Page 7 of The Broken Mirror
“Not at all! I don’t stand for anything he’s done. He’s reprehensible. Not to mention he’s sabotaging me!” Jeanne’sgetting quite agitated and takes a deep breath before continuing. “That’s what I need to talk to you about. Our kingdom does not recognize its true ruler until that person is crowned with the ancient crown of the North. You asked where my crown is. Uncle Richard stole it. He knows I can’t be the true queen without it. But while I’m alive, he can’t declare himself king, either.”
Alistair’s eyes widen at this.
“It’s only a matter of time before he tries to get rid of me. Right now he’s content styling himself as King Richard the Lionhearted even though his heart is smaller than a kitten’s. More like Richard the Mouse King. But one day hewillplace that crown on his head.”
“So what are you going to do about it?” asks Gretel.
“Steal it back, of course,” Princess Jeanne replies. “Here’s where you all come in. For better or worse, I know my uncle, and I know he doesn’t do his own dirty work. I have reason to believe that the person who stole the crown from my castle is the same sneaky black-haired boy who stole from you today. None other than Robin Hood.”
“Robin Hood?” Filomena’s ears perk up in recognition. Could it be the same Robin Hood she read about in the mortal world?
Princess Jeanne clucks her tongue. “Horrible chap! He’s been terrorizing our kingdom and the surrounding villages for years. He’s unbelievably tricky, stealing from the poor and making himself rich.”
Filomena frowns. “But wait—in the stories I know, Robin Hood steals from the rich and gives to the poor.” In the traditional fairy tales, that is. “He’s a hero.”
“Filomena,” Gretel says, “remember how the mortal world’s story of Cinderella has no mention of Cinderella being a spoiled ogre? It seems like this might be another case of the wrong story spreading across the portal border.”
“He’s no hero! He is nothing but a thief!” Princess Jeanne says hotly. “He’s stealing from the poor to make himself rich, just like he stole from you.”
“Hey, who you callin’ poor?” Alistair says, crossing his arms.
“Well, no offense, darling, but have you looked at your outfit recently?” Princess Jeanne says, giving Alistair a sympathetic smile. “Gretel’s got it going on, though.”
Gretel smiles, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “I do know how to do beauty on a budget!”
Still, Filomena isn’t totally convinced by Princess Jeanne yet, and the princess can clearly sense it.
“I know we just met, but trust me, I’m on your side. I’m in trouble, and so is my kingdom, but most pressingly, so is my friend. He went to steal the crown back for me, but he hasn’t been seen since he left. I’m really worried about him. That’s mainly why I’m coming to you for help.” Princess Jeanne looks so forlorn that the four friends immediately feel sorry for her. She takes a huge breath and regainsher composure. She drums her fingers on the table. “That guy who stole from you—black hair, annoyingly handsome, and so slippery that you couldn’t seem to get a hold of him, right?”
“Sohandsome,” Filomena agrees. Wait, did she just agree that Robin Hood was handsome? In front of Jack? Did he notice? Is that why he’s looking at her and frowning? “I mean, um, if bad boys are your type, which, um, they’re not mine!” she quickly adds.
“Like I was saying, the thief who stole your belongings is the same thief who stole my crown and who’s possibly holding my friend hostage: Robin Hood!” Princess Jeanne declares. “It’s him. I know it. We have history. Uncle Richard is behind all this, but Robin Hood is his henchman. And I need you to help rescue my dear friend, Sharif of Nottingham, from his clutches.”
“You meanthesheriff of Nottingham?” asks Filomena, who is a stickler for grammar. She’s read about him, too. He’s the mean old sheriff who rips off the townspeople, isn’t he? Seems like a strange fit for a friend of Princess Jeanne’s, but stranger things have happened in Never After.
But now it’s Jeanne who looks confused. “The sheriff of Nottingham? I don’t understand. Although his name is Sharif and he is from Nottingham. Lord Sharif of Nottingham, to be precise.”
“Oh,” says Filomena. She notices Jack’s brows furrowat the mention of that name. Does Jack know everyone in Never After? The guy does get around.
“Did you say Sharif?” Jack asks. “Goes by Riff?”
“Exactly!” Princess Jeanne says brightly. “Do you know him?”
Alistair guffaws with surprise. “We do! We fought with him in the Last Battle!” he cries happily.
Jack’s face softens. “Riff was one of our best soldiers. He served in our battalion with Byron Bessley.”
“Splendid! Well, what do you say, then? Will you help me rescue him?” Princess Jeanne asks. “I know he went into Sherwood Forest to help get my crown back, and I couldn’t stand it if he’s come to any harm because of me!”
The group confers silently, exchanging glances, but of course there’s only one answer. Filomena didn’t need to read all twelve Never After books to know that heroes like Jack and Alistair don’t disappoint innocent strangers who ask for their help. And since she and Gretel are part of the team, too, she knows how they’ll respond.
“Of course we’ll help,” says Alistair. “Right, Jack?”
“There’s Zera to consider,” Jack replies thoughtfully. “We were on our way to Snow Country.”
“Zera’s a powerful fairy. She can hold her own for a while yet,” says Alistair, and at once Filomena sees the brave sergeant at arms that Alistair used to be and not just her goofy, cheeseburger-obsessed friend. “Riff and Princess Jeanne need us now.”
“And we can’t go to Snow Country without getting our stuff back,” reminds Gretel. “We need our Dragon’s Tooth swords and our armor.”
