Page 110 of Mountain of Mirrors and Starlight
Minerva’s lips thinned even further. “What kind of item?”
“A mirror,” Venus continued. “One of great value. It is rumoured to predict the future… amongst other things.”
Minerva shook her head. “No. Buried things should stay buried. Our ancestors left it in the Deep for a reason.”
“Our ancestors left it there because they did not understand it, and did not have the technology to use it. Our ancestors also slept in the dirt and rode around on giant rodents—should we do that, too?”
“Magic is dangerous, Ven—”
“I am well aware of the dangers, sister. And yet you would leave this boy in my care, a boy no doubt wanted by his people. I need to know something of what might happen if we are to defend ourselves. If his stepfather comes for us—”
“He will not.”
“You cannot know that. The Mirror does.”
Caer stepped forward, but he did not look at Venus. “I don’t want to put you in any more danger because of me,” he said.
Minerva smiled. “Sweet of you, boy, but there’s more to it than that.”
“How?” he asked. “How is there?”
Aislinn turned towards Aeron, standing silently by the side of his queen, his face fixed in a mask of rigidity. “You,” she said, “you told the queen of this mirror, yes?”
“I did.”
“How did you learn of its existence?”
“The dwarves keep excellent records—some in ancient fae, a language which I am familiar with, and they are not. Queen Venus wishes to keep her people safe. I suggested this as a way of ensuring that.”
“Do you want it for yourself?”
“I cannot deny I am fascinated by its properties, but I have no plans to use it for ill.”
Aislinn paused, reading each word, checking it for a lie. “Do we have your word that it shall never be removed from Avalinth?”
“I’d confine it to the palace walls, if I could, but we shall have to take it outside at least to test its powers—”
“An answer,” Aislinn said, voice tight.
Aeron went quiet. “I shall not remove it from Avalinth,” he said, as if the words pained him. “Nor shall I allow anyone else to do so. The mirror will remain here, under the care of myself. I shall not use it for any nefarious purposes. You have my vow.”
For a moment, the room was quiet.
“We shall talk it over,” Minerva said, and turned back to her sister. “May we have some time to think it over?”
Venus nodded. “Take a day. No more.”
“You shall have our answer by tomorrow morning.”
The party swept out of the room and into the chamber that Minerva and Bell shared.
“We can’t honestly be thinking about getting it for them, can we?” Beau said. “I don’t like the idea of hidden mirrors. They sound… well, like you said. Some things should stay buried.”
“Except Dillon,” Luna added.
“Obviously except Dillon. But scary ancient magic mirrors? Definitely them.”
“Where’s your sense of curiosity, Beau?” asked Aislinn slyly.
