Page 9 of The Broken Mirror
Princess Jeanne shushes them both, and that’s when Filomena realizes they’ve come upon their destination. The gang gathers in a dense cluster of trees. “Robin’s lair is through there,” Princess Jeanne says, beyond their makeshift hideout to an old, decrepit-looking castle with a pair of guards in front. Filomena tries to pull her thoughts away from Jack and back to the mission at hand.
“It used to be one of the finest castles around,” Princess Jeanne says sadly. “Now look at it. Gone to ruin. Just like everything in this cursed forest.”
It’s one of the spookiest sights Filomena’s seen in Never After. Tall Gothic arches and spikes that have chunks missing. Gargoyles growling and displaying sharp teeth, or what’s left of them. The castle even seems to have its own weather; a storm cloud is hanging above it.
“It looks like bats will fly out at any second,” Gretel says. “Major ick!”
The five huddle close and speak in hushed voices.
“The important thing to remember about Robin Hood is that he’s mostly all bark and no bite,” Princess Jeanne says. “He’s not violent, but he is quick.”
“Yeah, we got a taste of that,” Jack answers, remembering how their belongings were stolen without them even realizing.
“With that in mind, we need to approach this the way Robin would,” Princess Jeanne offers.
Filomena can’t help but wonder about Princess Jeanne’s past with Robin Hood. It seems they’ve known each other a long time. But she feels she doesn’t know Princess Jeanne well enough to ask yet.
“Hmm, not sure how we would do that,” Gretel inserts, “because we have absolutely no weapons.”
“I’m sure that wouldn’t be a problem for the likes of you all,” Princess Jeanne says. “So here you are. I’ve led you toSherwood Forest, I’ve given you background info, and now I think it’s time for my hired heroes to take over.”
“‘Hired’? You mean we’re getting paid for this?” Alistair retorts.
Princess Jeanne ignores him. “Well, go on, then—rescue Riff, and see if you can snag my crown while you’re at it!”
Jack is staring at the castle doors, a plan formulating in his mind. “Those guards seem pretty bored, which means they can probably be easily distracted,” he considers.
“My teachers always told me I was a great distraction to the class. I could give it a shot!” Gretel volunteers.
“I guess I could help, too. I’ll go with you, Gretel,” Princess Jeanne says, threading her arm through Gretel’s. “We’ll pretend we’re lost and looking for directions.”
“Perfect,” Jack says. “Try to lure them away from the doors and keep their backs facing the castle. Filomena, Alistair, and I will sneak in and find Riff.”
“Then what?” Alistair asks.
“Then we run.”
Filomena watches Gretel and Princess Jeanne talk to the guards and make them laugh. Filomena wonders why, when it comes to adventures, tasks like these seem to get split between girls and boys, with girls doing the distracting and boys the rescuing. But Filomena’s with the boys. Is she “one of the boys”? Is she “not like other girls”? Ugh, she hatesthat phrase. Just because she can’t match shoes to a handbag doesn’t mean she’s not a girl like Gretel. Or just because she can run faster than Alistair doesn’t mean she’s just like Jack. (Also, there are probably a lot of people who can run faster than Alistair.)
Anyway, this is too much to think about while on a quest! She makes a mental note to bring this up when conversation runs dry during their next five-hour hike to a faraway kingdom.
Gretel gives Filomena, Alistair, and Jack the all clear with a brush of her left shoulder and a touch to her nose. The three friends beeline into the castle.
The inside is even creepier than the outside. Dim and damp. No carpets or tapestries, no warm fire, nothing. Just spiderwebs in corners and silence. Filomena was once trapped in the Beast’s dungeon, but this is even worse. Jack heads into the darkness, leaving them behind.
“Is Robin Hood goth?” Filomena jokes. “He does wear a lot of black.”
“Goth? Well, according to my studies, this architectureisrather Gothic,” Alistair offers.
“Your studies?” she asks.
“Oh, my dear Filomena, I’ve lived many lives. There’s so much you’ve yet to learn about me.” Alistair winks.
Jack comes back from wherever he’d been checking out. “No sign of Riff,” he reports. “There are way too manyrooms in this place. We don’t have time to check each one and risk Robin Hood returning while we’re still here.”
Filomena thinks. If Robin Hood is all about wits, she can work with that. She tries to think like a trickster. It is difficult; Filomena is so honest, truth serum would barely make her act differently… unless she was asked areallypersonal question after taking some. Like who she was crushing on. She has a crush! And he’s standing right there!
Her focus is wavering. Filomena starts pacing to keep her mind on track.
