Crown of Ice by Victoria Gilbert

Author:Victoria Gilbert
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: snow queen, frozen, fairy tale, fairytale, retelling, fairy tale retelling, fairytale retelling, hans christian andersen, ya, young adult, fantasy
Publisher: Snowy Wings Publishing
Published: 2017-05-08T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen: The Lure of Faraway Lands

STEPPING INTO THE CARAVAN transports me to another world. The wood interior’s painted gleaming white, a perfect backdrop for the riot of brilliant fabrics draping the walls. Lanterns hung on wrought iron brackets cast an amber glow.

Ravn is standing at the far end of the wagon, his back to the entrance. My escort crosses swiftly to the shorter man and whispers something in his ear before brushing roughly past me and taking up a position just outside the door.

Seated cross-legged on one of the upholstered benches lining the two longer walls is a young girl. She’s wearing a voluminous white blouse over crimson breeches. Her dark eyes shine like enamel against her olive skin.

She runs one hand through her lustrous black hair. “What’s your name? Are you a friend of Gerda?” The girl shoots a glance at Ravn’s back. “Who is she, Papa?”

“That’s the problem, Mirela. We don’t really know.” Ravn turns to face me. “Apparently she possesses more than one name.”

I lift my chin and level my most imperious gaze on the dark-haired man. “I am Thyra Winther. I told you that before.”

“So who’s this Clara our other prisoner mentioned?”

“It’s an alias, of course.” I shrug. “The girl’s your prisoner. I assume you’ve good reason to keep her captive. Why would I give some thief or vandal my real name?”

Mirela leaps to her feet. “Gerda’s not a thief! She’s just a girl searching for her lover.”

Ravn shifts from foot to foot under his daughter’s fierce gaze. “She was trespassing, like you, Thyra Winther. And as for her excuse”—Ravn casts a warning look at Mirela—“I’m not convinced by her story. She’s far too young to be tracking a missing sweetheart.”

Mirela tosses her head. “She’s not. She’s only a little younger than me.”

“My point,” says Ravn firmly.

I examine the two faces before me. Mirela’s mouth is pursed in a pout, while Ravn’s lips are pressed tightly together. I suspect there’s a story behind their words. Perhaps something I can turn to my advantage.

“I can’t imagine such a girl’s any threat to you.” I smile coolly as Ravn unsheathes his knife. “And I certainly pose no danger.” I watch Ravn toy with the weapon and consider freezing those long, tapering fingers until they blacken and fall from his hands.

Ravn slices the air with the knife. “That remains to be seen. Now, take a seat and tell me, why do you seek a piece of a broken looking-glass?” He points the tip of the blade toward the side of the caravan.

I stride to the padded bench and sit, keeping my eyes on Ravn and his knife. Mirela settles into the cushions next to me. “It’s part of a mirror that belongs to my master, the mage Mael Voss. Perhaps you’ve encountered him during your travels?”

Ravn’s eyes narrow. “I’ve heard the name.”

I lean into the embroidered pillows behind my back. “If you know of Voss, then you’re also aware of his power. While he may not be able to track you everywhere, his reach is long.

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