Snow Queen

be uncovering the secrets of the Universe. And in the end, it will be you who makes a difference, while she just adds another lot of round-faced children to be good, obedient subjects of your King.”

She watched him struggling with his desire to retort, watched him conquer himself, and watched him walk away in defeat, shoulders slumped. It was all she could do to keep from jumping up and dancing.

She did retire to her own rooms for a bit — partly to make sure, should he brace himself up and return to confront her, that she would not be there, and partly because, despite her warm clothing, her hands and feet were cold and numb. Her Brownies brought her pea soup and hot bread with butter melting on it. Peasant fare — the cook must have changed again. She sighed with satisfaction. It was a good change; peasant fare was tasty, hearty and very comforting. She felt strongly in the need of comfort. Meanwhile, she watched the boy in her small mirror. And it was obvious that her deduction was correct. The boy was lovesick. Thoughts of Gerda clearly intruded on everything he did.

She could not have engineered a better outcome here if she had personally directed The Tradition into this path.

Actually, I wonder if I have…. or rather, if all the Godmothers have. Is it becoming part of The Traditional Path for us to intervene?

She shook off the thought. If it was, well…the work would be going easier. And aside from the occasional moment like this one, it wasn't.

Pity.

Because if things would just go a little easier…she might be able to leave them for a bit. Go somewhere. Somewhere without ice and snow.

She made a face and put down the empty bowl with a sigh. Outside, the sun was westering. She wasn't sure how far Valeri was going to take Gerda, but there was not a chance that Valeri would be coming with her. She hadn't packed up her own things, after all. No, Valeri would take her out of immediate reach of the bandits and then leave her to find her own way. That should be just about now.

6

Aleksia returned to the throne room feeling all the better for the meal and the chance to warm herself. She settled down to her mirror in a much better frame of mind than when she had left it.

The great mirror clouded for a bit as she reminded it of what it had last been reflecting, then the cloudiness resolved into the image she had expected, a look backward across the loping reindeer's back, the grin of Valeri as the sledge flew over the snow, and behind her, Gerda's white, strained face. Interestingly enough, they were out of the trees and tearing along a long, flattish slope. From the look of things — yes, Gerda was within striking distance of the Palace of Ever-Winter. With help.

Just as Aleksia recognized that fact, Valeri brought the sledge to a halt.

“And here is where I leave you!” she said cheerfully. She waved her hand in the general — and correct — direction of Aleksia's Palace. “What you want is over that way. Not sure how far, but it's there all right.”

“You aren't coming with me?” Gerda faltered, getting carefully up from the sledge. From the way she winced, it hadn't been an easy ride.

“Of course not! I've got the band to help look after! And when I do leave — ” Valeri's face took on a look of speculation. “When I do, it'll be t' see the world. No offense, but not t' go rescue some little girl's boy. So! Best of luck and off you go!”

And Valeri did not even pause to see Gerda sling the pack over her back. With a yell and a slap of the reins, she was off again, turning the sledge back along the track they had made, the reindeer's head high as he loped along. And Valeri did not look back.

Poor Gerda…standing there all alone in a vast expanse of white, she looked very small, and very lost. And there was no way, no way at all, she was going to get across the mountains on her own two feet. No matter how brave she had been so far, no matter how earnest she was, she was still a town girl. She simply did not know how to survive out there.

She was going to need help.

And now was the time for her Godmother to arrange for some overt aid.

Aleksia redirected the mirror for a moment, into the depths of an ice-cave. And there, as she expected, was what she was looking for. It did not at all surprise her to see Urho, the Great White Bear, looking back at her.

My scrying told me you might be needing me, said the slow, heavy voice in her mind.

Urho was one of the Wise Beasts, the sort that could speak and reason like humans. He was a frequent visitor to the Palace, and although she could not exactly call him good company, his stories were interesting, and he actually enjoyed breaking up the monotony of Winter with the occasional task for her. His usual tasks — for he was something of a Mage himself — were to see to it that the more inimical of creatures were reported, and if possible, kept far from her door, and to come to the aid of travelers wise enough to see him for what he was or innocent enough to trust him.

“I have a peasant cook now,” she said, and with amusement saw his eyes light up. “Oh, yes, Urho. All your favorites, I do think. And down below your cave, where the snowline meets the treeline, just above the cairn of thirty stones beside the trout stream, there is a young lady. She is all alone, rather ill-equipped and marching with great determination to rescue her lover from wicked me.”

What, another one? Urho rumbled with laughter. So, so, so. I should hurry, if I am to intercept her before nightfall.

“Thank you, old friend. I will see you in a few days.”

Look in on us between now and then. I will find shiny places.

“I will,” she promised, and the mirror clouded over.

She took a long, deep breath. Well, that was sorted. Kay was in love with Gerda after all, with emotions all