Crown of Ice

by Victoria Gilbert

  “It was only a dream.” I approach with measured steps, holding out my hand. “Come now, leave Bae be.” I eye the whip dangling from Kai’s fingers.

  “He will speak to me first.” Kai releases the grip of one hand, then swings his arm and cracks the whip hard across the reindeer’s muzzle.

  I jump aside as the reindeer rears back and slashes out with his front hooves. Kai’s hit on the shoulder by the edge of one hoof. He falls into me, knocking both of us to the stone-hard ground. The scent of damp hair and hide fills my nostrils as Bae leaps across our bodies and flies over the wall of the paddock. I struggle to my feet, attempting to gather enough magic to stop the reindeer in his tracks. But it’s too late—Bae has already sailed into the sky and disappeared into a bank of violet-tinged clouds.

  “How’s that possible?” Kai sits, rubbing his shoulder and wincing. “I thought he was under an enchantment. How is it possible for him to escape?”

  I stare into the sky. “I don’t know. Perhaps his fear and anger gave him the power to break away. Magic can be occasionally mastered by will alone.” Turning my gaze on Kai, I adopt my frostiest tone. “What were you thinking, hitting him like that? What logical purpose could that ever serve?”

  “None, none,” mutters Kai, burying his face in his hands and rocking back and forth. When he lifts his head there are tears streaking his pale cheeks. “I hit him. I never hit animals, never. But I wanted to hurt him, to make him feel pain. Because I’m in pain, Thyra. I’m here in a frozen wasteland, lost in a palace haunted by specters, living in a world devoid of love and laughter, trying to accomplish the impossible, and I’m feeling so much pain ... ”

  I extend my hand and Kai silently grips it, staring into my eyes as I help him to his feet. “You need more rest.” I infuse a touch of magic into my words.

  Kai’s eyelids flutter and he nods. He follows me meekly into the palace, Luki padding in front of us. I deposit Kai in his chambers, weaving more magic so he passes out the moment he falls across the bed. I stay just long enough to cover him with a bearskin throw and ensure he experiences a long, dreamless, sleep.

  In my own chambers, with Luki resting at my feet, I slump in a chair and stare moodily into the fire. It’s only natural for Kai to buckle under the pressure of our painstaking task, and to feel alienated and altered in this strange, cold, palace. A frozen wasteland, haunted by specters, where one must accomplish the impossible. Yes, he was correct in that assessment.

  Luki lays his head across my feet and sighs. I lean forward to stroke his silver-tipped fur before I sit back and draw a blanket about my shoulders. Of course I don’t feel the cold, not really, but the weight of the throw is comforting.

  A world devoid of love and laughter. Enough to make anyone lose all sense of right, of self.

  Kai’s been in the palace for a few months.

  I’ve lived here for years.

  I wish I had the magic to provide myself a peaceful rest, but such power is beyond me.

  Chapter Seventeen: Cold Calculations

  I WAKE TO A STAND-OFF. A rabbit huddles at the small opening cut in the door, clutching a folded piece of paper in its hand-like paws. Its eyes dart from me to Luki, who’s crouched down, nose twitching, as he stares at the hare.

  “Luki, leave it alone.” I straighten in the chair, rubbing at the crick in my neck. Obviously I never made it to my bed last night.

  The rabbit’s trembling so hard it drops the paper. With one terrified glance at me it scoots through the opening and disappears.

  “Now look at what you’ve done.” I shake my finger at Luki as I rise stiffly to my feet. “You really must stop stalking our servants.”

  The wolf’s ears perk up at the sound of my indulgent chiding. He pads over to me, tail swishing back and forth.

  “So, what do you think this is all about, boy?” Luki thrusts his muzzle into my palm and I pat him before I retrieve the paper abandoned by the frightened rabbit.

  It’s a summons from Voss. I’m to meet with him in the Great Hall as soon as I’m dressed.

  So the mage has returned. I briefly speculate what he might want with me this time.

  “You’d better have your breakfast and then take a run,” I tell Luki as I change into a clean gown. “You know how Voss feels about wolves.”

  Luki yips twice. His amber eyes shine with such intelligence I almost believe he comprehends my meaning. I motion for him to follow me out of the room and lead him to the kitchens.

