The Snow Queen's Shadow

Laurence and Odelia.”
    “You got us out of that prison,” Talia said firmly. “We’re alive, and we’re free.”
    “For now.” Gerta shook herself. “I’m sorry. You’re right. We should keep moving. We know the demon is vulnerable to fairy magic. The Duchess said her darkling would lead us to Bellum and Veleris. That they could help us to save Jakob and Snow.”
    They stopped at a crossroads a short distance ahead. Most of the crowd trudged south, though a smaller number turned north toward the harbor. Talia watched the darkling, which had reverted back to its blackbird shape. It flew straight ahead, toward the mountains.
    Talia waited until they had left the other refugees behind to call the darkling. “Where exactly are you taking us?”
    The darkling swooped to the ground, landing in the snow without a sound. “To Speas Elan.”
    Talia’s teeth grated at its voice. She had never heard a darkling speak before. The words were like steel scraping over bone. The voice was high-pitched, somewhere between male and female.
    “How long a journey will this be?” asked Danielle.
    “I will carry you.”
    Talia raised an eyebrow at the darkling.
    “Even if you could carry us all, your touch would destroy us,” Danielle said.
    “Only if I wish it.”
    Talia snorted. “How comforting.”
    The darkling’s body was already shifting, expanding into the form of a large reindeer. As Talia watched, he split apart, until a second reindeer stood beside the first. They appeared . . . thinner . She could see the shapes of the trees through their bodies.
    “They’re identical,” said Gerta. “You can see the thread of darkness connecting them.”
    Talia squinted until she spotted the shadow stretching from the back of one reindeer to the horns of the second. What would happen if that line were cut? Would it hurt this creature, or would they simply end up with two smaller darklings?
    Nobody moved toward the reindeer. The darkling said nothing, simply waiting.
    “It was your idea to call this thing,” Talia muttered to Danielle.
    Danielle made a face, but stepped closer, stretching out one hand as carefully as if she were reaching over an open flame. Both reindeer turned to watch her, the heads moving in unison. Her fingers brushed the first on the neck. When nothing happened, she put a hand on the reindeer’s back. With her other hand, she grasped the base of an antler and pulled herself up.
    Talia grimaced and followed suit. The reindeer was cool to the touch, but felt as solid as any horse. Her skin tingled at the contact. Gerta climbed up with her, settling herself in front of Talia. The darkling didn’t appear to mind the extra weight.
    “So who exactly are these fairy ladies that are supposed to help us?” Talia asked, trying to relax into the rhythm of the darkling’s odd, bouncing gait.
    “I’ve never heard of them,” said Gerta. Her back rested ever so lightly against Talia, reminding her of the last time she had ridden with Snow. Snow had leaned against her in just that way.
    “That’s good,” said Danielle. “Hopefully, Snow doesn’t know them either.”
    Talia glanced to the side of the road, searching the trees. The reindeer made good speed, but it was hardly subtle.
    “Few people brave these roads in winter,” Gerta said, as if reading her thoughts. “Officially, most of the mountain passes are closed from first snowfall through the spring thaw.”
    “Someone’s been through here,” Talia said, pointing to the road. The earth was frozen hard as rock, but she could make out other tracks in the snow.
    “Unofficially, the mountains are home to those who prefer to live outside of the cities and the king’s law. Criminals and others who don’t wish to be found, like Noita.”
    “Or Roland,” Talia said, remembering the name of Snow’s first lover.
    Gerta nodded. “Or the fairies.”
    “What do you think they’ll ask in return for their help?” Talia asked.
    Even from here, she could see Danielle tense. “We’ll face that once we find them.”
    “I just hope they can help us at all,” said Gerta. “The fairies of Allesandria aren’t what you’re used to in places like Lorindar or Arathea. The strongest of their race were hunted down more than a century ago. The survivors fled.”
    “Obviously not all of them.” Talia grabbed the reindeer’s antlers and tugged, trying to slow the creature.
    “What’s wrong?” asked Gerta.
    Talia twisted to search the woods behind