“There was something of his essence there,” she said. “His name is Govan.”
She quickly told him about the wizard helping a young peasant woman rise to her position of queen—Seraphina. And how that queen murdered the king, intending to take the throne for herself. She did not tell him about the young princess the evil queen sent into the forest to fend for herself and instead ended up living with the elves. Nor did she mention the king was her father.
Then she told him about the spell book Seraphina stole and how she acquired all three of the mirrors from the elves by using a portal.
“Queen Seraphina has the Magic Mirror,” she said. “Govan told me she used the Magic Mirror to curse him and steal his magic. All that’s left of him is in the cabin, which is what’s feeding her magic and keeping her powerful. The only way to release him from his captivity and destroy her is by destroying the Magic Mirror.”
Harwin sat back in the chair, his forefinger tapping on the table. “Interesting. I have never heard of such magic. How did she know we had the mirrors?”
“Govan knew. He was still connected to them even after you took them and hid them. He told her.”
He remained silent for a long moment, his mind working as he considered all Snow told him. “This Queen Seraphina has no rule over us elves, but the Magic Mirror she possesses is quite dangerous.”
“Yes,” Snow agreed.
They stared at each other in uncomfortable silence. He was right in that the queen had nothing to do with the elves. The elves had no royal ruler, but were instead led by the group of Elders. He ran a hand over his smooth chin, still peering at her with contemplation.
“Perhaps you should be the one to destroy the Magic Mirror.”
“Me?” The word squeaked out of her. “Why me?”
“You are human,” he said as if he were speaking of the everyday weather. “You would have a higher chance of getting into the castle than any of us.” He waved his hands to encompass that of the elves.
Something about his statement hit her hard, her gut clenching at the thought of returning to the castle. Even Govan suggested she return to destroy the Magic Mirror and release him from his captivity.
If she were to return, would Seraphina try to destroy her then? Snow was a threat to her throne as it was hers by birthright. She doubted the queen would merely step aside and allow her to have it now that she had come of age. Nor would she allow her into the castle to destroy the mirror.
The way Master Harwin looked at her, though, made her wonder if he knew her true identity. But that was impossible. Even when she stumbled into the forest as a child, she never told anyone who she was.
She resisted the urge to reach up and touch the pendant around her neck.
Still, Harwin continued to look at her with curiosity deep in his eyes.
“I seem to recall a story long ago about a princess who had gone missing and was presumed dead.”
“Oh?” She reached for her tea cup and took a sip, not meeting his intense gaze.
“We don’t get much news through the Wyldwood,” he continued, “but sometimes travelers passed by the village seeking refuge for the night. They have tales of the outside world.”
Snow dropped her hand into her lap, clenching it tight to keep it from shaking.
The outside world to the elves was the other kingdoms which surrounded the Wyldwood Forest. The Mystic Vale to the north, the Feywood to the south. Each had their own ruler.
He leaned forward. “Why were you so interested in the dark wizard and the mirrors?”
“I wasn’t,” she said, too quickly. “It was just that I wanted to help you find out what happened to them.”
He lifted a brow, as though he didn’t quite believe her.
“Where are you from, Snow?”
Startled, the question pounded through her, leaving her momentarily speechless.
“You came to us ten years ago, yes?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said and managed a weak smile as if the subject didn’t bother her one bit.
“And ten years ago, we heard the stories of the missing princess. The princess who was exiled by a tyrannical queen.” He tilted his head to the side, looking her over. “Are you that princess?”
