talia asked softly.

Danielle didn’t answer.

Danielle jolted awake as the carriage hit another pit in the switchbacked road that led to the harbor.

“We’re almost there,” Talia said softly. She sat on the opposite bench, a small hand crossbow on the seat beside her.

Danielle fought the impulse to ask the driver-again-for greater speed. The roads were too slick, a result of their exposure to the ocean winds. Slush and snow had frozen into the cracks between the paving stones. Any faster and they risked the carriage sliding from the road.

“Hephyra is going to be furious,” said Talia.

“I know.” Danielle had once seen Captain Hephyra fling a man almost twice her size from the deck of her ship. She rubbed her eyes, trying to scrub away the fatigue and the lingering remnants of her dreams. “Trittibar says this should work.”

“Easy for him to say. He’s not the one who has to protect you from a pissed-off dryad. We should have brought an escort.”

“And make it look like we’re threatening her?” Danielle shook her head. Bad enough an extra garrison of the king’s soldiers had been dispatched to the harbor. King Theodore had ordered them dispatched around sunrise, after news reached the palace that the harbor-master and several of his men had fallen to Snow’s magic.

The rhythm of the carriage changed as they left the frozen dirt-and-stone road for the wooden planks of the docks. The driver called back, “Keep the shutters drawn, Your Highness.”