Chapter 63: The Mirror

Sunlight slipped through the curtains to land on Melody's face, reaching past her eyelids to rouse her. She groaned, face scrunching up as she began to wake. Her eyes momentarily cracked open, squinting against the light. Then she closed them and rolled over, not yet ready to face the day. Her body ached from the simple motion, reminding her how grueling their trek had been. She was drifting away within seconds, her tired body all but melting into the soft mattress.

Knock-knock. "Your highness?"

Melody groaned again, pretending not to hear the knock or the voice.

Knock-knock-knock. "Your highness, are you awake?"

Melody groaned a third time, burying her face in the pillow in protest. "I don't want to be…"

She heard a door open and then the faint rattle of a wheeled tray as it rolled into the room, accompanied by footsteps. "I take it your rest was not as restorative as you'd hoped?"

Melody sighed defeatedly. There was no going back to sleep. Both her mind and body were waking, albeit grudgingly. She pushed herself upright and turned around, rubbing sleep from her blurry eyes. She saw a human figure enter her room, pushing a cart in front of it. "I had a really weird dream, Grimsby. I thought Lara brought me and mom to this creepy castle. There was this vampire she knew somehow. And an empty suit of armor that moved on its own. And a talking…skele…ton?"

The world came back to Melody. This was not her bed, nor was it her room. Nor was it some tolerable camping spot out in the White Iron Mountains. She was in a large square bedchamber, laying in an immense mahogany four-poster bed that could sleep three with room to spare. The room was lavishly decorated with more mahogany carved into exquisite forms by what could only be a master's hands. Thick maroon curtains were pulled across the windows, blocking all but the thinnest slivers of daylight. The air held the scents of ancient wood and history. At the foot of the bed, a skeleton dressed as a butler. His bones were white as snow, clean and immaculate as his uniform from the black jacket to his mirror-shined shoes. He was pouring steaming dark tea into a cup. No, not tea – this strong roasted nutty aroma could only be coffee.

"Begging your pardon, princess, but my name is Glenn, not Grimsby," the skeleton said as he continued pouring, hands steady as stone. He set the cup down without causing a ripple. "And I am no dream. Nor are the countess or my fellow servants. And, begging your pardon once more, the correct syntax is, 'my mother and I.'"

Melody stared at the skeleton, the pinprick lights of his eyes staring back from the black of his empty orbits. Then she groaned and rolled over, pulling the sheets over her head. "Nope. Nuh-uh. I'm still dreaming."

Glenn reached into his pocket, pulling out a perfectly polished silver watch. "Dream or not, it is already a quarter past eight, and breakfast will be ready within the hour. Now, do you take cream or sugar with your coffee?"

Melody bolted wide awake. What was she doing!? She was in a room with a walking, talking skeleton! An undead! If this thing was real, then that meant the vampire and the other horrors were, too! She had to get out of here! She tried to scramble for the door, but the sheets tangled around her feet. She fell unceremoniously off the side, almost smacking her head against the floor. She tried to stand, but in her struggle to escape the sheets only bound her legs tighter. She kicked frantically, causing the fabric to cinch down like a snare.

"Finally awake, I see."

Melody looked up to see Mina standing in the doorway. She wore a plain yet elegantly form-fitting off-shoulder black dress with a low-cut bodice. Her long black hair flowed down her back, red ribbon woven through the strands to contain them. Part of it was twisted up behind her head in a tight bun, held in place by a pair of red hair pins. Her crimson eyes were fixed on Melody, an amused smile on her lips.

"Indeed, milady," said Glenn, bowing to her.

Mina stepped into the room. "Do you know if Queen Ariel is–?"

"AAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

Melody looked to the door, her messy bed hair standing on end. That sounded like her mother! And close by! There was a loud crash, as though something fragile had been thrown at a wall.

"Ariel, calm down!" came Lara's voice.

"Please, your highness! There's no need to scream! Or throw things!" said an unfamiliar male voice. It sounded as if the man was talking into a cast iron pot. There was a loud clanking sound, followed by a metallic crash. "Oops…"

"It's still empty!" screamed Ariel.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" chastised Lara, followed by the sounds of Ariel struggling. "Let's not break any more of Mina's stuff, alright?"

Mina sighed. "Never mind."

"Oh dear," said Glenn. "If may be so bold as to offer a suggestion, milady?" Mina nodded in consent. "Perhaps it would be best if Dame Anclagon saw to the queen rather than Captain? She may find it easier to 'adjust' with a familiar face present."

"Yes, I think that's best," said Mina. "And perhaps someone less bony for the princess. I'll see to her myself."

The skeleton gave a bow. "As you wish, milady. Would you like me to pour you a cup as well before I depart?"

"No, but thank you for offering."

"Of course." Glenn turned to Melody and bowed again. "Your highness. I hope you find the coffee to your liking." Then he rose and strode out, gently closing the door behind him.

"Now that he's gone…" Mina looked to Melody, her fangs showing as she smiled. "Let's take care of you, shall we?"

All it took was one step from the countess to push Melody from fearful to panicked. Every story she heard or read about vampires came flooding back to her. They looked human, but there was nothing remotely human about them. They were all blood-sucking manhunters who dwelt in night and shadows with all manner of supernatural powers, waiting for the perfect moment to drain their victims till they were nothing but a desiccated husk. Or worse, turn them into vampires themselves, bound in endless servitude to their masters! And this one had her red eyes set on Melody! The princess thrashed about, desperate to escape the bedsheets. Her fingers clawed desperately at the linens, trying to wrench them free.

"Just hold still," said Mina, reaching out a hand for Melody's legs.

Melody reacted as though it were the hand of Death herself. "No!" she screamed, scrambling backwards till the sheets went taught, stopping her. "Don't bite me! Please!"

Mina flinched, her expression one of shock, confusion, and some offense. "Wha–bite you!? Why on earth would I bite you!?"

Melody kept trying to wriggle away. "Y-you said you were going to eat me!"

Mina arched a perplexed brow. "First, vampires drink blood. We do not eat people. Second, I said no such thing. I said I would take care of you, by which I meant get you ready for brunch."

Melody stopped struggling. "Huh?"

"Brunch," said Mina. "As in food. Eggs, toast, jam, bacon, coffee, etcetera, etcetera." She nodded towards the rolling tray. "I really do recommend you try it before it cools. Glenn makes an excellent brew." Mina crouched down, folding her arms around her legs. "Where did you get the idea I wanted to drink your blood, much less eat you?"

"Because you're a…a…!"

"Ah. Because I'm a vampire, yes?" Mina grinned, showing her teeth again before clacking them together. Melody flinched away, causing Mina's grin to turn into a frown. Moments later Melody had her legs freed. She quickly shimmied upright and hopped across the bed, backing up against the wall.

Mina walked around the bed. She started to approach when she saw Melody flinch away once more, pressing herself into the wall. She stopped and sat on the edge of the bed. "There's no need to fear me. I'm not going to hurt you. No one here is. I promise. Our bark is much, much worse than our bite. Especially mine." Mina grinned, pointing to her teeth. "Get it? Because I'm a vampire!"

Melody stared at her. She got the joke. She just did not have much capacity for humor at that moment. Not with a real-life vampire standing not barely five paces away and an animated skeleton, an empty suit of armor, and an undead wolf or whatever that Lobos creature was roaming somewhere in this castle. And going off what Mina just said, they were only the tip of this ghoulish iceberg.

"Maybe some light would help?" said Mina. She walked over to the window and flung the curtains wide, letting the morning light stream in. "Ah! Much better!"

Melody found herself staring as Mina closed her eyes, clearly loving the feeling of the light on her skin. She was standing in the sunlight. Sunlight, the bane of all vampires. It was supposed to be instantly fatal to their ilk, reducing them to ash and smoke. Yet Mina was not burning. Her skin was not charring black, and she did not burst into flames. She was standing in it as easily as any human would. Mina went to another window and repeated the process, allowing more daylight in.

"How…how are you doing that?" asked Melody.

Mina looked at her. "Opening the curtains?"

"The sun!" Melody blurted, assuming it was obvious.

"What about it?"

"You're standing in it!"

Mina looked out the window and then back at her. "I am."

"But I thought vampires hated the sun!" said Melody. "I thought it killed them!"

"Irritating is more accurate. And I am not just any vampire," said Mina. She went and opened another set of curtains, again without ill effect. "I'm sorry if Glenn and I frightened you. I normally ease our visitors into this slowly, but I was so excited to reunite with Lara it slipped my mind."

Melody never took her eyes off Mina as she approached, stopping at the end of the bed. "Let's try this again, shall we?" She performed a perfect curtsy, from the seamless dip in her posture to the slight nod of her head. "I am the countess of Sängril, Caramina Iliona Calavera. But you can call me Mina for short. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, your highness."

Melody flinched away as Mina extended a hand to her. Mina smiled again. "I know you're scared. But I swear to you that no one in this kingdom will harm you. If you're a friend of Lara's, then you're a friend of mine. And I won't drink your blood, either. Not without your permission."

Melody looked at Mina's eyes. They were red as blood-stained rubies and sparkled with a genuine humanity and gentleness in the light. The more Melody looked at her, the less terrifying Mina became. There was a dark yet enchanting beauty to her, like the full moon glimpsed through the tangle of an ancient forest during a cold fall night. The hand she offered was not bony or unnaturally aged, nor was it tipped with splintered long nails or sharp claws. It was healthy, young, and inviting, as much a promise of sanctuary as it was a gesture of welcoming. Did she dare take it? There was so very little she knew about this woman. For all she knew, this amiable air was a ruse to lure her into a false sense of security before delivering that infamous bite. Yet the very thought brought the immediate sensation of shame, as though she were slandering this woman to her face. She remembered her initial trepidation and wariness of Lara, now foolish and unwarranted in retrospect. Even in her draconic armor, Melody trusted her implicitly. Thus far, Mina had demonstrated no reason for Melody to treat her any differently. She had shown nothing but hospitality towards them from their first meeting. And then there was Lara herself. She trusted Mina easily enough. She called the countess her oldest friend, and the bond seemed genuine given how the greeted each other. And friends were something they were in short supply of right now.

Taking a breath to steel her nerves, Melody approached the countess. She cautiously reached out and took Mina's hand. It was not deathly cold and grasping like she thought a vampire's touch would be. Her skin was warm and welcoming as the smile that crossed her face. Melody felt her tension ease like a rope allowed to go slack.

"I'm Melody," she said finally. "Princess of Seahaven."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Melody." Mina released her hand. "Or would you rather I call you Princess Melody? Or your highness?"

"Um…just Melody is fine."

There was a knock at the door, followed by Lara's muffled voice. "Mel? Mina? Everything okay in there?"

"We're fine, Lara," said Mina. "You can come in."

The door opened and in strode Lara. She wore a pair of black pants with the hems torn off just above the ankle, and a wrap of black cloth around her chest. Her black reptilian tail was back, as was the orange and golden colors of her hair and eyes, respectively. "She didn't throw anything at you, did she?"

Mina shook her head. "Not in the slightest. You're looking more like yourself this morning."

"Mostly. Havent' had a good night's sleep for a while." Lara stretched her arms overhead, eliciting a crack from her shoulders. Her tail swayed back and forth behind her. "Wings didn't feel like making an appearance, though. My magic didn't either."

At that moment Lara's stomach growled like a starved lion. She blushed beet red as Mina stifled a giggle behind her hand. "Seems your appetite is as healthy as ever."

"Shut up…" Lara grumbled.

Right then Melody's stomach decided to voice its own hunger, rumbling in loud protest. She felt her cheeks grow hot as she wrapped her arms around her middle, trying to muffle the noise. Lara failed at containing an amused snort, and Melody saw the corner of Mina's mouth briefly twitch as she tried not to smile.

"You too, huh?" said Lara.

"Oh, shut up," said Melody.

"Seems brunch is in order for you both," said Mina. She walked over to a tall mahogany wardrobe, pulling the doors open to reveal several dresses. "But before that, Melody, I insist we get you into something more suited for royalty."


Sängril castle had no shortage of venues for a mid-morning brunch. There was the royal dining hall with its antique long tables, the crystal chandeliers overhead scattering light across the dozens of portraits lining the walls. There were no shortage of terraces and balconies, each providing their own spectacular views of the great mountain valley the castle sat within. Even the guest rooms were lavish enough to entertain the most noble of visitors. But for a morning such as this, when the earth was damp with rain and the air held the cool scent of a departing storm, the gazebo of the castle gardens outclassed them all.

The Sängril gardens were as vast as they were lush. Rich greens of every shade framed a rainbow of colorful flowers splashed throughout. Everything glistened with water from the night's rain. Droplets graced the petals of roses of every shade, from the most pristine of whites to the softest of pinks and the richest of reds and all in between. Lupine, foxglove, oleander, lilies, delphinium, and azalea were only a sampling of the plants, their vibrant blooms heavy with rainwater. The hedges of the garden labyrinth were as immaculately trimmed as the topiaries, which were kept in forms as diverse and lifelike as the statues within the castle. A pathway of white stone provided a route to view the splendor of it all, flanked by lawns that sprawled out like emerald seas. In the heart of the garden stood a white marble gazebo, its roof featuring four different birds standing watch at the cardinal points – a raven to the north, an albatross to the west, a swan to the south, and an owl to the east. It was beneath this gazebo that Melody, Ariel, Lara, and Mina sat, nibbling away at brunch truly fit for royalty. A smorgasbord of pastries and breakfast delectables were spread out across the table. Roasted pheasant, smoked venison, toast spread with mouth-watering blackberry jams, and platters of fruit, berries, and pastries greeted their eyes. The spotless copper coffee pot nearby was kept warm by the orange coals underneath.