  As I cut up some rabbit from a previous supper, it occurs to me many of our animal servants must live in constant terror. Their natural instincts are subsumed but not eradicated by Voss’s enchantments. A rabbit is still a rabbit, after all, even if it has hands. The bear and lynx and other predators roaming our halls are conjured into creatures that can’t attack their fellow servants, but the lust of the hunter still gleams in their eyes.

  I toss the rabbit onto a pewter platter and set the food in front of Luki. “I suppose I shouldn’t be too hard on you for chasing our servants,” I tell the wolf. “You can’t know the difference between the creatures we eat and those that serve us.” I wait until he’s absorbed in his meal before I depart, closing the door behind me so Luki will have no alternative but to stay in the kitchens or run outside. I’ve no desire to remind Voss of the wolf’s existence.

  When I reach the Great Hall I’m shocked to see Kai. “What are you doing here?”

  “I was summoned.” Kai holds up a folded piece of paper.

  “It seems we both were.” I stare at the double doors for a moment, tapping my foot. “Listen, Kai, you must be careful. Voss is dangerous. He may look human, but he isn’t, not really.”

  “So I assumed.” Kai shrugs. “Don’t concern yourself with me. I can take care of myself.”

  I lift my chin and fix him with my most imperious glare. “Don’t assume too much, Kai Thorsen. You’ve never encountered a wizard before.”

  “I’ve dealt with you.”

  “Not the same thing. I’ve magic, but I only use it when necessary. For logical purposes. Voss”—I bite the inside of my cheek, remembering certain previous encounters with the mage—“delights in wielding power for its own sake. He’s been known to take pleasure in the pain of others.”

  I meet Kai’s intense stare. It’s as if he’s trying to extract a clue from my carefully composed expression

  “How long have you lived here, Thyra?” he asks in a subdued tone.

  “Long enough.” I toss off the words before throwing open the doors and striding into the Great Hall.

  Voss is standing by the table, his fingers stroking the completed surface of the mirror. “Ah, Thyra, how nice of you to finally answer my invitation.”

  “I had some other business to attend to this morning.” I cross the room and take a stand at the foot of the table.

  Voss’s ice-clear eyes survey me with barely disguised displeasure. “You are quite haughty for one who faces a rather unpleasant future, my queen.” He shifts his gaze over my shoulder. “And what have we here? Kai Thorsen, the village boy who’s mastered a few mathematical concepts.” Voss bends forward in a mocking semblance of a bow. “So pleased to meet you, Master Kai. Your work with the mirror has been exemplary. I am, frankly, amazed.”

  Kai steps up beside me. I glimpse his scowl out of the corner of my eye and clench my fists.

  “I’m only here because you summoned me, Master Voss.” Kai’s voice drips with indignation. “What is it you want with me?”

  Voss plucks at the jewel-encrusted edge of his indigo robe. “My, my, you two are well-matched in pride as well as intellect. Be careful, my boy.” The expression on Voss’s face shifts to something that makes my fingernails dig into my palms. “You only remain alive at the Snow Queen’s pleasure. She apparently values you, or at least your mental abilities. I, however”— Voss whirls around, turning his back to us—“do not.”

  “You did ask us to meet with you, Master.” I do my best to modulate my
tone to something resembling deference.

  “Yes, well, I thought you should know about a certain problem. One that you, Thyra, have already been dealing with, I believe.”

  I feel Kai’s hand brush mine as he turns to me. I ignore his questioning stare. “Oh, what problem is that? We’ve faced several, as you know. Such as finding the three missing shards—the ones you never bothered to mention to me.”

  Voss turns around slowly. His face gleams, pale as a skull. “The young woman trailing your assistant, Snow Queen. A most determined girl.”

  “What girl?” Kai’s voice cracks on the word. “Gerda?” Kai steps away and stares at me accusingly.

  I take a deep breath before replying. “Yes, your shadow. She’s been trying to find you ever since you left home.”

  “You’ve seen her?” Kai’s dark brows draw together. He slams his fist into his bandaged palm and winces.

