Crown of Ice (26 page)

Kai nods and cracks the reins across the ponies’ flanks. We spring forward, almost flying through my circle of protection. I redouble my efforts to tame the winds. The amount of magic I’m drawing makes my limbs tingle. I pull off one glove and observe my hand glowing blue against the darkness.

Yanking the glove back over my fingers, I slump into the seat of the sleigh, tuning my mind to pick up any sense of Gerda or Bae. The reindeer’s enchantment makes him the better target, and I focus my thoughts on him.

After some time a flicker of Bae’s essence crosses my mind. I straighten and direct Kai to one of the peaks that rises beside a pass. It’s the most direct route to the village, but despite its convenience this passage is rarely used. A narrow path flanked by steep cliffs, it poses the same dangers as the pass my parents attempted to cross before their deaths.

I direct Kai to land the sleigh at the foot of the mountain. “They’re somewhere close,” I call to him as we drag the ponies and sleigh into a shallow indentation in the rocky cliff. Luki leaps from the sleigh and circles the area, sniffing the air.

Kai leans against me, raising his voice. “How could they survive this? Without your help we’d be dead by now.” He puts his arm about me and draws back quickly. “Good God, you’re frozen.”

I shake my head furiously, knocking back my hood. “No, no. That’s just my magic. See?”—I pull off the glove and hold out my hand. My illuminated skin casts a pale azure light over the snow.

“It doesn’t hurt?” Kai’s brown eyes are wide with concern.

His reaction confirms my assessment of our situation. A slight recoil, a tinge of fear. Not something one wishes to see in the eyes of a lover.

“No, not at all.” I breathe out and shake my limbs, expelling the power from my body. Only after the glow fades do I move close to Kai and place my arm about his shoulders. “See—all gone.”

Kai tentatively touches my bare hand. “Cool, but no longer an icicle,” he says before pulling me close to his side.

As we huddle together for a moment a howl pierces through the screams of the wind.

“That’s Luki,” I say, springing out into the snow.

I call forth a globe of cold light and balance it in my palms, illuminating the area around the cave.

Luki’s crouched before me, his ears flattened and his haunches raised. His growls rumble, growing louder as the wind dies down. The blizzard’s dissipating, but as I swing the light in an arc I see that our troubles haven’t disappeared.

The light catches several pairs of phosphorescent eyes. They form a semi-circle before Luki’s tense form.

“What is it?” Kai’s at my elbow, peering into the darkness. “Wolves? I’ve encountered plenty before. Loud noise will usually scare them off.”

I shake my head. “These aren’t natural creatures.”

“Then what?” Kai grabs my arm. “They’ve no real form. Just keep shifting …”

Kai’s right. These wolves, white as the snow and twice Luki’s size, are as amorphous as the wraiths.

“Some of Voss’s creations. Set to guard the pass, I suppose, in case anyone was foolish enough to attempt to venture here.”

The snow wolves slink closer, their paws imprinting the snow. Unlike the wraiths, their smoky forms have mass. Their quite solid claws shine like blades.

“Can they harm us?” Kai breathes into my ear.

“I’m afraid so. Those teeth look real enough.” I lean against Kai. “Hold me while I muster my strength. I’ve expended a great deal of magic this evening, but I think I can summon a bit more.”

Kai wraps his arm about me. I keep one eye on Luki as I concentrate on marshaling my power. So far my wolf has kept the others at bay but I know this stand-off can’t last forever.

A squeal spins us about. The ponies, terrified by the presence of Voss’s creatures, have broken free, splintering the tongue of the sleigh. They dash out of the cave and gallop into the darkness. Three of the snow wolves spin with perfect precision and disappear from view.

“No!” I shout, but there’s nothing I can do. If I break my concentration to aid them I might endanger Kai or Luki. The horrifying sound of the ponies being brought to ground fills the air. Yoked together, dragging the broken harness, they didn’t stand a chance.

Kai buries his face in my shoulder. “My God, they’re being slaughtered.”

“As we’ll be, if I can’t defeat these beasts.” I meet Kai’s gaze as he lifts his head. “Whatever happens, do not step in front of me.”

He swallows hard and nods. “What can I do?” he whispers.

“Stay quite still.” I break free from his hold and stride forward until the toe of my boot touches Luki’s tail. “Luki, get behind me.”

The wolf inches backward until his body’s parallel to mine.

“Behind me,” I say, but he simply looks up at me with eyes that glow golden as the sun. He’s shed all trace of domestication. The wild has claimed him as its own.

