Shadows on Snow: A Flipped Fairy Tale (Flipped Fairy Tales) (21 page)

“Supplies,” General Turgis said. “They should be leaving day after tomorrow to restock our stores here.”

“Two full units?” Prince Leopold asked. “Why not only one?”

“One to haul the supplies, one to guard them,” the general said. “In the last year and a half the roads have become less safe, Highness. It became a necessary measure when half of our wares were being plundered before they reached us.”

I frowned at the map. “That coincides with Queen Muriel’s marriage. And some of it may be overflow from Bern. His reign has not been kind to my people.” A soldier entered bearing a tray of bread and apples: a midnight snack to fuel the minds building strategy. “Regardless, how often do you send those units?”

“As soon as they unload, they usually leave right away for more,” the general said. “Food keeps longer in winter than warmer months, but it’s still constantly depleted by hungry soldiers.”

I shivered, my restlessness surging to unexplained panic. Only magic brought on such sudden shifts, and my eyes darted around the tent, searching for the source. My gaze rested on the soldier who’d come bearing food, and I froze. In my peripheral vision, Prince Leopold reached for the tray, his fingers wrapping around a shining red apple. The soldier’s lip curled ever so slightly.

“Stop!” I screamed, whirling on the prince. “Don’t—”

He stared at me, shocked, as he pulled the fruit away from his mouth. While I looked on, his pupils contracted, his eyes glazing over.

I screamed as I ran to him, catching him seconds before he crumpled to the ground. The apple rolled away from his limp hand, a single bite missing from its form. Frantic, I pried open his mouth, hoping by some small miracle it was only at his tongue.

“No no no no no…” I said, sobbing. “No! I won’t let you!”

A loud laugh shook me to my core, and my head snapped up to the source. The soldier who brought the food shifted, his clothing, his features, all of it crumbling away. In his place, King Alder stood, his maniacal laughter ripping at my heart.

“Too late again, little princess,” he said, grinning madly beneath his thin, black mustache. As I sat on the floor, too terrified to move, too trapped in the memories of my mother and Queen Muriel, he flung the tabletop to the side with a wave of his hand, the boards and contents burying General Turgis instantly. King Alder slowly stepped towards me, crossing the empty space without so much as blinking. “Dearest Raelynn,” he hissed. “Always too late, never enough. You’re exactly like that other one, only…” He tipped his chin back, smirking, “less.”

Too late. I was too late. Crushing guilt and sorrow tumbled over me. How could I have let this happen again? How much must life take from me before I was strong enough to protect the ones I loved? I couldn’t move; I could barely draw a breath as his eyes burned into me. Endless despair waited in his gaze.

As King Alder chuckled, four soldiers rushed in from outside. A massive gust of wind lifted the tent from its supports, flying at the men and tangling them together. Unfazed, he crouched down before me, running an icy finger down the side of my face. “You’ll make a nice trophy for me as well, little princess,” he said, his voice so low, so threatening, that fear choked off my own words. Consumed by thoughts of what he’d do with me as a “trophy,” all that was left to me was my terror.

Another blast of frosty air raced past me, slamming into his chest and sending him flying.

“Get away from her!” Erata screamed over the sound of the wind howling.

King Alder staggered to his feet, his expression murderous. “Still not enough,” he said, spittle flying from his lips. “Your power is no match for me!”

“But what about all seven?” Adelaide yelled as she and the others gathered behind me. “We are not children anymore, monster!”

“Monster, is it?” His body relaxed as he smiled at us.

My heart pounded, sure that whatever was coming would be truly horrific, for only the horrible brought out such a look on him. Throwing open his arms, his entire form expanded, darkened, burst into black plumage as his face stretched out far in front of him, becoming a massive gray beak. This was no glamour, but a true morphing of the body. In moments, a giant, scaled, and feathered beast loomed over us. It lifted its head, screeching into the sky with a cry so loud I bent over Leo’s still body, clutching at my ears.

The noise stopped, replaced by a great beating of wings as the creature lifted off of the ground. Higher and higher it went, a hundred feet in the air before it barreled towards the ground, claws outstretched. Hands grabbed me from behind, but I fought them, desperate to stay with him, to protect my prince, but they were stronger and too many. My sisters dragged me away, me screaming for them to let me go. Ebony talons closed around Leo as I watched, helpless to stop it.