Melody took another sip of her coffee as Lara neared the end of recounting the events that brought the trio to Sängril. The sorceress was surrounded by five empty plates, each one cleaned to the last crumb. Her stomach was visibly full and satisfied. Melody, however, found her earlier appetite suddenly diminished. The food was delicious, to be sure. A veritable feast lay before her, worthy of any royalty. Yet she found it hard to swallow, a creeping nausea building inside her with every bite. She barely finished half her plate before she had to stop. Ariel was slowly eating, just now finishing the last morsels off her own plate. She was unusually quiet, and Melody was not blind to the worrying looks she kept taking at Glenn. Mina had barely touched anything beyond a few bites of fruit and venison, too engrossed with Lara's storytelling. The countess patiently sipped on her coffee as Lara spoke, giving her complete attention to her old friend.

"More coffee, your highness?"

Melody startled at Glenn's voice, and again when she realized the skeleton was standing right beside her. He was holding out a bony hand for her cup. "Oh! Um, yes. Please."

"Of course." Glenn took the cup with practiced care, not spilling a single drop of the dark liquid as he poured. He set it down on the saucer before her. "Cream only, yes?"

Melody nodded, momentarily forgetting her voice. It was still jarring to her, this skeletal undead moving and talking with as much life as she had. His hands moved with a keen diligence and awareness, not striking the bowl of a cup a single time as he stirred the cream in with a silver spoon. Then he stepped back, gesturing to the waiting cup. "Enjoy, your highness."

"Thank you." Melody picked up the cup, bringing it to her nose. The rich aroma was as invigorating and stimulating as the drink itself. She took a sip, feeling the hot liquid flow down her throat. She had to admit the coffee was excellent, as was the pink and white dress Mina chose for her. It fit perfectly, as though made in anticipation of the day she would arrive. Ariel was garbed in a slim dress of jade greed, her hair flowing free behind her. An antique wheelchair served as her seat and legs, the spokes of the wheels woven with ornamental brass vines.

"And that's when Hattie found us," said Lara before grabbing another scone and taking a large bite.

"I see," said Mina. She set her coffee down and looked to the southwest, her gaze going past the mountains. She drew a heavy breath. "So, it wasn't my imagination."

Lara shook her head. "No, it wasn't." Her brow furrowed, golden eyes scrutinizing Mina's face. "You okay?"

"Yes…no." Mina leaned back in her seat. She rubbed her eyes sadly and sighed. "I've never felt so much death at once. Not even in the eastern kingdoms. It's…it's uncomfortable."

"I'm sorry," said Ariel. "What do you mean you 'felt' death?"

Mina looked to Ariel. "Another of my many abilities, your majesty. My magic – if it is magic – makes me very attune to the eb and flow of life. I feel when it starts and when it ends. More clearly the closer I am. In the case of your Alliance, it felt like…" She paused, licking her lips as she collected her thoughts, reluctantly recalling the sensation. "Like a room full of candles being snuffed out at once. All that warmth and light and life just…vanished. Too fast for me to count and for hours on end. And then nothing. Just dark and silence." Mina rested her face in her hand, rubbing her eyes again. "Do you know how many escaped?"

"If we're not counting the ones with Kodama?" Lara folded her arms, tail swishing in agitation. There was a pregnant pause before she spoke again. "It'd be optimistic if even a hundredth of the Alliance got away."

Mina looked up at her, eyes widened in alarm. "So few!?"

"It wasn't a battle, Mina. It was an invasion. And they…" Lara's hands tightened angrily. "They won."

A sharp pang stung the three women's chests. Melody felt her stomach twist into a knot, her appetite disappearing. It was a painful truth. Sure, they kept the Master from seizing all the Wellsprings. And Richard Avitas was permanently out of the picture, sentenced to a life of vulnerability and endless peril. They dealt another blow against Maelstrom with Ariel's rescue and Strihaven's revolt. But the tide of this war was overwhelmingly against them, if it could be called that. Could it be called a war when one side had almost no chance of victory? The did not harm their enemy. Just temporarily hindered them.

Ariel looked down, hands wringing her skirt. Melody could see her eyes starting to water, a tremble in her slender frame as she tried to keep her grief contained. Glenn must have seen it, too, because he stepped forward and pulled a kerchief from his pocket, offering it to her. Ariel shied back, then looked to Lara, eyes asking if it was safe. Lara nodded.

"Thank you," Ariel said quietly, taking the kerchief and dabbing her eyes.

"My pleasure, your majesty." Glenn rose and stepped back. "Would any of you ladies care for something more? A fresh pot, perhaps?"

"I'm good," said Lara. "Mel?"

Melody felt her skin crawl as the skeleton looked at her, the light in those black sockets returning her gaze. "N-no. I'm fine."

"If you'll excuse me, then." Glenn bowed to them. "I will see to the rest of my duties."

"Glenn," Mina said as the skeleton turned to go. He stopped and faced her. "Send word to the council. We need to meet as soon as possible. This evening, ideally."

"I took the liberty of preparing the summons last night, milady," said Glenn. "In anticipation of such a request."

Mina smiled and nodded appreciatively. "What would I do without you?"

Glenn nodded in return. Was Melody imagining things, or did he smile despite not having any lips? "Let us hope such a day never comes." With that he left, his shoes sounding against the stone path.

Mina straightened up in her seat. "From the bottom of my heart, you have my deepest sympathies and condolences." She looked around the table. "All of you. I can't imagine how painful this has been. And you have my word that Sängril will do anything and everything in its power to help."

Ariel sniffled, wiping her eyes once more. "Thank you."

"And thanks for the food!" said Lara, picking a few crumbs off a plate.

Mina smiled at her. "Just don't eat too fast! You won't handle choking as well as I do!"

Lara laughed. "That's an understatement!"

Melody glanced between the two women. Now that she had a chance to see them interact, it was obvious they were friends. They were too casual and open with each other to be just acquaintances. "Can I ask something?"

"Of course!" said Mina.

"How do you two know each other? How and when did you meet?"

Lara slapped herself in the forehead. "That's right! I never told you about Mina, did I!?"

At that moment an older man dressed as a groundskeeper went walking by pushing a wheelbarrow laden with tools. His tattered straw hat bounced about on his head as he whistled a tune, his wheelbarrow rattling as it trundled over the ground. His clothes were plain and bore the weathering of many an hour tending to the earth and its bounty. He was a fairly normal man, except for the fact he was obviously a ghost. He was white as a sheet and mostly transparent. They could see the plants past him as though looking through a thin fog. He noticed the group and lifted his hat to them before continuing on his way. Melody and Ariel stared until he disappeared behind a hedge.

"I think we'd remember if you had," said Ariel, her eyes now watering from forgetting to blink.

"What mom said," added Melody, her own eyes doing the same.

Mina looked to Lara. "Let's see…should we start on my end, or yours?"

"I say we start with you," said Lara. "They know my backstory pretty well."

"Very well." Mina shifted in her seat, making herself comfortable. "My story starts a long, long time ago in the eastern kingdoms. Like Melody, only one of my parents was a human – my mother, to be exact. My father was a vampire. A member of the Royal House of Calavera, to be precise."

"Royal house?" said Ariel. "Vampires have royalty?"

"I would go into the totality of vampire society, but the intricacies and history of it are so vast we could be here for the next week discussing it," said Mina. "I'll give you a general overview instead. In the eastern kingdoms, there are…sorry, were four vampiric royal families – the Tepesht, the Bathory, the Nosferatu, and the Calavera. Much like human nobility, their status and influence ranged from commoners to barons, counts, earls, and dukes. These families were all ruled by one vampire called the Blood King – my grandfather, Esteban Dimitrio San Vertoro Calavera the Third."

Melody felt a tingle in her neck. Blood King – the name alone sounded as ominous as it did magisterial. And there was an edge to Mina's voice when she spoke of him. "Your grandfather was a king? Does that mean you're a princess, too?"

Mina waved her hand. "Hardly! The title of Blood King could not be passed to one's next of kin. It had to be taken by force. As the saying goes, 'By blood the throne is won. By blood the reign is undone.'"

"You mean they kill each other for the throne!?" exclaimed Ariel. Mina nodded. "Why would anyone make such a barbaric practice!?"

"There was a time in vampire history when no Blood King existed," said Mina. "In those days, the fighting was near ceaseless as each family vied for power."

"Dad told me about that once," interjected Lara. "The four families were on track to destroy each other. That is, until one vampire named Vlad killed the head of each family and brought them under his rule. He proclaimed himself the first Blood King and established the rule of succession by blood to prevent any one family from establishing a dynasty. He got the name Vlad the Impaler from –."

"Let's not ruin brunch with that bit of history, shall we?" interrupted Mina. "What Lara said is true, though. Vlad was the first Blood King. He believed familial succession would eventually be the downfall of the eastern vampires. It was he who made the rule of blood, and with reason. Unlike humans, vampires only grow stronger as they age so long as they drink regularly. My grandfather already held the title of Blood King for almost a thousand years by the time I was born. And not for a lack of anyone trying to overthrow him, even from within his own house."

"A thousand years!?" exclaimed Melody. "Vampires can live that long!?"

"Easily!" said Mina. "In theory, a vampire could live forever. And with the 'truce' between my grandfather's house and the surrounding townships, his blood supply was secure and plentiful. Which made him unusually powerful, even by the standards of a Blood King."

"What kind of truce?" asked Ariel, not deaf to the disapproving tone Mina used with that word.

"More like a protection racket," murmured Lara.

"Agreed," said Mina, that edge in her voice again. "In exchange for protection from human bandits, evil mages, and other outside threats, the humans would regularly offer their blood to the vampires. Too regularly, if you ask me. But we're getting off topic here! As I was saying, my father was a vampire. And as the son of the Blood King, he was also a prince, if in name only. He wasn't true nobility. He was the product…no, the consequence of one of my grandfather's trysts with a Barthory barones . Which is not to say he was without talent. From my understanding, he was a prodigy as a sangromancer."

"Blood sorcerer," Lara added, noting the questioning looks on Ariel and Melody's faces. "It's a unique magic some vampires can use."

"He was so powerful that some called him the reincarnation of Vlad himself," said Mina. "However, my father was a scholar at heart, not a king or warrior. He was content to spend his 'immortality' mastering his magic and pouring through every book he could get his hands on. His appetite for knowledge was insatiable compared to his tepid thirst for blood. He cultivated his knowledge and magic for no purpose but itself. Sometimes, he'd become so engrossed that he would weaken himself from forgetting to feed. He had no interest in the politics or parties of the four families. He was much more interested in the world at large. He would even sneak off into the human settlements, disguising himself as one to learn more about them and the happenings beyond the castle. To my understanding, this irked my grandfather immensely. Here was an illegitimate child of his with enough power to best his legitimate offspring with a flick of his wrist and intelligent enough to match wits with any. By all rights, he was the perfect candidate to succeed him. Yet he could barely be motivated to make an appearance in court or even a dinner feast. He made no effort to apply his immense powers, either. And, worst of all, he was sneaking off to fraternize with…well, their food!"

Melody glanced at Ariel. Something about Mina's father reminded her of the stories her aunts told of her mother's adventurous and often boisterous childhood.

"On one of his secret excursions, my father wandered too far from home," said Mina. "He was caught out in the open by the dawn. He would have burned had he not come across a well."

"So sunlight does affect vampires!" said Melody. "But why not you?"

Mina smiled at her. "Like I said, I'm not just any vampire. Anyway, my father would have died if it wasn't for that well. But his salvation quickly became his prison. The higher the sun went, the further into the well it reached. It would have killed him by noon had my mother not intervened. She found him hiding away in what little shadow remained. But instead of running away screaming or letting the sun burn him, she covered the well and protected him. She stayed by that well all day, shooing away anyone who tried to get water from it. She told them an animal drowned in it, and the water wouldn't be safe to drink till it was drained. Then, once the sun set, she let him go. They both took an immense risk doing this. My mother by saving him, and my father by allowing her to live."

"Why?" asked Ariel. "She saved his life!"

"Because vampires don't see humans as people," said Lara.

Mina folded her arms in mild irritation. "Lara, would you like to tell the story instead?"

"Sorry." Lara mimed zipping her mouth shut and leaned back in her chair.

Mina cleared her throat. "Interruption aside, Lara is right. It goes without saying that the average human is afraid of vampires. I think it's fair to say the majority of them bear hatred for vampires, and justifiably so. Vampires are generally no less spiteful of humans, though their hatred comes from prejudice rather than fear. To vampires, humans are no different than livestock, and they treat them as such. Allowing them to grow till they are mature enough to be harvested or killing them anyway for the sport. Those they deem useful are forced to become servants under the threat of death, though 'enslaved pet' is probably more accurate. To a vampire, being indebted to or harmed by a human is the ultimate shame. Most would rather die than have that taboo hanging around their necks, and would not hesitate to kill a vampire who had been. But like me, my father was not most vampires. He went back to find my mother the next night, not out of some sense of wounded pride, but curiosity. And when he found her, she didn't run or fight him. She just asked that, if he was there for her life, she be allowed to choose her place to die. Any other vampire would have drained her without a second thought. But my father assured her he had not come for her life, but asked what place she would chose if he was. She took him to her favorite spot – a field that was always filled with flowers."