The two remaining snow wolves split from one another and circle, one to the left, one to the right. Luki’s head swivels as he attempts to keep both creatures in view. I hear Kai’s labored breathing behind me but don’t turn around. Dragging every shred of magic from my body I send a bolt of cold through my arms, displacing the light in my hands with a ball of icy flames. I swing one arm and send the globe of fire hurtling toward the nearest snow wolf.

My missile strikes its target, blowing the wolf back into the night. A loud yelp is followed by a thud and the howls of the other wolves. I hurl more fire balls in the direction of the howls, then send a blast of freezing wind that whips the snow drifts from the ground. The howls grow fainter as the remaining creatures flee my whirlwind of magic.

But there’s still one snow wolf left, standing at the edge of the cave. His ice-blue eyes transfix me as I turn to face him. He’s crouched back on his haunches, prepared to attack. I sense Kai moving behind me and jump in front of him, sending him sprawling to the ground. The snow wolf flashes its dagger-sharp fangs and springs.

A blur of gray fur leaps in front of me. “Luki, no!” I scream, but it’s too late. The two wolves collide in mid-air and fall to the ground, rolling in the snow. Luki’s smaller form tangles with the bulk of Voss’s minion. Claws flash and teeth sink into skin. Yelps and howls rend the air, but I can’t distinguish which wolf is bearing the brunt of the pain.

“Do something!” shouts Kai, stepping up behind me.

I shoot him a fierce glare. “Like what, exactly?”

“Freeze them both,” he yells. “Put them to sleep, like with Gerda.”

So he guessed that much. I suck in a deep breath of the icy air and clasp Kai’s gloved hand for a second before I turn back to the battling animals. As I focus on the wolves, I feel Kai’s hands settle about my waist, lending me support. I know my magic is freezing his hands, even through his gloves, but he doesn’t let go. I dig my boots into the snow and concentrate.

“They’re dropping back.” Kai speaks into my ear while giving my body a little shake. “You can stop now, Thyra.”

I open my eyes. The snow wolf lies in a drift, its solid form shredding into wisps like wind-driven clouds. Luki is slumped on the ground a little way off.

Luki. I tear myself from Kai’s hands and stumble to the wolf’s prone body. Kneeling in the snow, I lay my hands on his blood-soaked gray fur. I feel his heart beating faintly beneath my searching fingers.

Luki. The animal I didn’t want, the companion I never encouraged, the pet I wouldn’t claim. I bow my head over his crimson-drenched form as full realization hits me. He never hesitated, despite the odds. He threw himself at certain death to save me.

Another howl pierces the air. It takes Kai kneeling by my side for me to recognize that these wails are coming from my throat.

“It’s all right, Thyra,” Kai says, wrapping his arms about me.

But it isn’t. I lean over Luki, weeping. I, who haven’t cried in over nine years, sob inconsolably. Every tear saved over those cold, lonely days finds its way to my eyes.

My hands slide up and down Luki’s damaged body. “Back away,” I tell Kai. “For your own sake, back away.”

Kai releases me and slumps back on his heels. I call forth all the power that I can command, demanding more and more, ripping the magic from my bones. My arms shake with the force of the wild magic that I conjure from every drop of my blood. Blue light illuminates my hands until they turn translucent. I hold them up to the dark sky.

“Freeze my bones and shatter my heart like a crystal but give my touch life!” I cry, not at all certain who I’m addressing. My fingers flutter like leaves shredded in the wind. I plunge them into Luki’s thick fur until I touch skin. Pressing my hands against his trembling body, I allow the tears to slide unheeded from my chin.

“What are you doing?” Kai slips next to me, his voice touched with wonder.

An azure tint radiates from my hands and spreads through Luki’s fur, until his entire body glows an icy blue. As swiftly as the illumination spreads it fades away.

Wind ruffles Luki’s gray fur. I lift my hands and stroke his ripped muzzle. As my fingers slide away from his nose I notice the marks fading. I cast a frantic gaze over the length of his body. The blood’s gone, along with the ragged cuts and slashes. A damp tongue licks the hand that cradles Luki’s head. I glance down to meet the adoring gaze of those golden eyes.

“You saved him,” says Kai in hushed tones. He creeps closer and strokes Luki’s head. “How did you do that, Thyra?”

“I don’t know.” I sit back as Luki rises to his feet, shaking the snow from his unmarked fur.