In seconds, he was gone.

My voice died in my throat with a last painful wail.

Too late.

Never enough.

My world closed in on itself and darkness took me.

Someone was calling to me, but my mind refused to fully wake. I had no care for daylight or reality.

“Raelynn, you must open your eyes.”

I knew that voice, but couldn’t quite place it. Sleep called me back.

“Raelynn, it’s time. He needs you.”

A warm tear slid down my face, cooling in the winter air. “No one needs someone who is always too late,” I whispered.

“It’s not too late, stubborn girl, but you must get hold of yourself first. Come on then. Open your eyes and sit up. I’ve not much time.”

Gradually, I pried myself up and looked for the source of the voice. “Come to tell me a bedtime story, Godmother?” I said as I pulled my knees to my chest. “I think I may be too old for such things now.”

Her hand stretched out in front of me, open and waiting, her silver blue dress glimmering with its own light. “I know you wish to grieve, but that’s for when there’s loss. It’s not hopeless yet, dearest one.”

Numb, the tears spilled down my cheeks. “What use am I to anyone, Godmother? The person I swore to protect with my life was ripped right from my hands. He’s lost to me now, and it’s my fault.”

With a frustrated huff, she hauled me to my feet, much stronger than anyone would think by the size of her arms. “He’s not lost, Raelynn, but you’re the only one that can save him now.”

I blinked back the tears. “But he’s—”

“Dead?” she said with the barest hint of amusement. “Not yet.”

“What? But I saw him with my own eyes. He had no breath, his eyes were cold. And you say he lives?” I stared at her, not quite daring to hope I was wrong.

“Look to your heart, dearest one. You feel him still, do you not?”

Closing my eyes, I tentatively searched inside myself for the memory of his touch, of the feelings he conjured in me when our gazes held. The world would vanish in those moments, leaving nothing but the two of us together. There, deep in concentration, the tingle of his warmth whispered to me, pulling at me, calling me to him across the miles between us. Gasping, I surged forward, clinging to my godmother and choking back a sob.

“He’s there. He lives. Spirits help me, Godmother, how can I save him from this?”

She eased back from my grasp, and I wiped away my tears. Her wings fluttered cheerily, then disappeared as her feet settled back on the ground. “We must act quickly. Come. They all need to know.”

As she led me from the tent, men rose from their seats and others straightened, staring after me and my godmother as we wound our way to the planning tent. They’d resurrected it while I slept, though the inside still showed the scars of King Alder’s attack, tears in the fabric and the table split in twain.

“You there,” my godmother said, pointing at the bandaged form of General Turgis, his arm in a sling. “You’re in charge?”

He gaped openly at the fairy. Though she was not in her full magical form, it was impossible to mistake her for human. “I am. To what do I owe this honor, Lady of Light?”

She twittered at him for the formal address. “Call me Lucinda, it’s much faster than that other business. As to the reason for my visit, I wish to know your plans for the rescue attempt.”

I glanced around the tent, my sisters’ uneasy looks saying more than General Turgis’ confounded expression. “Rescue attempt?”

“You do intend to launch an offensive to restore Prince Leopold, do you not?”

General Turgis glanced at me. “We… no. We were looking to see which of his distant family members were next in line for—”

“There’s no need for all that,” she interrupted. “Prince Leopold lives, though not for much longer. You must act, and you must do so immediately. My kin and I will not sit by and let a man with so much blood on his hands steal away human kingdoms one by one. That Dinnish king will make trouble for us if we don’t stop him now.”

“He lives?” the General said, stunned. “But all who witnessed the attack say—”

“Don’t trust your eyes where magic is concerned,” she said, pulling her thin, silver wand from her sleeve. Frowning at the mess around us, she flicked it in a circle, the strewn and broken objects righting and fixing themselves as she moved. “Now then,” she said as she leaned over the repaired table. My godmother frowned at the maps before her. “Ridiculous. This is of no use.” With a wave of her hand and a tap of her wand, another map appeared, revealing a detailed plan of the Sericean palace and surrounding lands. “You’ll move the army as quickly as you can, but send small forces with these seven. They can easily infiltrate the palace and open the gates for the main body of the army when you arrive.”

