The Queen of the Pines stared at us before giving a small nod. “You have unusual traditions in the East,” she said to Eliot.

“Come on,” Eliot called to us. “You two can ride to Timber Castle in my sleigh.”

THE ELEVENTH

THE ELEVENTH

My jaw was sore from clenching.

“Calm your scotchers,” Eliot said when the grunting polar bears and grinding of the sleigh-runners made a commotion. “You would have been bear meat without me. When we get to the castle, just do as I say, for frostbit sake.”

Zane tilted his head toward Eliot. “You and I have matters to settle first, Gray.”

“You don’t look to be in a position to settle matters at present, Cohen.”

“How is your friend these days, Eliot?” I cut in to ask. “What was his name again? Nightflesh?”

Eliot’s shoulders tightened, but he didn’t glance back at where we were huddled on the sleigh. “You’re meddling with a thing you don’t understand, Helen,” he warned. “If you and your beloved sister want to get out of this muddle, you’re going to have to trust me.”

I shut my mouth as we pulled up to a magnificent mansion of spruce-scented timber beams. Twinkling lights and silver bells wrapped carved steeples, cutting the sky with their stature. Everything was sprinkled with snow and steam that curled out the archways.

I tried counting the chimney trunks amidst the winding tower of wood rails and curved walkways in the forest heights.

“Have you ever seen this castle before?” I asked Zane, debating how I’d describe it to him.

“A time or three,” he said. “My first Carrier, Thomas, was from a Green village.”

“Harmony was too. A place called Belbun.” Eliot glanced off, and a strange current moved between the three of us.

The Queen of the Pines glided past, crunching ice-crowns beneath her boots. She stole a look at us, gray eyes fastening to me.

Eliot took my hand. “This is my wife. And the folk with her is her guardsman, though he befell bad tidings on their trek and needs a guide to his sleeping quarters.”

I tugged my hand away.

“Your beloved wife seems rather common,” the queen said, and Eliot’s throat bobbed when he swallowed.

“That’s a merry story…” He tugged at his curls, turning to Zane. “Guardsman, you’ll sleep in the village with the other guards of the East,” he instructed.

Zane released a quiet laugh as the wide castle doors were hauled open with ropes. The queen cast us a look, then left with her Axemen a step behind.

“Gray,” Zane said. “I’d really love to destroy you right now.”

“Off to the village, guardsman.” Eliot had the audacity to flick his hand. “If you want to frostbit live, that is.” He reached for me like I was some puppy he expected would follow, and I smacked his hand away.