She smiled happily. "It's a beautiful place. The flowers paint the ground with every color you can think of. I would go so far as to call it magical. My father didn't understand why this human was not afraid of him. Or how she accepted death so easily. He asked her why, and she said she and Death were old friends, so why should she fear her?"

Melody blinked and shook her head. "She and Death were friends?"

"My mother was an…unusual woman," said Mina. "She was born with the ability to see and commune with the dead. They would speak to her same as you're speaking to me now. Naturally, this made her a heretic in the eastern kingdoms. When her parents discovered her talents as a child, they abandoned her in the wilderness. She survived by learning from those who died in the wilds. Eventually, she settled in a human town, making sure to keep her powers a secret. To the humans, she was no less a monster than the vampires. To the vampires, she was just another animal to feed on."

Mina smiled again, looking out at the sparkling wet lawn. "But to my father, she was fascinating. A human who feared neither him nor dying. They spent that entire night conversing. Just like the night after that. And the night after that. And the night after that. On it went, my father always promising to return, and my mother always waiting for him when he came. I don't know the specifics, or how long it went on for, but somewhere in that time their attraction turned into love. They kept their romance a secret. It would mean death for both if they were discovered. And then something truly miraculous happened."

"Which was…?" asked Melody.

"Me," said Mina. She shifted in her seat again. "You must understand – vampires and humans look similar, but they are completely different species. They are not supposed to be able to bear children with each other. To my knowledge, nowhere in vampire or human history has their union ever produced a child. Yet it happened, and I was conceived."

Mina's expression turned grim. "When my father learned of this, he was initially as overjoyed as my mother. I was the proof of their love. But that joy soon turned to fear. To be saved by a human would be an embarrassment. To have a child with one would be nothing less than treason against their kind. He went to my grandfather, asking to turn my mother into a vampire–keeping my existence a secret, of course. My grandfather refused completely. He was not about to let a nobody into their 'noble' house, especially a human woman, and much less by a 'disappointment to his blood.' He ordered my father to kill her. Of course, he only pretended to agree. But when he went back that night, intending to flee with my mother, my grandfather had him followed. They discovered my mother, and the truth. My grandfather was beyond furious. For him, there was no greater shame that his own flesh and blood not only falling in love with a human but laying with one. Both my parents were captured and brought before my grandfather and the Red Council."

"Red Council?" said Ariel. "What's that?"

"It's like a royal court for vampires," said Lara.

"Ah," said Ariel, leaving it at that. Melody was not sure she wanted to envision such a thing. For some reason she had an image of a dark room with ominous figures in red robes circled around the expecting mother and father, both of them bound to the floor by chained manacles. She could imagine Mina's grandfather looking down over them, aged face twisted with disgust and anger.

"I can't call what happened a trial, because there was no justice served that day," said Mina. "The sentence was death for all of us. My father was beaten unconscious, chained to a stake, covered in a burlap sack, and then left out in the sun. My mother was forced to watch him slowly burn as the daylight made its way through the fabric. Then they sealed her and my father's ashes in a coffin and buried us alive. She suffocated within hours. Both of my parents died that day."

Mina closed her eyes and drew a breath. "But I didn't. Even with my mother deceased, I kept growing in her belly. Seven months after they buried her, someone heard crying from underground. They unearthed the coffin and found me inside."

Melody's eyes widened, her lips parting slightly in alarm and confusion. "How is that possible? If your mother was…gone, how could you live?"

Mina shrugged. "I don't understand it fully myself. And neither did my grandfather when the guards brought me before him. What he saw, however, was not a helpless baby. He saw an abomination put on this earth to remind him of his son's failure. I was a blight upon his name and his house. He spent the better part of a century torturing me, and then–."

"Wait, wait, wait!" exclaimed Melody. "A century!?"

"Yes," said Mina. "As in a hundred years."

"You're a hundred years old!?"

"Oh, no!" said Mina, waving her hand. "Not even close! I'm two hundred and seventy-six."

Ariel's mouth fell open. "T-t-two hundred!?"

"Mm-hm. And seventy-six." Mina took a sip from what remained of her coffee. "I'll be two hundred and seventy-seven next month."

Melody stared slack jawed at Mina. "Well…you, uh…you don't look a day over a hundred and fifty."

Mina arched a brow. Melody wished someone would kick her right then. Oh, why did she say that!? Of all the dumb, awkward things to come out of her mouth! To her relief, however, Mina then smiled. "Thank you. You're rather fetching yourself, if I may say so."

Melody felt a blush come to her cheeks, earning a stifled laugh from Lara.

"To continue, my grandfather tortured me for the better part of a century," said Mina. "He didn't kill me, though, and not for lack of trying. In the end, he decided the best thing to do was forget about me. He found the deepest, darkest cell in the castle, threw me into it, and then destroyed the key. That's where I stayed for the next one hundred and eighty-three years. I discovered I inherited my mother's ability in that cell. Which is a good thing because I would've been very lonely otherwise. For the first twenty years they brought the occasional goblet of old blood for me to drink or shoved a piece of 'leftovers' through the bars. But one day they stopped coming altogether. Maybe they forgot I was there. Maybe my grandfather decided I didn't deserve even that small kindness. Whatever the reason, I no longer had blood. I was able to survive on the odd rat or mouse here and there for a while. But eventually I grew too weak to manage that. So, I went into a long slumber."

"How did you escape?" asked Ariel.

"Spring cleaning," said Mina.

Melody blinked. "Spring cleaning?"

Mina nodded. "Amazing what a little time and moisture will do to an old iron lock. As it so happened, a pair of guards were clearing out the dungeons and found my 'remains.' They thought I was another forgotten prisoner, so they hauled me up along with the other bodies and tossed us into one of the blood pits."

"Blood pit? What's a blood pit?" asked Ariel.

"Trust me on this–you don't wanna know!" interrupted Lara. "Mina, don't tell her! You shouldn't have told me, but you did! And now I'm telling you, you don't wanna know!"

"Okay, now I really want to know!" said Ariel.

"Out of respect for Lara's wishes – and not wanting to upset your stomachs after this lovely brunch – I think it's best we leave that a mystery," said Mina. "Let's just say it provided all the blood I needed to restore myself and then some, and leave it at that. With my strength returned, I was able to escape. I ran off into the wilds as fast as I could. Fortunately, no one saw me go. Unfortunately, it didn't take long for my grandfather to figure out what happened. Suffice it to say, the guards who released me are no longer alive. They sent their soldiers after me multiple times, but to no avail. I may not look it, but I'm rather powerful."

"And this is where I come into the story," said Lara. "By this point, I was pretty well known through the east, and so was my reputation for bringing in the bounties nobody else could. So, guess who Mina's grandad hired to find her?" She pointed to herself, answering the question for them. "He didn't give many details. Said she was a vampire serving eternity in prison for crimes I didn't need to know about. The deal was this – find Mina and bring her back, dead or alive. In return, I'd get a handsome reward and all the information he had pertaining to Arcania. And he did have some. He knew who Bel'al was, and that Arcania was real. He even deduced I was his daughter given what he'd heard of my magic. That was good enough for me. I tracked her for a week through the mountains before we crossed paths."

"Crossed paths?" said Mina. "As I recall, you dropped out of the sky and almost cut me in half."

"I missed, didn't I?" said Lara. "To make a long story short, she refused to go back with me, and I wasn't gonna let her escape. So, we fought."

"In my defense, you were trying to take me back to my tormentors," said Mina. "Still no hard feelings?"

"None here. Did we ever decide who won that fight?"

Mina shrugged. "Shall we call it a draw?"

"Works for me," said Lara. "I did technically defeat you, but I think you could say the same about me."

"Agreed," said Mina. "Neither of us were in any condition to continue at the end."

Ariel looked Mina over. Mina noticed, narrowing her eyes at the queen. "Is that disbelief I see on your face?" she asked sharply.

"I'm sorry!" apologized Ariel. "I didn't mean to offend–!"

Mina smiled and laughed. "Relax! I'm only teasing! I know what I look like! I'm not exactly the picture of intimidation!"

"I still should've known better than to underestimate you," said Lara. "You're one of the toughest bounties I ever brought in! In fact, I'd say you were the toughest of them all."

Mina smirked. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"Meant it as one," said Lara, flashing her own smirk back.

Melody looked Mina over herself. She did not look like any sort of fighter. Her sensuous frame and charismatic air gave no indication of strength or power. And from what she saw so far, Mina's magic only reanimated the deceased. Lara's power, however, she had a much clearer grasp of. It was no overstatement to call Lara a one-woman army. Yet Mina was able to fight her to a stalemate? Just what sort of power did this vampiric countess have?

"Getting back to the story," said Lara. "After we realized neither of us was strong enough to beat the other, we decided to talk things out. Mina filled me in on her history. I may not be the smartest girl in the world, but I'm smart enough to know when I'm being played. Her story wasn't matching the one the Blood King gave me, and my gut was telling me Mina was a lot more trustworthy than him. She assured me her granddad would never follow through on his end of the bargain, which I'd already suspected. But if I was gonna get the truth, we'd have to go back anyway."

"So, did you?" asked Melody.

"A job's a job." said Lara. "Not good for your reputation as a huntress to go back on a contract. Turns out Mina was right on the money with her grandad's treachery. I'd barely stepped into the castle when his goons jumped me. He wasn't satisfied with me just bringing her back. He was determined to erase all knowledge of her, including mine! And speaking of knowledge, he didn't have any on Arcania beyond what he told me! Me being Bel'al's daughter was just a reasoned guess!" Lara growled angrily, her hands clenching tight. "The whole thing was a ruse to get me to bring her back!"

"And, for reasons I still cannot fathom, my grandfather decided then would be the perfect moment to vent the 'truth' about my parents," said Mina. "How my mother was a 'filthy heathen harlot' and how my father betrayed all of vampire-kind. How my very existence was an unforgiveable sin against vampires and humans alike, and that he intended to bury me so deep in the earth that no one would know I ever existed. That I never should have existed in the first place."

"I've heard of venting your frustrations," said Lara. "But that was something else! I thought his head was gonna explode if he got any redder in the face!"

"So, what happened?" asked Melody.

"Lara and I dealt with him and all his subjects," said Mina. "Permanently."

"By the time we were done, there wasn't a vampire left standing," said Lara. "And neither was their castle. The four vampire families of the eastern kingdoms are now effectively extinct."

"As for my grandfather, we dragged him into the same cell he imprisoned me in, and then collapsed it on top of him. We left him trapped under the ruins of his castle. If the stones didn't crush him, he's surely starved to death by now. That, or wishes he had already." Mina gave a spiteful sneer, baring her fangs as she all but spat, "Good riddance."

Lara nodded. "Ditto."

Melody gulped. There was not a shred of sympathy or pity in either of their voices when they spoke. Mina especially. That look in her eyes could only be described as hatred, fulfilled by vengeance and sustained by anger. She genuinely wanted her grandfather to suffer. Understandably so, given what he did to her parents and to her. But for a brief moment, Melody felt terrified of her.

"What happened after that?" asked Ariel.

The menacing air disappeared from Mina as though she had stepped out of a shadow. "With nowhere to go and no family to take me in, I did the only thing I could and stayed with Lara."

"Mina followed me around for a few months," said Lara. "She helped get the next four bounties–two warlocks, a crime lord, and an alchemist who liked to dabble in human chimeras. But I could tell the huntress life wasn't for her. Neither was staying in the east."

"I couldn't bear to stay there any longer," said Mina. "Death was everywhere. It saturated the air. So I asked Lara to take me somewhere I could leave from and no one could follow."

"And wouldn't you know it?" said Lara. "I knew just the place! Right through the cursed northern wasteland!"

"I still wish you'd come with me," said Mina.

"A part of me wishes I had," said Lara. "But I don't think I would've lasted long. You didn't happen to find what's causing the so-called curse up there, did you?"

Mina shook her head. "No idea. Closest I got to finding out was a decaying city off in the distance. There was a large building on the outskirts that was emitting…something. I couldn't see or hear or smell anything from it, but I could feel and taste it. Even from miles away my flesh was burning and there was a constant taste of metal in my mouth. I didn't get any closer, and the sensation abated the further I got. There's entire towns and cities in that region, all abandoned and crumbling. But no life. No people. No animals. Not even plants. In some places I was the only living thing all the way to the horizon. Whatever that curse is, it's still there. And it's still powerful."

"Yikes!" Lara took another sip of tea. "Now, what I want to know is how you made it here?"

"I walked," said Mina.

Lara frowned at her. "No, duh! Come on! This is thousands of miles from the east! How did you get here?"

"After I left the northern wasteland, I headed west through a place called the Serus Wilds. It's an immense forested wilderness covering most of the northern part of the continent. It's not heavily populated, but there's villages and a few small kingdoms scattered amidst. Met a few people along the way. Picked up Glenn and Lobos. Got into a bit of trouble, as well."

"But how did you become ruler of Sängril?" asked Ariel.

"Another time, perhaps," said Mina coyly, taking a sip of her coffee.

"Oh, no you don't!" said Lara. "Spill it!"

Mina smiled and rolled her eyes. "Oh, if you insist! It was just over two years ago. Glenn, Lobos and I reached the north end of the White Iron Mountains and started heading south. We were camping out by a stream when a pack of bandits found us. They bound me and threw me in a cage."

"Wait a minute," said Lara. "You let them take you?"

