Page 2 of A Shard of Ice

Taylor puts his hands on both my shoulders and pulls me back. “Don’t,” he warns me.

One of the guards peers at me through slitted eyes, daring me to step out of line, to make a scene.

Instead, I push out a defeated breath and step back where I belong. I know my place, and it eats me up inside.

Kakara, give me strength.

I hate this. I hate it here.

Taylor puts the rope back in my hand, and I mutter a soft word of thanks, glancing back for a second. I’m not sure what I would do without him. I don’t think I’d still be standing if it weren’t for him.

We shuffle forward, pulling our baskets along behind us. I detest this time of day. It kills me every time. I keep my eyes trained ahead. I work hard at ignoring the tears of those who didn’t make their quota. At ignoring the hanging heads and the dull eyes.

There are guards scattered around us at intervals. They are wearing leather armor over their chests instead of the usualsilver-and-bronze-plated armor. It’s no wonder, with the heat and harsh conditions. They mostly keep their longer hair tied up with pieces of leather, as do we humans. Haircuts are few and far between out here.

There aren’t that many of them. One to every fifteen of us. Even though they are empty fae, it is still plenty to keep us in line and under control, since we are unarmed and puny by comparison. The fae have superhuman strength and long blades in scabbards at their sides or across their backs. They’re armed to the teeth and not afraid to kill at the first sign of retaliation.

I look out over the desert again and sigh. The fae guards are here to make sure we work hard. They are the keepers of the resources. Of the water and of the food. We have to earn both if we want to survive. That’s all it is: survival. It’s certainly not much of a life.

“Please! Pleeeease. I need more food. I can’t keep going, I—”

“Walk on!” the guard at the front of the line says.

“Go! Get on with you,” Hali yells in a gruff voice that leaves no room for misunderstanding.

The man starts crying as he staggers forward, dragging his basket-sleigh along with him. His arm is bony, and his skin is like leather from the sun. His hair is prematurely gray. My heart goes out to him. Miss enough proper meals out here, and you die. It’s as simple as that. The fae are constantly capturing humans to replace us. They don’t care about anything other than obtaining their precious salt so that they can barter with the other kinds of fae for magic. Our captors are emptyfae. They don’t have magic of their own. I overheard that Queen Snow expects taxes to be paid in magic. Just like if we don’t deliver, the end result is death, the same goes for them…our captors. We’re all prisoners out here. Every last one of us, even if there aren’t any actual bars or shackles, there may as well be.

There is no escape. Only death. It’s such a negative way of thinking.

We walk forward, but for a second, my basket doesn’t budge. I have to pull harder. Glancing back, I expect to see one of the skis embedded in the sand, but that isn’t the case. It’s fuller than it was before. I narrow my eyes at Taylor, who winks at me.

That insufferable man.

My jaw goes tight, and I glare at him, even though I am instantly filled with relief. More warmth floods me. He is such a good friend. I am indebted to him, and if we ever make it out of here, I plan to find a way to repay him.

He puts his fingers over his lips and gives me a hint of a smile. His warm brown eyes dance with mischief.

If you ask me, he has far too much energy for someone who has worked for eleven hours in the blazing sun. Perhaps I deserve his extra rations after all.

I smile at him, getting a grin back. One that lights up his whole face. I’m not sure what I did to deserve him.

All too soon, it is my turn. My basket is hooked onto the scale, the arrow going into the green.

I am handed a token. It’s plain hammered iron, but it may as well be gold for all it signifies. I tie it to the leather around my throat, tucking it into my chemise. I am to receive more than just the tasteless gruel. I made quota and will, therefore, get a chunk of meat, and all thanks to Taylor.

“Move, girl!” Hali yells at me. “You got your token.” His icy blue eyes send a cold shiver down my spine.

I hate him. He doesn’t have to be so cruel, so damned uncaring. Then again, he is a fae. Why would I expect more?

I have to bite back a retort as I move forward, waiting a little ahead for Taylor to get done weighing his salt.

He steps forward, and they go through the motions. As expected, the arrow goes to the green instead of to the black zonewhere it belongs. He’ll get a small iron token instead of a larger one. No extra ration for him tonight because of me.

I rub my eyes.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” I tell him as we walk away. “I’m fine with gruel.”

“No one is fine eating that slop.”

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