Wednesday, December 17
“You’re sure you can spare me for a couple of hours?” Drew asked Mal. “I don’t want to leave you short-handed.”
Mal eyed him through the smoke of his ever-present cigarette. “Your fiancee needs you to run an errand,” he said. “She knows how busy we are. So if she’s asking, then yes, I can spare you.” He stabbed the air with his finger at Drew. “I just hope she can fix this mess with the Snow Queen.”
Drew froze. “What mess?”
“Don’t play the fool with me, boy.” Mal shook his head disgustedly. “I have been Station Master here for longer than you’ve been alive. I know when there’s something wrong. The Snow Queen hasn’t been through here once, and it’s nearly the day of the ball. That’s not normal.” He pointed at Pavel, who was standing at the back of the office. “He’s here, which isn’t normal either. Since when do you need a bodyguard? And don’t tell me he’s not. So you can’t tell me what’s going on. That’s fine. Just fix it.” He turned pointedly back to his paperwork, and Drew and Pavel, after exchanging a glance, slipped out.
“I’ve got the carriage,” Pavel said. “We can leave right from the bookstore.”
Drew looked at him sideways. “Those are technically illegal, you know.”
“What, carriages?” Pavel said innocently. “Really?”
Drew laughed. “Come on, you reprobate. Let’s go see what Molly needs us to do.”
“I have an idea,” Pavel said, following him out of the Station. “Let’s see if I’m right.”
Molly was waiting in the kitchen for them with a large basket. “Mal did let you go!” she exclaimed happily, flying into Drew’s arms. “I knew he would!”
“Mal would ask you how high if you said jump,” he said, after he kissed her. “You’ve got him wrapped around your little finger.”
“The one next to the one she’s got you wrapped around, right?” Pavel teased.
Drew grinned at him. “No, the one next to the one she’s got you wrapped around, you big softie.”
“Too true,” Pavel admitted. “All Molly needs to really do is wave some of her cooking in front of me, and I’ll go to hell for her.”
“You don’t have to do that today, but I’ll remember that,” Molly told him. “All you have to do is bring this out to the Snow Queen’s castle for me.” She indicated the basket. “And see if you can see her.”
Pavel sighed. “Hell might be easier,” he said, and Molly frowned at him. “Don’t look at me like that. She’s not seeing anyone, you know.”
“Old Man Winter knows you’re coming,” she said. “He’ll at least get you into the castle.” Her face softened. “I’m sending Schrodinger with you. She’s never been able to resist him.”
“Nuclear tactics,” Drew said. “You aren’t pulling any punches, are you?”
“We’re running out of time,” Molly said. “I want to make sure Caliban doesn’t get in before me.”
Drew kissed her one more time, and Pavel lifted the basket. “Where’s Schrodinger?” he asked.
Right here, the CrossCat said, coming into the kitchen. Are we ready?
Drew reluctantly dropped his arms from Molly and stepped away. “Yeah, I guess so.”
She reached up and touched his cheek, the diamond he’d given her last year at Christmas glittering on her hand. “I’ll stop by the Station tonight before I head to the farm,” she promised. “Bring you dinner?”
“I wouldn’t say no.”
Pavel coughed. “We should get going,” he reminded Drew. “Mal needs you back at some point. No matter how pretty your fiancee is.”
“I know, I know.” Drew followed Schrodinger and Pavel out to the carriage.
The Roads were quiet, at least until they got within sight of the Snow Queen’s realm. Then the hot, dry wind blew up around them, and Pavel barked an order to the driver. The horses leaped forward, pulling the carriage faster, racing along the Road and through the Gate moments before something that howled angrily reached them. Drew had no idea what it was, but he was certain it wasn’t anything he wanted to catch up with them.
“Caliban’s getting bolder,” Pavel noted, as the carriage burst through the Gate and shimmered, the wheels becoming sled rails. “That’s no minor spirit he’s got guarding this Gate.”
It’s not guarding it, it’s looking to get through, Schrodinger said uneasily. Do you think it will?
“Not yet,” Pavel said. “But soon, maybe. Unless this works.” He looked at the basket. “Schrodinger, do you know what’s in here?”