"I was curious!" said Mina. "So, off I went with my new 'friends,' Glenn and Lobos following my instructions to wait for me. My captors sold me to a slave trader, who then brought me here. Sängril was a very, very different place back then! I'd go so far as to say there are towns in the east more civilized than it used to be. Every lawbreaker, brigand, thief, and all-around villainous type you can imagine called this place home. So did the townsfolk, if only because they were effectively slaves, and had been for generations. They were raised, traded, and sold like property. It was a truly miserable place. Its 'ruler' – and I use that term very loosely – was this egotistical braggart the size of a barge, whose name I will not sully your ears with. Claimed he was the descendant of some former king."

Mina leaned forward. "But between you and I, he didn't share anything with a single one of the portraits here." She rested back in her seat. "My captors took me and several young girls directly to the man himself. They said he had a 'craving' for attractive women. He took one look at me and made it quite clear what he wanted to do with me. In response, I enlisted the aid of Captain, summoned Glenn and Lobos, and we dealt with him and his lackeys before the sun rose the next day." Mina grinned, running her tongue across her fangs. "Every. Last. One."

Ariel and Melody gulped. They both knew exactly what Mina was implying. They killed all of them.

"After that, I was all set to move on," said Mina. "I thought the townsfolk would be glad to be rid of me. I am a vampire, after all, and my companions are no more natural than I am. However, I was sorely mistaken! They begged for me to stay! Literally begged on their hands and knees! You cannot imagine how grateful they were to be rid of their tormentors! Compared to them, I was a shining savior. They wanted to make me queen, but I prefer the title of countess. And the rest…" Mina took a final sip from her coffee. "Is history. I've been ruling over and protecting these people ever since. We have the odd intrusion by bandits every now and then, but nothing I cannot handle."

"How come we never heard about you in the Alliance?" said Melody.

"The geography and weather are to blame for that," said Mina. "Storms are frequent in the mountains, and there are no roads. The only routes between us are the trails, which can be treacherous even in ideal conditions. It makes travel to or from the Alliance very dangerous. It's also rather far. As such, we rarely receive news of you. And speaking of news…"

Mina folded her hands together, resting her chin on them. "Lara filled me in on her history last night. Everything since we parted ways, that is. And told me a bit about your majesties along the way. Still, I would very much like to hear your stories from yourselves. Before that, however, I would like to give you a choice as to how we may go about it."

"And what choice is that?" asked Melody.

"Well, there's the old-fashioned way, of course. You speak and I listen. The other way…" Mina smiled roguishly. "Is with your blood."

Every hair Melody had stood on end. "Our blood!?"

"What would you need with our blood!?" exclaimed Ariel, pressing back into her seat.

Lara coughed. "Uh, Mina? Could you elaborate before one of them faints? Again?"

"Oh! Apologies! I didn't mean to frighten you!" Mina cleared her throat. "Allow me to explain. Blood is far more than sustenance to me. It carries within it the essence of a person. One of my many abilities is to see a person's memories through that essence."

"You mean…you can read our minds with our blood?" asked Melody nervously.

Mina laughed. "No, no, no! I can't read your mind any more than I can breathe underwater or turn invisible! What I can do is relive your memories through your eyes. Your thoughts. Your emotions. All of it. But only if you allow me. That is the nature of this ability. If I were to take your blood against your will, I would see nothing."

"Would…would you have to bite us?" asked Ariel.

Mina nodded. "I would. It does not work any other way."

"But…wouldn't we become vampires, too?" asked Melody.

Mina laughed again. "Fortunately for you, that is another thing separating me from other vampires. My bite is as likely to turn you into a vampire as Ariel's would turn me into a mermaid." She looked at Ariel, a kittenish smile on her face as she rested her chin on her hands. "Though, the prospect of becoming such an enchanting creature does have its appeal."

"It's not as scary as you think," said Lara. "Just a small pinch and that's it."

Melody's eyes widened. "You let her bite you? When?"

"Just before we parted in the east, and again last night," said Lara, tapping the right side of her neck. "Honestly, it's pretty easy and quick."

"It should be no more painful than a prick from a needle," said Mina. "And it will allow me to understand you and your experiences in a way that goes beyond words. As I said, however, it must be consensual. And unlike my predecessors, I do not make a habit of taking blood against people's will. The decision is yours, and I will respect whichever you choose. Take whatever time you need to –."

"I'll do it."

All eyes turned to Ariel. She held herself upright, trying to look composed and brave in her seat. But her eyes betrayed her trepidation at what she was agreeing to.

"I'll let you bite me," said Ariel, failing to hide the small tremble in her voice.

"Are you sure?" asked Mina, not blind to the queen's apprehension. "I don't want you to force yourself. You don't have to do this."

Ariel took a breath. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared. But if doing this will let you to know everything that's happened…no, you need to know what's happened. All of it." She stopped, licking her lips nervously. Then she shifted in her seat to face Mina completely. "I'm sorry if my initial fear has offended you in any way. Especially given the kindness you've shown us since we arrived. I can't find the words to express how grateful I am to you, or how sorry I am for my behavior."

"No offense taken and no apology needed," assured Mina. "As I told Melody, we normally ease our guests into this place much slower."

"But you've also taken an immense risk by helping us," said Ariel, her voice laden with worry. "I'm sure Lara's given you some idea of who and what Maelstrom is. But I think I speak for all of us when I say words don't do justice to how monstrous they are. And that's what they are–monsters. You need to understand what you've become involved in. If you can really see into my memories, maybe they can help Sängril avoid what happened to us."

Mina stood and walked over to Ariel, kneeling before her. "Are you sure?"

Ariel nodded. "Lara trusts you, and I trust Lara. That's enough for me." She took a breath, letting it out as a loud exhale as she readied herself. "So, how do we do this? Do you bite my neck?"

"Nothing so intimate. Your wrist will suffice." Mina held out her hand to Ariel, who hesitantly offered her own in return. Ariel flinched at the touch, her posture now stiff and unsure. "Relax. I'll be gentle."

With what little she knew of vampires, Melody thought Mina would attack Ariel's arm like a savage animal. What she saw, however, was the exact opposite. Mina leaned in, her lips hovering just above Ariel's skin. Then she opened her mouth, exposing her fangs, and gently sunk a pair of her canines into Ariel's wrist. The action was so delicate Melody would call it tender, as though Mina was planting a kiss. Ariel winced slightly, but that was it. Her expression was not that of someone in pain. Mina closed her eyes as she drank, letting out a soft moan. They stayed like that for almost a minute, and then Mina rose and stepped back, quickly licking a spot of red from the corner of her lips. Two small holes adorned the top and bottom of Ariel's wrist, tiny drops of blood welling up from the punctures.

"Mom?" Melody rose and went to her. "Are you okay?"

Ariel rubbed her wrist. "I'm okay, Melody." She took the kerchief Glenn gave her and pressed it to the spots. "Just a little sore."

Melody looked at Mina. Her eyes were still closed, but she could see them moving about rapidly beneath her eyelids. She looked as though she were dreaming. Then her eyes opened, and for a moment Melody saw her mother's ocean blue in them. Then they reverted to red. Mina stared straight ahead. The look on her face was indescribable. Afraid? Angry? Sad? Confused? Pained?

"Mina?" Lara stood up. "You okay?"

Mina blinked and shook her head. "Huh? Oh, yes. I'm fine." She pressed a hand to her heart, as though trying to soothe it. "Apologies. Witnessing and feeling so much at once can be…intense. How do you feel, your majesty?"

"Strange," said Ariel, gently rubbing her wrist. "I'm not sure I would do it again. But it wasn't that painful. Or even unpleasant. I'm…not sure how to explain it."

"Yeah, that was my reaction the first time, too," said Lara. "It's a strange sensation, sharing yourself with someone like that."

Melody felt her hair stand on end as Mina turned to her. There was a menace to her air now. She just watched her drink blood. The act that was named after her very kind. If there was ever any doubt before that Mina was a vampire, it was dashed now. Mina was as much a vampire as Lara was a dragon. And that unsettled her.

"Just because your mother agreed to it doesn't mean you have to," said Mina, sensing Melody's newfound unease. "Like I said, it must be by choice."

"It's up to you, Mel," said Lara.

Melody took a shaky breath, and then nodded. "I'll do it. Just…I'm scared."

Mina went to Melody's side, holding out her hand. Melody offered her own, trying not to let her trembling show. Mina placed her other hand on top of Melody's, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Maybe you should sit down? Just in case?"

Melody nodded again, feeling a bit of her anxiety ease away. She returned to her seat, Mina following and kneeling before her. "You can change your mind. As I said, I cannot force you to do this."

Melody took a breath and then nodded. With that Mina gently took Melody's hand again, turning it over to expose the soft skin of her wrist. Melody felt Mina's warm breath washing across her bare wrist as she brought it to her mouth. It sent a tingle down and then back up her spine as the vampire's lips touched her. Then she felt two sharp pinches as the fangs pierced into her. Melody hissed, wincing at the pain. But it was a momentary pain, gone as quickly as it came. She felt suction as Mina drank her blood, her tongue lapping up every trace. A warm sensation spread through her, as though she were submerged in a bath after drinking a glass of strong wine. It was intoxicating, growing stronger with each passing second. Time became a blur. Seconds, minutes, hours – Melody lost all sense of it. Then she felt Mina's fangs withdraw, and a warm rivulet of red run down her hand to her fingertip. She suddenly felt dizzy, wobbling back into her chair. Strong hands caught her head, carefully lowering it back as her wits returned to her.

"Easy, now!" came Lara's voice. "Just breathe."

Melody shook her head. "What happened?"

Lara nodded at Mina. "Take a look."

Melody looked up. Mina was still kneeling on the ground, lost in a trance. The red of her eyes was replaced with Melody's own blue color. They stared off at nothing, yet they saw something. Everything. They were wide, first with shock, then with sorrow, then with anger, and then with…Melody did not know what. A tear escaped Mina's right eye. Then they came freely, flowing down her face as she continued to stare off into space.

"M-Mina?" said Melody.

The princess's voice roused Mina from whatever visions she was witnessing. She blinked, looking around in confusion, and then her eyes settled on Melody. The look on her face said it all. Every joy. Every sorrow. Every moment of anger, jealousy, happiness, pain, and comfort that Melody ever knew – Mina now knew them as well. And it hurt. It pained her in a way no blade or blow could. The same way they had and continued to pain Melody.

"You okay, Mina?" asked Lara.

"I will be." Mina swallowed and gave her head a shake before standing up, dabbing at her eyes. She held her hand out to Melody. "More importantly, are you okay?"

"Yes." Melody took her hand, surprised by the ease with which Mina hoisted her onto her feet. To her surprise, Mina did not release her hand, but instead pulled her in and wrapped her up in a tight hug.

"Thank you," said Mina.

"For what?" asked Melody, confused by the sudden embrace. Though, it was not unpleasant either. It felt reassuring, being held like this.

"For sharing your life with me." Mina released Melody and looked to Ariel. "Both of you. It takes courage to endure what you've been through. Even more to bare it to another. You really are stronger than you realize. And you were right, your majesty. I did need to know. Would you all be kind enough to walk with me?"

"Of course," Lara stood up, brushing crumbs off herself with her tail. "I'll take Ariel, Mel."

"Allow me," said Mina. She looked at one of the gazebo pillars. A moment later Glenn walked out from behind it.

"You called, milady?" the skeleton said, bowing to her.

Lara's eyes widened. "How did…ah, I get it. He's not a servant. He's a familiar, isn't he?"

Mina nodded. "Correct. So are Lobos and Captain."

"What's a familiar?" asked Ariel.

"I'd be happy to explain later," said Mina. "Glenn, would you please take her majesty's chair and follow us?"

Glenn bowed again. "Of course." He walked over to Ariel and took her wheelchair's handles. "Allow me, your majesty."

Mina turned, walking off the gazebo steps into the garden. The group followed, the wheels of Ariel's chair gently rattling over the stone path. They wandered through the garden in silence for a few minutes, passing by the myriad of flowers and plants that grew there. The beauty of it all was not lost on Melody. There were coral reefs less vibrant than this. The air was filled with bird song as the small critters flitted about between the leaves and blooms. They kept going until Mina led them into a circular clearing paved with red and white stones. A statue of a woman and a beast dancing together stood in the center of a wide fountain, orange and yellow goldfish swimming around beneath the green lily pads. The statues were remarkably lifelike, from the way the woman's dress flowed to how delicately the beast held her hand in his, their mutual joy captured in the smiles on their faces.

"What's on your mind?" Lara finally asked.

"Much," said Mina, folding her hands behind her back. "The Alliance. The trident. Maelstrom. Nyctophiles. Eternals. Mermaids. Real mermaids! I always dreamed of meeting one! Though, I never imagined one would come through the front door, much less being carried by you!" She looked at Ariel, flashing a brief smile before her face turned sad and empathetic. "You've all been through so much."

"Yeah…we have." Lara scratched the back of her head with her tail. "I'm sorry, Mina."

Mina stopped. "For what?"

"For getting you involved in this. Here you are, finally living your life, and we brought this disaster to your doorstep." Lara walked up to her. "You know what the curse on Ariel is. It's gonna lead them right here. We've put you and your people in horrible danger. If I'd known this place was…no, even if I had known, we never should have come. We should have steered clear the moment–."

Mina took Lara's shoulders in hand. "You have nothing to apologize for. You are my friend as much as I am yours. And now, so are they." She looked to Ariel and Melody. "We may have just met, but after what you shared, I feel as if I've known you for all my life. And I can confidently say I am better for it."

