Crown of Ice (22 page)

“No,” says Gerda. She sits cross-legged on the bed, her golden head poking out of the brown fur wrap. She looks as delicate as some small bird peeking out of its nest. But, like a bird, her eyes are bright and unblinking.

“Otherwise”—I sharpen my tone—“you may actually find yourself in danger.”

“No,” repeats Gerda. “I’m not leaving. Not without Kai.”

We stare at each other for a minute before I turn and thrust the key into the lock. “Suit yourself,” I snap, opening the door. “I can’t promise you anything, you understand. If you left now, I could guarantee your safety. If you stay, I don’t know what might happen.” I pause in the hall to cast one final glance at the girl.

“Please tell Kai to come and see me,” Gerda calls out before I shut and lock the door.

Kai, always Kai. Silently confessing that he haunts my mind as much as Gerda’s, I pocket the key and stalk the corridors, headed toward the infernal mirror.

***

As I approach Voss’s chambers I’m surprised to see the doors standing open. I stride past but Voss’s words draw me back.

“Thyra, come here.” The cold command in his voice is impossible to ignore.

I turn and walk into his chambers. The clutter that I remember from my foray with Kai is still present. Indeed, it seems that the center table is littered with even more mysterious objects.

“I thought it was time I showed you where I keep my shard.” Voss holds up a small pewter box. “In case I happen to be called away when you are about to complete the mirror.”

“In that, I assume?” I step forward until I am facing Voss across the table. “And where do you keep the box?”

“On this table, now. It was hidden before, but I think we’ve come far enough that I can trust you to retrieve the fragment for its proper purpose.” Voss is wearing an emerald green robe of brushed wool, with a tracery of brilliant vines and flowers embroidered about the neck and hem.

I narrow my eyes as I examine the robe. The needlework looks familiar.

“Ah, I see you are admiring my garment.” Voss carefully places the pewter box on the table and flashes me one of his humorless smiles. “I haven’t yet changed from my recent journey, one I believe you may have had a hand in arranging, my queen. It was worn in honor of an old… friendship, but alas, it appears that I was duped by my former acquaintance. She really had no intention of making amends.”

I bite the inside of my cheek, seeking a jolt of pain that will prevent me from sinking to the floor under the force of that crystalline glare. “I’m sorry, I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about, Master Voss.”

His thin lips roll back, exposing his white teeth. “Now, now, Thyra. You can drop the innocent act. It doesn’t suit you.” He turns his back on me and glides over to the row of windows. “I received a most unusual message, from someone I haven’t seen for decades. It seemed as if she wished to make peace with me. After all these years.” His voice drops to a whisper on the last word.

“So you went to see her?” I press my palms against the edge of the table, steadying my legs.

“I did. But apparently it was all a ruse.” Voss turns and fixes me with a penetrating stare. “It did cause me to break off my blizzard a bit earlier than I planned. I don’t suppose you know anything about that, do you, Snow Queen?”

At the sound of my title I draw myself up to my full height. “No.”

“Or about the enchanted reindeer who is now eating his head off in my stables? The creature who escaped only to meekly return?” Voss lifts his hands and examines his fingers. “Perhaps I should conjure him into something else entirely, just to ensure that he never attempts to escape again.”

“Don’t harm Bae.” Rage vibrates my voice. “He’s not at fault.”

“No, I daresay he is not.” Voss lowers his hands. “You play a dangerous game, Thyra Winther. If you were not so close to completing the mirror…”

“You’d kill me. Yes, no doubt.” I force the fear from my mind. It isn’t logical for Voss to harm me, despite his anger.

“And then there is this other mortal that you’ve hauled into the palace. Really, Thyra, it might be best if you limited your collection of strays to wolf pups.”

I toss back my heavy mass of hair. “She was with the reindeer. I saw no value in leaving her to freeze. It’s Kai’s little friend, of course. Gerda. It occurred to me”—I think furiously—“that Kai might work harder if he knew his friend was safe.”

Voss laughs coldly. “I cannot imagine anyone working more industriously than Master Kai already does. But let that pass.” He eyes me with great interest. “So, about this young woman named Gerda Lund. Yes, I know her name. I too have observed the village in the past.”

“She’s only fifteen.” I match Voss’s glare.

“Yes, an innocent young miss. Very sweet, very loving. Very much out of place in this palace.”

