The Mermaids Madness

able to protect the wound, keeping it from turning gangrenous,” Father Isaac said without looking up. “In the beginning, she appeared to be healing, albeit slowly. But being unable to swallow means her body has lost the strength to repair itself.”
    “She’s starving,” Danielle whispered.
    Snow had retrieved Lirea’s knife from Talia. She carried it in both hands as she approached the altar. Her movements were stiff from pain, but she said nothing.
    Isaac stared at the knife, his expression a mix of curiosity and revulsion. “She’s trapped in that thing, along with another. Can you free them?”
    Snow glanced back at Danielle. “Beatrice is so weak ... I don’t know what will happen when both souls are released. There’s a chance Gustan might try to take her body. I had hoped Beatrice would be strong enough to help fight him off. I could try to enter the knife myself, to restrain Gustan until Beatrice is able to—”
    “No!” Danielle wasn’t sure who spoke first—herself, Talia, or Father Isaac. She hurried to Snow’s side. “Talia, will you stay with Snow to make sure she doesn’t try any more experiments?”
    Snow rolled her eyes and gave a melodramatic sigh. “Fine. I’ll find another way. Father Isaac, could you come with me to help—”
    He shook his head. “I can’t leave the church. Nor is it safe to tinker with such spells so close to the queen.”
    Snow started to argue, then turned around, studying the church walls. She sniffed the air. “The incense?”
    “As well as certain enchantments worked into the stained glass,” said Isaac.
    Danielle looked at the windows. “I don’t understand.”
    “He’s protecting her.” Snow pointed to the incense burners. “He’s mixed a potion into the incense. No, two potions.” She sniffed again. “One to ward off certain demons, and another to . . .” She turned to Father Isaac. “Is that a sleeping potion?”
    “Not exactly,” said Isaac. “I think of it as a potion of peace. Try to strike me.”
    Snow shrugged and raised a hand. Midway through the movement, she turned away, yawning.
    “The greater the anger or hostility, the stronger the magic,” said Isaac.
    Both Snow and Danielle turned to look at Talia, who scowled. Either her anger had eased, or else her curse protected her from the effects of Isaac’s potion.
    “The windows are warded as well,” said Snow. “They block out external magic and suppress spells cast within the church. Even if I could work here, our spells would interfere with each other.”
    “It’s necessary,” said Isaac. He tipped his spoon, allowing several drops of broth to fall past the queen’s lips. Perhaps he hoped such a small amount might make its way down Beatrice’s throat, even if she couldn’t swallow to help it along. “Man was not meant to stand on the border of life and death. In this state, your mother is highly vulnerable. I must remain here to protect her.”
    “So summon Trittibar,” Armand snapped. “Call every witch and conjurer from the city and put them to work on this knife.”
    “Trittibar is a fairy,” said Snow. “His magic comes to him through the hill in Fairytown. His spells are too different from Morveren’s.” She bent down to kiss Beatrice’s forehead, then stepped back from the altar. “As for witches, you’ve heard the expression about too many cooks?”
    Armand nodded.
    “Too many spellcasters is worse.” Snow’s smile held no humor. “Worse as in smoking craters and charred corpses.”
    “If you cannot free the queen, please bring the knife back to me,” said Father Isaac.
    Snow stopped moving. “What can you do?”
    “I can destroy it.” Isaac met and held Armand’s stare.
    “I can release the queen and the knife’s other captive. I can give them both peace.”
    “I can give her life.” Snow left without another word. Talia started to follow, turning back when Danielle called her name.
    “Take care of her,” said Danielle. “Don’t let her—”
    “I will,” Talia promised.

    Though she never would have admitted it to Talia, Snow knew she was in no condition to climb down the ladder hidden in Danielle’s room. Fortunately, there were other ways to reach the secret chambers beneath the palace. Ways that would have been far more convenient without the two servant girls making up the bed in the king and queen’s bedchamber.
    Snow cleared her throat as she entered the room. She tried to remember the servants’ names, then