Part 8 (1/2)

Perhaps Apple noticed, because she stepped forward boldly and put a hand on Ravenas shoulder.

aMs. Queen, we need your help,a Apple said.

aCertainly! Just put your hands on the mirror and repeat the words I tell you. Iall be out in a flash to a.s.sist you with whatever troubling little dilemma you find yourselves in!a aMother, please, we canat do that,a Raven said.

aHmph. I had to try. People are always surprising me with the extent of their stupidity, but no surprises here today. Yet.a aWe need your a.s.sistance with a translation, Your Majesty,a Apple said, fists on her hips.

The Evil Queen snorted and then giggled and then began laughing with such malevolent force and volume that Raven worried the mirror gla.s.s would break.

aIam sorry,a the queen said, wiping tears from her eyes. aOne doesnat get to laugh much in here, and I found that delightful. Snow Whiteas daughter needs my help! With a translation! Any other homework I can do for you?a There was a knock at the door. Apple and Raven turned to each other in terror.

aRaven! Apple! Are you ladies okay?a a voice called.

aQuick,a Raven said. aPut a blanket over the mirror!a Apple tossed a blanket as Raven removed the locking spell and opened the door to Professor Momma Bear.

aHi,a Raven said, putting on her most relaxed face.

aI thought I heard something in here,a Momma Bear said. aSomethinga terrible.a aNope,a Raven said. aJust us girls. We were, uh, telling jokes.a Apple approached the door. aWhat did the zero say to the eight?a Momma Bear furrowed her brow. aIam sorry?a aNice belt!a Apple said.

Momma Bear and Raven both stared at Apple in silence until Apple gave Raven a significant look.

aOh!a said Raven. aNice belt! Ha!a Apple nodded at Raven, coaxing.

aHa. Ha!a Raven continued to laugh, building volume. aMwahahahahahahaha!a Apple flinched. Raven had sounded almost exactly like her mother.

aUm,a Apple said. aIs that what you heard?a aI think it was,a Momma Bear said, eyes narrowing. aBe careful, girls.a aOkay,a Raven said. aThank you, Professor Momma Bear.a Raven shut the door and leaned against it.

aThat was close,a said Apple.

aNice belt?a said Raven.

aYou know, because an eight looks like a zero squeezed in at the middle?a aOh, okay. Thatas kind of funny.a Raven pulled the blanket off the mirror.

aThat,a said her mother, awas the height of disrespect.a She shuddered. aNow, you need my help. My price is conversation and involvement. Iam bored, and your little problem has a solution just sneaky enough to be interesting.a aWait, we havenat even told you whatas going on,a Raven said.

The queen sighed as if exhausted. aYour dearest lunatic friend Maddie is being banished for something she didnat mean to do, and you need to convince that worm Milton Grimm that heas wrong.a Apple and Raven stared.

aHowa”?a Raven started.

aSince thereas no way to force change in Uncle Milty,a the queen continued, awella there is, but Iam thinking you arenat willing to shove a parasitic worm into his brain, correct?a aCorrect,a said Raven.

Apple nodded, adding a quiet agross.a aSo. You need to show him and the rest of that petty faculty the whole picture. They need to see what happened from every point of view and convince themselves of the truth of the matter. You need Irrefutable Evidence.a aWe have this book,a Apple said, holding up volume aI.a aIs that Auntie Aesopas ridiculous Complete Compendium? Ugh. Not only is she a complete bore, I know from personal experience that she cheats at cards. Anyhoo, I already know the spell, and Iall teach it to you. Then you can drop that truth bomb in Grimmas face and laugh as he cringes at the realization of his own ignorance!a aItas not an actual bomb, though, is it?a Apple asked.

aNo! Thatas a metaphor, my little fruit bat. Donat they teach you anything in that school?a aWe know what a metaphor is, Mom. Weare just making sure.a aWell, yes, thereas making sure, and then thereas being a fool. But, no, it is not an actual bomb. Just a simple revisualization of the event.a aIs it like a reenactment that you can run on a mirror?a Apple asked. aThat plays back a view of what was in front of that mirror earlier?a aClever little rose hip. If I wasnat boxed in here, Iad pinch your cheek. Itas just like that. In the way that mortar and sludge are just like a castle.a Raven sighed. This was typical of her mother: insults hidden in praise.

aShe means that a mirror reenactment is similar, but a lot simpler,a Raven explained.

aOh. Okay. This might be a Mirror Networking problem, then,a Apple said. aSomething for a network reflectioneer to handle, not a sorceress.a The queenas eyes flashed purple, and Ravenas mirror actually shook a little.

aSilence!a the queen bellowed, pointing at Apple. aAnd pay attention. You might actually learn to live a life rather than play a Silly! Tedious! Role!a Apple cringed.

aMother! Enough!a said Raven. aThis is my friend! You are doing us a favor, I know. But please try to be civil!a The fire in the queenas eyes quenched, and she smiled in a way that Raven very rarely sawa”a comforting, genuine way.

aThereas my girl,a the queen whispered.

