Prisoner of Ice and Snow

by Ruth Lauren

  I look out across the crowd, scanning faces, and have to stop myself from making a little surprised noise. Two figures, cloaked, with hoods pulled down low, stand near the market. A boy grins at me, two large front teeth visible even at a distance. The end of a pale braid sticks out from under the hood of the taller figure. Feliks and Katia. But they’ll be pardoned, I’m sure of it. Why haven’t they come forward? Haven’t they seen the signs around the city?

  Then Katia shakes her head. Slowly. Deliberately. She puts a finger to her lips. Our eyes lock, and her expression is so grave that I want to run to her, ask her why.

  The queen has finished her speech. She and Lady Olegevna are now standing together with the glass case between them. A huge gasp from the crowd pulls my gaze away from Katia. Sasha has tugged free the gold cloth covering the case with a flourish, and everyone can see the music box.

  Prince Anatol steps forward to me, saying in a low voice, “You’re quite certain you don’t have a crossbow about you?”

  I manage a smile over my shoulder. He doesn’t yet know about his sister. And he deserves to have this moment. Just like Sasha does. I watch her as she opens the glass case and takes the music box in her hands. I see the nervous glance she darts at the queen and the reassuring nod Queen Ana returns.

  My sister turns to Lady Olegevna, and her voice rings out over the hushed square.

  “On behalf of Queen Ana of Demidova, please accept the return of this treasure belonging rightfully to the realm of Magadanskya. It brings with it a much-needed, productive, and prosperous alliance—one that we all deeply hope will stand the test of time.”

  Sasha and I argued back and forth over who should deliver this speech, who should have the honor of handing over the music box. She said I should have it, and listed more reasons than I could comfortably listen to as to why. I was less eloquent, but equally determined. And listening to her now, as she offers the music box to Lady Olegevna and the crowd breaks out into cheers and rapturous applause, the queen smiling, her face clear of all worry for a moment, I know I was right to insist.

  Nobody could have done this but Sasha.

  Acknowledgments

  This book wouldn’t be in your hands without the hard work and love of a lot of people, but there are three in particular to whom I owe a giant amount of gratitude.

  My agent, Andrea Somberg, who is endlessly positive and helpful, who literally made my dreams come true, and who I swear never sleeps because how else could she always be around to answer every e-mail I’ve ever sent right away?

  My editor, Hali Baumstein. I can’t quantify how much better this book is after she sprinkled her enthusiasm and insight over the snow in Demidova. I struck gold when she decided she liked this story.

  My friend and critique partner, Michelle Krys. This book would be a pile of comma splices and this author would be lost if she wasn’t there to read every word I write.

  Thank you also to the teams at Bloomsbury in the US and the UK, particularly to Cindy Loh, Sally Morgridge, Ilana Worrell, and Ben Holmes (I’m so sorry about the speech marks!), and to Colleen Andrews and Donna Mark who designed the beautiful cover and interior. I hope my words do their hard work and Torstein Nordstrand’s gorgeous art justice.

  To my friends Amy Tintera, Amy Christine Parker, Corinne Duyvis, Deborah Hewitt, Gemma Cooper, Kim Welchons, Lori M. Lee, Natalie C. Parker, and Stephanie Winkelhake. They write the best books and give the best advice.

  To Julia Churchill: thank you. I learned a lot.

  I’ve met a lot of kind and talented people online. Thank you for your time and help, Jennifer Honeybourn, Katie Zachariou, Emma Madden, Kate Kelly, Kathleen Nelson, JD Field, Mark Stone, Chris Kinkaid, and Linda McLaren.

  To cool teachers Mrs. Blakemore and Mr. Ryan: thank you. You’ll be pleased to hear I’m not incapable of speech, I did care, and I was listening.

  To Dad, for letting me take all the library books on his ticket when I maxed out my own, and to all my family. Dave, Dan, Tom, Leo, Sam, and Elysia: I love you; thanks for being mine.

  Copyright © 2017 by Ruth Lauren

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  First published in the United States of America in April 2017

  by Bloomsbury Children’s Books

  This electronic edition published April 2017

  www.bloomsbury.com

  Bloomsbury is a registered trademark of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

  For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to

  Permissions, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 1385 Broadway, New York, New York 10018

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  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Lauren, Ruth, author.

  Title: Prisoner of ice and snow / by Ruth Lauren.

  Description: New York : Bloomsbury, April 2017.

  Summary: When thirteen-year-old Valor is arrested, she could not be happier. Demidova’s prison for criminal children is exactly where she wants to be. Valor’s sister, Sasha, is already serving a life sentence for stealing from the royal family, and Valor is going to help her escape . . . from the inside.

  Identifiers: LCCN 2016025579 (print) • LCCN 2016045172 (e-book)

  ISBN 978-1-68119-131-7 (hardcover) • ISBN 978-1-68119-132-4 (e-book)

  Subjects: | CYAC: Sisters—Fiction. | Prisons—Fiction. | Fantasy. | BISAC: JUVENILE FICTION / Fantasy & Magic. | JUVENILE FICTION / Action & Adventure / Survival Stories. | JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Siblings.

  Classification: LCC PZ7.1.L3816 Pr 2017 (print) | LCC PZ7.1.L3816 (e-book) | DDC [Fic]—dc23

  LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016025579

  Book design by Colleen Andrews