“I’ll agree with that.”

“I wonder”—Voss taps his pointed chin with one boney finger—“how long it would take to twist her trusting soul into something a bit more dark and desperate? It would be an interesting test, don’t you think? I’m intrigued to find out just how much time it takes for a loving heart to wither when faced with the darkest depths of the human soul. Will such a person cling to their notions of love and loyalty in spite of the truth?”

I know if I speak I will say things that will only endanger Gerda further. I remain silent, afraid that Voss can hear the loud drumming of my heart.

“Yes, a most intriguing experiment.” Voss turns to gaze out the windows at the storm clouds that are gathering in the dove gray sky. “You may go now, my queen. Go back to work on the mirror. You have only a few weeks left to finish your work, or off to join the wraiths you go.”

“That won’t happen.” I somehow manage to speak without my voice shaking, although my fingers aren’t so accommodating. I thrust my hands deep into the pockets of my gown and stride out of Voss’s chambers.

I make it all the way to the Great Hall before I collapse against one of the icy walls. After several moments of concentrated relaxation I’m finally able to throw back the doors and walk in to join Kai.

NEW VISIONS

Kai paces back and forth in front of the windows of the Great Hall. “There are only a few pieces left. Why is this so difficult?” His voice is raspy with exhaustion.

“The mirror appears to be resisting us.” I give a shard a miniscule turn to fit it to the finished edge of the glass, but the fragment vibrates in my hand. When I release my grip it skitters to the opposite side of the frame. “Damn it.” I allow my forearms to drop to the surface of the table and lay my head on my clasped hands. Pain throbs in my right temple. Neither Kai nor I have slept much in the last few days.

Luki’s sharp bark pierces the quiet. Raising my head I watch the wolf stand amid the pile of furs that form his bed. As I follow his gaze a bird wings its way into the chamber. It’s the falcon I sent to Sephia. Somehow it has entered the palace and navigated the corridors to locate this room. That can only mean one thing—Sephia’s sent a reply.

Straightening, I step away from the mirror and hold out my arm. The bird ignores me, spiraling up to the rafters.

“Is that your messenger falcon?” Kai crosses to me and gazes up at the bird.

“Yes. I suppose my acquaintance ordered it to return home.” I lift my arm a little higher and whistle. The falcon tips its head to the side and stares at me with its brilliant, unblinking eyes.

“How did it get inside?” Kai moves closer to me.

As his arm brushes mine I feel that strange, fluttering sensation that I felt while huddled with him in the cave. I take a few steps away. “I don’t know. It must have been put under enough of an enchantment to seek me out.”

The falcon eyes both of us for a moment before diving straight toward Kai. The boy flings one arm over his face as the bird circles him once and lands on his shoulder.

I approach Kai with one arm crooked in front of me. Staring at the falcon I send it a silent command, urging it to fly to my arm. It ignores me.

“I think it might be carrying a message.” Kai tentatively touches the cylinder on the bird’s leg. “See, there’s a bit of paper poking out.”

I fume inwardly. Having Kai see Sephia’s message, whatever it is, does not appeal to my sense of control. “You stand still. I’ll retrieve the message.”

“No, I can get it.” Kai’s fingers work the lid off the cylinder. After he pulls out a rolled piece of paper and replaces the lid the falcon soars from his shoulder and perches on a rafter.

Kai unrolls the small scroll. I notice that the paper is bordered in black. As Kai reads the message his face blanches white as the snowy landscape framed by the windows.

“What is it?” I cross to him, holding out my hand. “Whatever does it say?”

Kai crumples to the floor as fluidly as water. He drops the paper and buries his face in his hands.

“What’s the matter?” I kneel in front of him. Luki whimpers and pads over to us.

“My fault.” Kai speaks in a broken whisper. “All my fault.”

Luki nuzzles at the back of Kai’s neck while I pick up the piece of rolled paper and read its contents.

It’s a death notice. Kai’s father has finally succumbed to his injuries.

This does not touch me…

Staring at the notice, I focus my thoughts on the effort required for Sephia to obtain a copy to send to Kai. Because, of course, she did not whisper enchanted words to wing the falcon to me. Still fighting to prevent Voss from obtaining immortality, she meant this message for the boy helping me reconstruct the mirror.

“I’m so sorry, Kai,” I say, placing my hands on his hunched shoulders.

