Disclaimer: I do not own the 10th Kingdom. This is merely a fanfiction.
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Tony leaned over the edge of the "borrowed" Shoemacher boat. Prince stood on his hind legs next to him, his front paws on the railing, his tongue lolling out of his mouth and drool dribbling in a puddle on the deck. Tony stared at the sun on the horizon and sighed.
Just a week ago, he had been the royal chief architect to King Wendell. Money, fame, women – he had been a hero! Now … now he was right back to where he was when he first arrived through the Mirror into the Nine Kingdoms. On the run on a riverboat with an evil sorceress on the loose. He didn't know whose heart ran colder – the Snow Queen's or his ex-wife's.
His mind wandered to Virginia. Were she and Wolf still okay in Manhattan? How was wedding planning going? Not to mention Virginia's pregnancy …
The three trolls were up on deck, following a trail of slime that led them to several toads hopping around on deck. Tony wondered how many were still left from Mother Holle's spell. He had to be at least halfway done.
His ruminations were interrupted by Bluebell who approached the dock, a toad clutched tightly in his hand. "Dang thing … I licked its back dry and can't even get a good hit." He casually chucked the toad overboard and leaned over the railing. "How ya' doing, Fat One?"
Tony shrugged. He was getting used to the trolls and their obnoxious nicknames. "Just peachy-keen," he muttered.
"Ya know, I know you don't really like us -."
"- that's an understatement."
" – but we made a really good team. Why work for sissy-britches Wendell when you can come work for the Troll Nation? We could use someone with your brains."
"No thanks.
"Just think about it. You could be Tony – the Fat Duke! And your choice of the biggest, wartiest, most fertile of our females!"
Tony wrinkled his nose "I'll pass."
Blabberwort and Burly joined the two, each holding a toad in both hands. "Why what seems to be the matter with the Fat One?" Blabberwort asked.
"He seems uptight about something," Burly remarked.
"I am not uptight!"
"You're wound up tighter than Pinnochio's strings," Bluebell said.
"Can everyone just get off my back, please?!"
"Oof, touchy."
"I am not touchy! I'm just a little stressed out over the fact that King Wendell is now a living popsicle and it's all my fault. Not to mention who knows what's going on with my daughter -."
Bluebell was picking out earwax. "Daughter?"
"You know – Virginia? My daughter? Blue eyes, has a half-wolf following her around all day with his tongue hanging out?"
"The one with the pretty little feet but doesn't take care of her shoes" Blabberwort said. Both Burly and Blabberwort nodded in realization.
Tony leaned back over the railing. "And I'm gonna be a grandfather, and she's about to get married to Wolf and … and I feel like I've stayed here too long and I'm gonna miss out on so much!"
All three trolls had resumed licking their toads. Everything Tony had just said went in one ear and out the other. Burly pointed at Bluebell's toad. "I think yours still has some juice left."
"Mitts off, this one's mine, I called it!"
"No fair, Dad always said you had to share your toads!"
"Well in case you haven't noticed, Dad's not here!"
Burly began sobbing loudly. Tony rolled his eyes. Then he realized – "Hey, who's steering the boat?!" He turned to the wheel and saw it spinning out of control with no one piloting it. He stared at the river – a pile of rocks straight ahead! "Cripes!"
He dove for the wheel, grabbing it. Too late – CRASH!
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The boat had crashed head-on into the rocks. Tony steered what was left of it, which had run aground on the riverbanks. What was now left of the boat was a heap of wooden wreckage. Tony sat on the riverbank with Prince, frustration rising as the three trolls began shoving each other on the shores of the river.
"It was your turn to steer!"
"I steered for hours already!"
"We drew straws! It was your turn!"
"You cheated!"
Tony raised an eyebrow. "You know, I just realized something …"
The three trolls stopped in mid-fight, Blabberwort holding Bluebell in a headlock as Burly kicked his pants in.
"The reason you guys never caught us when you were hunting us is because you were too busy blaming and fighting each other."
Blabbewort dropped Bluebell onto the ground. "What are you saying, O Fat One?"
"I'm saying that if you actually paused, assessed a situation, put your heads together and thought about it before diving right in, you probably wouldn't end up in prison so much."
Bluebell pulled a flea from his hair and flicked it. "Says the guy who's wanted for armed robbery in the Tenth Kingdom."
