Chapter 19

N icholas headed down the path, the steep decline making it hard on his legs. He tried to keep his steps quiet so as not to alert any guards, but there didn’t appear to be any on the back of the fortress. And why would there be? Most invaders would come from the front of the fortress which faced the south.

At the edge of the bridge, he paused to take in a deep breath. He peered into the darkness but saw nothing and no one and hoped that was a good sign. As he stepped out onto the bridge, he stole a glance upward where he left Ella. She was well concealed there.

Good. He didn’t want her to get captured.

He scurried across the bridge heading for the walkway but all the time thinking of kissing Ella. He should not have kissed her, but she was hard to resist with the worry in her eyes.

On the ship, when they were crossing, she had looked so sad when she spoke about her stepmother and stepsisters. As if going home really wasn’t an option. It sent a pang of concern through him. How could he send her back knowing she would be unhappy?

He would think about that later as he focused on crossing the bridge. He made it to the other side in record time, his breath see-sawing in and out and his lungs burning from the exertion in the frigid night air. He slipped through the opening in the wall, then pressed his back against it, glancing left and right.

Torches lined the wall every few feet, leaving puddles of light. Though he hadn’t shared it with Ella, his idea was to find a couple of guards he could knock out and steal their overcoats, thereby allowing them to slip inside the fortress unnoticed. So far, no one had presented themselves as a potential victim.

He headed down the length of the wall to the left. In the distance, the walkway curved around the fortress and there were no doors visible. He hurried down he wall, his footsteps light as he approached the first torch. Ahead, a guard rounded the corner.

He pressed his back against the wall, remaining in the shadows and hoping he remained unnoticed. As the guard neared, he sized him up, hoping he was at least as tall as he was. The man wore a helm that concealed most of his face, full plate armor, a sword swinging by this side, and an overcoat with the sigil of the dark queen—a crow in flight.

Nicholas reached into the pocket of his cloak, pulling out a small corked vial. He had stashed it there before they left the castle, hoping it would come in handy. He thumbed the cork off as the guard neared and when he passed, Nicholas tossed the contents on the man.

A shimmering cloud landed on him, making him halt. He paused long enough to turn around and see Nicholas there in the shadows. As he reached for his sword, his eyes rolled back and he collapsed, landing with a muffled thud. He stuck the empty vial back in his pocket.

The sleeping powder would only work for a certain amount of time, so he had to hurry. He bent down and stripped the cloak off the guard, then wrapped it around his shoulders. It took some doing, but he managed to move the man’s lifeless body to a sitting position up against the wall. Anyone passing by would assume he was sleeping on the job or passed out drunk.

Now, he had to find a suitable disguise for Ella.

Or did he?

Perhaps he could talk Ella into pretending to be his prisoner as he led her through the fortress to find Ingrid. None of the other guards would question him. And if they did, he’d tell them he was leading her to the queen.

“Hello, dear.”

His mother’s voice startled him out of his contemplation and he whirled to face her. She looked like the picture of Christmas standing there in her red gown trimmed in white fur with matching cloak. The hood was up, framing her face and hiding her shimmering silver hair as her bright blue eyes fixed him in disapproval.

“Mother? What are you doing here?”

“I think the more important question is what are you doing here?” She propped her gloved hands on her waist as she looked him over with a critical eye. “And why are you wearing that ?”

He took her by the arm and led her away from the sleeping guard but she craned her neck to look back at him.

“What have you done?” she asked.

“Don’t worry. He’s not dead. Just sleeping.”

“You used the sleeping powder on him?” she asked.

He nodded as they came to a halt near the exit leading back to the bridge.

“Malvina kidnapped one of the girls from the village,” he said. “We’re here to rescue her.”

“We?” She looked around as though looking for someone else.

“Me and Ella.”

“You brought Ella here?” She peered at him in astonished shock. She dropped her voice to a rough whisper. “Does she still have the slippers?”

“Yes.”

“Nicholas!” This time she didn’t bother to keep her voice down. “After all the trouble I went through keeping them out of Malvina’s hands and you bring them right to her.”

“Well, Mother, what can I say. She wouldn’t leave them behind at the castle.” A hint of guilt laced his words as he ran his hand through his hair, unable to meet her gaze.

“You took her to the castle?” Her voice trembled with disbelief as she clutched her chest as if trying to steady herself. The color drained from her cheeks, leaving behind a pale complexion that accentuated her distress.

“I had to.”

She paced a small length of the walkway, worrying her hands. “Now she’ll know who we are.”

“She doesn’t,” he said, trying to reassure her. “Well, she knows I’m a prince.”

“A prince?” She cut him a glance over her shoulder, then turned to face him. “Are you going to tell her the truth?”

“I don’t know. Mother, what are you doing here?”

“When I discovered you were here, I thought you might need some help,” she said. “Now, I know you do.”

His eyes narrowed to slits. “Are you following me?”

“No!” she said, though there was a hint of a lie in her voice. “It’s just that, well, Ella is extraordinary.”

He folded his arms over the guard’s thick cloak. “And?”

“And nothing,” she fired back. “She’s special. That’s all.”

“You’ve arranged this whole thing, haven’t you? From meeting her at the ball to sending her here.”

“I never intended for you to bring her into Malvina’s lair,” she said, her tone sharp. “Nor did I send her here on purpose. That was purely accidental.”

He heaved a sigh, his breath pluming in front of him. There was no arguing with her. Once she got something in her head, she was determined to see it through no matter the cost.

