We have no one else that can fill that position.”
A part of Angelique eased with Marzell’s decision. I don’t know that the Conclave will help anyway. Maybe at least this way, I can contact Clovicus over my mirror and ask for his advice.
“I understand.” Angelique met Marzell’s gaze, nodded, then returned her attention to Snow White.
I’m certain this spell was not built using Evariste’s powers. Angelique studied the terrible spell again. His magic couldn’t be folded in this way. But I’m not sure if that is a good thing or not.
Angelique was vaguely aware that Marzell, Aldelbert, and Wendal crowded around the cottage fireplace, speaking with voices lowered.
She didn’t pay much attention until she heard Marzell say, “We have to send word to Lord Vitkovci and the others and tell them what has occurred.”
Lord Vitkovci…he was one of the four lords Marzell—representing Snow White—convinced to lend troops to march on Glitzern and save Faina. I don’t imagine he’s going to be quite so merciful to Faina given this new twist.
“We will send a missive to Lord Trubsinn, as well,” Marzell added, naming Snow White’s maternal grandfather.
“Objection.” Aldelbert held his hand up like a boy in a schoolroom. “Snow White specifically wished not to tell her grandfather so as to safeguard Faina’s life.”
“I’m aware of this, but the situation has changed, Aldelbert,” Marzell said. “Snow White lies on a table—possibly dying—because of Faina. We cannot let the princess die because of her affection for her stepmother.”
The trio argued further, but Angelique could see that Aldelbert and Wendal were weakening against their leader.
It’s as I thought. Because Snow White was content to have Marzell give the orders, everything will collapse because no one has the passion to save Faina as Snow White does.
Angelique rubbed her forehead. And Evariste is mixed up in there as well. What do I do if the Mullberg lords march on Faina—not for an undercover operation like Snow White planned, but for war?
Angelique’s gaze strayed to Snow White. Besides the pallor of her skin, she looked almost peaceful.
Snow White, you need to wake up. I need to rip this spell apart to wake you!
The mirror was positively giddy. Or at least as giddy as an evil, twisted, magical artifact could be.
Its magic pulsed through Evariste, and he could feel it stretching its powers through the castle, building constructs with abandon.
Whatever it sent Faina to do, it wasn’t good.
Evariste risked sitting up and peering out of the mirror’s surface.
Faina stood just outside it—sallow faced, emotionless, and swaying slightly as she stood like a puppet held up by strings.
Evariste briefly shut his eyes and tried to feel for the mirror.
Though it stretched all around him, he could feel its attention on the army of constructs it was building in the palace.
It must have done something to Snow White. It made Faina travel earlier today. She must have gone fairly far away, given that it used some of my core magic to make a gate for her, but I couldn’t see where she went since it constructed the gate out of my eyesight. I imagine it had to—or my magic wouldn’t have worked, given my limit.
Evariste rolled to his feet. Although there was a perpetual ache in his chest (and when the mirror was being particularly brutal, it could still make him collapse and choke, unable to breathe), he could move much easier thanks to the snatches of moments he’d taken to stretch, walk, and even occasionally run since Angelique’s tracking spell.
He quietly approached the mirror’s surface—or at least as close to it as the mirror’s magic would let him—putting him directly opposite Faina.
Although he knew it wouldn’t help, Evariste reached for his magic, and ran into the accursed wall.
Angelique’s magic flickered around the blockade, and he caressed it as he stared into Faina’s distant, unfocused eyes.
If I can’t reach her with magic, maybe I could at least get her to hear me?
“Queen Faina,” Evariste said.
The Queen didn’t move, but thankfully the mirror didn’t seem to care, either, as it cooked up a batch of the larger constructs.
I hope it doesn’t intend to attack the servants and guards.
Evariste took a breath, then tried again. “Queen Faina of Mullberg. You’re in terrible danger. You need to wake up.”
He waited for a moment…but there was nothing.
The Queen didn’t even blink.
Evariste folded his arms across his chest as he thought.
She got worse after Snow White left—which was the only change in surroundings at the time. The mirror had already been feeding off me for…well…I’m