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.
Given the long-term plans the Chosen have set in motion, it wouldn’t be at all surprising that they planted an artifact six years ago. But that almost certainly means it’s not Evariste’s mirror, because he was moved recently. However…when Severin sent Odette to tell us about the Snow Queen’s mirror and that it had been shipped north to Mullberg, didn’t she say the entry that recorded its movement was several years old?
“I think the deterioration of her health,” Snow White continued, “which, while slight, was noted by our staff—is an indication that the mirror—an artifact—started to inflict its magic on her.”
Marzell rubbed his chin as he listened to Snow White, then shifted his gaze to Angelique—likely looking for confirmation.
“The timeline works better,” Angelique said. “Six years is an impossible timeline for a rogue mage to hold, but an artifact would keep at it. If it really is an artifact, that also explains the ancient spell placed on Snow White, as all artifacts were forged long ago—most of them well before the time of Verglas’ Snow Queen. Usually an artifact would affect people much faster, but it seems plausible Faina held out longer than most.”
But if that’s so, how does Evariste work into all of this? Obviously he’s being used—there’s no way even an artifact as old as that mirror could create teleportation magic without Evariste, even if it did twist it slightly.
And obviously Evariste was in a different mirror—or he wouldn’t have been moved north recently. So how did the mirror use his magic? Unless…?
When Angelique had used the tracking spell, the magic she’d encountered was so terrible and draining.
Maybe that was the mirror?
Angelique’s joy in Snow White’s revival faltered, and her smile slipped.
Was he transferred to the Snow Queen’s mirror, and that’s what he’s living in now? How is he surviving?
“She did!” Snow White said, interrupting Angelique’s rapidly darkening thoughts.
Angelique guiltily looked from Snow White to the warriors, trying to remember the thread of the conversation.
Thankfully, Snow White explained herself. “After I bit the apple, Faina—or the mirror speaking through Faina—complained about the years she had resisted. I think it meant to ruin us sooner, but Faina fought it off.”
Wendal adjusted his spectacles. “I agree this seems like a possibility. But only if you know for certain the mirror is an ancient artifact.”
“I don’t know how many artifacts exist, so I cannot say for sure,” Snow White nibbled on her lip. “But the more I think it over, the more I am certain the mirror is somehow involved. Before I left Glitzern, when she nearly hurt me, I saw her talk to the mirror—not to her reflection in the mirror, but to the mirror itself.” Snow White pinched her eyes shut. “I think she even asked it a question.”
The Seven Warriors looked thoughtful, and Angelique knew she could let it go—they believed enough in Snow White to act upon it.
But Snow White deserves to know she’s right. I may not be entirely correct that Evariste was moved into the Snow Queen’s mirror, and that it is that particular mirror behind all of this, but she’s right. This is not the work of a black mage.
Angelique took a deep breath. “It’s the mirror.”
Snow White blinked. “How do you know?”
Angelique tossed the starfire she’d been holding since she and Fritz first inspected Snow White on top of her satchel to buy her time while she thought.
I wish she had not asked that. How much do I tell her? How much time do we have—particularly if we want to attack Faina and capture the mirror before the Chosen get wind of our plans and swoop off with it? Especially now that Marzell informed Lord Trubsinn?
“I can’t say if your mirror is a rare artifact or not, but after seeing the magic Faina used yesterday, I can promise with nearly absolute certainty: it is the mirror,” Angelique finally said.
“Can you further explain that?” Gregori asked. “You didn’t know it was a mirror before Snow White brought this up.”
Curse it—why must this group be