"That was -."
"Or the guy who was immediately imprisoned in the Snow White Memorial Prison the second he stepped through that mirror," Blabberwort retorted.
"And the guy who let the Shoemachers capture him -."
Tony held up a hand in protest. "Alright, I get it. It's just … we now have no boat and who knows how far we are from the Fourth Kingdom? Or which direction we're even going!" He chucked a rock into the river.
"In any event," Blabberwort added. "We three have been able to survive on our own our way all these years."
"That's 'cause we had Dad to bail us out, "Bluebell muttered.
The three trolls grew silent and stared at the ground.
Clip-clop, clip-clop.
The sudden sound of hooves drew their attention. Prince was upright, wagging his tail and barked. A carriage drawn by a horse was trotting along the riverbank. And old man smoking a pipe appraised them, drawing the carriage to a stop. "Good mornin'," he said, tipping his hat. He eyed the group. "And what pray tell are a group of trolls doing out and about?"
"None of your business," Bluebell spat.
"Well," the carriage-man said. He flicked his reigns. "I'll be off then."
Tony's eyes widened. "Wait!" He began trotting along the carriage-man. "Where are we?"
"Don't you know?"
"No clue."
The carriage-man blew a smoke circle. "Your name wouldn't happen to be Rip Van Winkle, would it?"
"What? No! Look, we're trying to get to the Fourth Kingdom -."
"Trolls in the Fourth Kingdom? Is this another invasion?"
"You have to listen to me – where is the Fourth Kingdom?"
The carriage-man waved his pipe. "You're in it. Right on its borders. South that way."
Tony followed the direction of the man's pipe. South … that would lead them to the center of the kingdom and King Wendell's castle – where he could warn the Royal Council about the Snow Queen and figure out a plan to rescue the king.
Tony held his arms out pleadingly. "Listen to me very carefully – the Snow Queen is lose and -."
Before he could finish, Burly had leaped clear across the riverside and headbutted the carriage-man, knocking him clean unconscious. Tony flailed his arms in exasperation.
"Are you out of your ever-living mind?"
Burly grinned. "You said for use to 'use our heads'."
"I didn't mean it literally!"
Burly leaped down to the side of the carriage and opened the door. His grin grew wider. "Your chariot."
Tony paused. Finally, "You know what? We don't have time to argue ethics and semantics. Let's go!"
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~0~
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Edge of the Forest – The Next Day - Afternoon
"Here it is! Finally!"
Wolf was prancing around the bushes and trees. The woods were growing thinner and in the distance, they could see the spires of the Royal Castle. Virginia watched, a small smile on her face, as her fiancé practically danced around the trees.
"Oh Virginia, don't you remember it?! It was here, right on the edge of the forest, that you proclaimed your love for me! Oh how you made this Wolf's heart soar!" He let out a howl. Virginia laughed. Then her face fell.
"I also remember …"
Wolf stared at her, nodding in understanding. "Your Mother …"
Virginia drew her light outer coat more tightly over her shoulder. "Let's get a move on. I'd like to see Dad and Wendell."
"And I'd like to check out the Royal Kitchen again."
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The first thing Virginia noticed as they approached the Outer Court leading to the castle's entrance was how much tighter security had become. Dozens of soldiers stood at guard, spears held in their hands. As they drew closer, two guards blocked their way with spears.
"State your business," the first guard demanded.
"Virginia Lewis and Wolf," she stammered, surprised at the frosty reception. "Here to see -."
"No visitors," the other guard snapped.
"We're not visitors, we're here to see King Wendell."
"That makes you a visitor."
"Okay, fine. Look, the nation's in crisis and -."
"No entry."
Virginia put her hands on her hips. "Okay, I want to speak to your supervisor. Whoever you report to."
"Lord DeConte is not entertaining guests."
"Who?" Virginia asked. "I thought King Wendell was in charge?"
"Enough questions." The guards pointed their spears at the two of them.
Wolf raised his hands. "I mean, I admit I stole some rack of lamb from the kitchen last time I was here, but I didn't think Wendy would get all bent out of shape over it."