  “A few times, yes. Don’t worry. She’s safe, or at least she was the last time I saw her.”

  “Perhaps not at this moment, though,” interjects Voss. The good humor in his voice doesn’t bode well for Gerda.

  I cross to the mage, standing toe to toe with him. “What do you mean? Don’t toy with me, where is she?”

  Voss looks me up and down. “Do you actually care? How extraordinary.”

  “I care because she could disrupt our work.” I give a jerk of my head toward Kai.

  “A problem you must solve, my queen. And the reason I wished to speak with you.” Voss lifts his hands and spreads his fingers wide. “It has come to my attention one of our conjured creatures has escaped.”

  “Bae? What’s he got to do with anything?” I feel a flush of heat rise in my face.

  Kai frowns and pulls at the collar of his tunic. “Yes, what’s the reindeer have to do with Gerda?”

  Molten metal runs through my veins. I stare into Voss’s bone-white face. “Bae’s found Gerda, hasn’t he?”

  Kai gasps and grabs for my arm to steady his shaking limbs. “What’s going on?”

  “Stop it!” I cover Kai’s hand, locking it onto my wrist. “No need to torture the boy.”

  “He’s responsible for the loss of a valuable resource.” Voss’s eyes shine as clear and hard as diamonds.

  “And he’s the reason your mirror will soon be completed.” I spit the words at the mage from between clenched teeth. “Harm him, or me, and what will you do? Raise up yet another Snow Queen from among the foolish village maidens? That hasn’t worked so well for you in the past.”

  “Or for them.” Voss curls his fingers into his palms and drops his hands to his side.

  The heat searing my body drains away. I look to Kai as he straightens, still gasping for air. “All right now?”

  Kai nods, and his dark eyes search my face for a moment. Thank you, he mouths at me as Voss turns from us.

  “At any rate,” the mage says, “I have received word that one of my enchanted creatures—yes, the reindeer Master Kai allowed to escape—has met up with this girl Gerda. She could never cross the mountains or journey through our realm on her own, but with a flying reindeer’s assistance ... ”

  “She’s headed here?” I release my grip on Kai’s hand and step around to face Voss.

  “So I am told.” Voss dips his fingers into the bin holding the few remaining shards. “It would be a pity for your excellent work to be interfered with in any way. That is why I tell you this, Snow Queen, and why I am conjuring a storm that will remove this distraction once and for all.” He pivots, almost catching me with his razor-sharp elbow. “I tell you this so you can cease your excursions to waylay this girl and concentrate on your work here.”

  Kai’s instantly by my side. “You’d better not do anything to harm Gerda.”

  The mage smiles. It is not a pleasant expression.

  Kai’s moving too close to Voss. I put out my arm to bar his forward motion.

  Kai grabs my hand and whips me around to face him, pulling us so close our noses bump. “And you,” he says, holding me fast. “What does he mean about your waylaying Gerda? What have you done?” His breathing is shallow.

  “Nothing but attempt to convince her to return home.” I concentrate cold into the wrist he holds until he drops it and steps away, shaking out his fingers. “I’d think that would meet with your approval.”

  “Now children,” the pleasure in Voss’s voice puts me on guard, “no need to fight with one another. I would like to see you both back to work on my mirror, as soon as possible. Thyra really has little time left, you know, and I must confess she’s right—I doubt any other village girl possesses her particular abilities. Even with my training, they always fall short. So if you wish the mirror completed, Master Kai, you had best follow her lead.”

  I’ve never told Voss of the lie I used to capture Kai, but when I meet his gaze I realize he knows. He continues to smile, but all I see is a grinning death mask.

  “What do you mean about a storm?” I ask, shaking my head at Kai when he opens his mouth to speak.

  Voss shrugs. “Just a minor blizzard. Nothing you couldn’t conjure yourself, Snow Queen, if your mind was on your duties.”

  “Blizzard?” Kai’s dark eyes blaze with anger. “Now, just a minute ...”

  I should have frozen Kai’s mouth shut. I step in front of him, blocking his path to Voss. “I doubt a blizzard’s required. Send enough snow and clouds to make Bae lose his way and perhaps they’ll simply turn back.”

