Jim Hines - The Snow Queen's shadow

King Laurence led them to a hidden passage that emerged into a small, circular garden filled with marble obelisks. Danielle guessed there were close to a hundred. The walls here had no windows, no doors save the one they had taken. The sounds of battle were muffled here.

Talia scowled. “Unless I got turned around, we should be in the northern part of the palace.”

“We are.” Laurence stabbed his scepter into ashdusted earth. The top of the scepter flared to light like a lantern with too much wick. He pointed to the new-formed shadows of the obelisks against the wall. “This garden is hidden, partly by magic and partly by architecture. The shadows will form a doorway. The spell was designed to allow the king and his family to escape the palace.”

Danielle approached one of the obelisks. Each was slightly different from the next. This one was black as ink, its six sides polished smooth as glass. Specks of green sparkled within the stone. “What are they?”

“Monuments to the dead.” Gerta was standing before a smaller obelisk, round and trimmed with gold. She pressed a hand against its surface. “This is my mother’s. Her ashes are worked into the stone. Why was she given a memorial here?”

“She was Queen of Allesandria,” said Laurence.

“She was evil.”

He tilted his head in acknowledgment. “So we should pretend she never existed?”

“Argue later,” Talia snapped. “Finish the spell.”

“The portal is almost ready.” Sweat beaded Laurence’s forehead. The light was brighter now. Two of the shadows were sharper than the rest, forming the sides of a doorway. He adjusted the scepter until the tips of the shadows touched the next row of bricks. The mortar darkened, forming the doorway’s upper edge. The stones within began to fade.

Behind them, the door swung inward. Danielle pulled her sword free and ducked behind one of the obelisks for cover. Talia stepped in front of Gerta.

The guards who had accompanied the king moved to block the door. Fire streaked over their heads, spattering against the base of the wall and ruining the shadows of Laurence’s magic. Danielle didn’t understand Laurence’s angry words, but she could guess the meaning from the tone. He yanked up his scepter and turned to face their attackers.

Queen Odelia stood in the doorway, flanked by Stormcrows. Danielle spied others crowded behind her, easily outnumbering those who stood with the king.

The queen was unarmed, dressed in a dark red cloak with wide, black-cuffed sleeves. The backs of her hands were marked in the intricate brown patterns of Morovan tattoos. “Hello, Danielle. Talia.”

The buzzing from the hallway meant some of Snow’s ice wasps had survived. Danielle could hear others gathering on the gutters overhead. “Where is Jakob?”

“He’s safe enough, for now.”

Laurence kept his scepter leveled at Odelia and her guards. “Release my wife and children.”

Odelia waved a finger, scolding him. “Be careful, Your Majesty. Your marriage might have led to peace with Morova, but what happens to that peace if you kill me? The king of Morova was quite fond of his cousin Odelia. As I recall, he never approved of her marriage to an Allesandrian sorcerer.”

Danielle lowered her sword. She gave a silent plea for help, praying the fire and lightning hadn’t driven all of the animals away.

“You know I can’t give you the throne,” said Laurence. “Even if I wanted to, the law is clear. Ermillina Curtana was sentenced to death. The Nobles’ Circle would never accept your claim.”

“The throne?” Odelia made a face. “Why would I want that old chair? It’s dusty and uncomfortable, the cushion fouled to the core by generations of royal farts.”

“Then what?” asked Danielle.

“I want my cousin to answer a question.” She pointed to Gerta. “What did you see in her mind when she entered the palace? Answer truthfully, and I’ll return your son. If you lie, I’ll change him into a butterfly and rip his wings off.”

“I saw fear,” said Laurence. “Uncertainty. She fears her future.”

“Useless prattle,” Odelia snapped. “I could learn as much from any false street witch. What is she?” For an instant, she appeared confused. “I recognize her, and yet I don’t remember…”

Danielle could see the conflict on Laurence’s face. He knew Snow had no intention of letting them go free, but what choice did he have? “She… is you. Her body was born of magic. Her soul is yours, as are her memories.”

“Impressive.” Odelia entered the garden, staying close to the wall as she circled. All of her attention was on Gerta now. “So Snow gave you her memories in order to lead you here, hoping to find a way to rob me of my power.”

“Give me my son,” said Laurence.

Odelia reached into her cloak and retrieved a large toad. “Toads are traditional for princes, aren’t they?” She planted a quick kiss on the toad, then tossed it lightly to the ground, where it grew into a small boy. His round face and awkward movements reminded Danielle of Jakob. He wore a bulky jacket that went all the way to his fur-trimmed boots.

Laurence dropped to one knee and held out his hand. “Come to me, Henri.”

“Be careful,” said Danielle. A red line marked the boy’s cheek. “You said you’d return him. Remove the glass splinter from his body.”

“He’s happier this way,” said Odelia.

Danielle shook her head. “He’s forgotten happiness.”

“He’s seen beyond it.” Odelia trailed her fingers over one of the obelisks. “Beyond false hopes and dreams. Beyond lies and deception. Much like your own son, Danielle.” Odelia’s blue eyes were dead, despite the amusement in her voice. “I know what he is, what the darklings awakened in you back in the Duchess’ caverns. I realized the truth when I fought Hephyra. My mirrors pierced her body, but even as she died, her blood resisted my magic. Fairy blood draws its power from another realm, a world long forgotten by mortals.”

Danielle’s stomach knotted. This was another trick… but there was no lie in Odelia’s eyes. “You killed Hephyra?”

Odelia shrugged. “I would have preferred to keep that one, but her death served me just as well. She gave me the key.” She watched Danielle closely, and her smile grew. “You knew, didn’t you? I can see the truth in your face. You knew your son wasn’t fully human.”

“Please, Snow. Give him back to me.”

“Oh, no,” said Odelia. “I have plans for him.”

Danielle looked to the rooftop. The buzzing had died down. Snow’s wasps were in position, ready to swarm into the garden. Danielle concentrated, calling to any birds which might have been close enough to hear her earlier plea. As Odelia waved a hand, Danielle ordered them to strike.

Wasps flew through the doorway and swooped down from above. Laurence’s Stormcrows stopped many, but Danielle saw two Stormcrows fall. Fire from Laurence’s scepter raced upward, intercepting the second wave of wasps. The caw of blackbirds announced the arrival of Danielle’s reinforcements. There weren’t as many as she had hoped, but they attacked the wasps without mercy.

It wasn’t going to be enough. Talia struck with her sword in one hand, the hem of her cape in the other. Gerta joined the king, working to try to reopen their escape route, but the shadows danced and flickered despite their best efforts.

Danielle backed toward Talia, staying close to one of the larger obelisks for shelter. More of Snow’s Stormcrows slipped into the room, keeping to the walls.

“Henri!” Danielle jabbed her sword into the dirt and lunged for the prince, who was running toward his father. She caught his wrist and twisted him back. He punched with his free hand, but she ignored the blows, tightening her grip until he dropped the icicle-thin shard of glass he had been holding.