They reached Daren's room just in time. Grenta and her cronies were backing him into a corner when Tenya said a few words under her breath and the butcher bird and mimic were each surrounded by a glowing golden cage. There was one around Grenta for a second but then a flash of black energy shattered it into pieces like broken glass. Grenta turned and faced Tenya, the rage all too obvious on her face.
"YOU!" she shouted, "I thought I locked you in a mirror!"
"You did" Tenya responded calmly, "But I got out with some help from my daughter" she gestured toward Bright Shimmer.
"No!" Grenta roared "No! I banished her! No one could break that spell but me! You can't just….." there was a great THWOK noise and she cut off abruptly. King Daren stood behind her with a thick stick still clutched in his talon.
"I hope you don't mind, she was really starting to annoy me." He dropped the stick and called for the guards, "Take these birds away and lock them in an anti-magic cell in the dungeon." The guards complied and they were alone in the room together for the first time in two months. They all smiled at each other and Daren said, "Well I see you found your mother Brighty. I guess we should announce that she's back."
THE END