Raven took an involuntary step back, not sure whether to be glad of or worried by her motheras approval.

aThis spell doesnat use actual mirrors,a the queen said calmly, as if nothing untoward had happened. aYou need the mirrors of the soul, the eyes of those who witnessed the event.a She held up a hand. aBefore you ask, no, you donat need to remove anyoneas actual eyeb.a.l.l.s.a Apple and Raven exhaled in relief.

aBut you will need specific ingredients to make it work. Unfortunately, I canat actually tell you what they are.a aWhat? Thatas a joke, right?a aIf it had been a joke, it would have been better than that zero-with-a-belt monstrosity. No. The conditions of my imprisonment prevent me from acasting spells or through my specific words causing spells to be cast.a a Raven groaned. aCould you at least try?a aHat airing,a said the queen, abic spudow, ullrag donks, wise pat, liny agaught, and lastly, a ep.a She winced as she spoke, finally bowing her head, fingers pinching the bridge of her nose.

aWas that some kind of Faerie language?a Raven asked.

aNo,a Apple said. aThatas the filter. The mirror encryption enforcing the rules. She probably did tell us the ingredients, but they came through garbled.a aPrecisely,a the queen said, rubbing between her eyebrows. aAnd I am punished personally by a demon of a headache for even trying.a aHow about a riddle?a Raven said. aGive us riddles for each one, and weall figure them out on our own.a The queen quirked a half smile. aPerfect. I love this game.a Apple tore a sheet of parchment from her spiral scroll notebook and handed it to Raven.

aWrite down the riddles.a aI could just record it on my MirrorPhone and save the parchment?a said Raven.

aThat would be a bad idea,a Apple and the Evil Queen said at the same time. Apple looked at the mirror, shocked. The queen raised an eyebrow.

aOkay,a Raven said. aWhy?a aBecause the phone is connected to the Mirror Network,a Apple said, pulling her gaze away from the queen. aThe stuff on it might be accessible to someone who knows what theyare doing. Like Humphrey or Dextera”a aOr the school administratora”exactly.a The queen tilted her head, smiling at Apple and batting her lashes. aAre you sure youare Snow Whiteas daughter? Not adopted or anything?a aMother!a Raven said.

aYes. Iam sure,a Apple said, pus.h.i.+ng a lock of blond hair behind her ear.

aUgh!a Raven sputtered. aJust give us the riddles, okay?a aAdvice first, or risk the failure of everything you attempt.a Apple scooted closer, notebook and pen ready to take notes.

aIn this endeavor you search for truth,a the queen said. aThis is truth: If you seek help from others, expect to fail.a aSo weave already failed,a Raven said.

aBecause you sought me out?a said her mother. aDonat be a fool, girl. Despite what Milty Grimm says, there are no rules in life. But I am keenly observant, and I notice what happens and which patterns repeat themselves. Take this advice for what itas worth: If you wish to succeed, depend on no one but yourself.a aOkay, buta”a Raven started.

The Evil Queen interrupted. aAnd without question, in no way and by no means let Madeline Hatter know what you are doing. Do this, if not for my sake, for your fatheras, who would weep unpleasantly over the sc.r.a.ps of his daughter left after a spell gone bad.a Raven stared. aNot tell Maddie? Why?a aOh, you know how these things work,a said her mother. aOnce upon a time, the brave sister must weave seven s.h.i.+rts out of stinging nettles in order to change her brothers back from swans and do it without speaking a word. Blah-blah goody-two-shoe nonsense, but sometimes a spell does require silence, so not a worda”spoken, written, even thoughta”to Madeline Hatter.a aButa”a Raven started.

aGot it,a said Apple. aThe riddles now, please?a aVery well,a the queen said. aI will give you six riddles, one for each ingredient of the spell. The first is this: Willow tree and whispers threeaa

WILLOW TREE.

AND WHISPERS THREE.

TOGETHER MAKE A TASTY TEA.

IN FORESTS THEY DO GLOW.

WHENCE WE DO NOT KNOW.