A Crown of Snow and Ice: A Retelling of The Snow Queen (Beyond the Four Kingdoms Book 3) Read online

  After the debacle of my sister’s Christening, everyone had thought it best to avoid gifts at my own ceremony, so I had grown up without any direct experience with them. But just because godmothers traditionally seemed to give gifts such as beauty and grace, did that mean they were unable to give gifts of a more…active…nature?

  Perhaps it was possible, after all, for them to gift someone with the ability to wield a specific sort of magic. And I had, only recently, had a rather unexpected encounter with my own godmother.

  The memory filled my mind: a bright, celebratory scene. It had been Lily and Sophie’s wedding, during the feast, and her appearance had taken me by surprise. I knew that the darkness had been lifted from both Marin and Palinar, and that godmothers had been seen in both. But I would have expected to see the twins’ own godmother at their wedding, not mine.

  She had appeared from nowhere and pulled me into a large potted plant on the edge of the ballroom. Well, not into it, exactly, but close enough. My questions had been greeted with only cryptic mutterings, her one straight-forward utterance being to confirm my intention to travel to Eldon. She had then informed me that she wished to rectify the omission of my Christening and give me a belated gift.

  I had been excited about the whole thing, as well as intrigued. And it had made me even more interested in visiting Eldon since her question about the kingdom had been so pointed. But it had never occurred to me that her gift might grant me some sort of actual magical ability. And as the weeks in Palinar passed with no noticeable effect from the gift at all, it had faded from my mind.

  Now I struggled to even remember the exact wording of it. After some effort I managed to recall it. I grant you the gift of fire, she had said, to match that which already burns within you. May it light your way no matter how black the darkness.

  I had assumed she meant to give me some sort of extra perception or passionate focus. An added clarity of vision, or something like that. It seemed the type of thing the godmothers would deem important. I hadn’t expected it to mean I would be able to conjure hot gales with the power of my mind.

  I looked down again at my hands, scrunching my forehead as I concentrated all my will on them. The more I considered it, the more certain I was that the gale must have been connected to me and to my new gift. But with the wording I would have expected fire balls over wind. Perhaps I could…

  Nothing happened. I glanced at the carriage’s other occupants with embarrassment. Thankfully they couldn’t possibly know I had been unsuccessfully attempting to sprout flames from my fingers.

  I went back over the earlier events. Now that I thought about it, it had started not with my hands themselves but with the warmth inside my chest. I turned my attention inward but had no more success kindling an internal fire than I had an external one. After the minutes stretched out without success, I slumped back against the seat.

  It appeared I couldn’t control it, then. Too bad. I would have liked to greet whoever eventually opened the carriage door with fire balls. But apparently my gift—if that’s what it was—had more use for rescuing others than myself.

  The prince had yet to reappear, so I assumed he truly had escaped. I wished I felt more confident that he was doing something useful with his freedom.

  “We’re traveling west,” said Emmeline, breaking the silence of the carriage.

  I started and looked outside again—with some interest, this time. The capital lay north-west from the port. Further west, against the southern border with Eliam, lay large forested plains. At least we weren’t traveling closer to the northern mountains and their inevitable snow.

  “Perhaps the robbers’ hideout is in the forests, then,” said Giselle.

  “Robbers? Do you really think they’re robbers?” I asked.

  “But of course,” she said. “They certainly look like thieves.”

  I frowned. “Except they haven’t robbed us. They’re abducting us. If their aim was robbery, they could easily have achieved it back on the road.”

  Giselle blinked at me. “My father, King Leopold, has long pursued a band of robbers who are believed to make their home in the southern forests. I’m sure this must be them. They have simply stolen us rather than our possessions.”

  Now it was my turn to blink in confusion. Emmeline and Giselle were even further gone than I had thought if they viewed themselves as no more than objects that could be stolen in the same way someone might steal a jeweled necklace.

  “But…why?” I asked at last.

  “Ransom, I suppose,” said Emmeline. “Our father is known to have great reserves of gold and diamond mined from the northern mountains.”

  “He is?” I hadn’t heard such reserves talked of myself.

  Giselle shrugged. “They aren’t so very large, really. But you know how people are wont to talk.”

  “I…suppose.” Rumors of wealth did tend to become exaggerated over time. But abducting four royals—including a visiting royal from a largely unknown kingdom—seemed a desperate course to take based on a rumor. Could it be the tales of my own kingdom of Lanover’s wealth that had tempted them? Perhaps I was the true target. But that still represented a desperate gamble since they could have no way to know if Lanover would respond with overwhelming physical force rather than payment. Based on the current state of things, I suspected Lanover could easily send a flotilla and overwhelm Eldon if it wished to do so.

  Of course, by the time they did that, who knows what would have happened to me? I had been relying on my hosts to keep me safe during my visit—a plan that seemed increasingly fool-hardy at this point. I looked over at Emmeline and Giselle. If we were going to get out of this, I suspected it would be up to me. I fisted my hands, disappointed at the frosty feel of my chilly fingertips. I could really do with some fire right now.

  “So how are we going to escape?” I asked.