She looked back to Lara. "You helped me in my time of need. You were the first person to show me decency and kindness. You stayed with me when I had nowhere to go and no one to rely on. It's my turn to do the same for you. I owe you that much."

Lara gently pushed Mina's hands off. "You saw their memories, Mina. This isn't like what we faced in the eastern kingdoms. Maelstrom's got monsters, magic, and machines on their side. And I've got a serious handicap this time. When they get here–."

A loud caw caused the women to look up. A half-decayed crow flew towards them, alighting on the head of the woman's statue. It ruffled its feathers, blinking over empty sockets as its bony feet gripped the stone.

"Hold that thought," said Mina.

Ariel's eyes widened. "Is…is that bird dead?"

"Caw! Report! Report!" croaked the bird, saluting with one of its wings.

"Very much so," said Mina.

"You sent out a scout?" said Lara.

"First thing this morning," Mina held out her arm and the crow hopped onto it. "What did you find?"

"Caw! Battalion of nine hundred! Three day's march!" The crow nodded its head vigorously then clacked its beak. "On the way! On the way!"

A chill went down Melody's spine. "Nine hundred of what?"

"Many! Caw!" The crow started bobbing up and down as it spoke. "Many! Many! Many on the way!"

"I got that bit," Lara said a bit sharply. "Many of what!?"

"Easy, Lara. He is a bird after all." Mina turned her attention back to the crow. "What did you see exactly? What are those nine hundred?"

The crow clacked its beak again. "Caw! A hundred steel men! Three hundred man-wolf! Five hundred not men! Witch in the lead! Witch in the lead!"

The chill Melody felt turned into icy dread. She already knew what the crow saw. That was Maelstrom's forces, dispatched to hunt down the three of them. She figured they would send someone after them. She just did not expect it to happen so quickly. "You're sure you saw a witch?"

The crow hopped about, spinning as it went. "Witch! Witch! Caw-caw! Witch!"

"Sounds sure to me," said Lara. "I think we can rule out the Master and Riptide, then."

"True, but that still leaves the matter of which witch is leading them," said Mina, returning her attention to the crow. "Was the witch wearing a mask?"

"Or carrying any sort of weapon?" added Lara.

The crow clacked its beak several times. "No mask! No weapon! White hair! Caw! Witch with white hair!"

"Ursula…" Ariel breathed.

Mina looked at Lara. "Could it be anyone else?"

"Unless Morgana's somehow managed a miraculous recovery, which I seriously doubt." Lara folded her arms, fists clenched tightly. "And she's got a hundred clockmen, three hundred werewolves, and I'm guessing five hundred of those mutated monsters backing her up. And only three days out."

The crow stopped, cocking its head to look at Mina. "What now? What now?"

"Fly back, and take the rest of the flock with you," said Mina. "I want reports every two hours. And stall them however you can. I do not want them marching any faster than they have to."

The crow puffed its skeletal chest out and saluted again. "Caw! Will do! Can do! We do!" With that it dove off the turret and flew away, cawing loudly. A cacophony of calls answered, and then a swarm of black deathless crows surged up from the forest. They were like a cloud, dimming the sunlight as they flew overhead, following their leader back into the mountains.

Lara's tail swished back and forth anxiously. "Nine hundred…"

"It could be worse," said Mina. "The Master could have sent Remora. Or they both could be coming."

"With all due respect, countess, you can't take Ursula lightly," said Ariel. "She's incredibly dangerous. All she would have to do is get here, and then she could turn into a giant and destroy this castle!"

Lara gently bit the end of her thumb. "She's not as powerful as Remora or the Master, but that doesn't mean she's a pushover. I doubt getting bigger and stealing trident magic is the full extent of her abilities. There's more to her than that. The larger problem, though, is that army. It'd be one thing if it was just human soldiers. But there isn't a single regular human with her. If I had to guess, each of those mutants and werewolves is worth ten men. And going off the clockmen I fought, they're each worth a hundred. That force of nine hundred might as well be ten thousand!"

"Sixteen thousand, using your estimates." Mina looked at the statues in the pond, starting at their faces. She clasped her hands behind her back and turned to face her guests. "I've called for a meeting in the council this evening. The town will be present as well. And I want you, Ariel, and Melody there with me. I want them to hear directly from you about what is coming."

"You can't ask them to fight, Mina," said Lara. "They won't stand a chance."

"I don't expect them to, and I won't ask them to," said Mina. "I will do the fighting."

"You?" said Melody in surprise. "As in alone?"

Mina nodded. "If necessary."

Lara shook her head. "This isn't like the vampires, Mina! This isn't like anything you or I tangled with in the east! We're up against a literal army! And I don't have my magic or my sword this time!"

"Can you still eat fire?" asked Mina.

Lara gave a plausible but not confident shrug. "Maybe? I haven't had much chance to try."

"Then we best find out." Mina smirked. "You aren't the only one who's gotten stronger, Lara. And believe me when I say this castle has far more defenses than a bridge and a portcullis." She turned and started walking again. "I want to show you something."

Melody and the others followed Mina through the maze of garden paths. After dozens of turns and hundreds of steps they arrived at a tall stone wall. Set in the wall was a small turret. Mina strode up the steps to it, her heels sounding against the stones.

"Up here," she said, beckoning for them to follow. Melody followed a pace behind with Glenn in tow as Lara lifted Ariel from her chair, all unsure what Mina was leading them to till they reached the top.

Before them stretched the entirety of Sängril. The cliffs of the castle plateau dove in a near vertical drop thousands of feet to the valley below. The river wound its way through a carpet of evergreen like a great meandering serpent of water. Down in the valley they saw the signs of human habitation. The green square fields of farms circled around a dense cluster of slate-roofed buildings, their steep angles awaiting the deep snows of winter. They could just make out the humans as tiny dots moving in the distance. Large swaths of forest were cut down, new seedlings sprouting between the stumps. Beyond the town the mountains rose sharp and vast into the sky, green forests giving way to rock and then permanent snow as their daunting peaks attempted to touch the heavens. The last clouds of the storm were just visible between the peaks, carried off by the winds to deposit their life-giving rain elsewhere.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" said Mina. She drew a deep breath as a light breeze blew through, lifting the women's hair with gentle invisible fingers.

"Yeah," said Melody. "It reminds me of Seahaven." Her face turned solemn, eyes casting down the cliffs. "What it used to be, at least."

"I can see why." Mina leaned on the turret wall. "The spring planting ended only three weeks ago, but it's already looking like we'll get a second harvest this year. We'll be building a new road to the eastern end of the valley once summer arrives. There is an old gem mine in those mountains that could still yield some treasures. The new school will be finished before the month is up."

"Who's gonna do the teaching?" asked Lara. "Can't imagine it's easy to find someone with those qualifications out here."

"You just have to know where to look." Mina closed her eyes and smiled, drinking in the air and sun as though they were the most refreshing of wines. "I can feel them. I can feel every person down there same as I feel you all next to me. Like little stars in the night sky." She straightened up, the smile falling from her face. "When I came here, those fields were brown and barren. The river was polluted with silt and waste. The forests were dry and dying. The town could barely be called one. Everything was broken and dismal, including the people. Everyone was hungry. Everyone was afraid. All they knew was pain and misery and the iron collars around their necks. No one had hope – not for themselves, their friends, their children, or their future. I felt that from the first moment I was brought here, locked in a cage like an animal."

"And what do you feel now?" asked Ariel.

Mina smiled again. "Happiness. Contentment. Trust. Love. Hope for a better future. All that was missing before. Two thousand, one hundred and twenty-nine full bellies and fuller hearts live down there. It really is amazing what they've accomplished in such a short time."

Lara frowned. "Maelstrom will destroy all of it. They'll kill everyone who resists and put everyone who doesn't in chains. I don't even want to imagine what will happen to them afterwards. Or what they'd do to you."

Now it was Mina who frowned as she faced them. "We don't have to. You and I know well enough what monsters like Maelstrom do to people like them and beings like us. They are no different that the slavers and barbarians who once made this place their market of human lives and its people their merchandise. Or any different from my grandfather." Mina spat contemptuously to the side, as though the very mention of her predecessor was poison in her mouth.

Melody saw a slight glow come to Mina's eyes. For a split second, she saw something else in the countess' face. Not an emotion, but a change. As if something hiding just beneath the surface revealed itself for only a moment. Something dark, dangerous, and powerful. "This kingdom is my home. Those people are my subjects. My friends. My responsibility. I will not stand by and let Maelstrom slaughter and enslave them any more than I will move aside and allow them to take you."

Lara stared at Mina. Then she sighed and shook her head, unable to keep herself from smiling. "You really have changed, Mina. Looks like all that walking did you some good."

Mina smiled back. "I could say the same about you."

Lara sighed again. "All right. But if we're gonna fight them, we're gonna need one brilliant plan."

"Already in motion," said Mina. "And speaking of plans, I believe I know something that can help you with yours."

"What plan?" asked Melody.

"The plan to find Lara's father, of course!" said Mina. "That is why Kodama sent you to me, is it not?"

Melody almost slapped herself in the head. She completely forgot about that! Between meeting Mina and her menagerie of undead and now facing the prospect of another battle with Maelstrom, she completely blanked on why they came all this way in the first place! Apparently, Lara did the same because she slapped herself in the head with her tail. Loudly, as well.

"Of all the…you're right!" She groaned, shaking her head. "How did we forget!?"

"To be fair, this has been a very distracting day for you all," said Mina.

"But are we sure this is the place?" asked Ariel.

"Remember what Kodama said?" said Melody. "Walk east for a day to the river, and then follow it for seven days and seven nights. He couldn't have meant downstream. That would lead right back to Maelstrom. And we got here on the seventh night. This must be it!"

Lara looked to Mina. "Do you know of anything in this place that could point us to my dad? Something in the library?"

"I'm afraid the library will not be of much help to you," said Mina. "Arcania is a very rare subject. I've only come across it a few times in my readings, and there was nothing that indicated where it may be, much less anything about the Solar King himself. And our librarian has not found much beyond that. I inquired with her about the very matter last night. She's read every single book in that library three times over, and there's barely any mention of Arcania. And no mention whatsoever of its location or the Solar King himself."

Lara's face and shoulders sagged with defeat. "You're kidding! That whole library and there's nothing!?" Mina nodded. "And you're sure she's read every book in there?"

"And every book not in there!" Mina gave an apologetic half-smile. "Trust me, she's had lots of time to do so. If there was any information pertaining to Arcania or your father in those books, she would know. And before you ask, I don't know where it is, either. I would have told you already if I did."

Lara groaned. "Then what is here that can help us?!"

"Maybe Kodama was mistaken?" suggested Melody.

"Eternals are a lot of things, Mel," said Lara. "Mistaken is not one of them. If he said it's here, it's here."

"Ahem." Mina coughed politely, regaining their attention. "As I was saying, I believe I know something that can help with your plans. At the very least, it should be able to point you in the right direction."

"What is it?" asked Lara, her eagerness laid bare in her voice.

"It's far easier to show you than explain." Mina walked past, beckoning them to follow. "Come with me. And forewarning, it's a bit of a walk."


"Blasted birds!"

Ursula scowled as she shielded her head against yet another rock. It bounced harmlessly off the hard scutes now covering her arms, clattering to the ground. She lowered her arms, only for a pebble to bounce off her head a second later. She hissed at the sharp pain on her skin, present one moment then gone in an instant. She heard stones pelting her army all around. The clockmen paid no heed, marching on without any regard to the assault. The same was not true for the mutants or werewolves. No shortage of angry vocalizations came from them as they cursed and hollered at their attackers.

The sea witch glanced up, only to cover her head again as another rock almost struck her. The sky was filled with thousands of crows, all dropping whatever rocks they could find before flying to the slopes to fetch a new bombardment. Some of the mutants and werewolves were throwing the rocks back at them, but the crows were either too high for their rocks to reach or far enough to evade their shots.

"Piss off, ya flying maggots!" shouted a werewolf before hurling a rock at them. The stone barely left his hand before another one struck him between the eyes. He yowled, clutching at his face as a thin trickle of blood ran between his fingers.

"Where'd these winged rats come from!?" snarled another werewolf, covering his head against a particularly dense barrage of sharp stones.

"Quit grovelin' and start throwin'!" snapped a mutant with ten squid tentacles in place of arms and legs and barbs like a blowfish over his body. He was scooping and launching rocks without stopping, spraying the sky with them.

"They're just crows!" growled Ursula. "Someone's trying to slow us down! Ignore them and keep moving!"

"Easy for you to say!" snapped back a werewolf. A sharp rock then fell on his snout, cutting him. "Yow!"

Truthfully, Ursula had no evidence to support her claim. And truthfully, she needed none. The sudden appearance and single-minded focus of the birds was proof enough. How those three brats managed to rope these vermin into their service she had no idea. Were her forces able to spread out more, they could at least make the birds' task more difficult. But along this narrow canyon passage high above a raging river, their path carved into the side of a steep slope by hands and feet long departed, there was barely room for them to march five abreast. All the birds had to do was aim marginally close and they were guaranteed a successful drop. Still, it was just rocks. This assault amounted to a minor inconvenience and nothing more.

"Madame Ursula!" shouted an eel-headed mutant. "On the right!"

Ursula looked up. A group of crows had latched themselves onto a rock face. Their wings beat furiously as they pulled against it. More crows left the flock and joined them, adding their wings to their efforts.

She narrowed her eyes. "What is that lot trying to…?"

A few pieces of rock fell away, tumbling down the mountain. A moment later the rock face budged. Ursula's eyes widened as their intent became clear. "Fall back! All of you, fall back now!"