Turnovers from Jack’s apples, for one thing, the CrossCat said. And gingerbread. A very special gingerbread. Molly spent most of the morning making it.
“I hope it works.” Drew looked out at the snow falling down around them. It was large, wet flakes that looked more like slush than snow. It never slushed in the Snow Queen’s realm. At least, it hadn’t before.
Old Man Winter was waiting for them as the carriage pulled up in front of the Snow Queen’s castle, standing on the steps. “She’s agreed to see you,” he said abruptly. “But not for long.”
“We won’t need that long,” Drew said, climbing out of the carriage and gripping the old spirit’s hand in greeting. “I don’t think.”
No, Schrodinger said. It shouldn’t take long at all. He nosed Old Man Winter fondly. No Ember?
“Not today,” Old Man Winter said. “She’s hunting summer spirits on the Roads.”
Drew thought about the graceful dragon and decided he didn’t want to know. Although Ember had been nothing but gentle to him, she WAS a dragon, after all.
Old Man Winter led them through the castle, up the stairs and into the Snow Queen’s private rooms. “You’re the first mortals to be allowed here in years,” he said. “Be properly respectful.”
Did you think we wouldn’t be? Schrodinger asked, sounding insulted.
“No, but it had to be said,” Old Man Winter said, knocking on a closed door. A young girl in green livery came out and ushered them in.
Not knowing what to expect, Drew was relieved to see the Snow Queen herself, dressed in a plain pale blue gown, sitting on a chaise lounge. Although she smiled at them welcomingly, he saw how sunken in her cheeks were, and there were dark circles under her eyes.
Schrodinger went up to her, laying a gentle paw on her lap. We missed you, he said, purring.
“I missed you too,” she said, stroking his head, and her voice was low and soft. “You’re coming to my party on Saturday, aren’t you?”
Of course. Molly bought me a new bow tie!
She smiled. “Good.” Then she looked up at Drew and Pavel. “How are you gentlemen doing?”
“Good, thank you, Your Majesty,” Pavel said, bowing. He placed the basket on the table in front of her. “Molly sent us, as I’m sure you know.”
“Yes, that’s what her note said.” Jade looked at Drew. “How are you enjoying the new place?”
“We like it,” he said, taking the chair she indicated. “You should come out and see it after the ball.”
“Maybe I will,” she said, her hands trembling slightly. “We’ll see.” She turned to look at the basket. “What did you bring me?”
Pavel opened the basket, and pulled out several things: a tin, which was filled with snowflake cookies; another tin full of golden turnovers; and then the gingerbread. This last he set in front of her, and Jade gasped.
It was a log cabin, Drew saw, set among sugar maples with red and gold leaves. A small log cabin, but Jade reached for it, her fingers trembling more than they had been, and touched the roof, which was dusted with powdered sugar snow.
Jack helped her with it, Schrodinger told her. He’s been helping her for a while now. The apples in the turnovers, they came from his tree.
“Jack doesn’t help mortals,” she whispered. “He despises them.”
He used to, Schrodinger agreed. And then he met Molly.
Jade’s lips twitched into a smile. “She does seem to have that effect on folks, doesn’t she?”
“Yes.” Pavel leaned forward. “He’d like a chance, Your Majesty.”
“A chance to do what?” she said, looking at him steadily.
“To make things right,” Drew said. “He loves you, Jade. He’s been waiting for you.”
Jade swallowed hard, her gaze straying back to the gingerbread log cabin. “I don’t know if he can make it right.”
“He can’t, if you don’t give him a chance.” Drew dared to reach out and lay his hand on top of her hand that was still on her lap. “That’s all he wants, Jade. The chance to prove he’s changed. Just one night.”
“I don’t know,” she said, and Drew could hear the tears lurking just beneath the surface. “I don’t know.”
Please? Schrodinger said, putting all his earnestness into the question.
“Maybe,” she said. “I have to think.” She pushed Schrodinger gently down and stood up, her maid coming over to help her. “I…need to go, now.” At the door, Jade turned back and looked at them. “I’ll let you know by Friday. That’s all I can promise right now.”
And then she was gone.