not sure how long given the strange passage of time in here, but it was surely months. But if she gave into the mirror’s power after Snow White left, does that mean she resisted until she believed the princess was safe?
“Queen Faina,” Evariste tried again. “Princess Snow White is fighting the mirror. It’s sent enemies after her, and she’s defeated them.”
Again, she didn’t react.
“She’s trying to free you,” Evariste said, pressing the matter. “Princess Snow White is doing battle—for you.”
Evariste didn’t know that for certain, but he was willing to hedge his bets given the mirror’s vitriol to the princess and from what he’d seen of the Queen and Princess’s relationship.
For a moment, Evariste thought he saw something flicker in Queen Faina’s eyes. They weren’t quite as blank, and there almost seemed to be a light in them again.
And then the mirror’s attention slammed into Evariste with the subtly of a landslide.
“Fool.”
It was the only warning Evariste got before it ripped magic from him, using enough force to make him drop to his knees, jarring him so badly, his spine cracked.
He couldn’t breathe—again. Unfortunately, no matter how often that happened, his body still seemed to panic, and it was difficult to stay calm as agony ran him through like a sword.
“You can do nothing. You are weak, and your magic is thinning. Soon, you will be of no use to me, and then I’ll crush you entirely.”
Pain rocked Evariste. Hold it in. He clenched his teeth, unwilling to let a shout out—he wasn’t going to give the mirror that kind of satisfaction anymore.
Through the waves of pain, Evariste could see Faina turn around and march across the room, her limbs unnaturally stiff as the mirror sent her off.
Yes. Snow White is surely the key to Queen Faina.
Evariste gritted his teeth and shut his eyes before mentally retreating to the well of his magic. He couldn’t reach his own powers, but Angelique’s sharp, cold magic was a balm to the pain. And after several excruciating minutes, her magic sliced enough of the mirror’s hold off of him that he could breathe again.
Once I’m freed, I’m going to see that this mirror is destroyed and not even a shard remains.
As Marzell had declared, the warriors sent word to Lord Trubsinn.
The man sent a rather scathing letter back that browbeat the warriors for putting Snow White in danger and not immediately sending her to him as soon as she arrived, but Angelique took that as the heartbroken words of a man who’d already buried his daughter, son-in-law, and now very well may have to bury his granddaughter as well.
Lord Trubsinn said he would send word to the Veneno Conclave, but given her experience with them, Angelique was unconvinced they would do much.
Two days after Snow White was attacked, Fritz returned.
Witnessing the forester’s broken gaze as he watched Snow White was enough to rip Angelique’s heart asunder.
She could imagine a little of his pain. Evariste was her teacher—not the object of her affection—but the pain of losing him had nearly undone her.
That was why when night came, Angelique pretended to sleep, fully expecting Fritz to make a move.
It wasn’t until the late-night hours that he finally did, creeping down the stairs as Angelique lay in front of the fire and faked snoring and sleep talking.
Fritz checked his black leather gloves and then flipped up the hood of his coal-gray cloak, properly outfitted for night infiltration work. Elle would have been proud.
Angelique propped herself up on her elbows. “And where do you think you’re going?”
Fritz glanced at her, then flicked his eyes to Snow White—who was laid out in a padded cot. “To find out how the spell was cast, hopefully.”
Angelique boosted herself to her feet. “I am guessing you intend to pounce on Faina in her room and hope to smack the secret out of her? As much as I applaud the show of devotion, I have to say you don’t stand a chance. Faina is using magic—strong magic. Magic you have no way to defend yourself against. Not even I could hold out against it. Going there by yourself is folly.”
Fritz rested his thumbs on his sword belt. “I can’t watch her slip away and do nothing about it.”
Angelique grimaced at the realistic observation. “Lord Trubsinn has sent word to the Veneno Conclave,” Angelique said, trying not to let her aggravation show. “A Council Member will come to help.”
Perhaps in a month.
“Do you really think they’ll arrive in time?” Fritz asked with a