“What is busy work?” Hart asks as he takes a sip of the steaming mug of tea we all have thanks to Nash.
“Tasks you make up to keep someone busy, like going to retrieve things you don’t actually need.”
Hart’s lips twitch. “I see. But you had an adventure while performing said busy work, and no one died, so…”
“Adventure is not how I would describe what transpired,” Theo replies.
He was complicit in my busy work task. I narrow my eyes and point at him. “We are not friends right now. You were in on thekeep the maiden distracted while everyone else does the actual workplan.” He shakes his head, the corners of his lips lifting.
“Daphne,” Gwyneth says, drawing my attention. “It was me that suggested it. I know you hate being stuck here with musty books and no direction. I was giving you a break. It’s not a sign of your intelligence, merely an acknowledgement of your strengths.”
How does my sister always know the right thing to say? I sink back into my chair, having chosen this seat to give me respite from the knights and their magic hands that have the power to make me forget my name.
“Honestly, I think we are overlooking something very obvious,” I declare, before taking a sip of my tea. I’m hoping the heat will be enough to keep me awake. I’m the sort of girl that needs eight to twelve turns to function.
“Like what?” Gwyneth asks.
I shrug. “We are the new owners of one of the oldest, most knowledgeable things in the realm, and we are out here researching that thing rather than using it.”
All eyes focus on me like I’ve grown another head. I check my shoulders. Nope, still only one.
“What are you looking for?” Malachi asks.
“To see if you have given me an extra head.”
Theo roars with laughter. I’m glad he finds it funny, because he won’t if there’s more than one Daphne head, which requires extra sausage. If I have extra heads, will we share a stomach? These are things I need to know.
“That is so freaking simple it’s embarrassing we haven’t thought of it,” Hart grumbles, slamming his book closed anddropping it on the floor with a heavy sigh. Extra heads are never simple. Oh, he means the All Knowing and the living library.
The mirror man appears, and his eyes scan the room before landing on me. “Most fair Derry, news of your escapades has reached the ocean. Poseidon is most amused, but also angry and demands a meeting presently.”
“Poseidon can kiss my ass,” I mutter.
“No, he cannot,” Nash volleys back.
I roll my eyes. “Which escapades?” There have been a few.
“The encounter with the wooden one,” the mirror man declares.
I close my eyes and blow out a breath. “I can explain.”
“Please do,” Malachi says.
“Focus,” Nash snaps. “What did Poseidon say?”
The mirror blinks and focuses on the oldest knight. “He proposes an exchange.”
“This is old news,” I remind him. “But I refuse to go into the ocean, and he can’t come here, so we are at an impasse.”
“I may have a solution,” the mirror man declares.
Silence stretches my nerves taut. “And that is?” I finally ask.
“You can both travel to the Land of Reflection. My world.”
I frown. “But I’m not a mirror.”
The mirror man snorts. “No, but you are a reflection.”