Kai makes a choking sound and leans forward until his head’s resting on my breast. I stay very still as he begins to weep in earnest. The sobs shake his whole body. I slide my hands around to his back, until I’m holding him in a close embrace. After a few moments I lift one hand to smooth down the strands of his silky dark hair tickling my nose.

“It isn’t your fault, Kai. It was a freak storm. You couldn’t predict it, or that your father would search for you. You can’t blame yourself.” The warmth of Kai’s body pressed into mine is affecting me in a way I find alarming. A strange heat rises up the back of my neck. I worry that Kai will sense how wildly my heart is beating.

“If I’d followed his instructions, Gerda and I wouldn’t have been anywhere near the mill, much less lost in that storm.” Kai lifts his head and sits back without dislodging my hands. “I disobeyed him because I wanted more. That’s me—always wanting more, no matter who it hurts.” He wipes his wet face on his sleeve before looking at me. “I’m sorry, Thyra. Didn’t mean to fall all over you.”

“It’s all right.” I drop my arms to my sides.

Kai stares intently into my eyes. “Rather childish of me, I know. Weeping like a baby.” He raises one hand and traces the line of my jaw from my ear to my chin. “Thank you for not pulling away.”

“It seemed you needed something to lean on,” I say lightly, my skin tingling under his caress. I fight the urge to take him back in my arms, to conjure away the misery I see in his dark eyes.

“All that work for nothing.” Kai waves his hand in the direction of the mirror.

“It does help me,” I say, but Kai’s not really listening.

He rises stiffly to his feet and wanders to the windows. “Maybe if I’d worked a little faster, with more concentration …”

“No one could’ve worked harder than you.” I cross to him, Luki at my heels.

Kai’s back is to me as he stares out at the frozen landscape. “I failed him. I had the power to save his life, and I couldn’t do it.” He grips the window frame with both hands and presses his forehead against the center pane. “I wish these windows would open.”

I move closer and lightly place my fingers on his shoulder. “You don’t mean that. Life isn’t something to toss aside so carelessly.”

Kai bangs his head against the thick glass. “I do. I do mean it.” Desperation cracks his voice but our windows can’t be shattered by human hands.

Luki presses his head against Kai but is thrust away by one swing of Kai’s leg. The wolf whimpers and slinks off a few paces.

This is serious. Kai wouldn’t kick an animal unless his mind was clouded with despair. I tighten my fingers on his shoulder blade and lay my head against the curve of his back. “It’s not your fault, it isn’t, Kai.”

“If only we could’ve completed the mirror sooner.”

It feels natural to stand like this, so close together. I can almost believe that I’m entirely human, a girl with a future. I treasure the sensation—the rapid rise and fall of Kai’s breathing beneath my temple. “It wouldn’t have mattered,” I say, foolishly allowing my mouth to frame my racing thoughts.

Kai wheels about, knocking me backward. I fall onto the stone floor with a thud. Luki rushes to my side and crouches before me, growling ominously. I touch his bent neck and lean in to whisper a command in his folded-back ear. The wolf turns his head to gaze at me. I know his instinct to protect me is vying with my order. I lay my hand on his silver head and Luki expels a gusty sigh before rising and loping out of the room.

After Luki disappears into the hall Kai strides forward and looms over me, his hands tightened into fists. “What do you mean, it wouldn’t have mattered?”

I straighten, rubbing my hip. “There was no guarantee that the mirror would save your father.” Thinking furiously, I wonder if my face is betraying my lie.

“I don’t think that’s what you meant.” Kai’s eyes are as fathomless as crevices in a glacier.

So it’s true. I can no longer school my expressions around Kai. I rise stiffly to my feet. Kai makes no move to aid me. “Of course that’s what I meant.” I face him, planting my feet slightly apart to aid my balance.

“It isn’t. I can see the lie in your eyes.” Kai grabs one of my wrists and yanks me forward. “Tell me the truth, Thyra. Tell me now.” His fingers squeeze my bones.

I lift my chin. I won’t look away, no matter how fierce his gaze. I can face down Kai Thorsen. I won’t be intimidated by him, or anyone. I’ve been trained by masters. “Very well, I’ll tell you.” Even though I could hurl Kai across the room, I don’t call upon my magic. This trial I must endure as a mortal.