the girl walking with the prince by lantern through the darkness.
“While you slumbered, the fairest and her prince found a way out. Gather your strength, or your future will remain in doubt.”
The mirror’s words only made Ingrid want to scream louder. This time it came out as a deep, throaty cough.
She couldn’t believe this. She’d given the last of her lifeblood to the mirror and the girl was still coming for her? How had that monstrous storm or a cave-in not been enough to stop her? But there was the girl in the mirror, walking through a tunnel into the light and heading off with the prince on foot. Where were the little men? Had they perished? She didn’t see them. Well, good. At least her storm had done one thing right. Snow and the prince seemed worried.
“Tell me what they’re saying!” Ingrid croaked at the mirror. But by now, she already knew its response.
“My queen, that I cannot do,” the mirror replied. “But her purpose is clear as the face on the glass. She will not rest till she comes for you.”
“You keep saying that, but never how I can stop her!” Ingrid knocked several potions off the nearest table in disgust. Katherine moved in front of her, and her master appeared then, too. Both of them watched her pace. Ingrid looked seemingly through Katherine back to the mirror. She needed to control her anger and think.
The mirror continued to smoke. Its masklike face was solemn. “Thy heart and head have resisted my aid. My powers only reach so far, and only ever when you bade.”
“Enough!” Ingrid shouted. The girl could not have her crown. She wound up her arm, prepared to destroy more of her things. Then she stopped. “Rain and wind may not deter the princess, but I know something else that might.” She smiled wickedly, thinking about the little she knew of Snow’s pitiful everyday life. What she did know, though, might be enough. She rushed out of the cavernous room and through her bedchambers. She opened her door a crack and yelled to the guard outside her door, hiding her face behind her hood.
“Guard! I have a royal decree that must be issued at once.”
“Yes, my queen,” the guard said, appearing bewildered. Her voice sounded different, but he wouldn’t dare question it.
“Summon the royal court and have them issue this news at once,” she said. “The princess is not missing. She is on the run. She is a coward, like her father was before her.”
The guard’s eyes widened.
“Tell them to issue a decree that the traitorous princess, and anyone who pledges their allegiance to her, shall pay with their lives.” She smiled. “And offer a reward to anyone who brings her—and her companions—to me.”
When Snow and Henrich emerged from the cave, the storm had ended and the air smelled like pine. Their horses—if they had stayed, which she doubted—were on the other side of the mountain. They’d have to make their way to Fritz and Kurt’s village on foot. Without food rations, the journey felt particularly long. Finally, as the sun was beginning to dip below the mountains, they saw smoke. This time, however, it wasn’t apocalyptic. It was billowing out of an actual chimney.
“We made it,” said Henri, his voice relieved as he pointed out the row of cottages just over the next hill. “Let’s hope these friends of the men are hospitable. We need water.”
“I’m sure they will be,” said Snow, bending down to gather a bunch of wildflowers.
“What are you doing?” Henri asked, amused.
“Bringing them a gift,” Snow said. “One should never show up somewhere without an offering of some kind. Unfortunately, the cured meats we packed are lost, but flowers are always nice.” She bunched the purple flowers together and held them up for Henri to sniff.
He took a whiff and looked at her in surprise. “They’re lovely.”
They stared at one another awkwardly and Snow could feel that familiar rush of color come to her cheeks. Her heart seemed to beat harder the closer she stood to him.
“You there!” a man called. They looked over and saw he was leading a donkey loaded with supplies over the hill. “Are you looking for someone?”
“Yes,” Snow said, rushing forward. “We’re here to see Fritz and Kurt. They should be expecting us.”
“I’m Kurt,” the man said. He was not as short in stature as the dwarfs, but he was diminutive. He also had a splatter of freckles across his nose, and bright red hair.