“Move the army?” General Turgis blustered, offended at being ordered about. “But Moran—”

“Has already begun pulling up stakes and moving towards Bern. They’re of no concern. King Dornan can be reasonable with the proper motivation. He’s been handled. Now, about the Sericean army. How quickly can you be ready? By my estimation, you have a week before what’s been done cannot be undone. With enough men, taking the palace shouldn’t be difficult, not if someone is there to open the gates. I suggest you pack and leave now, and plan along the way. Send who you can as an advanced force and pray to the spirits it’s enough.”

My sisters and I marveled at her efficiency while General Turgis attempted to comprehend it all. “Break camp?” he asked. “Likely within the day, but—”

“Good,” she said with a smile. “Then best get to it. There’s no time to waste. Ladies.” She looked around at my sisters. “With me, if you will.”

Without any further ado, my godmother spun about and walked outside, my sisters and I trailing behind her until we were back at our tent.

“As for all of you,” she said when we gathered around. “I bring gifts. You’ll need them soon enough. Adelaide?”

My eldest sister stepped forward. “Yes, Lucinda?”

A quick flick of her wrist and a pouch appeared, dropping into Adelaide’s open palms. “Be judicious with those,” she said. “One or two at a time at most. Belinda?”

She stepped forward as Adelaide stepped back. “Yes, Lucinda?”

The air above Belinda burst into light, a shimmering cloak dropping from mid-air to settle around her shoulders.

“Wrap it about you and spin to your right. It will transform you into any creature you desire for a half hour’s time. Spin to the left before then, and you return to your true self. Clarice?”

“Yes, Lucinda?”

A strange pair of spectacles appeared on Clarice’s face. “I cannot gift you with the wisdom you need to rule, as that only comes as a reward of time and patience. However, with these you will be able to better see the truth of things. Use that to inform your decisions. Delphine?”

“I’m here, Lucinda,” she said.

A golden hand mirror floated before my godmother, and she placed it in Delphine’s hands. “It will show you what you’re looking for, and none will look back at you but yourself.”

“Thank you, Lucinda.”

“Do keep it out of the ashes. It’s rather finicky about being kept clean,” my godmother said. “Erata?”

A small box appeared at Erata’s feet when she stepped forward.

“You already direct the winds, but with this,” my godmother said, motioning to the little wooden box. “You can keep one of the four completely still. Be mindful, now. Any spirit of the wind will not take kindly to being kept overlong. If you must use this, do so only for a short time.”

“I will, Lucinda,” Erata said, picking up the box with reverence.

“Farah,” my godmother said, turning to the last of my sisters. “Do you remember the throne room of Bern?”

“Of course,” Farah said with a wistful smile.

My godmother drew a symbol in the air, the shape of the five-petaled white valerian of Bern forming before her. The light burst outwards, soon replaced with a silver shield I remembered as hanging above my mother’s throne.

“The Shield of Ellandra,” my godmother said. “Most loyal protector of the first Bernian queen.” The object floated to Farah, and she reached out, taking it with awe. “It will guard all who stand behind you.”

“Thank you, Lucinda,” Farah whispered.

Turning to me, my godmother’s gaze softened. “There is little I can give you that will rival the gifts you already possess,” she said. Taking my hand, she placed something small and warm in my palm. “But perhaps a reminder of the wondrous things that will never leave you.”

When she stepped back, I looked down at her gift. A small gold band glinted up at me, its warmth spreading over my skin and embracing me.

“This was your father’s, given to him by your mother,” Lucinda said. “No riches or magic can compare to the power of love, dearest one. Remember that, and hold tight to it always.”

Fingers trembling, I slid the band around my thumb. I had very few memories of my father, but I clung to them then, able to see his smile clearly before me though he was gone before my fifth birthday. My vision blurred through tears as I lifted my eyes to Lucinda.

“Thank you, Godmother,” I said, my voice unsteady.

She hugged me tightly. “Love is your greatest strength, Raelynn. When all else fails, let it guide you.”

My Godmother released me and brushed off her hands. “There’s one more thing I must tell you. Be very careful with this enemy. I’ve heard whispers that there’s more to him than we know. Take care and be swift, be safe.”