A voice cut through the corridor. "You guards! Let them pass!" The guards lowered their spears and stepped aside as Lieutenant Commander Lord Wallace approached, his face filled with impatience. "Don't you know a national hero when you see one?" His face softened as he turned to Virginia and Wolf. "Forgive the rudeness of my men. Lord DeConte runs a tight ship, I'm afraid. Much more than most are used to. But it's all for a good cause. The Snow Queen must be stopped at all costs. Please, allow me to lead you personally to the Royal Council. They're already in session."
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Virginia and Wolf followed in Lord Wallace' wake as they walked the corridors of the castle. Virginia passed a giant painting of Snow White. She stared deep into the portrait's eyes. She could almost swear that one eye winked at her.
"… and so security has increased along the central and eastern sectors of the Fourth Kingdom," Lord Wallace was saying. "The Snow Queen is advancing from the north and east – a classic pincer strategy. Had we returned in time from the Renegade Sieges, we could have marshaled an effective counterstrike. And now – word is reaching us that her forces may be ready to begin strikes on the Second, Fifth and Seventh Kingdoms. The Naked Emperor and Queen Leaful have already sent messenger hawks and our scouts are indicating temperatures in the Fifth and Seventh Kingdoms are plummeting. She's ready to make her move soon …"
Virginia hurried to keep pace. "What can you tell me about the Snow Queen?"
"A woman with a heart of ice."
"I get that," Virginia said. "But where did she come from? Where did she get her powers?"
Wallace stared ahead grimly. "The Devil himself."
"The Devil …"
"It's an unpleasant tale, not fit for the halls of Snow White's castle. The Snow Queen was once mortal, just like us. A beautiful handmaiden to a vicious and ugly queen. But the handmaiden happily served the queen faithfully. She was kind and tender to all she met. And one day, her kind disposition was rewarded. A suitor. A man who could warm every inch of the Eighth Kingdom."
"Sounds like a hunk," Wolf muttered. "Like me!"
"The young handmaiden thought so too. And so did her queen. The suitor was, unfortunately, betrothed to the queen. Long ago when he was first born. His family was of nobility. But he dearly loved the handmaiden and they carried on their love affair in secret. He planned to steal her away from the Eighth Kingdom in the middle of the night. But their plans were foiled. The queen discovered their affair and had the suitor executed and the handmaiden – now with child – banished to the icy tundras. She was helped by a kindly old woman – Mother Holle – but the child could not be saved. Stillborn. The handmaiden fled into the icy blizzards, wanting nothing more than to freeze to death, to no longer feel the pain of losing her beloved and her son. And the Devil came to her and offered her exactly what she wanted."
"He gave her her powers?"
"He gave her everything. The Mirror. It became the source of her power. It causes all who gaze into it to see horrors beyond comprehension. And … she gave her heart to the Prince of Darkness who bound it into the Mirror. They said she feels nothing at all now … only ice and blackness. I, however, am inclined to disagree somewhat."
"You disagree?" Virginia was skeptical.
"Why would she take a little boy like Kay and try to keep him as a son? No, the Snow Queen wants to have a child … to replace the one she never got to love. She kept Kay and kidnapped all the other children because somewhere, in the midst of her icy heart, she still longs to be a mother …"
Virginia's mind went to Leone and his story of himself, and the other children kidnapped by the Snow Queen. She had wanted to make them her weapons … but then there was Kay who she desired to keep with her as a son. Maybe Wallace had a point.
They reached the door to the Council Chambers. Wallace turned to face Virginia and Wolf. "I've learned through experience … even the coldest heart can be melted if the right kind of heat is applied to it."
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The Royal Council sat in session. Lord Rupert fidgeted in his seat. He was going to miss his croquet game and then wine testing if they didn't wrap things up. Old Retainer and Viscount Lansky were going back and forth. General Lord DeConte sat at the head of the table, drumming his fingers in annoyance.
" … but if she attacks the Second, Fifth and Seventh Kingdoms, we'll be effectively cut off from any aid!" Desperation was filling Lansky's voice.
"We must send our troops to their borders at once!" Old Retainer suggested.
DeConte leaned further back in his chair. "Tell me … why should our men spill their blood for the sake of elves and gingerbread men and little girls in red cloaks?"
Old Retainer was aghast. "Lord DeConte – surely you aren't suggesting we abandon our allies in this time of crisis?"
"And where were our allies when the Troll Nation invaded us?"
"You cannot hold grudges!" Lansky protested. "We must all stand together -."
