The Snow Queen's Shadow

“Begging your pardon, but it’s one thing to take on an old and unprepared border lord like Ollear. This is the King’s own province of Tollavon. If Snow White is wise, she’ll keep her distance. Should she sail too close, we’ll take care of her.”
    “My son, Prince Jakob of Lorindar, is on that ship,” Danielle said firmly. “He’s not yet three.”
    “Rest your mind,” said Relmar. “Our weather mages have dealt with hostile visitors before. The winds will drive her against the rocks to the east, ripping the hull and leaving her stranded upon the rocks. Once we’ve taken care of the witch, we’ll board the ship and find your son, don’t you worry.”
    Gerta was shaking her head. “You should evacuate the harbor.”
    Relmar studied the ship again before answering. “I know you’re shaken. I recognize what you’ve been through, and the state of your crewmen below. But she’s one witch. One ship. If she dares to press her attack against Allesandria—”
    “She will,” said Gerta.
    “Then we’ll face her when she does. If she’s truly possessed, as you say, we’ve the means to deal with that as well.”
    Danielle wanted to accept his words. She wanted to believe Snow would be stopped, that Jakob would be rescued. Allesandria was known for its magic. They were far better prepared than Lorindar to face a threat like Snow. They might even be able to save her. Snow’s mother had trapped the demon once, after all.
    If Relmar was right, then Jakob would be safe. If he was wrong... “Should she attack as you say and you do rescue our son, please tell him we’ll be back as soon as we can. You’ve my word I’ll reward you for your efforts.”
    “I’ll look after him personally, my lady. I’ve three children of my own.” There was genuine sympathy in his words. “Your son will be with you again soon.”
    “Thank you.” She looked to Talia and Gerta.
    From the expressions on their faces, neither of them believed him either.

CHAPTER 10

    T ALIA HAD VISITED ALLESANDRIA ONLY once before. She hadn’t liked it then, either.
    Mountains rose like a wall of shattered iron to the east, the tops dusted in snow. Lines of smoke decorated the sky to the west as they passed another village, the third since entering Tollavon the day before.
    The wolfskin fanned her frustration. A part of her had wanted to remain with the Phillipa, to stay and fight. If Snow wanted to reclaim her throne, she had to come to Tollavon eventually. This demon had beaten them twice now. It wouldn’t do so a third time.
    She quelled the wolf’s anger the best she could. She had been riding since she was five years old, and knew all too well how easily the animals sensed the tension of their riders. Her horse was jumpy enough about Talia’s cape, and wouldn’t have let her ride at all if not for Danielle’s urging.
    Danielle was right. They weren’t ready to fight the demon. The cape might protect Talia from magic targeted at her, but it wouldn’t stop the demon from opening up the earth to swallow her whole, or shattering trees to crush her. Nor would the cape help her if the demon chose to use Jakob as a hostage.
    Talia wasn’t the only one whose thoughts lingered behind. Danielle kept looking over her shoulder, her worry obvious even from a distance. She had barely spoken since leaving the harbor.
    If Snow were here, she would have found a way to break the tension. An inappropriate joke or a ribald song. Even just prattling on about the white-barked trees along the road, the blue-tinged mushrooms growing on a fallen tree, or the techniques used to carve a path through the rock when the hills grew too steep. Talia saw no tool marks on the shoulder-high wall of dark, rippled stone which walled the road up ahead. No doubt it had been done with magic.
    “I’ve finally come home.” Gerta’s expression was distant. She slowed her horse, allowing Talia to draw alongside. “I’ve returned to a land I’ve never actually seen. I could paint you every detail of our summer palace in the mountains, of the woods where my sister and I used to play, but I’ve never actually been there. None of it is real. All I have are memories.”
    Talia shrugged. “That’s all any of us have.”
    Gerta stuck out her tongue, her expression identical to Snow’s. “But yours actually happened.” Her smile faded. “What do you think Snow intended for me as she cast that final spell, splitting me from herself?”
    “Snow doesn’t