Wednesday, December 17<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re sure you can spare me for a couple of hours?\u201d Drew asked Mal. \u201cI don\u2019t want to leave you short-handed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mal eyed him through the smoke of his ever-present cigarette. \u201cYour fiancee needs you to run an errand,\u201d he said. \u201cShe knows how busy we are. So if she\u2019s asking, then yes, I can spare you.\u201d He stabbed the air with his finger at Drew. \u201cI just hope she can fix this mess with the Snow Queen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drew froze. \u201cWhat mess?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t play the fool with me, boy.\u201d Mal shook his head disgustedly. \u201cI have been Station Master here for longer than you\u2019ve been alive. I know when there\u2019s something wrong. The Snow Queen hasn\u2019t been through here once, and it\u2019s nearly the day of the ball. That\u2019s not normal.\u201d He pointed at Pavel, who was standing at the back of the office. \u201cHe\u2019s here, which isn\u2019t normal either. Since when do you need a bodyguard? And don\u2019t tell me he\u2019s not. So you can\u2019t tell me what\u2019s going on. That\u2019s fine. Just fix it.\u201d He turned pointedly back to his paperwork, and Drew and Pavel, after exchanging a glance, slipped out.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got the carriage,\u201d Pavel said. \u201cWe can leave right from the bookstore.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drew looked at him sideways. \u201cThose are technically illegal, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat, carriages?\u201d Pavel said innocently. \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n
Drew laughed. \u201cCome on, you reprobate. Let\u2019s go see what Molly needs us to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have an idea,\u201d Pavel said, following him out of the Station. \u201cLet\u2019s see if I\u2019m right.\u201d<\/p>\n
Molly was waiting in the kitchen for them with a large basket. \u201cMal did let you go!\u201d she exclaimed happily, flying into Drew\u2019s arms. \u201cI knew he would!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMal would ask you how high if you said jump,\u201d he said, after he kissed her. \u201cYou\u2019ve got him wrapped around your little finger.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe one next to the one she\u2019s got you wrapped around, right?\u201d Pavel teased.<\/p>\n
Drew grinned at him. \u201cNo, the one next to the one she\u2019s got you wrapped around, you big softie.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cToo true,\u201d Pavel admitted. \u201cAll Molly needs to really do is wave some of her cooking in front of me, and I\u2019ll go to hell for her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have to do that today, but I\u2019ll remember that,\u201d Molly told him. \u201cAll you have to do is bring this out to the Snow Queen\u2019s castle for me.\u201d She indicated the basket. \u201cAnd see if you can see her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pavel sighed. \u201cHell might be easier,\u201d he said, and Molly frowned at him. \u201cDon\u2019t look at me like that. She\u2019s not seeing anyone, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOld Man Winter knows you\u2019re coming,\u201d she said. \u201cHe\u2019ll at least get you into the castle.\u201d Her face softened. \u201cI\u2019m sending Schrodinger with you. She\u2019s never been able to resist him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNuclear tactics,\u201d Drew said. \u201cYou aren\u2019t pulling any punches, are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re running out of time,\u201d Molly said. \u201cI want to make sure Caliban doesn\u2019t get in before me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drew kissed her one more time, and Pavel lifted the basket. \u201cWhere\u2019s Schrodinger?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
Right here,<\/em> the CrossCat said, coming into the kitchen. Are we ready?<\/em><\/p>\n Drew reluctantly dropped his arms from Molly and stepped away. \u201cYeah, I guess so.\u201d<\/p>\n She reached up and touched his cheek, the diamond he\u2019d given her last year at Christmas glittering on her hand. \u201cI\u2019ll stop by the Station tonight before I head to the farm,\u201d she promised. \u201cBring you dinner?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t say no.\u201d<\/p>\n Pavel coughed. \u201cWe should get going,\u201d he reminded Drew. \u201cMal needs you back at some point. No matter how pretty your fiancee is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know, I know.\u201d Drew followed Schrodinger and Pavel out to the carriage.<\/p>\n The Roads were quiet, at least until they got within sight of the Snow Queen\u2019s 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\u2019t anything he wanted to catch up with them.<\/p>\n \u201cCaliban\u2019s getting bolder,\u201d Pavel noted, as the carriage burst through the Gate and shimmered, the wheels becoming sled rails. \u201cThat\u2019s no minor spirit he\u2019s got guarding this Gate.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s not guarding it, it\u2019s looking to get through,<\/em> Schrodinger said uneasily. Do you think it will?