Cinderella vs. Happily Ever After

Chapter 17

            “Hmm,” Enax said, finger tapping his jaw.

An hour of talking later and he had as much of the story as they had. He walked about materializing cups of tea and pastries for them as he sank further into his chair, thinking. The children had been delighted at the obvious magic and Valerie could tell were only just stopping themselves from pestering the magician to show them more. She turned to them and said, “Just think what his daughter will be able to do. And his grandchildren. And if you’re able to, you’ll be able to learn some magic too.”

Cavyle’s face looked like the sun had been jammed into his skull, it was so bright. “Do you think we could learn to fly? Like Peter Pan?”

She chuckled. “I don’t know but you can sure ask.”

The children began whispering frantically to one another and she could tell it was going to be an argument. In no time she heard that it was over what would be better, learning to fly like Peter Pan, having laser vision like Cyclops, or being a super fighter like Cybersix. Listening to them debate it, she realized that maybe she should have been more careful with what stories she had told them.

“I believe I should first give the three of you protective amulets. I have some general ones around here somewhere. If you spend the night I will  be able to bolster the one for you, Valerie, to keep any prying eyes from you,” Enax said finally.

“That will be wonderful,” Miette replied beaming at him. “I will find the custard machine and we shall have that for dessert.”

The magician grinned back. “Thank you Mi. That damn thing still won’t work properly for me no matter what I do to it.”

“It is the very that I can do.”

“Have you decided where you will go next?” He asked Valerie, instantly serious again.

“We were going to go see Miette’s brother about lending us some troop then maybe visit the new king,” she said with a shrug.

“Don’t bother with that. I will handle it. Ranier knows me well and knows I speak for Mi. He will lend you what aid he can. I would head back north from here than west. You will find more allies that way, I’m certain.”

Valerie frowned while Isaac nodded. “It stands to reason. It’s closer to the alliance than the southern lands and they’re likely to be far nervier than those with less risk to invasion. I’m sure some of them will be quite happy to lend us some troops if we explain it like that.”

“Somehow I think threatening and/or blackmailing them will backfire on us,” she replied dryly.

He grinned. “See, that’s the beauty of it. We shouldn’t have to say much more than what we’re doing before they’ll be throwing troops at us. The palace is proof enough of what can happen to them and you’re sort of a royal by association so you’ll have the authority to agree to things. And I’m sure the rumours will be even more exaggerated by the time we get there. I mean we’ve already heard the stories of people frozen or spelled into becoming ice puppets. Just imagine how that’ll expand over a border or two.”

She winced. “Some of that may be true.”

“Oh I can verify that both spells are possible. If I had an affinity for ice magic I could do it. But my affinity runs towards metals so I would find that magic very difficult,” Enax said, nodding at Valerie.

“What? You mean Darren could be frozen in ice or a puppet?” She snapped, half rising from her chair.

“Oh I don’t believe so. He has a godmother himself does he not? She would likely keep either of those spells from taking home. A sleep spell or a simple transformation are for more likely. Even for one of the Fae such spells require power and preparation,” He told her calmly.

Valerie thought it over, frozen in an awkward half up pose as she ran through the various scenarios in her mind. Finally she dropped back into her seat, staring at the ground. “It doesn’t matter what spell he’s under now, does it? Until we get through the army there’s no point in worrying about it.”

Isaac patted her hand. “That’s it in a nutshell, sweetie. So let’s focus on finding allies.”

She nodded, raising her head to meet Enax’s eyes. “Is there anywhere else you can think of where we might find allies?”

“If you go far enough west, you might consider approaching some of the unicorns out there. They might help.”

Val sighed. “I’d rather a dragon.”

Enax let out that donkey bray of a laugh again. “A dragon? My dear, dragons live by their own rules and they never interfere with human affairs. Except when the humans interfere with them. The only way you would get a dragon to help would be to coerce it and then you would have to deal with it and all of its kin trying to kill you forever after. You might as well wish for a phoenix while you’re at it.” He saw the disappointed look on her face and laughed again. “What made you think that you could get a phoenix to help you?”

Her soft mutter of “Harry Potter” went almost unheard. This time it was Isaac who laughed.

The magician shook his head. “You’re better off with the unicorns. One of you is a virgin I’m sure.”

The sudden flush on both Valerie and Miette’s cheeks along with Isaac’s smirking headshake made the wizard prop his fists on his hips. “Honestly, young people these days. Well if you can find a virgin to act as an intermediary then you can negotiate. I’ve also heard rumours of a tribe of decent giants you can consider speaking with. Just be careful, giants have an ingrained dislike for humans. Too many things stolen and homes broken up you know. They probably won’t even listen. But if you’re desperate…”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Valerie said. “Now is there anything else we should watch for?”