The Snow Queen's Shadow

where the glass had cut his skin.
    Danielle had never seen one of Snow’s mirrors simply break before. Snow could use her magic to destroy them when necessary, but this was something different. She glanced at Talia. “Other duties?”
    “She wouldn’t say anything more.” The concern on Talia’s face matched her own.
    Armand set the broken mirror on the windowsill, then reached over to take Jakob. “Go.”
    Danielle kissed him and Jakob, then stepped into the hall. The servants parted, clearing a path. For once, Danielle didn’t stop to greet them.
    Talia caught Danielle by the arm after only a few steps.
    “What is it?”
    Talia held up her wrist, showing a copper bracelet with a small mirror in the center. A tiny web of cracks covered the mirror. Talia pushed back Danielle’s sleeve. Danielle’s bracelet had suffered the same fate. Talia carefully removed both bracelets, slipping them into a leather pouch at her belt.
    Danielle’s heart pounded harder. One broken mirror was unusual, but for three to crack at the same time? “Something’s wrong.”
    “Are you armed?” Talia asked.
    Danielle reached beneath her overdress, pulling out an ivory-hilted dagger. Talia grunted her approval.
    “Where was Snow going?” Danielle asked.
    “She didn’t say, but she kept looking to the northwest tower.” Talia began to run. “She could have been heading for the royal bedchamber.”
    “The secret passage in the fireplace?” Danielle guessed.
    Talia glanced back. “So you found that one, did you?”
    “Snow’s not as careful as you are. She leaves ash fingerprints on the hidden door leading into the armory. Who do you think ends up cleaning up after you two, anyway?”
    “What about the hidden tunnel in the courtyard?”
    Danielle frowned. “You’re making that up.”
    “Maybe.”
    Danielle did her best to keep up as Talia dodged a page, then shoved her way past an older man who was loitering in the hallway. He cursed them in passing, then gasped and bowed, begging forgiveness as he recognized Danielle. She was already past, heading for the spiral steps of the northwest tower.
    When they reached the royal bedchamber, Talia flung open the door, eliciting a yelp from the chambermaid who was sweeping glass from the floor by the window.
    “You realize that was Lord Grimsley you plowed through downstairs?” Danielle squeezed past Talia. “Catherine, could you please excuse us?”
    “Of course, Your Highness.” Catherine whisked the last of the broken glass onto a metal shovel. “Second mirror I’ve cleaned today.”
    Danielle forced a smile, working to steady both her breathing and her composure as she escorted Catherine toward the hallway. She slid the bolt into place the moment the door closed.
    Talia was already ducking into the fireplace, jabbing the bricks at the back. A panel to the side of the fireplace slid open.
    The stairway was short and narrow. Talia hadn’t bothered to bring a light, but the passage was so cramped it would be difficult to fall. Danielle hunched her head, keeping one hand against the stone ceiling.
    They couldn’t have been more than halfway to the bottom when Talia whispered, “Wait.”
    Below, the orange glow of candlelight slowly brightened, illuminating Talia’s silhouette. Talia had a knife in each hand: one held by the tip to throw, the other low and ready to strike.
    “I know you’re there.” It was Snow’s voice, soft and weary. “Toss those toys at me, and I’ll turn you into a toad.”
    Talia’s knives vanished into her sleeves as Snow stepped into view. Talia’s breath caught. Danielle moved closer, peering past Talia’s shoulder.
    Her first thought was that Snow had been attacked. Bloodstains covered her white cloak. Bandages bound her palms, and Danielle could see cuts on her legs and torso as well. Her face was the worst. A gash across the side of her nose still oozed blood, and a large cut slashed the skin from her left eyebrow down to her cheekbone. The white of her eye had turned pure red.
    Talia took the candle from Snow’s hand. “What happened? Who did this?”
    “I did.” Snow examined her hands. “I was careless.”
    Danielle waited, but Snow said nothing more. “Your mirrors—”
    “Broken.” Snow lifted a clinking leather sack. “Shattered into a million pieces.”
    “How?” demanded Talia.
    “Nothing lasts forever.” Snow smiled, but it was a forced expression. “A spell went wrong. My own fault. I was too