The Snow Queen's Shadow

last time Danielle had seen the dryad, a golden tattoo had circled her wrist, a sign of her bond to Queen Beatrice. Today, Hephyra’s skin was bare. “The fairy queen gave my ship to Beatrice. With her gone, you’ve no hold over me or the Phillipa , and no right to keep me here.”
    Danielle held her ground. “I need you to take us on one final voyage. To Allesandria.”
    “And back,” Talia added. “No stranding us across the sea.”
    Hephyra snorted. “Good to see you again, Talia.” To Danielle, she said, “This is about your witch friend, isn’t it? The one who sailed from here like a hellstorm earlier today.”
    “You saw her?” Talia asked.
    “She took a merchant vessel. Not one of those gutheavy cargo ships, but an escort, fast and armed.” Hephyra jabbed a finger at the sea. “She stood at the bow, hair and cloak flapping in the wind. Even I could feel the magic she wove as she raced from the docks. She passed through the chains at the harbor mouth like they were mist. I’d have done the same, had I her powers.”
    Danielle’s throat knotted. “Was Jakob with her?”
    “I couldn’t say. Sorry, Princess. Best of luck finding the little sapling, though. I liked him.”
    “I saved your ship, almost two years ago,” Danielle reminded her. “You owe me.”
    Hephyra snorted. “You made no bargain with me. I appreciate what you did for the Phillipa , don’t get me wrong. But it was your quest that put us in danger to begin with. Yours and Beatrice’s. I owe you nothing, and my answer is no.”
    “I told you,” Talia whispered.
    “I know.” Danielle had hoped it wouldn’t come to this. “I didn’t ask you for your help, Captain. The fairy queen gave your ship to Beatrice Whiteshore as a gift.”
    “And Beatrice is dead,” Hephyra spun on her heel and began walking back to the Phillipa .
    Danielle raised her voice. “The queen left a will.”
    Hephyra stopped.
    “A short document,” Danielle went on. “One which lays out her wishes for those few belongings she claimed as her own. Including the Phillipa .”
    Hephyra touched her wrist. “I’m free. You can’t—”
    “I’ve spoken to Trittibar.” Danielle kept her face cold. “Your ship, and by extension yourself, belonged to Beatrice Whiteshore. By fairy law, she has every right to pass you to her heir.” She held her ground as Hephyra stormed closer.
    “Now you’ve done it,” Talia muttered as she shifted, moving into position to better defend Danielle.
    “So I’m to belong to the prince now, is that it?” Hephyra’s shout drew stares from the closest ships.
    “To me,” said Danielle.
    Hephyra blinked. “You can’t get within ten paces of a ship without turning green as spring grass. Why would she leave the Phillipa to you?”
    “Maybe because she knew I would need your help one last time. Or maybe because she knew I’d be willing to free you once this journey ended.” Danielle moved closer. “Give me your word as a fairy to help us save Snow and Jakob. Carry us until they’re safely returned to Lorindar, and you will be free.”
    “And if they’re beyond saving?” Hephyra asked.
    “Three months.” Danielle refused to feel shame for the tears that slipped down her cheeks. “If we’re unable to save them in that time, I’ll free you to do as you wish.”
    “Allesandria isn’t that far. One month.”
    “Two,” Danielle countered.
    “So be it. My word to serve you for two months, or until Snow and Jakob are safely returned to Lorindar.” Hephyra spat. “You’ve changed. The seasick princess I remember wasn’t one for enslaving innocent fey.”
    Danielle allowed herself a small smile. “This must be some new use of the word ‘innocent’ with which I’m unfamiliar.”
    “Ha! True enough.” Hephyra gave a slight bow. “You bargain like a fairy, Highness. Cold and ruthless.” She spun away and began shouting orders to the Phillipa ’s crew.
    Neither Danielle nor Talia spoke until Hephyra was back on board. The dryad’s hearing was sharp as an owl’s.
    “A fairy bargain indeed,” Talia said softly. “I don’t think she meant it as a compliment.”
    “She’s more right than you know.”
    Talia was already moving to unload the carriage. “How so?”
    “Hephyra is a living, thinking creature. Do you really believe Beatrice would have passed her to me like some trinket?”
    Talia’s eyes widened. “You bluffed her?”
    “The Phillipa is the fastest ship in Lorindar. We need