  “Escape?” Emmeline frowned out the window. “I don’t see any way to escape. Perhaps an opportunity will present itself.”

  “In my experience,” I said briskly, “it’s best to make your own opportunities.”

  “You have a lot of experience in escapes, do you?” asked Giselle.

  “You’d be surprised,” I said wryly. I focused my eyes on the road outside which seemed to be curving slightly south. I’d managed to trail along for a fair number of adventures with my siblings. Only they always saw me as a child who needed to be protected. I straightened in my seat. It didn’t matter if Emmeline and Giselle weren’t going to be any help. This was what I’d wanted—no one telling me what to do or keeping me safe. I could hardly complain now that it looked like everything was going to be left up to me.

  Unfortunately it was hard to make any plans until we reached some sort of destination, however temporary. And as the hours passed, my tension and anxiety faded into boredom. Eventually I curled up on the seat and napped. If an opening for escape arrived, I didn’t want to be so tired I missed it.

  The quiet murmur of the sisters woke me just before the wheels hit cobblestones. I stretched and peered outside only to realize we were entering the inner courtyard of a small stone castle. I stared between the view and the two princesses.

  “We don’t know where we are,” said Emmeline. “Other than in the forest somewhere.”

  “I can’t believe you managed to sleep,” said Giselle.

  I shrugged. “I can sleep just about anywhere. It’s a handy skill. You should work on it.”

  My mouth twitched as both sisters stared at me blankly.

  “Or don’t.” I shrugged again.

  The light was failing, but I examined the courtyard in the twilight, helped by the odd flaming torch. “I’m surprised your father was never able to track the robbers down if they live in a castle.”

  I turned to the other girls, eyebrows raised, but neither said anything. Sighing, I turned back to analyze the scene outside. Many of the attackers milled around in the enclosed space, but I saw none of our own people. Dread filled me. I had assume
d they were behind us, blocked by the attackers who had traveled in a ring around the carriage.

  What had happened to them? My maids had stayed behind with my other guards to travel to the palace with the baggage, but we had still had a sizable entourage of Eldonian guards and grooms, not to mention the coachmen.

  A tall, older man, his dark hair at odds with the pale coloring of most of the Eldonians, strode into the courtyard. His quick gaze took in the situation, an air of authority clinging to him as he approached a small group standing near the carriage.

  “Where is the prince? Did you put him in the carriage with the princesses?”

  The other men shifted uncomfortably, glancing at each other.

  “Well?”

  “He got away, I’m afraid, m’lord.”

  “What? How?” The man’s tone was hard, but his face held more calculation than anger. He certainly wasn’t the aggressive—or perhaps blustering—robber leader I had expected. And the other man had called him m’lord. I glanced again at the small castle on the other side of the courtyard.

  By the end of the men’s stumbled explanations, the newcomer looked thunderstruck. “And you still brought the princesses here?”

  The other men eyed each other warily, shrugging.

  “Just following the plan, m’lord.”

  The apparent lord massaged his temples and sighed. “I knew I should have gone myself. For all we know, the prince may have already tracked us to this place. And now it sounds like the godmothers may even be involved.”

  “The godmothers? Surely not! There hasn’t been one here for generations.” The protester looked bemused at the suggestion.

  “Perhaps a godmother object, then?” The man in charge shook his head. “You’ve heard the same reports I have. Things are changing in some of the other kingdoms. Newcomers have arrived. There’s really no telling what may happen.”

  “Well, that’s for sure,” muttered one of the other men under his breath.

  “Indeed.” The lord’s voice sounded icy. “And now there is nothing to be done but proceed.” He turned toward the carriage, and I hurriedly drew back, trying to look as calm and proper as the Eldonian princesses.

  The dark-haired man pulled open the door and surveyed the three of us before executing a stiff bow. “Your Highnesses. Welcome to my humble home. I apologize for the manner of your arrival.”

  Emmeline straightened. “We demand to be released at once.”

  For the first time I was glad to hear the ice in her voice. Unfortunately the man merely spread his arms wide.

  “Night is upon us, and Your Highnesses are alone without mounts. I could hardly turn you out at such a moment. It is still cold, though winter has officially passed.”

  “It’s always cold in Eldon, as far as I can tell,” I said, not bothering to mask the displeasure in my voice.

  He regarded me steadily. “Indeed. But it was not always so.”

  Something in his tone and his apparent reference to the increasing strangeness of his kingdom made me pause and assess him again. Nothing about this situation was playing out as I had imagined, and my desire to launch fire balls at everyone I could see was diminishing by the second. Curiosity was growing in its place. Did he know something of what was going on in Eldon?

  I shook out my skirts and slid along the bench seat toward the door. “Well, I for one will gladly accept your hospitality. I have had enough of this carriage to last a lifetime.”

  He stepped back, the smallest twitch creasing his mouth, and held out a hand to help me alight. Once my feet were on the ground, I turned back to my companions.

  “Well, ladies? A meal awaits us.” I spun back around and gave the man my haughtiest look. “At least so I assume. You did speak of welcome, did you not?”

