She’d spent the hours she didn’t listen to Snow White plotting out their invasion—the princess sounded like a compatriot of Severin’s with her ability to strategize—pondering how she was going to save Evariste.
I don’t have the knowledge of how to break a mirror spell. And I never learned the technical side of spells used to bind enchanters or enchantresses. The last thing I want to do is reach Evariste only to find out I can’t help him.
Which was why Angelique climbed on to the roof of the inn, squashing herself against the chimney so she wouldn’t be visible from the street.
A quick twist of her magic cast the warding spell Puss had taught her, and then she pulled her mirror free from her satchel and activated it.
Several long moments passed, and her chest constricted with worry.
Is she not going to answer?
She held her breath, and then the mirror’s surface swirled, and Sybilla’s warm, round face filled it. “Angelique? Is that you?”
There was something about seeing Sybilla’s kind face and silver hair that made Angelique’s throat ache. “Hello, Sybilla,” she whispered.
“Dearie, has something gone wrong?” Sybilla brought her face up close to the mirror so Angelique mostly just saw the older woman’s eyes and round nose. “Why do you look like you’re sitting in a chamber pot?”
Angelique cracked a grin. “I’m hiding behind a chimney on an inn roof.”
“Whatever for?” Sybilla asked bewilderedly. “I thought you were hiding in Luster Forest with the little Mullberg princess? Unless—did you find a new clue to Evariste’s whereabouts? Clovicus told me you’d confirmed he was in Juwel, and Prince Severin relayed that you meant to join Snow White in marching on Juwel to save Queen Faina, but I thought that wasn’t going to be for a little while?”
Angelique related an abbreviated version of the previous day’s events and of the spell being placed on Snow White, as well as her suspicion that Evariste had been placed within a new mirror: the Snow Queen’s.
“Which is why I’m wondering if you know what kind of magic or spell I’d need to use to pull Evariste out,” Angelique said. “I tried contacting Clovicus earlier today, but he didn’t pick up.”
Sybilla made a disgusted noise as she pulled the mirror back far enough for Angelique to see a glimpse of her surroundings—not that it was particularly illuminating. There was just a yellow leather texture behind her.
“Trust Clovicus to be off gadding around when you need him,” Sybilla said. “Though I believe he arrived in Chanceux and immediately turned around to come back to Mullberg with the hope of helping you. However, in this case, I’m not sure his smug expertise is required.”
Angelique blinked in surprise. “It won’t be?”
“No. You’ve got two options: either hold on to the mirror so an expert of some sort—either someone who specializes in knowledge of black magic or a master craftmage—can come fish Evariste out for you—”
“I don’t want to count on that,” Angelique said, interrupting Sybilla. “If he’s in the Snow Queen’s mirror, given how Faina is acting, it could negatively affect others. We need to destroy it as soon as possible, before the Chosen could attempt a recovery.”
“A valid argument,” Sybilla said. “Which is why the second option is likely the better choice.”
“What is that?” Angelique asked when the Fairy Godmother fell silent.
Sybilla beamed. “You have to disrupt the mirror’s magic to pull Evariste out.”
“How?” Angelique asked.
Sybilla put a plump hand on her cheek. “That, unfortunately, I don’t know. But I imagine you’ll think of something when you see the mirror and can judge how its magic functions for yourself.”
Angelique chewed on her lower lip. “But would that be safe for Evariste?”
“You could attempt to reverse the spell that stuck him in there—that’s what an expert would do—but when it comes to ancient magical artifacts, the fastest way to combat them is to disrupt the flow of their magic. Mind you, it’s not possible for everyone.”
“But you think I’ll be able to?”
Sybilla released a honk of laughter that sounded like the cackle of a delighted but evil goose. “Oh, dearie. Your magic was made for disrupting the likes of the mirror. Wouldn’t you agree, Poppet?”
Sybilla turned the mirror so fast it made Angelique’s eyes swirl, stopping when she held the mirror in front of a young lady with ink-black hair. “Yes, Sybilla,” she said.
“Hello, Odile,” Angelique said.
Odile smiled, looking happier than she ever had when Angelique first met her after her father, Rothbart, had died. “Greetings, Lady Enchantress!”
“Yes, proper greetings are important on an average day, but we’ve got limited time,” Sybilla intoned—not visible on the mirror. “So share your thoughts, Poppet. Wouldn’t Angelique’s magic be useful in disrupting long-surviving and possibly evil ancient artifacts?”
Odile thoughtfully furrowed her eyebrows. “I know when my father was performing his magical experiments, it was the disruption of magic—any outside cause that made the spell unsteady—that was the most dangerous part and the most likely to make something fail.”
“But what is a disruption?” Angelique asked. “Striking it with lightning?”
Odile thoughtfully tapped her chin. “I imagine that might work. But I’m not sure that would give you a large enough window of opportunity to rescue Lord Enchanter Evariste.”
“I have such a smart student,” Sybilla declared.
Odile blushed pink and shifted her gaze to the ground. “Not at all.”
Angelique shifted a little so one of the rocks that made up the chimney didn’t jab her lower back quite so badly. “I see. Very well—hopefully I can think of a way to disrupt the mirror when we find it.”
Sybilla smashed her head against Odile’s so the pair appeared together in the mirror’s reflection. “Don’t underestimate the potency of your own magic,” Sybilla suggested.
“Yes—” Words escaped Angelique when the yellow background behind the pair shifted, and a giant red eye appeared.
It took Angelique a moment to recognize the hulking shape of Odile’s tamed wyvern in the tiny image of the mirror. Shaking her head a little, Angelique smiled. “Thank you for your help. I should go.”
“Oh—and just so you know, we’re in the process of journeying to Mullberg as well,” Sybilla said. “Poppet here is testing her pet’s passenger-carrying skills and stamina. I don’t think he’ll be as speedy as Pegasus, but he may surprise me. Regardless, Poppet and her pet are going to drop me off at the Veneno Conclave for a bit,” Sybilla said. “Though I don’t expect to see you there.”
“I won’t be staying at the Conclave with Sybilla,” Odile piped in. “So perhaps, once you free Lord Enchanter Evariste, I could fly out to meet you?” Her eyes were bright and hopeful with the possibility.
Odile would likely be gossiped about in the Conclave due to her parentage, even if they have officially recognized her apprenticeship with Sybilla. I can fully understand why she wouldn’t want to stay there.