“You sound angry,” he said.
“I am angry,” she confirmed. “Angry Seraphina destroyed the village and the forest with fire. Angry she killed my father and took his throne and threw me out like garbage. Angry she killed Ardan.”
“He sacrificed himself—”
“Angry I left the only true home I ever knew.” She turned her head to meet his gaze, but his eyes were nothing more than black orbs in the shadows. “I realize he sacrificed himself to save me. I realize, too, there was nothing within my power to stop Seraphina from killing my father and taking over the kingdom. I was a child.”
She looked away, peering into the deepening twilight. She was angry, too, Roderick pushed her into this journey. Though she understood why he did it, it didn’t make her any less angry. In time, she would forgive him. But for now, she harbored that anger close to her heart because it seemed hopeless. She didn’t have an army. All she had were villagers and farmers who were willing to fight for her and it wasn’t enough.
“I’m sorry, Snow,” he said, his voice low. There was genuine emotion on those three words.
Her eyes drifted closed as she rode on, clutching the reins in her hands until they ached. She heard herself say, “It’s not your fault.”
Though she wanted to place the blame squarely on him. It was no one’s fault but Seraphina’s she was now homeless and left to face an insurmountable task.
“I’m just…worried,” she said finally. “I don’t know how we will defeat her when she has so much more power. Dark power.”
He was silent as they rode. So silent, in fact, she turned to look at him. In the shadows, she saw the pensive look on his face, the pinched expression.
“Perhaps I was wrong to push you into this,” he said at last. “You weren’t ready to leave the Wyldwood.”
There were so many emotions at war within her. Guilt for leaving the forest. Worry for those she left behind. Fear facing her destiny. Perhaps he was right in that she wasn’t ready to leave the forest, but then…would she ever be ready to leave? She knew the day would come. She just didn’t know it would be because the queen sent Roderick to kill her.
“You were right to push me,” she said. “I was hiding from who I was and from Seraphina. It’s time I face her.”
A deep, malicious laugh broke through the shadows and then a puff of smoke appeared in front of them. When the smoke cleared, Seraphina stood before them. They both pulled their horses to a halt.
“Yes, I agree. It’s time you face me. I’ve been following your adventures with the help of my Magic Mirror. It’s quite handy.”
Snow’s gut feeling the queen was watching them was correct. No matter where they went, they would not be able to hide from her.
The queen’s eyes cut over to Roderick, then back to Snow. “Somehow, you managed to get into and out of Westfall without being detected by my soldiers. In Lighthill, you killed my Chief Magistrate. For that, you will pay.”
Snow clutched the reins tighter in her hands as she peered down at Seraphina. Then she slid out of the saddle and moved around the horse to face her. She stood several feet away, her stance menacing. But Snow was not afraid.
“What are you doing?” Roderick said, his voice a roughened whisper.
“Doing what I need to do,” she replied. Then to Seraphina, “Your reign is over.”
“My reign is over when I’m dead.” She lifted her arms.
“So be it,” Snow said.
Seraphina struck then, sending a pulsing stream of magic directly at Snow. Roderick shouted something, but she ignored him. She was ready for that. She dropped to her knees, placing her palms flat on the ground and chanting under her breath, calling to the creatures of the world and the earth beneath her.
The ground rumbled. The horses whinnied with their fear. Her horse galloped away in to the night. Roderick was suddenly at her side, the enchanted dagger in his hand glowing.
“Since you cannot seem to carry out my orders,” she said to Roderick, “I will kill the princess myself!”
She flung another bit of magic at her. Snow curled into a ball and rolled out of the way. Roderick jumped to one side to avoid the blast. His horse had also galloped away. Snow crouched once again on the ground, her hands flat in the grass. She whispered another chant and watched as the grass grew tall, winding around the evil queen’s legs. She cried out in surprise and frustration before she managed to stumble away, stomping on the growing grass to get away from it and kill it.
Snow sensed roots deep within the ground under her hands. Seraphina pushed her palms outward facing Snow and called up another dark spell. She saw it coming but was trying to complete her chant before she moved. The spell smashed into her, shoving her to the ground and knocking the wind out of her. She laid on her back, looking up at the cold stars twinkling in the inky night sky. Were those the actual stars or was she seeing things?
Roderick shouted something. She felt his footsteps vibrate the ground as he charged. She wanted to cry out, tell him to stop, but she was too busy trying to catch her breath.
Around her, the sky brightened with more magic and she smelled the tinge of acrid smoke. Gulping in a deep breath, she managed to roll to her side. Roderick was crumpled on the ground at the queen’s feet.
“You are beaten, little one. Give up this madness and I will let you live out the rest of your days in the dungeon,” the queen said.
