Jim Hines - The Snow Queen's shadow

The giant had quieted somewhat, which was a good sign. Bellum scowled and looked to the door. “Your friends are likely dead anyway, depending on where they ran off to. There’s a nest of feral kobolds in the deeper tunnels, not to mention the dragons, a few poisonous snakes, and a one-armed centaur. Poor bastard lost his arm to fairy hunters sixty years ago, but even left-handed, he can throw a spear hard enough to crack rock.”

“Talia has faced worse. I trust them to take care of themselves.” Danielle unwrapped the cheese and took a bite. Her eyes widened, and she coughed. The cheese had a hard, crusty rind, and that single bite filled her head with an overpowering taste that reminded her of dandelions and onions, with a strange nutty aftertaste. “What-” She hurried to the water barrel in the corner and snatched the copper dipper, drinking deeply. “What is that?”

“You’re happier not knowing.” Bellum took a large bite and grinned. “Humans. So delicate. Try this.” She tossed Danielle a strip of smoked meat.

Danielle nibbled warily. The meat had a peppery taste, but was positively mild compared to the cheese. “Thank you.”

Bellum and Veleris sighed in unison as they surveyed their home before sitting down across from Danielle. “The least you could do is tell the Duchess’ coldhearted slave there to clean up the mess.”

Danielle glanced at the darkling, who moved to obey. She and the giant ate in silence for a time. Food appeared to calm Bellum’s temper. Danielle slipped into the role of servant girl, fetching food and drink for them both until the giant sat back and belched from both mouths.

Danielle folded her arms, studying Bellum closely. “So what did the Duchess promise you?”

Both faces stilled. “What do you mean?”

“She sent us here, expecting you to help us,” said Danielle. “The Duchess is the most calculating person, human or fairy, I’ve ever met. Her darkling knew the way to Speas Elan. She knew you wouldn’t attack us or turn us away. Which means she had already arranged things with you.”

“Fairy politics is a maze of bargains, oaths, and obligations.” Bellum’s face wrinkled with distaste.

“And the wise ruler seeks not to escape the maze, but to rule it from its heart,” Danielle said, recognizing the quote.

Veleris’ eyes brightened. “You’ve studied the Eightfold Path?”

“I’ve read it,” Danielle said. Part of it, at any rate. She had flung the book away after only a few incomprehensible chapters. “What bargain did you and the Duchess reach?”

Bellum looked past Danielle to the darkling, and there was no hiding the hatred in her face. Veleris simply appeared sad. “We were unprepared to lead,” Veleris said softly. “As the war turned against us, Bellum and I, along with a few others, sought aid from the kings and queens of the other fairy hills. They refused. The Duchess was the only one willing to help such low-caste fairies as ourselves. She sent dwarves and goblins, the same fairies who built her own kingdom, to help us hide. She demanded only two things. The first was loyalty.”

Which would explain why the Duchess knew they would help Danielle. “And the second?”

“That not a single fairy of noble blood accompany us,” said Bellum.

Danielle exhaled, thinking back to what the giant had described of their battles with humans. “To save yourselves, you had to leave them behind to die.”

“As if they’d have listened to a giant. They refused to give up their homeland. They would have led us all to our deaths.”

Instead, with the nobles dead, Bellum and Veleris had been forced into leadership of the fairy refugees… and by their bargain, the Duchess commanded Bellum and Veleris.

“It’s how she operates,” Veleris said. “Conquering not through warfare, but through favors and obligations, entangling all who bargain with her.”

Including Danielle, and through her, Jakob.

Chains rattled outside the door, which swung open a moment later. Gerta was on one knee, scratching the dragon’s chin. Talia was damp and bedraggled, but both she and Gerta appeared unhurt. Danielle raised her eyebrows, indicating Gerta with a tilt of her head.

“She’ll help us,” Talia said flatly.

Bellum stared. Even Veleris appeared surprised, asking, “What did you threaten her with to accomplish that?”

“Leaving her here with you,” Talia shot back.

Veleris chuckled. Bellum simply scowled.

Danielle stepped between Talia and the giant before things could progress any further. “Bellum, what help can you give us?”

“We’ve told you what you have to do,” Bellum grumbled. “It’s up to you to figure out how to get close enough to Snow to stop her.”

“You can offer me in trade,” Gerta said quietly. She appeared almost calm, making Danielle wonder anew what had happened between her and Talia. “Tell Snow you’re willing to give me up in exchange for Jakob. If it gets us close enough-”

“Close enough for her mirror wasps to enslave you all, you mean?” asked Bellum. “She’ll own you before you ever reach her palace.”

Danielle frowned. “You know of her palace?”

“We’ve hidden ourselves away from your world.” Veleris glanced at the metal cone in the wall. “That doesn’t mean we’ve stopped listening. A few sprites still wander the surface. We listen, and we wait.”

“She’s built her fortress to the north,” said Bellum. “Where the mountains split, there is a lake shaped like a curving teardrop. She’s hidden herself well from human magic, but not from fairy eyes. If your darkling carries you, you could make the journey within two days.”

Two days to plan. Two days to find another way, one which didn’t involve sacrificing Snow and Gerta.

“The longer we wait, the more people will die,” said Gerta softly. “I think I know the lake she means. West of the summer palace. We ran away once and spent the night on the shore. Our mother sent one of her Deathcrows to retrieve us.” Her voice trailed off, her lips set in a grim line.

“You’ll need supplies,” said Bellum. She grabbed an oversized pair of fur-lined mittens and stuffed them into a sack. Next she opened a barrel of dried fish and began piling them onto an old sheet of parchment.

“Thank you,” Danielle said, trying to hide her surprise.

“She’s just trying to hurry you on your way.” Veleris winked. “And she’s giving you the oldest, toughest meat. Here, let me do that.” She slapped Bellum’s hand away and took over the preparations. “You’ll leave in the morning. You’re far too exhausted to set out now.”

Danielle glanced at her companions. She wanted to argue, but the fatigue on Gerta’s face matched her own. “Weapons would also speed us along. And perhaps a change of clothes that didn’t smell like bandit sweat?”

Talia snatched one of the fish and took a bite.

“Gerta…” Danielle swallowed. Gerta’s red hair was damp, her face weary, but the panic was gone from her eyes and her movements. Danielle searched for something to say, anything that might bring comfort.

“It’s all right,” said Gerta. “She’s my sister. This is what I was made for.”

“There has to be a way to send the demon back to wherever it came from,” Danielle protested.

Gerta shook her head. “Even if I could duplicate the magic my mother used to summon the demon… even if I were willing to try that kind of magic… the demon is stronger now. It has Snow’s power as well as its own. We might be able to kill it-”

“Doubtful,” Bellum scoffed.

“-but control it? No.” Gerta’s hand moved, almost as if she were reaching for Talia, but she stopped herself.

Danielle swallowed. “How do we trap the demon long enough to kill it? Won’t it try to escape to another host?”