Kai stands slowly. He holds his hand and pulls me up beside him. “Your face is frozen.” He takes the edge of his knitted scarf and wipes the ice crystals from my cheeks. “You were crying.”

“Yes.” I throw my arms about Kai and hug him tight. “I was. I was crying.”

“I’ve never seen anyone so happy about that before,” says Kai with an indulgent grin. “So, my wonderful, magical queen, what do we do now?” His bright eyes cloud over. “We’ve lost our sleigh and ponies.”

“Yes, that’s a problem. But once we find Bae—and we will—perhaps we can figure something out.”

“Bae can’t transport all of us.”

Luki bumps my leg with his snout. I drop one arm and pat his head. “He can safely carry you and Gerda to the palace. Luki and I can make it on foot.”

Kai shakes his head. “Not in time to complete the mirror.”

“You can finish the mirror. I told you where Voss stores his shard.”

“I don’t know.” Kai’s expression is troubled. “You’d be placing your entire future in my hands, Thyra.”

“There are no better hands,” I reply, giving him a swift kiss. “Now, come—I believe I know where we can find a young girl and a talking reindeer.”

FINAL CALCULATIONS

We trudge through waist-deep snow. I haven’t enough strength to grant us the power to skim the surface. Luki leaps from drift to drift, disappearing momentarily only to bound up again, shedding snow with every bounce.

“So, not a pet?” Kai peeks from behind the furred edge of his hood.

“Go ahead, hit me while I’m down,” I reply, my lips twitching into a brief smile. I glance over at the pass and shiver. “Let’s move on. This place makes me nervous.”

“Because of your parents?” Kai holds out a hand. He grips my fingers, helping me slog through the drifts that obscure the mouth of another cave.

I close my eyes for a moment, willing the memory to fade.
This does not touch me. Let it go.
“Yes,” I say shortly. “Help me dig out some of this snow, will you? I sense Bae’s very close.”

After I give Luki a command to guard the entrance to the cave, Kai and I use our hands to shovel snow, creating a path wide enough to squeeze through. My fingers tingle inside my gloves as we crawl into the cave.

The scent of damp reindeer fur assails my nostrils. I can’t create a ball of light but I can call forth a faint illumination in the cave walls. It’s enough to show the curve of a reindeer’s wide back.

Gerda’s tucked between Bae’s belly and the far wall of the shallow cave. Huddled in a ball, one hand clutching a handful of fur, she’s fast asleep. Bae lifts his heavy head to stare at me. His lids droop over his eyes and I can read the weariness imprinted on his grizzled face.

“The little miss is exhausted, Snow Queen.” Bae eyes Kai suspiciously. “She was determined to flee the palace. I felt I had to assist her.”

I kneel beside the reindeer. “I’m glad you did, Bae. No one wishes any harm to come to Gerda. But we must wake her. It’s time to return to the palace. I promise she’ll be safe, and you can carry her home in a day or two.”

Bae shakes his shaggy head until his antlers rattle, making me leap to my feet. The reindeer nudges Gerda, who opens her eyes and sits up.

“Kai!” she cries with delight as Bae lumbers to his full height. She rises and moves around the reindeer to face us. “And you,” she adds in a much frostier tone.

“We’ve come to rescue you, Gerda.” Kai steps forward and embraces his friend. “Foolish girl, what were you thinking, running headlong into a blizzard?” He brushes back her tousled hair with one hand.

“I just wanted to get away,” mutters Gerda, ducking her head.

“You should’ve come to talk to me first.” Kai taps Gerda lightly on her wind-chapped nose. “We’ve always been able to talk through our problems, Gerda.”

“Not this one.” Gerda lifts her head to gaze into Kai’s face. Tears drip from her lashes. “I love you, Kai.”

Kai sighs. “I know.”

“But you don’t love me.” Gerda dashes away the dampness with the back of her gloved hand.

“I do,” says Kai, with perfect sincerity. “I do love you, Gerda, but just not …”

“The way I want,” replies the girl. She stares past Kai’s shoulder and fixes me with a fierce glare. “You love her. That sorceress. That freak.”

“Gerda!” Kai backs away from her. His tone’s sharp as a blade.

“It’s all right,” I say. I know that anger and hurt in Gerda’s eyes. I’ve lived with it for years, eating away at me like frostbite.

“Thyra abandoned the mirror to save you.” Kai takes my hand. “Even though she has only a few hours left. She knew I couldn’t find you on my own and insisted on accompanying me. You owe her your life, Gerda.”