Page 63 of The Broken Mirror
It drives by.Lily Licks!
But wait—it’s stopping! Gretel and Alistair look at each other in amazement as, several yards ahead, the carriage door opens and a gorgeously decked-out woman sticks her head through. She has a white wig about the size of a birdcage on her head, and her face is powdered and rosy.
“Children, what are you doing in ze cold on ze side of ze road!” she calls in a thick Eastphalian accent that sounds a lot like the way French people talk in the mortal world.
They run over to her. “We’re on our way to Eastphalia,” Gretel says, bowing, “but we’re hoping we might have the honor of riding with you, if it’s not too inconvenient.”
“We’re tradespeople looking for work in Eastphalia!” Alistair chimes in. “I’m a chef, and Gretel is a wonderful seamstress.”
Gretel gives sly dagger eyes at Alistair for saying her real name. This woman might read thePalace Inquirer!
The woman surveys the two of them. Alistair is bundled up in his Gretel-made outerwear: a sheepskin-lined suede jacket and matching woolen earmuffs. Gretel is wearing burgundy leather pants and a brown leather trench coat with a thick fur collar. She’s been really into seventies mortal fashion lately.
“You are very fashionable for being so young,” the woman says with suspicion. She looks at Gretel. “You made zese outfits?”
Gretel grins. “Yes, madam, I absolutely did.” An idea strikes her. “I would be happy to make something for you, if you would be so kind as to give us a ride!”
The woman narrows her eyes and pauses. “I am going to my holiday house in Eastphalia anyway. So long as you are very well behaved, it is no problem. Come in.”
The inside of the carriage is the most gorgeous thing Gretel has laid eyes on. It’s so glamorous! This woman is so glamorous, too. She’s wearing a beautiful gown in dark emerald green, and she looks almost like…
Wait a minute. This is the famous Eastphalian opera singer Lillet!
“Now, what were you saying about making me somezing?” Lillet says. Her eyes are half-closed and, with her heavy makeup, make her look mysterious and sophisticated.
“Absolutely, I would love to,” Gretel replies.
Now that she knows who this woman is, she’s even more eager to make her something. Lillet is a famous soprano;Gretel remembers seeing her all over Never After tabloids. She’s a royal performer, going from kingdom to kingdom to perform for the courts. If Gretel makes something for Lillet to wear, it could launch Gretel’s fashion career!
“Eastphalia is still a few hours away,ma chérie,” Lillet says. She smiles. “We have lots of time to go over outfit ideas.”
A ride to Eastphaliaanda networking opportunity? Talk about a big break!
CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWOBEATRICE THESPY
“So they sent me the backup team, huh?”
Princess Jeanne is standing with her arms crossed in the doorway to her castle. She doesn’t look pleased, even though Beatrice has just explained that she, Byron, and Rosie are there to help get her crown back.
The trio arrived in the North to find King Richard’s army held back, Riff’s fortifications standing (for now), and Princess Jeanne almost feeling smug again. Not quite, but enough to tease the newcomers.
“‘The backup team’?” Rosie smirks. “We’re definitely the A-team. Have you seen this guy’s muscles?” She points to Byron’s admittedly bulging biceps.
“I think the A-team is Jack, Filomena, Gretel, and Alistair.” Princess Jeanne smirks back. “No offense.”
“Offense definitely taken!” Byron says, putting his hand to his heart.
“Look, do you want our help or not?” Beatrice asks.
In answer, Princess Jeanne lets them inside.
As they follow Princess Jeanne through the foyer of the castle, Beatrice can tell Rosie is shocked. Or perhaps impressed. Like Jack said, Princess Jeanne’s Northphalian castle is a far cry from the giants’ cottage. The ceilings are painted with skies that look like whatever the time of day is outside, depending on how the light hits them. It’s quite uncanny.
“Jeez, Jack and Fil weren’t lying about this castle. It’s huge!”
Princess Jeanne whips around. “What did they say about my castle?” she inquires.
Rosie is suddenly a bit shy. “Oh, only really nice things. They loved your sheets!”
