Ella and the Panther's Quest

by Lisa Anne Nisula

  It would be more comfortable to look through the books if I were sitting down. Before I could talk myself out of it, I brought the books to the reading corner and sat in the chair closest to the mirror.

  I tried to keep my eyes focused on the book, but they kept drifting to the mirror. The chance of seeing Nathaniel was more interesting than hotel listings, even though I told myself it was impossible every time I looked up. And then he was there. His face in the mirror. It was only an instant, but I’d seen him. Or I thought I had. It had only been a second. I smiled at myself. As if he’d be there. Nathaniel had his people to care for. A prince had many responsibilities, too many to be hanging out in a little shed in an isolated part of his lands by a mirror that might or might not still be magic, assuming he had a reason to be there to begin with. I turned to the index, looking for any listings for castles. I kept giving myself every reason I could think of why I had not seen Nathaniel’s face in the mirror, even as I settled myself into the chair, the book propped up on the arm so it was easy for my eyes to drift up and into the mirror.

  Two hours passed. I kept half an eye on the books, only half seeing the walking tours and boat rides. Any flicker of movement reflected in the mirror made me look up, even though it was always someone walking by with their books or signing up for a computer.

  And then I saw him again, clearly this time. I left the books wherever they landed and went to the mirror. Nathaniel was still there, looking at me. Behind him I could see the mirror room, very much as it had been, right down to the bolt cutters still resting against the wall, but an effort had been made to make it more comfortable. There was a table with a cloth and two upholstered chairs in the center of the room. Several lamps had been hung from the walls. There were papers stacked everywhere and a half-eaten meal on the bench I had used to get the keys. Nathaniel was wearing a crumpled cream shirt with embroidery at the cuffs, open at the neck, and black pants and boots. He had his hair tied back, even though half of it had come loose and was falling in his face. It looked like the sort of thing he would wear when he was shut up in his library working on royal business.

  Nathaniel pressed his hand to the glass. I reached for it. I was going to pull back, embarrassed, but Nathaniel’s fingers caught mine. “You’re here.”

  “Hello.” I tried another one of my awkward curtsies and then felt stupid as I wondered if he’d know what I was doing.

  “I can only hold it open for a short time, but I can open it whenever I want.” Nathaniel noticed we were still holding hands and dropped mine quickly. He ran his free hand through his hair.

  “Your highness? I brought you lunch and the latest reports. If you have the order I brought the day before yesterday, Pelton can get the repairs started on the cottages. And Marion needs you to approve the plans for the public library.” Feste looked through from the cage room. “My lady!”

  “Hello, Feste.” I waved, looking over his shoulder to see into the prison room. The cage was open but empty, with clothes draped over the bars. Against the wall was a narrow cot with thick velvet and silk blankets.

  “Have you been waiting here for me?”

  “I suppose so, just for a little while.”

  Feste held up seven fingers and flashed them at me twice.

  “Fourteen days? You’ve been here for two weeks?”

  Feste nodded. Nathaniel glared at Feste over his shoulder. I half expected to see his ear twitch. Feste was trying to look innocent. It reminded me so strongly of how they had been during our journey, I started to feel more comfortable. Nathaniel turned back to me. “Would you like to see the castle now that it’s been restored and reopened?”

  I was not about to leave Nathaniel so soon. “I’d like that.”

  Nathaniel reached through the mirror again. “I…. I…” He closed his eyes and started again. “I don’t think I thanked you for all your help.”

  I didn’t think that was what he’d planned to say. Or was that wishful thinking? “Yes, you did.”

  Nathaniel nodded and pushed a lock of hair back. He reached through the mirror again.

  I wove my fingers through Nathaniel’s and let him help me over the edge of the frame and back through the mirror. He didn’t let go of my hand as we went out through the side door.

  “Take my cart,” Feste called after us. “I’ll tidy up here and follow later.”

  I glanced over my shoulder and grinned at Feste. He gave me another of his innocent looks and winked at me.

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