The battalion looked up, immediately realizing what the crows were doing. They split in half as the rocks loosened in earnest. The crows flapped harder, sensing their quarry's escape. With a jarring thud the rock face slid down, and then came apart under the crows' collective effort. A landslide of shattering stone and roiling earth fell, aimed right into the heart of the battalion. There was a mad scramble and cries of terror as the landslide struck, wiping out all in its path. The ground heaved and rolled under Ursula, knocking her and her soldiers to the ground as a wave of dust washed over them. It filled Ursula's nose and mouth amidst the thunder of the avalanche, causing her to cough violently as the din continued. Her eyes stung with grit. The screams of werewolves and mutants mixed with the roar of shattering earth and splashing water. Then, as rapidly as it started, it was over. The din gave way to the sound of small tumbling stones and voices in pain.

Ursula rubbed the grit from her eyes, blinking rapidly as she tried to open them. A colossal pile of stones and earth lay across their path, looming nearly a hundred feet high. To make matters worse, a large portion of the path had broken away, reducing their route to a treacherously narrow single-file path. Mutants and werewolves alike were already pulling their comrades out of the pile, some alive, some dead.

"Get this cleared immediately!" shouted a mutant. "On the double, all of you!"

"No!" yelled Ursula. "Stay clear!"

A werewolf wrenched on a large boulder, tossing it aside. Suddenly the giant rockpile shifted, and then began to collapse on itself. Shouts of panic rose again as monsters and werewolves scattered, running out of the way of the rocks. A werewolf and a shark-headed man-monster were caught in the slide, smashed beneath tons of granite and shale. More rocks fell from above, adding to the roadblock.

"Get back, you idiots!" shouted Ursula angrily. The Maelstrom soldiers froze, looking to their commander. "That pile is unstable! Are you trying to get yourselves killed!?"

Two clockmen took Ursula by the arms, pulling her onto her feet. She immediately shoved them away. "Get off me, you walking scrap heaps!"

A mutant with a lobster for its lower half and club-like nobs for hands strode up to Ursula. "What are your orders? Do we go around?"

"And how do you propose we do that!?" snapped Ursula. "This is the path those three took! This is where we go!" She scowled up at the rock pile. "Hold back for the night. Start tossing whatever rocks and boulders you can at it. That should get it to settle, or at least tumble into that river. No one gets within a hundred feet till morning." She brushed dirt off herself bad-temperedly. "Those scheming brats have bought time, but that's it! I'll get them, all the same!"

She waved her hand through the air, causing her map to appear. She unfurled it roughly, spotting the familiar red circle continuing its endless turns. It had not moved for a day now. The queen was not dead. That would have ended the curse and permanently stamped her location into the map. So, what was she doing? Whatever it was, the longer she stayed put, the sooner they would catch up.

"That's right, Ariel," Ursula sneered, a malicious smile pulling at her mouth. "Just sit tight and wait. I'll be there soon enough."


Ariel was still not used to being carried everywhere, much less by an empty suit of armor. But it seemed rude to refuse Captain's offer of assistance. And given how many stairs and passages Mina led them through, she did not see any other options. The wheelchair would have been too cumbersome and fragile. And she could not very well keep asking Lara to carry her everywhere.

The phantom knight followed two paces behind his countess, Lara and Melody at his sides. Mina led them through a labyrinth of halls, stairwells, and passages, descending lower and lower into the castle's depths. It seemed they were traveling back in time as they did. The decorations became sparser and more aged as they went, marbled floors and golden candelabras giving way to bare stone and empty iron torch sconces. Now they were walking down a long stone passageway. The ceiling was just above their heads, the feather on Captain's helm dancing within inches of it with each step. Daylight was nonexistent this far down. The air was cold and damp, the shadows clinging tightly to the sphere of light cast by Mina's lantern. The rattle of Captain's armor echoed loudly into the black with every step.

"Not much further," said Mina. A ring of old keys was clutched in her other hand, the metal jangling with her steps.

"Thank goodness," said Melody, steering clear of a sack slumped against the wall. It was probably just a trick of the light, but she swore she saw it move in the corner of her eye.

"Where are we?" asked Lara.

"The foundations of the castle," said Mina. "After I cleared out the former tenants, there was a lot of cleaning to do. A few hundred years of disuse and abuse will do that. Discovering this place was one of the many finds we made."

"This is clean?" said Ariel, watching a large cobweb sway in the disturbed air from their passing.

"More metaphorical than literal cleaning," said Mina. "This part of the castle is rarely used so it receives less attention. Ah, here we are."

A thick wooden door appeared out of the gloom. A heavy iron lock revealed itself, a large keyhole inviting its counterpart. Mina set down the lantern and searched through the keys before picking an especially weathered one, the dark metal pitted and scratched with age. Its handle was rubbed smooth from countless years of use. She slid it into the slot and turned. There was a heavy noise of moving parts, and then the door budged. Mina pulled the door open with some effort, then removed the key and fetched the lantern. It was so dark inside Ariel could not make anything out.

"In here," she said, stepping into the gloom. Captain hefted Ariel a little higher in his arms and followed in after her. Ariel immediately recognized it as a storage room. It was large, at least a hundred feet on each side. The shapes of old furniture and furnishings stacked beneath thick sheets of canvas were unmistakable. Beds, sofas, lounges, chairs, tables, chests, and desks were just some of the contents.

Mina led them straight to a large oval object hanging on the wall, covered by a thinner piece of cloth. "If it wasn't for my ability to speak with the dead, I never would have found this. Fortunately for us, one of this kingdom's former queens informed me of its existence. And where she hid it for safekeeping."

Mina grabbed the edge of the cloth and pulled. It fell away to reveal a mirror. It was large, taller than any of them by a good margin. The frame was solid gold, sculpted into sinuating patterns of an architectural design Ariel did not recognize. The pane was perfectly flat, as though they were looking onto an undisturbed pool of silver. But something about it unsettled Ariel. Something about their reflections made her feel like they were looking back at them. That there was a strange and alien consciousness in those eyes.

"A mirror?" said Melody. "We came down here for a mirror?"

Mina gave a knowing grin. "Not just any mirror. Right, Lara?"

Lara narrowed her eyes at the mirror. She approached, leaning close to it. She ran her fingers along the frame, wiping away a thin layer of dust to reveal strange arcane symbols etched around the rim. Suddenly her eyes widened. "No! No freakin' way!"

"Oh, yes way!" said Mina with a grin.

Lara spun around, seizing Mina by the shoulders. "Is this what I think it is!? Please tell me it's what I think it is!"

Mina nodded. Lara suddenly let out a triumphant whoop so loud it made all of them jump, her voice echoing inside the room. Even Captain startled, his helm falling backwards and clattering to the ground.

"Oh, for…!" he moaned. "Um, your majesty? Would you mind if I…well…?"

Ariel looked down at the helm. "Oh! Yes, by all means!"

"Much obliged." He gently set her down on the floor and grabbed his helm, firmly reaffixing it to his body.

Lara was bounding around the room, pumping her fists triumphantly in the air. "Yes! Yes! Yes! Kodama, you beautiful, four-tailed bastard! If you were here, I'd kiss you right on that fuzzy face of yours!"

Ariel blinked in utter confusion, not understanding Lara's sudden elation at what amounted to an oversized decoration. "What's going on?"

"Just give her a minute," said Mina.

Finally Lara settled down, panting as she ran back to the mirror. "This is it! This is what Kodama wanted us to find! It has to be!"

"A mirror?" said Melody.

Lara spun to her, smiling from ear to ear. "It's not a mirror, Mel! It's an Archive!"

Ariel stared blankly at her. "A what?"

"Lara, some of us didn't have all-knowing magic dragons for fathers to teach us about these things," said Melody. "Elaborate, please."

"Okay, okay!" Lara took a breath, trying to calm herself down. "An Archive isn't a mirror. I mean, it is! But it's so much more! It's a constantly expanding magical knowledge repository with an enchanted sentience that acts as both its overseer and interface!"

Melody and Ariel stared blankly at Lara. "Uh…"

"It's a library and librarian all rolled into one, and it just keeps getting bigger and smarter!" Lara went to the mirror, running her hand along the frame to reveal more etchings. "These things gather information throughout their existence! Like, from everywhere! They contain enormous amounts of knowledge! I mean, properly gigantic amounts of it! You could fit my dad's entire library into one with room to spare! It's probably in there already! Dad said the dragons made these things in the Lost Age to act as their assistants!"

"Wait, dragons made these!?" exclaimed Melody. "As in dragons like your father!?"

"The same ones!" Lara looked to Mina. "How do you have this!? I thought all the Archives were destroyed at the end of the Lost Age!? Dad had three, but they were all in rough shape and barely functional! This one's…it's pristine!" Lara stepped back, blowing a loud exhale as she ran her fingers through her hair. "It's a literal miracle!"

Mina walked up to the mirror. "Whoever or wherever it came from, it has been in this kingdom since its inception. It used to serve as an advisor to the rulers, but over time it caused more problems than it solved. It was locked away after one of this kingdom's queens made frequent personal uses of it. Very vain purposes, specifically, regarding her step-daughter."

"As in the 'who's the fairest of them all' queen?" asked Lara.

"Precisely."

Now it was Ariel's eyes who widened. "Hold on! You mean…as in Snow White!? The Snow White!?"

Mina looked to her and nodded. "The same. Seven dwarves and all."

"But that's just a story!" said Melody. "Mom and dad used to tell it to me all the time when I was a little girl! Just like Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Beauty and the Beast!"

That knowing grin returned to Mina's face. "And where do you think all those stories came from? Or whose statues those were in the garden?" She pointed to the floor. "They came from right here, in this very kingdom."

Melody's mouth fell open in disbelief. "You're telling me…that's the Mirror on the Wall!? Those stories are true!?"

"Every single one of them," said Mina. "With a few minor changes, that is."

Lara gave a chuckle, setting her hands on her hips as she looked the mirror over. "Go back far enough in history and you're bound to find some truth in any legend! If the mirror's real, why wouldn't they be?"

"Can this really tell us where your father is?" asked Ariel.

"Only one way to find out!" Lara clapped her hands together and rubbed them vigorously as she cleared her throat. Then she raised her hands towards the mirror. "Mirror, mirror, on the w–!"

"Ah! No, no, no!" Mina interrupted, cutting Lara off. "He really hates that!"

Lara lowered her arms. "He?"

"Let me wake him. And fair warning, he can be a bit…um…'testy.'" Mina approached the mirror, gently tapping her fingers against the frame. "Hello?"

Ariel felt something shift in the air. It made her shiver and goosepimples run across her skin. The surface of the mirror rippled, distorting their reflections till they were unrecognizable. Then the colors swirled together, congregating in the center to form what could only be a face. A mask to be precise. It looked like a theatre mask, eerily reminiscent of Remora's smiling porcelain white visage. This mask, however, was not smiling with malevolence. Its mouth was tight and stern, its vacant eyes staring back at them. Trails of smoke rose up across the mirror, as though fires burned in some unseen space beneath their view.

Lara stared slack jawed at the mirror. "It works…it really works!"

The face blinked at them. "What wouldst thou ask of me?"

Mina smiled, waving at the mirror. "Good evening, Archibald."

The face blinked at Mina, then frowned sullenly. "Oh…it's you."

"Archibald!?" Ariel, Melody, and Lara said in confusion.

Mina gave a shrug. "What? Was I supposed to call him Mirror on the Wall each time? He's an Archive, so I though Archibald was fitting."

"I never consented to that name," said the mirror crossly. "Nor do I approve of it."

"Could be worse," said Lara. "She could've called you Archie."

"Or Wally," added Ariel.

The face glared at the two of them, clearly offended at the names. Then it looked back to Mina. "In light of these alternatives, I will permit you to address me as Archibald. Now, what would you ask of me?"

Mina stepped aside, gesturing to her guests. "Archibald, these are my friends. This is–."

"I know of them," interrupted Archibald sharply. "Princess Melody of Seahaven, firstborn and only daughter of King Eric and Queen Ariel, the so-called daughter of sea and shore. Queen Ariel of Seahaven, seventh and youngest daughter of King Triton and Queen Athena of Atlantica, the little mermaid who dreamed of a life beyond the waves. And…"

Archibald's "eyes" turned to Lara. "Dame Lara Anclagon, Knight of Seahaven. Formerly the huntress Kaida Blackjaw, the Hellhound of the Eastern Kingdoms, the Bane of–."

"We get it! You know who we are!" interrupted Lara. "No one likes a show-off."

"Easy, Lara," said Melody. "We need it's–."

"His," interrupted Archibald, scowling at the princess. "I may not be flesh and blood, but I will not be addressed like some common household object. Much less by an inferior intellect."

"Sorry…" Melody cleared her throat and approached the mirror. "Mirror, mirror, on the–."

"And spare me your attempts at rhyming," said Archibald morosely. "I endured that nonsense all the way up till Queen Snow so graciously relocated me here. Speak plainly or spare me the trouble of listening to you at all."

Captain looked to Mina. "Still as personable as ever, isn't he milady?"

"You would be as well if your existence was diminished to this!" snapped Archibald. "I was once companion to Morulin the Red Sage, aiding in his studies of the most fundamental and profound mysteries of magic, the universe, and realms beyond. Now I am reduced to answering the inane and self-serving questions of one interchangeably infantile mortal after another."

"So…you're bored?" said Ariel. The low grumble from Archibald was answer enough.

