Chapter 6

S eraphina stood on her balcony and glared out at the Wyldwood Forest with dismay, watching the sun rise higher and higher into the azure sky. At this elevation, the wind was cold and whipped through her hair, fluttering the many layers of her gown. She tried, unsuccessfully, to destroy Snow White with her Shadow spell. The only good thing that came of it was finding the girl deep within the forest.

What a fool she'd been to think the girl was dead after all this time. Her deepest hope was when she banished her to the forest years ago was that she would perish. Though she had to admit she was impressed the girl managed to stay alive and find a way to convince the elves to take her in as one of their own.

Even the forest creatures seemed to love Snow. It had taken a great bit of magic to flush out the forest sprite and convince her to call out to the princess. And when she did, she warned Snow of the impending magic. Clearly, she was loyal to her.

Seraphina clenched her hands into fists. There was something else troubling her, though. The elven boy somehow severed the connection of the Shadow to Snow, releasing her from the clutches of death. How did he do it? She had never seen anything that had the power to dissolve a Shadow's connection.

She turned from the balcony and stepped back inside her chamber where a fire burned hot and bright in the hearth, the flames reaching upward so they disappeared within the chimney. She stalked across the room, shoved aside the tapestry and pressed the stone to open the secret door.

"Magic Mirror, in your silver sheen," she began.

The face appeared in the oval.

"Tell me, mirror, what I seek."

"By your command, my queen."

"The Shadow spell did not work," she said. "It was destroyed by an elven boy who used a dagger."

There was a long pause as the face floated within the confines of the mist. Then, it said, "Tell me more about the dagger."

"A shiny blade was all I saw through the Shadow."

There was more silence. "The only blade that can sever the connection of a Shadow is an enchanted one."

"Where would this boy get an enchanted blade?" she asked, more to herself than the mirror.

The mirror responded. "Seek the master blacksmith in the town of Bridgefort, my queen."

"Bridgefort?"

The town was in the Feywood Kingdom and was on the other side of the Wyldwood Forest, which meant she would have to travel through the forest to get there. It was also the home of King Alfred. It would be quite the journey, especially since her home was far north in the Mystic Vale.

Unless she used a portal spell to transport her there. She had used one before when she stole the mirrors from the elves. The mirrors she shared with her soul sisters, Malvina and Gerda.

"There you will find him in his forge," the mirror said.

"Who is this master blacksmith?" she asked.

There was no answer from the mirror as the face faded from view and went dark. That was all the information she was going to get from it. With a huff, she dropped the tapestry back over it.

Just as she did, a rap sounded on her chamber door.

"Come," she called.

Her Captain of the Guard, Erick, pushed open the door and gave a swift bow. "Apologies for the early morning intrusion, my queen, but the hunter has returned from the Wyldwood Forest. He waits for you in the great hall."

"Ah, yes. He has returned with the item I've been waiting for. Lead the way."

She followed him out of her chamber, down the winding staircase to the great hall where the man waited. She sent him to retrieve the horn of a unicorn several days ago and had been waiting not so patiently for his return. She had plans to turn the horn into a deadly magical weapon and had yet to acquire one.

"You will remain," she said to Erick.

He gave a nod and paused inside the great hall, his stance at ease and yet ready to do her bidding should she need it. It was one of the reasons why she liked him so much.

In the great hall, the man's haggard appearance was the first thing she noticed. A shadow of a beard graced his cheeks and chin. Dark circles were under his eyes, as if he had ridden all night to get back to the keep. His clothes were dirty and wrinkled, his boots caked with mud.

"Your majesty." He bowed low when she entered the great hall.

"I trust you have what I sent you to retrieve," she said, skipping the pleasantries.

He shifted from one foot to the other, his hands twisting in front of him.

"You do have it?" she asked.

His face visibly paled. "I went to the Wyldwood as you commanded. I found the unicorn."

"Good. Where is the horn?" She held out her hand, waiting.

"There was a…girl in the forest, your majesty. She…" His voice trailed off.

"A girl?" Her brows drew together as the hairs on the back of her neck prickled with suspicion. She dropped her hand to her side. "What did this girl look like?"

"She had dark hair and red lips and skin the color of moonlight. And she had magic. She used it. She…she…"

When she heard the girl's description, a dark punch of hot fury scalded through her. The hunter's constant stammering infuriated her. "She what ?"

"Vines wrapped around me and she made me promise to leave and never return to the Wyldwood." His voice wobbled with the last words as he stared at her, hoping for forgiveness and understanding.

He would get none of that from her. She narrowed her gaze, her voice low. "And did you?"

"It was the only way she would release me. I feared for my life. I—"

"You failed me, then," she snapped. "You did not bring the unicorn horn, did you?"

He shook his head. "No, your majesty, I—"

"Take him to the dungeon," she said to Erick, never taking her eyes off the hunter.

The captain stepped forward and grasped the man by the arm.

"Please!" he wailed. "I had no choice."

"You had a choice. Your choice was to kill the girl and bring me the unicorn's horn but you didn't. You are nothing but a coward," Seraphina said. "And you will live out your days in the dungeon."

His piteous wails were heard as her captain dragged him away, leaving her to stand there alone with her rage. The weak hunter allowed the girl to capture him, to force him to give up his hunt for the unicorn.

From the description, she knew the girl was Snow White.

Snow White who protected the unicorn from her hunter deep in the Wyldwood Forest. Who somehow managed to survive after her Shadow attacked her. Who still had the audacity to live in her kingdom even after she exiled her all those long years ago.

She thought of the mirror's command to see the master blacksmith in Bridgefort. If the mirror was sending her there, then perhaps the blacksmith could lead her to the enchanted weapons. But the journey was far too long and would take far too much time. She would definitely need to open a portal.

Returning to her chamber, she slammed the door behind her. The spell book she acquired was still hidden in the bottom of her wardrobe. She went there now, shoved aside shoes and other items, and hefted the massive tome out. She placed it on the edge of her bed.

The book was probably four inches thick. The pages were yellowed with age. On several of the pages, the charmed ink was faded to almost nothing—the sign the spell was nearly used up. Once the ink was gone, the spell was rendered useless.

Using great care, she turned each fragile page until she found the one she was looking for—the portal spell. All she needed to do was draw a circle. The text showed the sigils in which one would need to draw it. Once it was complete and the incantation said, the portal would open to the desired location.

Smiling, she began.