  This time the twitch was more pronounced. He bowed again. “Indeed, Princess Celine. A warm meal awaits you. In your room.” He gestured, and a circle of guards formed around us. “Allow me to escort you there.”

  I raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Clearly we were to walk a fine line between prisoner and guest. For now, I would play along. A warm meal and comfortable room—if such they turned out to be—were better than I had expected to encounter at the end of this journey.

  But as we walked, I surreptitiously rubbed my palms against my thighs, willing the friction to ignite warmth of some kind. I might be playing along for now, but I would still have preferred to keep the option of fire balls open. Unfortunately, the movement did little to reduce the icy cold creeping through my limbs.

  The air temperature warmed somewhat when we entered a large antechamber through double wood doors. Neither the man in charge nor the guards slowed, hurrying us up a red carpeted staircase and down a stone corridor. I expected the three of us to be separated, but when the dark-haired man held open a wooden door, we were all ushered inside.

  Once we had filed in, the man smiled, directing his gaze at me. “I will leave guards out here in the corridor, should you require anything not already provided.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “And if I require a nighttime stroll?”

  “I would not recommend such an activity. Anyone unfamiliar with the castle might find it an unsafe place in the darkness.” The threat in his words was clear, but I could have sworn his eyes were laughing at me.

  “Your concern for our safety is truly touching,” I said, my words as dry as I could make them.

  “You honor me.” His smile broadened before he shut the door in my face.

  “Well, then.” I turned to assess the situation. “This could be worse.” Four beds lined the room, the sheets and covers of fine material, if a little worn. And a small round table in the center of the room held the promised food. My stomach rumbled at the sight of the steaming soup and soft bread rolls. We had been offered nothing while we traveled, and I immediately decided that any further explorations could wait until I had eaten.

  When I sat, the other girls followed my lead.

  Giselle watched me as I buttered my roll, making no move to eat herself. Did she suspect it was poisoned?

  I answered her unspoken question. “I don’t think they would poison us. If they wanted us dead they’ve had plenty of opportunity already. Plus, we’ll have to eat eventually, anyway. Personally, I’m going to keep up my strength. And I’d recommend you eat, too. But suit yourself.”

  Both Emmeline and Giselle regarded me so blankly I must have misread their hesitation. And on second thought, they didn’t seem to have the initiative to consider the possibility of poison. But my words goaded them into action anyway, as if they had been waiting for the prompt.

  All further talk ceased as we quickly emptied the trays provided. The food was basic, but well flavored. And, more importantly, it was still hot. Between it and the fires burning on both sides of the room, I actually began to thaw out.

  “Well,” I said at last, stretching back in my chair, “now that I’m warm and full, I’m ready to start plotting our escape.”

  Chapter 3

  “Escape?” Giselle actually sounded surprised. “Surely we should wait for Oliver.”

  I attempted a diplomatic answer. “Waiting for rescue is certainly one option.” I paused and then couldn’t resist adding, “Are you sure Oliver is coming, though?”

  “Certainly he will come for us,” said Emmeline, “we’re his sisters.”

  “Touching,” I muttered under my breath without any real heat, “it’s good to know I count for something.” More loudly, I said, “But will he know where we are?”

  Giselle frowned. “I suppose it depends on whether he decided to track our carriage or return immediately to the capital for reinforcements.”

  I waited for her to continue, but she lapsed back into silence.

  “Well,” I said, eventually, “I, for one, have no intention of sitting around and hoping for the best.”

  “But what exactly do you intend to do?” asked Emmeline. “You heard what Lord Treestone said. It sounds to me like you’re
going to get yourself killed. And that doesn’t sound particularly helpful.”

  I ignored this sad mistrust in my abilities, my attention caught on something else. “Lord Treestone? Don’t tell me you two know our captor!”

  “But, of course,” said Giselle. “We know all the nobles of Eldon. He’s a minor lord with a small estate in the southwestern forests.”

  “I thought you said they were robbers!”

  Giselle shrugged. “I didn’t know they were answering to him until he appeared. Even nobles can turn to thievery, I suppose.”

  I rubbed my head, deciding now was not the right moment to address their strange detachment. But how could they not be more incensed to be kidnapped by one of their own nobles? And how had they not thought it worth mentioning?

  I shook off the thought and explored our surroundings. Other than the beds and some empty chests and drawers, the room was bare. No surprises there. The windows were tall and narrow—too narrow for any of us to fit through—and there was only one door.

  Ignoring Giselle’s murmured warning, I opened it and stepped out into the corridor. Two guards immediately moved threateningly toward me. I stopped them with a haughty look.

  “We have completed our meal. Please send someone to clear the trays.” I retreated back into the room without waiting for a reply.

  So just walking out of the castle definitely wasn’t going to be an option. Just as this Lord Treestone had intimated. I had been in more dangerous situations in my life, but I had to admit, I couldn’t readily see a way out of this one. And the manner of Lord Treestone had raised enough questions in my mind that I wasn’t sure I wanted to run straight for the capital, anyway. Not without some further investigation.

  But the guards prevented any immediate explorations, and the thought of just climbing obediently into bed chafed too much to be considered. Especially since I was hardly sleepy after my long nap in the carriage.