Page 26 of Wicked Prince of Mirrors
“Exactly, and the Everminati are the same, a mix of immortals, some good, some bad. Just like mortals. The only difference is that they aren’t from this realm, they live longer lives, and their culture and habits are different. And they have pointed ears.”
I thought of Methrin crashing through the mirror. “Do they come from the mirrorverse?”
Lyra's eyes flashed to mine, wide with surprise. “You know!”
I shook my head. “I don't, I’m guessing.”
“They don't come from the mirrorverse per say, but that is the way.”
The way?This was even more confusing. Burying my nose in the cup of tea, I let the scent of mint calm my fraying nerves as I determined how to respond.
“What did you learn at the palace?” Lyra asked gently. “Perhaps I can help you understand some of mystery surrounding the Everminati and Prince Methrin.”
I hesitated, studying her. “You won’t like it.”
“Try me, you’re here for the truth, aren’t you? How can I help if I don’t know the lies to contradict?”
True. I worried my bottom lip with my teeth, wondering if she’d be insulted. “The tale of the Wicked Prince of Mirrors is taught across the kingdom as soon as a child is able to memorize it.” I paused, thinking of all the young children who listened to their mothers or nurses, wide-eyed with fright as they learned the terrible tale. “As it goes, once upon a time there was a prince so vain, he collected mirrors to preen at his appearance. Is that true?”
Lyra cradled the mug of tea in her hands, foot tapping against the ground. “Why do I have the feeling that everything you tell me will be a mix of truth and lies?”
“It’s what we were taught,” I protested.
Lyra touched my arm. “Don’t worry, I’m not judging you, it’s just the weight of the lies told across the kingdom, how will we combat them?”
We?I wasn’t aware that we needed tocleanse the kingdom and the very idea of returning to a place that wanted me dead left me nauseated.
“Once upon a time,” Lyra began. “There was a prince who collected mirrors, not because he was vain but because he was looking for a specific mirror.”
My heart thumped hard.Why?“Then it would be true, as the tale continues, to say that he collected them from far and wide, his sole focus on gaining as many mirrors as possible, so much so that he lost sight of his kingdom, the people . . .” I trailed off, unable to release the rest of the words.
Lyra nodded. “It is true, his sole focus shifted to finding mirrors. But you’d have to ask him whether he lost sight of what was important and if his obsession allowed his enemies to rise and take advantage of him.”
My thoughts drifted to Methrin and the different sides of him I’d seen. The Methrin of last night was thoughtful and reverent, while the Methrin I’d met in the boat was ruthless and focused. I suspected that even though I’d seen different sides of him, I still didn’t know the truth. “The tale state he did nothing when the people were faced with famine and attacked from all sides. He didn’t come to their defense, nor did he protect them. Is that . . . true?”
My voice quavered as I trailed off. I didn’t want it to be true. I didn’t want him to be the Wicked Prince the kingdom accused him of being. Yet what excuse did he have? He was the one who ruled.
“My father won’t speak of this part,” Lyra said sadly. “You’d have to ask him for more details. He lived through it, since he was oncecouncil to the Prince.”
His council? Then why would they throw away a kingdom instead of protecting it? I didn’t want the words to be true but Lyra’s answer concerned me. If Rydlin wouldn’t speak of it, was it because he was complicit? “The people plotted to overthrow him and put an end to his greed. They marched on the palace and called the Prince to come forth.”
Lyra nodded again. “The tales speak truth, the people marched upon the city, seeking to overthrow the prince, they blamed their treachery on his obsession with mirrors. But some of them knew the truth of what he was: Everminati. Think, Esmira. What would you do if you discovered the terrible truth about the ruler of your kingdom, that they weren’t even mortal-born, that they weren’t human-kind. What drastic action would you take to remove them from the throne? What stories would you create?”
Fear coiled tight in my chest. My father was no one, nothing. Just a soldier who took up arms to defend his country when no one else would. He was smart. Shrewd. He’d single-handedly united the kingdoms and wielded the tale of the Wicked Prince like a weapon. A scapegoat, a common enemy. But no—he was my father, how could I think ill of him? He’d saved the people. Saved our land.
Killed my mother?
A sick sensation clawed up my throat, but I forced it down. There had to be a reason, someone to blame for everything that had happened. My mind still reached for the Wicked Prince, someone to hold responsible. I grappled for words. “As the legendsays, when the Prince saw the treachery of the people, he summoned monsters from the mirrors. Did he?”
“My father will not speak of that part but once you gain Methrin’s trust, you should ask him about it. I’d like to know whatreallyhappened, but I suspect the march on the palace coincided with the moment he found the mirror he sought. The mirror didn’t just hold power, it broke the magic he used to keep the horrors at bay. When the spell fractured, the beasts came forth. And worst, he released the horror of horrors. A monster that would reflect every evil back on the people.”
“Why then, would the sorcerer let the monster escape?”
Lyra gripped her fingers into fists. “Whenever I ask my father, his eyes glaze over and his mind goes to another place. I’ve asked the same questions, over and over again. Why let the beast escape, why not lock it behind the Boundary along with all the others? And if it roams free, why hasn’t it made its presence known? What is it waiting for?”
A shudder rippled down my spine. The scariest truth about the monster was that no one knew exactly what it was. If there was an enemy one could see or fight it would make a difference, but no one knew exactly what we were looking for. If the monster from the mirror had been set free, it had vanished like smoke. All we had were tales which claimed truth, and, like the citizens of the kingdom, I’d blindly believe the stories without question.
The next part of the tale made less sense to me, because Prince Methrin claimedthat Sorcerer Rydlin was a friend, but the tales spoke as though they were enemies. “Riddle me this,” I said, wondering if Lyra would have a satisfactory answer. “Before the monsters could strike, the sorcerer cursed the prince, claiming every mirror he looked at would shatter and he’d never see himself again because he’d be trapped in the mirrorverse, switching places with the monster he’d summoned. He’d live out his days in the mirrorverse until he learned his lesson. I know, in part, that is true, because my Mirror Magic pulled Prince Methrin out of the mirrorverse. What I don’t understand is the part your father played in all of this. What is your interpretation of these words?”
