Angelique stared up at Snow White, hardly able to believe she was up, alive, and angry?
She mentioned a mirror?
Snow White furrowed her brow and looked around the cottage with tangible confusion. “Did I die?”
Angelique tried to laugh, but it got caught on the emotion welling in her throat. She threw her arms around Snow White and squeezed her in a hug. “You little idiot. Didn’t Faina ever teach you not to take food from strangers?” Angelique was caught half between laughter and crying.
She’s awake! Snow White is awake! She’s going to be okay.
Snow White sheepishly cringed. “The apple was laced with something, wasn’t it?”
Angelique snorted and let her eyes briefly shut as Snow White patted her back.
Fritz saved her. She’s well.
She had to keep repeating it in her head like a mantra because she could barely believe it. After a few moments, Angelique made herself release Snow White. She glanced at Fritz, who was staring at Snow White as if she’d saved his entire world.
As much as I find romance in times like this ridiculous, I really ought to give them a moment.
Angelique winked at him, then scrambled to her feet. “Oi, warriors!” She bellowed as she made her way to the foot of the stairs. “Wake up—Snow White is alive!”
“What?”
“Her Highness?”
Thuds shook the loft. There was a scuffle, and then a roar—someone must have woken Gregori.
Angelique couldn’t stop grinning as she listened to them thrash over her head.
But as the warriors stumbled downstairs, and Fritz and Snow White murmured sweet nothings to one another (at least that’s what Angelique assumed they were doing, based on the sappiness of their embrace), Angelique’s thoughts returned to what Snow White had said when she’d first woken up.
“It’s that mirror…” I assume it must have something to do with Evariste’s mirror. It would seem to confirm that he’s being used to power whatever nefarious plans the Chosen have. But…is it the same mirror the Snow Queen tried to bury in the mountains?
Severin intercepted that old message that confirmed it was sent north to Mullberg… And it is remarkably odd that Faina was sent to deal with Snow White—which was riskier if the Chosen’s end goal is to use her to control Mullberg. That mirror is an artifact; it has a magical nature.
“Snow White!” the other warriors shouted as they piled onto the main floor of the cottage like excited puppies. Marzell, Aldelbert, Rupert, and Gregori—his hair mussed from sleeping—stormed the stairs while Oswald hopped over the loft raining, and Wendal jumped to a crossbeam and lowered himself down into a crouch.
Fritz helped Snow White out of the cot, supporting her as she stood upright.
Aldelbert, shockingly, was the first to approach her, elbowing Marzell so he could clasp Snow White’s hand. He looked so serious and concerned—his normally smiling face was wrinkled, his eyebrows pulled together.
And then he ruined the effect by opening his big mouth. “You still look rather unhealthy, Snow White. Do you want to use some of my face lotions? They’ll make your skin shine with health!”
Marzell squeezed his eyes shut. “Aldelbert!”
“We are glad to see you up and awake, Your Highness.” Wendal bowed slightly and smiled at Snow White.
Rupert nodded his agreement, and Oswald awkwardly scuffed his bare foot on the ground.
Marzell grinned, looking more relaxed in his wrinkled shirt and untidy hair. “How did you break the spell?”
“The apple you mentioned,” Fritz said.
“Yes?”
Snow White tottered a little, until Fritz supported her with a hand on her lower back.
Angelique studied the warring emotions that flickered across Snow White’s face. Her face briefly shown with happiness and a touch of embarrassment when she glanced at Fritz but turned stormy once she scowled at her cot.
“The apple came from Faina, did it not, Snow White?” Angelique asked.
“Faina disguised herself as an old peasant woman,” Snow White said, disgust dripping from her voice. “I thought you all must have known her, for I didn’t think it was possible for anyone to slip past you—obviously it didn’t occur to me she was more than she appeared to be. I refused to buy anything, but she offered me an apple. When she cut it in half and took a bite out of her section, I assumed it was safe. She must have spelled it somehow.”
“You’re safe now.” Fritz gazed at Snow White, looking very much like a heroic forester from a villager’s tale. “That’s all that matters.”
Ew. Yes—this danger certainly pushed them over the edge into true-blue love. Though I suppose I can’t blame them for it, nor would I want to deprive them. Fritz would fight to the death for her.
Marzell sighed and lowered his head. “Though we failed you in our promise to keep you safe.”
Snow White stood straighter and smiled widely—though it was almost a feral expression. “It doesn’t matter—I believe I know how Faina is being controlled!”
“You know what spell the rogue mage is using on her?” Gregori asked.
“No, because there is no rogue mage,” Snow White said triumphantly. “We assumed there was because it was the easiest plan to enact, but obviously we underestimated our enemy.”
Rupert cocked his head. “What else could it be?”
Snow White turned her giddy gaze to Angelique and stretched out her hand to her. “Angel said it previously, when we first discussed Faina’s affliction.”
Angelique thoughtfully studied her. “I’m touched you bothered to remember every squawk that comes out of my mouth, because frankly I do not.”
“She said there are some powerful magic artifacts that could hold people under their sway. They are incredibly rare, though, so we rejected the idea.” Snow White pressed her hands to her eyes. “I should have seen the inconsistency in our rogue mage theory when I first created my timeline, for that is where we can see the proof!”
She thinks it’s an artifact. Not a black mage. What are the chances it’s not merely Evariste’s mirror, but the Snow Queen’s mirror?
“What you’re saying sounds very important, Snow White,” Marzell said. “But could you describe it in greater detail?”
Oswald, displaying his great tact (or rather lack thereof), interpreted. “You’re railing like you’re off your nutter.”
“I apologize. Right.” Snow White rung her hands. It appeared to take all of her control to stand still. “Approximately six years ago, Faina was given a mirror as a birthday gift,” Snow White said.
Angelique scratched the back of her neck. What were the Chosen up to back then? Quite a bit if I think about it.
“Six years…that would have been around the time Queen Ingrid of Arcainia died, Prince Severin of Loire was cursed, and the elves were cursed,” Angelique said.
That was also when Snow White’s father died, and Evariste was taken.
“I am unaware of any of those events. What’s important is that the mirror was a gift. I don’t recall who gave it—I’m not sure if we ever knew. That year was Faina’s first birthday since Father had died, so many nobles and foreign dignitaries sent more gifts than usual. Regardless, it was soon after that Faina’s health started to falter. She didn’t have headaches yet, but she was much more fragile. Everyone assumed it had to do with Father’s death—that her broken heart made her more delicate.” Snow White primly folded her hands together, but Angelique got the feeling it was more to keep herself from clenching them into fists and shaking them. Particularly because of the anger that skewed the grim line she’d set her mouth into.