"Exactly." DeConte rose up, his hands behind his back as he began walking around the table. "All Nine Kingdoms must stand together. That means each nation pulls their own weight. Let the Second, Fifth and Seventh Kingdoms secure their own borders. Why should we waste our men? At the same time, I will call for a War Summit. All Nine Nations will meet in a neutral territory. Here. We pool our resources and strike back at the Snow Queen!"
"A wise course of action," Lansky admitted. "But will it be enough? Will our numbers be enough to drive back the Frost Knights?"
"No," DeConte admitted. "That's why – effective today – I am enforcing a conscription." He held up a roll of parchment bearing his crest.
"Conscription?" Old Retainer shot Lansky a glance.
DeConte slammed the parchment down on the table. "Effective immediately. Every able-bodied man, teenager – even child down to the age of ten -."
"Ten?" Old Retainer's eyes bulged. "You would force children to fight?"
"Cannon fodder. We place the weakest of our forces in the front, let the Snow Knights take the bait, while the strongest of our military hits them hard. And it's not just us. Every Kingdom will take part in the conscription if they wish to be a part of the War Summit."
"And if they refuse?" Old Retainer dreaded the answer.
"Then we simply explain that the cost of the war is too great for any one nation. And that any nation that doesn't cooperate will simply have to face the Frost Knights alone. And once the war ends – any kingdom that hadn't cooperated with us will be parceled off and divided among the other nations."
"Outrageous!" Lansky exclaimed. "The other kingdoms will never agree to any of this, much less this 'War Summit'!"
"They will," DeConte sneered. "Unless they wish to face the might of the Frost Knights by themselves. Any nation that doesn't cooperate with me … with us … will simply be abandoned." DeConte unfurled more parchments and pressed his seal onto them.
"You can't do this!" Lansky protested. "Have you lost your mind, DeConte? The Royal Council does not agree with you and we will not go along with this mad plan of yours!"
DeConte eyed him under his thick eyebrows. "You have no choice." He held up another roll. "Because if you don't – I will dissolve the Royal Council. Permanently."
"You don't have the authority -."
DeConte shoved the scroll into Lansky's face. "You'll find I do. When you gave me free reign to conduct a military campaign here. In addition, I am the last descendant of the House of White aside from King Wendell. And seeing as he is nowhere to be found, by the laws laid down in the Nine Kingdoms Treaty, I am the acting king of the Fourth Kingdom."
"You are no king to me," Lansky sneered.
DeConte snapped his fingers. Two guards approached Lansky.
"Wait!"
The door to the Council Chamber flung open. Lord Wallace stood there, flanked by Virginia and Wolf. "Lords of the Royal Council, permit me to introduce Virginia Lewis and Wolf – heroes of the Nine Realms!" The smile on Wallace's face was unmistakable.
The Royal Council suddenly was on its feet. There were cheers and they were falling over themselves in their excitement to shake hands with Virginia and Wolf. All except for DeConte, who sneered.
Virginia approached the table as the Council sat. DeConte pointed at her. "She has no business being here! She is -."
Wallace held his hands out placatingly. "Lord DeConte – with all due respect to you as my superior officer – please, let Miss Lewis say what she came here to say. We owe her that. All of us." He emphasis the word "all" as he stared at DeConte.
"There may be a solution," Virginia announced. "A way to stop the Snow Queen for good."
"Tell us!" Old Retainer exclaimed.
"The Devil's Thorn," Virginia replied simply.
"The what now?" Lansky asked.
"The Snow Queen's Mirror shot a thorn into the boy Kay's eye. It made him see horrors. His every fear came to life before his eyes. But when he was rescued by Gerda, it floated downstream and was found by the evil sorceress who put Sleeping Beauty to sleep. We stab the Devil's Thorn into the Mirror and it'll destroy it – and the Snow Queen – for good."
The room was silent. Virginia's smile faltered as she saw the looks of disbelief on the Councilor's faces.
"… so I was told," she continued. Wolf nodded next to her, grinning cheesily.
DeConte was not amused. "Right. Now, if we're done with children's tales, it's time we put into practice a realplan. A plan devised by a military hero."
"Hey," Wolf growled. "Virginia's a hero."
"A hero by happenstance and luck," DeConte growled back. "Not one who has experienced the horrors of war firsthand. We need a heavy hand of a military leader right now, not the soft touch of a girl who doesn't seem to have done a single day's hard labor. Especially not the daughter of the Evil Queen."
