The Magic Mirror

Once Upon A Time

The wind outside was growing stronger, pressing against the windows, making the house creak with every gust. Even the tea steeping in a pot on the table, and the crackle from the cooking fire, was not enough to charm away the storm that was growing outside. Mrs. Plow held fast onto Mr. Lout's hand, which was still more marble than flesh, and watched him intently.

"Are you comfortable?" she asked.

She had helped Mr. Lout in adjusting pillows and blankets until he could sit up and face her himself but it was a dreadful question. After all, Mr. Lout claimed he was dying.

"You are enough comfort," he said. "More than I deserve.."

She felt a smile twitch at her lips and wondered where such a thing came from at a time like this. What was more surprising was that Mr. Lout managed to smile briefly back.

To remember herself Mrs. Plow squeezed his hand gently and said, "Tell me... what could you possibly have to confess to?"

He became somber once again and took a deep breath. All the dark and shadows in the world seemed to converge on the creases and hollows of his face just then, so thick that Mrs. Plow almost believed she could take a rag to them and wash them away. She would have if she could. Those shadows did not belong on a man as good as Mr. Lout.

"...Mrs. Plow... have you ever heard of the Great Wizard Parsimum?"

"Maybe once or twice..." she nodded. "I never paid the name much mind. People of greatness are always far away from Shepherds Hill... but I know of that one."

"Great mind, courageous hero-" Mr. Lout shuddered. "That's how most people remember him. I worked for him once. Can you believe that? I lived in Evodos and I kept his books... that was it. I was no one of significance.. I led a simple life, with the woman I loved, and it was all I had ever asked of this world. I was young.. I was so excited to be under the employment of the Greatest Wizard man kind had ever known and every time I spoke to him he seemed a good man, a kind one. He always wanted to know how I was, how Haryn was... my darling Haryn... such a beauty. Are you familiar with the prophecy of the son, Mrs. Plow?"

Mrs. Plow shook her head. She had barely known about Parsimum alone and things like magic and prophecies belonged away from Shepherd's Hill, which was a practical and simple sort of place.

"Then I envy you," he shuddered. "I never cared for prophecies, myself. I had other things to focus on.. like Haryn and soon enough our son. When my son was born we were the happiest family Evodos had ever seen. Everybody thought so. We were blessed to have such a wonderful, beautiful boy in our lives... only a week later Parsimum's great granddaughter also had a child... a boy too... but he was sickly and he would not make it. You should have seen the way Parsimum paced the halls, a nervous wreck... It was terrible to see. After all, the dying child had a destiny that involved saving a great deal of lives with more power than even Parsimum possessed."

Mr. Lout paused a little too long and his eyes were resting on things further than Mrs. Plow, further than the walls and this house. He was gazing at days long ago.

"How terrible," Mrs. Plow said. "What a thing for a child..."

"Yes," Mr. Lout said, and he looked back at her again. "Parsimum could do nothing for the infant, but he could move the child's powers on to another. He thought that perhaps then the prophecy could still be fulfilled. So he came to me and Haryn, he hardly gave us a choice, and he offered us gold as if it were a fair exchange."

His voice softened as he said this, nearly to a whisper. "I wasn't strong enough for my family. I wasn't strong enough for Haryn. She told me to let them choose another child, let them have another child. But Parsimum was far away from our concerns- he said that time was running short, and in facing the fate of the world.. I gave in. Haryn never forgave me."