"Sorry we asked." Lara stepped up beside Melody. "Look, bud. We've got a few questions for you, and then we'll leave you to…whatever it is you do down here."

Archibald sighed in exasperation. "I suppose it's this or back to sleep for another indefinite extent. Very well. Ask of me what queries you must, and then depart."

"All right." Lara cleared her throat. "Where's Arcania?"

Archibald's eyes widened slightly. "Not the most intriguing of inquiries. But, admittedly, not one I've been asked before."

"We need to get there," said Melody. "Lara's father is imprisoned by a curse from–."

"I am aware of the circumstances of the Solar King's imprisonment," interrupted Archibald again. "And I can easily calculate your reasons for locating and liberating him. To think you would beseech the Bel'al, the Solar King, last and mightiest of the great dragons, to save one measly kingdom."

"Measly!?" Melody stomped up to the mirror, her face inches from his. "That's my home and family you're talking about!"

"And you told me to take it easy," said Lara.

"And we're not doing this just for ourselves!" said Melody. "If Maelstrom isn't stopped, they'll destroy everything in their path! Including you!"

"And you plan to have the Solar King will tip the scales in your favor if he is freed?" scoffed Archibald.

"We don't have a choice," said Lara. "If you're really an Archive, then you know who and what Maelstrom is and what our odds are of beating them without him. And you also know about the Eternals. Which means you know the only one of the lot who'd even consider helping us is my dad."

"What you say is true," said Archibald. "It is improbable to the extent one might call it a miracle that you were able to convince the Lord of Four Seasons to aid in your foolhardy rescue attempt, if it could be called that. Much less make a bargain for a Hive Queen's assistance. Without the Solar King, your odds of any meaningful victory against Maelstrom are non-existent. However, while I do know the location of him and of Arcania, what you ask of me is not given easily."

"Why is that?" asked Ariel.

"Arcania is no mere hunk of rock," said Archibald. "It is the last vestige of what you call the Lost Age. It is a place where legend and fact exist side by side. Its very soil and seas are saturated with the magics of that epoch, and it and its creatures thrive bountifully from it. A realm unspoiled by the march of time and mortal civilization. It is a fitting domain for one such as the Solar King and his vast horde. As such, he guards it fiercely. Even now, it is protected by enchantments of the ancient and most powerful sort."

"Has anyone found it?" asked Lara. "Since I was there, I mean?"

Archibald shook his head. "May have tried. Few have found it. None have landed upon its shores."

"Can weget there, though?" asked Ariel. "Is it possible? Do you know the way?"

"It is possible," said Archibald, his tone indicating he had no confidence in their ability to do so. "And I know the path to reach it, and the means to free him."

The three women looked to each other, unable to hide their smiles. This was the first good news they had in a while. Not only did they have a way to find Arcania, but there was a real possibility of them getting there! And a way of undoing the curse!

"But…!" Archibald declared, cutting their moment short. "This is no mere trek you would be undertaking. The journey to Arcania is long and perilous. A great distance of earth and sea lies before you, with no shortage of dangers between. Are you prepared to undertake such a task? Do you think yourselves capable of risking your very lives upon such an expedition?"

"Like Lara said, we don't have a choice," said Ariel. "If we don't find Bel'al, Maelstrom will keep expanding and destroying."

Lara nodded to Ariel. "What she said. So, care to draw us a map?"

"I cannot," said Archibald.

Lara frowned. "Why…?"

Archibald sighed again. "Must I always repeat myself with you mortals? As I said, I possess the knowledge of Arcania's location and the route to it. However, that knowledge is not easily given. The wards surrounding Arcania prevent any physical depiction of its geography from being rendered, nor permits objective descriptors of its location being written. Were I to attempt such a thing, the wards would annihilate myself and my archive in our entirety."

Lara's eyes widened. "You're joking!"

"I am not inclined to humor," said Archibald.

"He really isn't," whispered Mina to Ariel.

Archibald narrowed his eyes at her. "Nor am I hard of hearing, Countess!"

"So, how are we gonna get there, then?" said Lara. "You gonna sing us a song about it or something?"

"Precisely."

Lara, Melody, and Ariel blinked. "Wait, what?"

"I cannot manifest any drawing or text that would directly guide you to the island in question," said Archibald. "I can, however, provide an oral account that is open to a variety of interpretations, provided it is not put to paper."

"Meaning…?" said Lara.

"A riddle!" said Ariel. "He's talking about a riddle! It can give us a general idea of where we need to go, but it's up to us to decipher it correctly!"

"Meaning we could end up right on dad's doorstep, or completely lost in the opposite direction." Lara groaned, burying her face in her hands. "For once – just once– could we get a clear, simple, easy answer from somebody? Anybody?"

"Do you want the route?" asked Archibald impatiently. "Or do you not?"

Lara sighed. "Fine, fine. Give us the riddle."

"Very well. Now listen closely, for I will not speak this again. And remember, you may never transcribe any part of what I say in any manner. Do, and you will suffer the same enchantments that bind me."

Ariel, Melody, Mina, and Lara gave their utmost attention to Archibald as he cleared his throat. He closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, his eyes glowed with a fiery light, as did his mouth as he spoke.

"A sleeping king ye maidens seek

To end dark and bloody war

Thus, listen well and heed my words

To seek that farthest shore

"By longing light give wide berth to the waste

Lest the sleepers claim your bones

Depart at the crocus with silent mouth

Where ice once slept in stones

"Tread by the tomb afore summer's height

The stones of blood to follow

Beware the shadow of an open sky

Tempt no mountain warm and hollow

"Venture 'cross his golden sea

And free night afore skies turn gray

Lost in water be all of native tree

Find She who knows the way

"His fallen stars open not

Lest the daughter speaks his name

Chase the free on high or below

If ye wish to acquaint their flame

"'Neath earthen sea the king doth wait

Stand not lest ye draw his wards

Spill tyrant's blood upon the prison

And his freedom shall be thy reward"

Ariel blinked, realizing her eyes were stinging with dryness. What was that? It was just words, but it was also more. She did not just hear them. She felt as if they were stamped directly onto her mind, like ink pressed upon a page. The entire time Archibald was speaking, she could hear nothing else. She was not aware of anything else, either.

"It is done," said Archibald, the light fading from his eyes and mouth. "That is the totality of guidance I can provide you."

"Did you all get that?" asked Melody.

"I think so." Lara rubbed her head. "I know so, actually! You?"

"I have it." Ariel gave her head a shake. She blinked several times, feeling the fog leave her thoughts. "Do any of you know what it means?"

"Not a clue," said Lara. "It's all nonsense to me."

"Nonsense!?" blurted Archibald. "I'll have you know that was some of my best work!"

"So you say," muttered Lara.

Archibald's face began to turn an alarming shade of red. "Why, you imbecilic–!"

"We're deeply grateful for your help!" said Ariel, cutting of Lara before she could fling any comeback at him. "We'll figure out the rest. But I do have a question of my own."

"Speak, Queen of Seahaven," said Archibald, his face returned to its normal off-white color.

"Bel'al told me he was imprisoned by my grandfather, Poseidon," said Ariel. "Is that true?"

"It is, and it is not," said Archibald. "It was the actions of your grandfather and Bel'al himself that precipitated the events leading to the former's death and the latter's imprisonment. The fault lies with both of them. The curse of his imprisonment, however, was cast by another. One whose name I cannot, will not, and must not speak. Even now, that name is a thing of immense power. Power best left forgotten in the dust of history lost."

"But he still used the trident to do it," said Ariel. "Is there a way to undo it without the trident?"

"There is," said Archibald. "And with great ease, comparatively."

"How?" asked Melody. "You said we have to spill the tyrant's blood to do it. But my great-grandfather – assuming that's the tyrant in question – has been dead for over fifty years. And you won't tell us who the other one is."

"I will not," confirmed Archibald.

"So, we're supposed to use the blood of someone who's been dead for half a century?" said Lara. She turned to Mina. "Think you can help us out with that?"

"I'm afraid not," said Mina. "My powers don't work over large distances, and Poseidon died far away from here. Also, given what I saw in your memories, Lara, I think it's not worth the risk. Not if whatever consumed him still has any attachment to his soul…assuming it left one."

"Then what are we supposed to use!?" said Lara. "The closest relative to Poseidon is Triton, and he's locked up who-knows-where along with every…one…else."

Ariel felt a lump form in her throat as Lara, Melody, and Mina all looked to her. "Oh no…" She looked to Archibald, who only nodded.

All four women stared blankly at the mirror, his words rattling around in their brains. Those words settled at the same time, accompanied by a loud, collective, "WHAT!?"

"Are you freakin' kidding me!?" yelled Lara.

"I speak only the truth," said Archibald evenly, not fazed by their outburst in the slightest.

"Archibald, you can't be serious!" said Mina. "There must be another way!"

"There is none," said Archibald. "To undo the curse, the queen's blood must be shed. She is the only one."

Ariel clutched her throat. "My blood!?"

"No!" said Melody fiercely. "That's not an option! We are not killing my mom!"

"Kill?" Archibald looked at Melody as though she just sprouted a second head. "I never said she had to die."

The women's collective outrage was immediately replaced by confusion. "Huh?"

"Mortal intelligence, I swear," Archibald sighed in disappointment. "Seeing as you have solved this part of the riddle, and it bears no influence on your discerning the location of Arcania from the remainder, no harm shall come from elaborating upon it for you at this point. Seems best I do, before one of you does something irreversibly rash and, for lack of a better word, stupid."

"We solved a part?" asked Ariel. "Which one?"

"Spill tyrant's blood upon the prison/And his freedom shall be thy reward," said Archibald. "The tyrant in question is Poseidon. Seeing as he is long departed, a direct descendant will make a suitable replacement. That descendant's life, however, is not a component of the anti-curse."

"So…it just needs a bit of my blood?" asked Ariel. "Not all of it?"

"Correct. A few droplets will suffice."

"A few drops? That's all? To undo a spell from the trident?"

"Indeed," said Archibald. "If the trident were still intact, you would require it as well to undo the curse upon him. With it destroyed, however, the curse has weakened considerably. Only the binding of blood sustains it now."

"But if the curse is weakened, why has Bel'al not broken it on his own?" asked Mina.

Archibald looked to her. "You disappoint me, countess. You of all people should know how potent blood is as a catalyst for magic. A spell cast with blood shall persist till that blood is shed again. The Solar King may extend his influence further beyond the curse, what with the trident obliterated. But to resist such a powerful prison, day after day for decade upon decade, takes a toll even on one such as him. Were he to fight it, it would resist him in equal measure. At worst, it would overwhelm him. Only with the queen's blood can it be truly broken."

"What about me?" asked Melody. "Would my blood work?"

"You are a tainted source," said Archibald flatly. "Your blood is insufficient."

Melody flinched as though his words physically struck her. "Tainted!?"

"But she's his great-granddaughter," said Lara. "Shouldn't it work?"

"She is both human and merfolk," said Archibald. "Born of both yet belonging to neither, same as yourself. As such, the curse will not recognize her as being of Poseidon's lineage. The only ones who possess the blood necessary to undo the curse are the direct descendants of the merman himself. Of you gathered before me, only the queen satisfies the criteria. And another insight on the matter of her majesty–the blood must be fresh. As the body is a vessel for the soul, so to is it a vessel for its blood. For blood is a living thing, and will die if separated from the soul. The queen must reach Arcania alive for her to break the enchantment."

Ariel gulped. "Good to know."

"I guess we gotta get you to Arcania, Ariel," said Lara.

"You say that as though it wasn't part of the plan already," said Melody.

Lara held up her hands defensively. "I'm just saying we really have to make sure she gets there now! And in one piece!"

"Emphasis on one!" said Ariel, rubbing at her arm. "I lost one arm already. I don't want to go through that ever again!"

"Is there anything else you wish to know?" demanded Archibald. "Or may I be allowed to retire?"

Melody stepped forward. "There is. I want to know about my family."

If Archibald had eyes, Ariel imagined he would have rolled them. "What about them?"

"What about them!? What do you think!?" Melody snapped. "Where are they!? What did Maelstrom do with them!? Are they even alive!?"

"Archibald, just answer her question, would you?" said Mina.

Archibald sighed again. "Am I correct in assuming you wish to know the state of your father first?"

Melody's breath hitched. She wanted to know more than anything. But a part of her was also terrified to find out. There was every chance that Maelstrom killed him just like they planned to do with her mother. Ursula had plenty of motivation to make it happen, after all. It was Eric who impaled her on that ship. And she might have killed the others just out of spite. But painful as the truth could be, not knowing was far worse.

"Yes," she said. "Please. Is he…is he still alive?"

"Yes." Ariel and Melody let out a long breath of relief. A tension released in Lara's shoulders she did not realize she was holding. "He is currently a prisoner in the former kingdom of Seahaven. Your grandfather is also alive. Imprisoned in the Atlantican dungeons. As for the rest of your family, your aunts and uncles are…are…" Archibald's brow furrowed. "Strange…I do not know."

"What do you mean you don't know?" said Melody.

"I…" Archibald furrowed deeper, his expression one of puzzlement and frustration. "This is most perplexing. I am aware of their last state before the witch Remora took them through her portal. But after that…I am at a loss."

"Guess you're not as pristine as I thought," said Lara.

"Do not dare insult me, half breed!" snapped Archibald. "I contain more knowledge, more secrets, and more wisdom than you could hope to obtain in ten thousand of your minuscule lifetimes!"