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNot yet,\u201d Pavel said. \u201cBut soon, maybe. Unless this works.\u201d He looked at the basket. \u201cSchrodinger, do you know what\u2019s in here?\u201d<\/p>\n Turnovers from Jack\u2019s apples, for one thing,<\/em> the CrossCat said. And gingerbread. A very special gingerbread. Molly spent most of the morning making it.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI hope it works.\u201d 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\u2019s realm. At least, it hadn\u2019t before.<\/p>\n Old Man Winter was waiting for them as the carriage pulled up in front of the Snow Queen\u2019s castle, standing on the steps. \u201cShe\u2019s agreed to see you,\u201d he said abruptly. \u201cBut not for long.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe won\u2019t need that long,\u201d Drew said, climbing out of the carriage and gripping the old spirit\u2019s hand in greeting. \u201cI don\u2019t think.\u201d<\/p>\n No,<\/em> Schrodinger said. It shouldn\u2019t take long at all.<\/em> He nosed Old Man Winter fondly. No Ember?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNot today,\u201d Old Man Winter said. \u201cShe\u2019s hunting summer spirits on the Roads.\u201d<\/p>\n Drew thought about the graceful dragon and decided he didn\u2019t want to know. Although Ember had been nothing but gentle to him, she WAS a dragon, after all.<\/p>\n Old Man Winter led them through the castle, up the stairs and into the Snow Queen\u2019s private rooms. \u201cYou\u2019re the first mortals to be allowed here in years,\u201d he said. \u201cBe properly respectful.\u201d<\/p>\n Did you think we wouldn\u2019t be?<\/em> Schrodinger asked, sounding insulted.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, but it had to be said,\u201d Old Man Winter said, knocking on a closed door. A young girl in green livery came out and ushered them in.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Schrodinger went up to her, laying a gentle paw on her lap. We missed you,<\/em> he said, purring.<\/p>\n \u201cI missed you too,\u201d she said, stroking his head, and her voice was low and soft. \u201cYou\u2019re coming to my party on Saturday, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n Of course. Molly bought me a new bow tie!<\/em><\/p>\n She smiled. \u201cGood.\u201d Then she looked up at Drew and Pavel. \u201cHow are you gentlemen doing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood, thank you, Your Majesty,\u201d Pavel said, bowing. He placed the basket on the table in front of her. \u201cMolly sent us, as I\u2019m sure you know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, that\u2019s what her note said.\u201d Jade looked at Drew. \u201cHow are you enjoying the new place?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe like it,\u201d he said, taking the chair she indicated. \u201cYou should come out and see it after the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe I will,\u201d she said, her hands trembling slightly. \u201cWe\u2019ll see.\u201d She turned to look at the basket. \u201cWhat did you bring me?\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Jack helped her with it,<\/em> Schrodinger told her. He\u2019s been helping her for a while now. The apples in the turnovers, they came from his tree.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cJack doesn\u2019t help mortals,\u201d she whispered. \u201cHe despises them.\u201d<\/p>\n He used to,<\/em> Schrodinger agreed. And then he met Molly.<\/em><\/p>\n Jade\u2019s lips twitched into a smile. \u201cShe does seem to have that effect on folks, doesn\u2019t she?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d Pavel leaned forward. \u201cHe\u2019d like a chance, Your Majesty.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA chance to do what?\u201d she said, looking at him steadily.<\/p>\n \u201cTo make things right,\u201d Drew said. \u201cHe loves you, Jade. He\u2019s been waiting for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Jade swallowed hard, her gaze straying back to the gingerbread log cabin. \u201cI don\u2019t know if he can make it right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe can\u2019t, if you don\u2019t give him a chance.\u201d Drew dared to reach out and lay his hand on top of her hand that was still on her lap. \u201cThat\u2019s all he wants, Jade. The chance to prove he\u2019s changed. Just one night.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d she said, and Drew could hear the tears lurking just beneath the surface. \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n Please?<\/em> Schrodinger said, putting all his earnestness into the question.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe,\u201d she said. \u201cI have to think.\u201d She pushed Schrodinger gently down and stood up, her maid coming over to help her. \u201cI\u2026need to go, now.\u201d At the door, Jade turned back and looked at them. \u201cI\u2019ll let you know by Friday. That\u2019s all I can promise right now.\u201d<\/p>\n And then she was gone.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Wednesday, December 17 \u201cYou\u2019re sure you can spare me for a couple of hours?\u201d Drew asked Mal. \u201cI don\u2019t want to leave you short-handed.\u201d Mal eyed him through the smoke of his ever-present cigarette. \u201cYour fiancee needs you to run an errand,\u201d he said. \u201cShe knows how busy we are. So if she\u2019s asking, then …<\/p>\n