November came with a grand sweep of bitter cold. I was too busy for a job, and since Emily was positive no one would hire her anyway, she refused to write a resume. She, Kaley, and I ended up spending far too much time together and the two of them finally stopped asking me if I was okay when I arrived places with bloodshot eyes and unbrushed hair.

We met at our café to keep warm when the weather plunged and left ice chips over the sidewalks. Kaley and Emily listened to me ramble on about the latest flavoured coffee drinks I’d designed. They exchanged subtle glances like they were asking each other, “What time of night do you think she came up with this one?” but I ignored them. Emily only ever half-listened anyway; she was always typing on her phone.

“Okay, so…I have a plan.” I changed the subject, dragging a stack of notes from my leather book bag. I slapped them down on the table between us, making Kaley jump. But Emily perked up when she saw the title: Winter-related things.

“I’ve been doing some research based on the stuff you read about, Kaley, and then I cross referenced it with those maps you drew and my own experiences in Winter.” My sister sighed and fumbled around for a sugar packet. “And I think I figured out where the first two pieces of the Triad are hiding.”

Kaley’s face changed.

I clicked the butt end of my handy pen and dragged the napkin dispenser over to free a fresh napkin. “The intersect is going to open soon,” I said.

“How do you kn—”

“I can feel it.” I began drawing. My artistry was horrendous, but I flipped the napkin around to show them. “Did you know that in the Red Kingdom palace, there’s a museum with a painting of the Crimson Queen holding this?”

Kaley stared, but Emily tilted her head and decided to play Pictionary. “A drum?” she guessed.

I dropped the napkin onto the table. “A drum. I’m sure there are lots of drums in the Red Kingdom palace, but I think this one is it. It’s been painted red.”

Kaley looked at me for a long time without saying a word, but Emily slid the napkin over and tapped her long nail against it. “You guys are so weird. But this is cool.” She grinned.

But I clasped my hands and waited for Kaley to respond.

Kaley glanced over at the napkin again, then slid it to herself to get a better look. “We’d never get to it, Helen—even if I did think hunting guarded Rime treasures was a good idea right now.”

“But if my guess is correct, then we know where the first piece of the Triad is,” I said. “And what’s even better, is that the second piece I’ve located is one we might be able to steal.” I squeezed my fingers. “But I need you with me on this, Kaley. I know you don’t like that I haven’t been sleeping much. So, before I tell you my plan, I need to know you’ve got my back.”