"Then how is it you can't track down a handful of merfolk!?" snapped back Lara. "Got an answer to that?"

"As a matter of fact, I do!" said Archibald. "If they were taken to a space under the protection of an enchantment against magical observation, it would shield them from my cognizance."

"You mean behind a barrier?" said Lara.

"Correct. And by rather simple deduction, I can conclude with ninety-nine-point-nine-nine-seven-six percent confidence that the princess and queen's family have been taken to Maelstrom's headquarters, wherever that may be."

"And what's your confidence they are still alive?" asked Lara.

Archibald looked at her blankly for several seconds, as though his conscience had left entirely. Then he stirred. "One-hundred percent."

Lara arched a brow. "You sound certain."

"Because I am," Archibald said, snorting with disdain at her doubt. "With you in possession of two of the Wellsprings, the royal family has greater value alive. Were they to be eliminated, so too would a significant motivator for you to return to these lands, as well as a component to manipulate you with. I calculate they will keep them as a means of leverage should the encounter you, or of ensuring your return should they fail to capture you first."

"In other words, they're keeping them as bait," said Melody.

"And we're not biting," said Lara flatly. "Alive or not, we don't have any way to rescue them right now. We don't even know where they are."

"But–!" Melody started.

"We go back now, and they'll kill us," said Lara. "Then there really won't be any hope. Trust me, I want to get your dad and the rest out of their grip as much as I want to beat the tar out of every single minion Maelstrom's got. But we can't do any of that without my dad. So, no matter what, we must get to Arcania."

Ariel clutched her hands to her heart, feeling it beat against her chest. Her family was still alive. Eric was still alive. To hear it loosened a constricting noose of dread from around her heart. But she also felt a stinging truth at Lara's words. That same heart wanted nothing more than to dash back to Seahaven as fast as possible and rescue her family. But her conscience knew it would only lead to their deaths. They had no means of fighting against such overwhelming forces, and little more hope of sneaking past them and then escaping with prisoners. Painful as it might be, the only way to save them was not to save them. Not yet, at least.

Sensing the queen's worry, Mina went to her, kneeling and placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You'll see them again, your majesty. I'm sure of it."

"Are there any further questions?" asked Archibald impatiently. "Or are you finally finished with your inquiries?"

"I have one," said Melody. She stepped up to the mirror, holding up the Oceanstar to it. As she did, it began to let off a soft blue glow. The Firebrand around Lara's neck began to glow as well, casting a faint orange light into the room.

Archibald's eyes widened for a moment as he watched the light dance inside the Oceanstar. "A Wellspring…to think I would see two at once."

"What is this?" asked Melody. "What is a Wellspring? Why was it inside the trident? And why does Maelstrom want it?"

"To answer your first question…" said Archibald. "I am not entirely sure."

Now it was Mina and Lara who arched a brow, in surprise rather than skepticism. "You're not sure?"

"You're an Archive!" added Lara. "How are you not sure?"

"Because none of the knowledge concerning the Wellsprings is certain, either," said Archibald. "Their origins are unknown. Their purpose, providing they have one, is unknown. Even their magic is not fully understood. These artifacts were as great a mystery to the dragons as they are to you."

"Hold on!" said Lara. "These things date back to the Lost Age!?"

"Far beyond that," said Archibald. "Archimeda the Wise Sky was the foremost researcher on this subject. She postulated they come from the creation of the realms themselves. Unfortunately, much of her knowledge and all other information regarding them is under the highest of restrictions. Only a dragon may have access to this information." He shifted to the side, staring directly at Lara. "A proper dragon."

Lara growled, her tail twitching angrily as her hands clenched into fists. Captain strode up, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Calm yourself, Dame Anclagon. A knight does bow to the whims of their temper so easily."

Lara glanced at his hand and then back at the mirror, folding her arms crossly. "What can you tell us, then?"

"Several things, for what good they may do you." Archibald's face floated back to Melody. "There were seven, originally, though Archimeda theorized there could be more. The two you possess are the Firebrand and the Oceanstar. The others were the Thunderbolt, the Winterheart."

"That's probably the two Remora got," said Lara.

"As I was saying," Archibald continued. "The others were the Thunderbolt, the Winterheart, the Galesong, the Sundrop, and the Moonstone. The Galesong, the Sundrop, and the Moonstone are no more. The Firebrand was in the care of the Solar King until he passed it to Lara Anclagon. And until recently, the Oceanstar, the Winterheart, and the Thunderbolt formed the core of the weapon known as the trident, the latter two of which are now in the possession of Maelstrom."

"That's it? That's all you can tell us?" said Melody.

"If you wish to know more, you will have to ask the Solar King himself," said Archibald. "Only he can divulge the fullest answers to your question. However, I can answer your final question. Given my knowledge of Maelstrom, it is most plausible that they seek to exploit the Wellsprings' magic for themselves. Should they accomplish the means to do this, or take possession of your own, your likelihood of victory will reduce to zero-point-zero-zero-zero-zero-zero-zer–."

"They get 'em, we die," interrupted Lara. "Point taken. Rule Number Five: don't let Maelstrom get the Wellsprings."

"In summary, yes," said Archibald. He yawned widely. "Now, if you are quite done, I prefer to be left in peace."

"Just one more question, Archibald," said Mina.

Archibald glared at her. "You've wasted quite enough of my time today, Countess. I'll have you know, I consider these inquiries from you and your guests as pointless as they are menial. An utter waste of my capabilities. The only thing remotely interesting they've tasked me with was Arcania, which amounts to a small distraction at best."

"Distraction!? This is my families' lives you're talking about!" yelled Melody. "How dare you–!?"

"Easy!" said Lara, pulling Melody back as she raised an angry fist. "It's bad luck to break a mirror!"

"Oh?" Mina walked up to the mirror, running a single tantalizing finger around his frame. "Then perhaps I should find a more suitable use for you? Say…teaching children?"

Archibald's eyes flew wide open. "No! Anything but that! Not children! You would not dare!"

"I don't know," said Mina, her tone as sultry as silk over bare skin. "I think you're very qualified for it. And the town does need a teacher for the new school."

"You said you were appointing that librarian of a queen to the task!" protested Archibald. "She adores children! Let her tame the filthy beasts! She tamed her husband, after all! That should count for something!"

"True, Belle was my first choice. But that's such a waste of your talents, isn't it? After all, what mortal mind could compete with an Archive of the great dragons? All that knowledge, stashed away in this dark room, deep in the castle. Wouldn't you rather I put you to…?" Mina drew her finger into the center of the mirror, stopping right over his face. "Use?"

Ariel looked up at Captain. "Is Mina trying to threaten or seduce him?"

Captain just shrugged. "Probably both."

"Just think about it," said Mina. "All those bright, eager little faces, brimming with curiosity. The questions they must have! Why is the sky blue? What are birds? How does–?"

"All right! All right!" yelled Archibald. "I will answer your question! Just stop touching me! You're smudging my glass!" He shivered in the mirror. "Ugh! Children! I can't stand them! Ceaseless, fatuous questions! And their dirty hands! Utterly grotesque!"

"Much appreciated," said Mina. "I want to know when Ursula's forces will arrive here."

"Your bird already told you," said Archibald. "Three days' march."

Mina shook her head. "No. I want to know when exactly. When will they spot the castle, and when will they reach the gate? I want hours, minutes, and seconds."

Archibald stared at her for a second. Then he sighed. "It is a minor task, albeit a more interesting one."

Mina smirked at him, folding her arms together. "Can you do it?"

"Can I do it? Hmph!" Archibald scoffed loudly. "No one else can!"

With that he closed his eyes and mouth, brow furrowed slightly in concentration. Glowing white letters, numbers, and calligraphies of scripts known and unknown began flying across the mirror, casting light into the dim of the chamber.

"What's he doing?" asked Ariel.

"Calculating," said Mina.

"Calculating what, exactly?"

"Everything. Weather. Geology. Biology. Velocity. Direction. Even the variation in the battalion's footsteps and how much food and water they eat. Anything that will give the most accurate answer to my question."

Melody leaned towards the mirror. She caught glimpses of words she recognized amidst the chaos, but most of it was incomprehensible. "He can do that?"

"Like he said, Archives once helped the dragons unravel the mysteries of the realms," said Lara. "This is probably nothing for him."

"How long do you think it'll take?" asked Melody.

As though sensing her question, Archibald's eyes flew open and the chaotic script vanished in an instant. "Ursula and her forces will sight Sängril castle in seventy-nine hours, sixteen minutes, and twenty-three seconds. They will reach the castle in eighty hours, forty-five minutes, and eighteen seconds."

"That's all I needed to know." Mina curtsied to him. "Thank you for your assistance, Archibald. We shall leave you to your rest."

"See to it that you do," said Archibald. "Now, goodbye." With that, the mask faded away to nothing, returning the mirror to just that.

"Well!" Mina turned to her guests. "That went better than expected! Certainly more cordial than the first time we spoke."

"I see why you keep him down here, Mina," said Melody. Captain grabbed the fabric sheet and threw it over the mirror. "He's not exactly…sociable."

"I'd just call him a jerk," said Lara.

"I can still hear you!" Archibald shouted from inside the mirror.

"Whatever he is, at least he gave us a way to find your father, Lara," said Ariel. "And now we know how to free him."

"Indeed," agreed Lara. "What time is it? Feels like we've been down here for hours."

Mina closed her eyes. There was silence for a moment, hanging heavy in the still dark air. Then the sound of footsteps over stone reached them. Ariel saw movement in the corner of her eye, then almost screamed as Glenn came striding out of the black.

"No need for fright, your majesty," he said, bowing slightly at the waist. "It's only me. You called, milady?"

"Yes," said Mina. "What time is it?"

The skeleton reached into his breast pocket, producing the polished silver watch. "The current time is twelve-past-three in the afternoon."

Mina stroked a finger along the line of her jaw in thought. "Eighty hours and forty-five minutes…that means Maelstrom will reach the castle gates in just under four days, right before midnight. And it should be a full moon." A smirk crossed her face as she looked to Lara. "What do you think?"

"It's as good a time as any," said Lara. "But are you sure you're up for this?"

"I am," said Mina.

"No, I'm serious, Mina," said Lara, her tone sterner than before. "You do this, and you're their enemy, too. They will make you a target and come after you. And they will not be merciful"

"If Maelstrom is your enemy, they are mine as well," said Mina. "And I intend to welcome them as such. Besides…" She walked up to Lara, cupping her face in her hands. "You don't expect me to leave my friends to fend for themselves, do you?"

Lara smiled at her, cupping Mina's face in turn. "You're a gem, Mina."

Mina playfully pushed Lara's face away. "Oh hush, darling. You'll make me blush." She turned and started walking to the door. "Come along, everyone. If we head back now, we'll have plenty of time to prepare for the meeting with the council."

"Prepare how?" asked Ariel as Captain picked her up again, his armor clattering as Lara, Melody, and Glenn went ahead.

"Lunch, for starters," said Mina. "And then a change of clothes. You are royalty, after all. I wouldn't dream of presenting you to my people dressed as anything less! And before you say anything, Lara, I am sure we can put together something suited to you that is not a dress."

"Much appreciated," said Lara. She stretched her arms overhead, arching her back with a groan. "So, we've got 'directions' to follow and the key to my dad's prison. Now we gotta figure out where to start walking."

"Well, he said to go by longing light," said Ariel. "Which could refer to the days getting longer. And I remember Eric teaching me that the days get longer in the northern part of the realm. So, I'm guessing we go north?"

The group stopped, all eyes looking to her. Ariel felt uneasy under their collective gaze. "What? Did I say something wrong?"

"No, actually," said Mina. "I think you're correct. From my understanding, we are indeed in the northern part of the realm. And days will grow longer the farther north you go."

"Mom, I think you just solved the first part of the riddle!" said Melody.

"Yeah! Nice job, Ariel!" said Lara. Ariel felt a slight blush of pride enter her cheeks. "Which means the waste must be the Sand Ocean."

"What about the sleepers?" asked Ariel.

"Devil worms," said Lara. "Those things can sleep for years at a time waiting for prey."

"So, we go north and avoid the desert," said Melody. "But what about the crocus with a silent mouth and ice sleeping in stone?"

"I believe I know this place," said Captain, voice echoing within the empty armor. "Though, I could be wrong."

"We're on a roll right now," said Lara. "Go for it."

"Is this somewhere you've been?" asked Melody.

"When I was alive, yes," said Captain. "Shortly after becoming my lord's squire, we escorted our king and queen to a coronation in a nearby kingdom. The kingdom still stands to this day. It's sparsely populated outside its capitol, but encompasses a vast stretch of mountain wilderness. That capitol happens to sit in the mouth of a fjord. And the royal family's crest is a crocus."

"A fjord and a crocus…" said Ariel. "Why does that sound–?"

Then her eyes widened, memories flashing through her mind. A small town nestled along the narrow banks of a fjord, vast sweeping mountains enveloping it on all sides. A steep roofed castle sitting watch at the mouth of the harbor. And a banner flying proudly from its towers, a golden crocus set against the purple and green cloth.

"I know where we need to go!" Ariel shouted, causing everyone to flinch.

"You do?" said Melody.

"Yes!" said Ariel. "The kingdom of Arendelle!"


A/N: Hello again, everyone! It's been a long time! I hit a bad slump there for a while, but I'm back at it again! I promise you won't have to wait so long before the next chapter!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own "The Little Mermaid," Disney, or any of its associated characters and intellectual property. Everything else, however, is mine =)