“If you want to help, then find out where Malvina is holding Ingrid so we can get her and get out as quickly as possible,” he said. “In the meantime, I’m going to go back for Ella.”

“I’ll see what I can find out. But Nicholas…” She paused, grasping him by the hand and giving it a squeeze. “Don’t let Ella bring the slippers into the fortress.”

“Why?”

“Because Malvina will sense their magic. In fact, she may already sense them being so close as it is.”

“Perhaps you better tell me why she wants them so badly,” he said.

“They’re linked to the wearer’s emotions,” Noella said. “If Malvina gets them, she will use them to manipulate and deceive others into getting what she wants.”

“And what is that?”

“The throne,” she said matter-of-factly.

She didn’t have to explain. Nicholas understood she meant Malvina wanted her throne. She wanted to crush the Spirit of Christmas once and for all, thereby destroying Rovenheim altogether. He also understood that letting Ella bring them into the fortress would be a mistake, but then, Ella wasn’t going to part with them either.

“I understand,” he said at last.

“I’ll see what I can find out for you.” Noella stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Be careful.”

He gave her a nod. “You, too.”

Then she was gone as quickly as she had appeared.

Nicholas crossed the bridge and made his way up the path carved into the side of the cliff and returned to Ella’s hiding place. When she heard his footsteps, she poked her head out. Relief washed over her face when she saw him.

“Told you I’d be back,” he said. “And I have a plan.”

“Good. What is it?”

“I don’t think you’ll like it,” he said.

She tipped her head to one side as she looked him over. “I think I can guess. You’re dressed as a palace guard, so am I to assume I’ll pretend to be your prisoner as we enter the fortress?”

He nodded. “Something like that.”

She pressed her lips together in a thin line, clearly not happy about the situation.

“There’s something else,” he said, thinking about what his mother said. “You should leave the slippers here.”

“Here? In this cave?”

“They’ll be safe until we can return for them.”

But she was already shaking her head before he finished. “No. My fairy godmother entrusted me with them. I’m keeping them with me.”

His chest tightened as apprehension rolled through him at the thought of bringing the slippers into the fortress. He, of course, knew what her answer would be, but he thought it might be worth a try anyway. Finally, he nodded.

“If you insist.”

“I do,” she said.

He took her by the hand. “Are you ready?”

She sucked in a breath, expelled it. “As I’ll ever be.”

Together, they descended, crossed the bridge and headed for the fortress. They slipped inside the wall and he turned left. They passed the sleeping guard. Ella gave him a curious glance but said nothing as they moved on down the wall, heading for the curve in the walkway. He hoped they would find a way in once they made the corner.

They turned the corner, but it was merely another walkway with torches every few feet, making the stones shimmer in pools of light. But up ahead, he was certain he saw an oversized door with iron hinges leading inside.

“Look.” She kept her voice soft as she pointed to it.

“I see it,” he said with a nod. “That’s our way in.”

As they approached the door, it swung open. Yellow light spilled out onto the walkway and suddenly there were numerous guards charging out with swords drawn. Nicholas halted. Ella moved closer to him, her hand still in his as he gave it a squeeze of reassurance. But they both knew they were caught.

The guards surrounded them in a semi-circle. Only one stood before them.

The figure of a shadow elongated on the wall just inside the doorway and then she was there, moving out from the fortress onto the walkway, her black gown trailing after her as she approached the two of them. Nicholas’s heart clawed its way to his throat as he made eye contact with the Queen of Darkness and Shadow.

She paused in front of him, looking him over first and then Ella with her dark, glittering eyes. She had high cheekbones, blood red lips, a pointed chin, and a thin nose.

“Well, well,” she said. “It appears I’ve caught myself a prince. How fortunate for me. How unfortunate for you. Disarm him.”

The lead guard stepped forward with his sword pointed at his chest. “Drop your sword.”

He hesitated only a moment before he unbuckled it from his waist and let it fall to the ground. Another guard stepped forward to retrieve it.

Malvina moved to stand in front of Ella. She took her chin in her hand, turning her face from side to side.

“And who is this beauty?” Malvina asked. She cut Nicholas a sharp glance.

He refused to answer.

Malvina released Ella and stepped back. “Search her.”

The guard to the queen’s left stepped toward Ella, but Nicholas shoved her behind him and blocked his path.

“You stay away from her,” he said.

Malvina emitted a cackle. “My dear prince, there is nothing you can do to stop him.” Then she snapped her fingers.

Two guards stepped forward and took him by the arms, dragging him away from Ella. She stood tall, her hands in fists at her sides and her chin lifted in defiance. She was trying to be brave and he loved that about her. The guard moved forward again and reached for her cloak. He ripped it off her, revealing the velvet bag on her shoulder.

“Why, what’s this?” Malvina stepped toward Ella, holding her hand up for the bag. “Hand it over.”

Ella cut him a questioning glance. There was no way to defy the queen. He gave her a nod of defeat. Ella slipped it off her shoulder and handed it to Malvina, her shoulders slumping.

The queen pulled open the bag and peered inside, then snapped her head up at Ella. Her eyes were full of menace.

“You. You were the one who had them all along. You were hiding in the village when I destroyed their precious star. Isn’t that true?”

“What if it is?” Ella said, her voice strong and sure.

Nicholas stifled the smile of pride that wanted to erupt when the queen’s face turned dark and dangerous at Ella’s response.

“It matters not. All that does is that I have the slippers at last. Take them to the dungeon!”

Her cackle was the last thing he heard as the guards led them away.