Lansky stood up. "I cannot allow you to vilify Miss Lewis -."
"You trust this girl?" DeConte asked. "The daughter of the Queen? And how do we know she isn't in league with the Snow Queen?" His voice lowered to a growl. "How do we know she didn't kill her own mother in order to eliminate any competition?"
Virginia's mouth hung open. Her fury boiled over and without even realizing it, she slapped DeConte clean across the face. "How dare you?! How dare you?!"
"Guards! Arrest the girl and her litter mate!"
Virginia and Wolf found themselves on the butt-end of a series of spears as DeConte's guards surrounded them. Lansky and Old Retainer jumped to their feet. DeConte glared at them. "Any who object – can join them in a cell!"
Behind them, the door to the Council Chambers flung open again. Tony stumbled in, followed by Prince and the three trolls. "Everyone – the Snow Queen woke up and King Wendell is her prisoner and we – did I miss something? Virginia?"
He stared at his daughter surrounded by guards. "Hi Dad," she said sheepishly. Wolf waved his fingers at him.
Tony was shocked as he found himself forced next to his daughter at spearpoint. "Apparently I missed a lot …"
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The three trolls sat in one of the Royal Castle's prison cells. "Well this stinks," Blabberwort muttered. "We help the Fat One escape the Shoemachers and we get put in prison as thanks."
"Too bad Dad's not around with his magic shoes. He'd have us out of here in a pinch of troll dust." Burly sighed.
"Of course they put the humans together. Can't stick the trolls in one cell with them," Bluebell muttered. "How are we gonna get out of this mess?"
"How long do you think they'll hold us here?" Burly asked.
"A decade," Blabberwort suggested. "Two. Tops."
"This is almost as bad as when the Fat One's daughter shrunk us and put us in a matchbox," Bluebell muttered.
"I'm pretty sure she called it an 'elyvator'," Burly replied.
"A what now?"
"A box that takes you up and down a building," Burly answered.
"That's ridiculous! Only an idiot would believe in such a thing! We were shrunk and put in a box of matches!"
"This isn't helping!" Blabberwort yelled across the cell. "We have to get out of here! Now!"
"How?" Burly asked.
"I don't know! Maybe if we do what the Fat One said – and put our heads together – we'll find a way!"
The three stood up and literally banged their heads together. "Ow!" they all groaned at once, holding their foreheads.
"How the heck is putting our heads together supposed to help?!" Burly demanded.
Blabberwort's eyes shifted mischievously. "Hey … I still got one of those toads the Fat One threw up." She reached into her leather jacket and pulled out a croaking toad.
"Nicey-nice!" Bluebell exclaimed.
"Now this is the only toad I was able to snag," Blabberwort lectured. "So we all have to share."
"Gimme!" Bluebell screamed. He and Blabberwort struggled, the poor toad caught in a game of tug-of-war. Blabberwort emerged victorious, Bluebell only managing to pull off one of the toad's warts. He popped it into his mouth. "Nice and juicy," he exclaimed.
"Wait a minute!" Burly shouted. "That's it! Give me the toad!"
"You'll get your turn!" Blabberwort yelled.
"No. I got an idea."
Blabberwort and Bluebell stared at each other. "Burly has an idea?"
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"Why is it that wherever I go, I end up in prison?!" Tony was pacing back and forth in another cell. Prince was lying on the floor. Virginia sat with him while Wolf leaned on a rafter.
"Pretty sure this is the same cell we got put in last time," Virginia muttered. She smiled back up at Tony. "Despite everything, it is great to see you, Dad."
Tony chuckled, hugging his daughter. "Yeah, yeah. I guess seeing you in a prison cell is better than never seeing you at all." He pointed at Wolf. "You I expected to see in a prison cell at some point!"
"Well, thanks for the kind greeting, Dad."
"Oh come here." Tony gave Wolf a quick hug and a noogie on his head. "Prince missed you guys too!"
Prince barked and Virginia smiled, kindly scratching his ears. Tony turned, reading the German writing on the wall left by the Brother's Grimm. "Boy … this takes me back … to that night …"
"I'd rather not reminisce, Dad," Virginia said. "I try not to think about that night. Like at all."
