The Mermaids Madness

you.”
    Lirea didn’t appear to hear. Or if she did, there wasn’t enough of her left to understand. Now completely under Snow’s control, Lirea crawled to the window and ordered the remaining undine to break off their attack against Danielle and Varisto.
    As the pounding in Snow’s skull darkened her vision, she swallowed and sent one last command. Inside the tower, Lirea picked up the cup with Gustan’s soul. Though Lirea’s mind was in tatters, a part of her still reveled in taking the knife and slashing through the web of hair, freeing Gustan before flinging both cup and knife out the window to clatter against the rocks below.

CHAPTER 18

    S NOW SPENT MUCH OF THE NEXT TWO WEEKS in bed, under orders from Tymalous. Several times when she tried to sneak away, she found Talia waiting at her door. There were no words. One look at Talia’s face was enough to send Snow hobbling back to bed.
    Much of what happened had the blurred, fantastical feel of a dream. She remembered fighting Morveren and then later, while they waited for a ship, working to try to undo the spells Morveren had cast on Lirea. And then there was the part where she was flying naked over the ocean, surrounded by very handsome, very large pixies . . . but she was fairly certain that really had been a dream.
    The back of her head was still tender, but Tymalous had pronounced her well enough to join the others for one more voyage on the newly repaired Phillipa , under the condition that she do no magic for at least another month.
    “Magic excites you,” he had said. “Your heart pounds harder, your blood rushes through your body, and your injury worsens. You may have already done yourself permanent damage. You will, if you don’t allow yourself time to recover.”
    Beatrice had been quick to broaden that prohibition to . . . other forms of excitement, and Snow had grudgingly agreed. With the exception of one spell.
    It was that spell that brought Snow to the queen’s cabin on the Phillipa . Snow had tried three times to talk to Beatrice, and each time her courage had failed her.
    Snow knocked lightly on the door. There was no answer, so she cracked open the door and peered inside. Beatrice lay in her bed, her eyes closed. She had spent much of the first day’s journey resting. Snow stood frozen until she heard the slightly strained sound of the queen’s breathing.
    Squeezing through the door, Snow set a cup of tea on the floor beside the bed and turned to go.
    “Thank you.” The queen still hadn’t opened her eyes. “That smells wonderful. Dare I ask what you put into it?”
    “You probably shouldn’t,” Snow admitted. “It will ease the pain.”
    Bea sat up and reached for the mug. Snow was faster, placing it into her hands. Bea took a sip, then wrinkled her nose. “In the future, let it be known that the queen’s medicines should be mixed with elven wine.” She took another drink, then set the mug back down. “So how long do you intend to wait before you tell me?”
    “Your Majesty?”
    “Call me that again and I’ll have Hephyra lock you in the hold.” Bea reached out to take Snow’s hand. “When do you mean to tell me that I’m dying?”
    Snow couldn’t look at her. “How did you know?”
    “I’ve lived in this body for fifty-eight years. I know when it’s given up the fight.” Almost absentmindedly she touched her chest, where fresh bandages covered the old stitches beneath her shirt. “How long?”
    “I used the mirror at the palace.” It had taken days to work up the courage to speak the rhyme, once she began to suspect. Mirror with your truth so cold. Show me what her future holds.
    “How long, Ermellina?”
    Snow made a face. “A year. Maybe two. Morveren’s knife damaged your spirit, and your body was near death. There are other medicines I can try, spells I can—”
    “I’m sure Tymalous has done what he can. We’ve already risked more than we should have to save me.” Beatrice’s gaze was distant, staring out the window at the sea. “I’d consider it a favor if you didn’t tell anyone else until I’ve had a chance to talk to Theodore.”
    “Of course,” Snow said. “But once Father Isaac recovers from his injuries, he and I could work together to—”
    “I’ve lived an amazing life, Snow. I’ve spent more than half of my years married to the man I love, and I’ve seen my son grow up to become a father. I always regretted that I couldn’t have another child, but I couldn’t be