  “Perhaps does not suit my plans.” Voss whips his robes about his skeletal form. “I am afraid you have no influence in this matter, Thyra Winther. I must punish my rogue reindeer before all our enchanted animals consider fleeing. The girl is collateral damage, but it’s probably best if she is eliminated, all things considered.”

  I step on Kai’s foot as he shouts, “Eliminated!” Turning to face him, I stare into his eyes, conveying a need for silence.

  “It really is your fault.” Voss glides toward the doors. “Both of you. Now concentrate on the mirror. Time is running out. I would hate for Thyra to become a wraith.” Before entering the hall he turns to cast a final threatening glance in our direction. “And, Master Kai, just so we are clear—if you fail, your father will not be the only tragedy to affect your family.”

  Kai’s in my face as soon as Voss disappears. “He’s going to kill Gerda and Bae!”

  “He’s going to try.” I capture Kai’s flailing hands in my own and lower them to his sides. “It’s never any use going up against Voss on his own terms. But he’s fickle. He’ll conjure the storm and assume all is well, especially if I can arrange for a distraction. That will give us time to act.”

  “Distraction? Whatever are you talking about?” Kai paces to the windows. “And what can we do?” He slumps against the sill and slides to the floor, his back pressed against the wall. “It’s all my fault.” He drops his head into his hands. “Gerda and Bae. My fault. Just like my father ... ”

  “Stop it.” I march over and kneel in front of him. “Stop sniveling and use that brilliant mind of yours, Kai Thorsen. Or would you rather just give up and turn into a useless whiner, no better than the wraiths?”

  He throws up his head, banging it back into the stones. “You really are cold, aren’t you?”

  I rise to my feet, brushing furiously at my gown, refusing to meet his eyes. His words sting more than I expect. Why should I care what Kai thinks of me? “I’m smart, inventive, and willing to save your little friend. Are you coming with me, or do you prefer to cower in the palace?”

  Kai grabs the window sill and pulls himself up to face me. “I’m in.” He takes hold of my hand in a tight clasp. “Whatever it takes to save Gerda and Bae.”

  “Well, dress for a snowstorm and meet me in the stables as soon as possible.” I pat his hand awkwardly.

  His eyes widen as Kai glances from his hand to my face. I can read surprise in his expression, and something else. Something that makes me bite the inside of my cheek to keep from e
xhaling the breath I’m holding.

  Kai lifts our hands and kisses my knuckles. “Whatever you say, my queen.” He flashes me a ghost of a smile. His expression sobers as he releases my hand. “If you help me save Gerda I’ll be forever grateful.”

  I nod, unable to speak. For some reason the touch of his lips on my hand sparked like a static charge. I watch him stride out of the Great Hall before I lean against the windowsill and stare out at the desolate landscape.

  Voss can conjure a blizzard as fierce as mine, and as deadly as the natural one that injured Kai’s father. I sigh and turn from the vista to head for my chambers. I too must prepare myself for this rescue and, unlike Kai, I know just how dangerous it might be.

  Chapter Eighteen: A Blighting Frost

  KAI’S SEATED IN THE sleigh, clutching the reins too tight. The ponies side-step and paw at the ground. “Aren’t you getting in? We’ve no time to waste.”

  I hold out my hand and whistle. A dark object hurtles from the threatening sky. It shrieks once before landing on my wrist. Swiveling its head it stares at me, unblinking. Its pupils are as dark and dead as beetles caught in amber.

  “What do you want with a falcon?” Kai visibly relaxes as he releases one hand to pat Luki, who’s leapt up into the sleigh beside him.

  “He’s one of our messengers.” I use two fingers to smooth the speckled feathers on the bird’s breast. He shrieks again and sinks his talons into the leather of my gauntlet-length gloves. I extract a rolled slip of paper from my pocket and insert it into the metal cylinder attached to the falcon’s leg. Bending my head to his, I whisper an incantation to direct the bird to the intended recipient of my message. I throw my arm high to send the bird soaring back into the sky.

  “Exactly who are you contacting?” Kai eyes me as I climb into the sleigh. “I didn’t think you had any friends ... ” His face, framed by the fur-lined hood of his cloak, reddens.