Tony nodded. "Yeah, I know what you mean. Well, if you're right, and this Devil's Thorn can help us destroy the Mirror and free King Wendell, then we outta get a move on."
Wolf stared at the bars. "Yeah, we'll get right on that."
Tony laughed. "Have you forgotten – the lever turns?"
Virginia sprang to her feet. "Actually I did. This one – this is the one to open the secret passage!" She grabbed the lever turn and twisted it.
Nothing happened.
"Maybe you're not doing it right," Tony remarked. "Here let me try." He turned the lever over and over. Still nothing happened. He scratched his head. "You know, I do vaguely remember King Wendell mentioning that he was going to get rid of that secret passage after I told him how we escaped last time."
"Nice going, Dad," Virginia remarked.
"Hey, how was I supposed to know I'd end up back in here? Wait – what's that?"
There was the sound of a key turning.
Everyone in the cell stood up, expecting more guards.
Lord Wallace entered, a remorseful smile on his face. "Hi everybody. Just … checking in."
Tony smiled as he looked around the prison cell. "Loving the accommodations."
Wallace's face fell. "I … erm … have a question. Let's say Virginia is right and this Devil's Thorn can destroy the Devil's Mirror … if I let you go, can you get to the Sixth Kingdom?"
Virginia approached him. "Yes. But … why would you let us go?"
Wallace sighed. "DeConte's becoming unhinged. I saw signs of it in the Renegade Sieges. He believes he should be king of the Fourth Kingdom, but I think it's much more than that. He's always been driven and ambitious, but lately he's been worse. I think … I think he wants to be king over all Nine Kingdoms. I've never known him to be this vicious or cruel. Or maybe … maybe I never knew the real him."
"Do you think the Snow Queen got to him?" Virginia asked.
"I don't see how," Wallace admitted. "But … if you're right, we may all be in greater danger than I even thought. Come on, follow me!"
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Burly lay on his back, groaning, his face covered in warts. Green slime dribbled out of his mouth. "Oh, medic! Medic! It's the plague! Pipinpaddle-oxinitus! Oh, it's an outbreak! Medic! MEDIC!"
The door to the troll's cell opened. Two guards entered and saw Burly on the ground moaning.
"He's sick," Blabberwort told them. "He needs a doctor."
The two guards kneeled down next to Burly. Behind them, Bluebell popped up and smashed their heads together, knocking them out cold. He deftly lifted a chain with keys from one of their belts. "Nice thinking adding the toad warts and toad slime," he grinned.
Burly sat up instantly. "The Fat One was right about the whole putting our heads together thing!"
The three raced out of their cell. "Troll Nation, here we come!" Bluebell cheered.
Burly suddenly stopped. "Don't … don't you guys feel bad about … about leaving the Fat One behind?"
His two siblings stared at the floor, drawing circles with their toes. "He would want us to go on," Blabberwort rationalized. "Go home to the Troll Nation and raise the alarm about the Snow Queen. Get our military ready."
Bluebell nodded. "I have missed our shoe collection."
The three took off running. "To the Troll Nation!"
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Tony assisted Virginia into a small boat. She was followed by Wolf and Prince. The boat was moored in the Royal Docks – the very same ones they had snuck into last time they were at the castle.
Wallace stood alone on the docks. "You're sure you can find your way on your own?"
Virginia pointed to Wolf. "He'll sniff the correct route for us."
Wolf drew Virginia, Tony and Prince into a hug. "It'll be just like old times!"
Wallace's face was somber. "I'll do what I can to keep DeConte in check. Please … if there's any hope in stopping the Snow Queen, it's with you four. Go … may fortune smile on you." He turned, vanishing through a door as Tony and Wolf began rowing.
Virginia sat in the boat, staring ahead, ready to embark once again on another quest.
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"Thank you. That will be all. I do not wish to be disturbed for the rest of the evening."
DeConte entered his chambers. He latched the door and lit a candle. He walked through his room, making sure he was entirely alone. Once he was satisfied that no one could eavesdrop, he walked to the back of his chambers to a private door. He unlocked it with a key around his neck and entered a back room.
The room was circular. And there shapes. Large, black shapes arranged in a circle, covered with black sheets. Beathing heavily, DeConte removed the sheets, one after another.
Mirrors.
All of the Mirrors that once belonged to the Evil Queen. DeConte stood before one of them, his image reflected back at him.
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall …"
