Granny nodded. “Sabrina?”
Sabrina wanted to say no. She had seen the kind of havoc magic could produce. She had gotten so caught up in the powers of enchanted objects that she now had what amounted to an addiction to it. What if the same thing happened to one of the soldiers, or worse, the entire regiment? But there was a flicker of hope in Daphne’s eyes that Sabrina believed meant that the little girl’s forgiveness might be attainable if she voted in favor of the proposal. And if she was to say no, would she be betraying her uncle or would saying yes be betraying her father?
“Sabrina, what do you say?” Granny asked again.
“Open the doors,” Sabrina said.
Daphne looked at Sabrina as if she had never seen her before in her life. It wasn’t total forgiveness, but it wasn’t the glare she’d been sporting for days.
Henry, however, scowled and stormed out of the cabin.
Granny frowned but did not chase after him. “Then it’s decided, Mr. Canis. Tell Charming he can have what’s on the list. I hope it helps.”
“I pray so as well,” Canis said.
“OK, let’s get to work.”
“Did you say ‘army’?” Mirror asked as he studied the list.
Granny nodded. A team of thirty or so soldiers along with Veronica, Sabrina, and Daphne stood behind her. The soldiers were a mixed lot—mostly Arthurian knights and Merry Men. Morgan le Fay was there, as was Puss in Boots and the Scarecrow. There were a few fairies that Sabrina had never met, each more obnoxious than the last, and a rather smelly banshee. All of the visitors were completely bewildered when they stepped through the back door in the Hotel of Wonders into the Hall of Wonders. Even Charming, whose own magic mirror was nothing short of incredible, was struck speechless.
“I had no idea,” Mr. Seven said as he marveled at the enormous hall.
“Yes, you never really get used to this place,” Snow said, though she had spent many evenings in the hall training the girls in martial arts.
“The Wicked Queen described this mirror as a botched first attempt,” Charming said, referring to the woman who created all the magic mirrors and their guardians.
“A botched first attempt?” Mirror cried.
Charming ignored Mirror. “I was expecting something much less grand.” He marched around the Hall of Wonders directing the recruits as they set up tents and unrolled sleeping bags. “We’ll be able to train them right here. We could store the entire infantry in here, as well as the weapons.”
“Relda, am I missing something?” Mirror asked.
Granny handed Mirror her massive key ring. “My family and I have agreed to aid Prince Charming’s army with supplies and training. The list will tell you what they need.”
Mirror looked incredulous. “I’m not a young mirror, Relda, but my memory is fine. No Grimm has ever gotten directly involved in the Everafter community in this manner. I must protest.”
“Tut-tut,” Charming said, stepping up to Mirror. The prince towered over Mirror. “No one cares about your opinion. You are a servant. Hurry along and get those doors opened.”
“Mr. Charming!” Daphne cried.
“He’s not a servant. He’s our friend,” Sabrina said.
“Child, this ‘friend’ of yours is not even real. He’s nothing more than a security system designed to look after this hall and to obey your every command. He only has a personality to make dealing with him pleasant. His stubbornness, however, is obviously a malfunction, one we should have his manufacturer take a look at right away. He’s wasting valuable time. My troops need to train.”
“Billy Charming, you’re forgetting your manners,” Snow White said as she stepped between the two men. “Mirror is a big part of this family and he is well respected. I know firsthand that he’s a sweetheart.” She turned to face Mirror. “Now, I can explain more in detail what our plans are but for now let’s just say we’re outnumbered and don’t have the magical firepower to put up a good fight against the Master and the Scarlet Hand. You can help us balance the scales.”
Mirror looked down at the keys he had been handed, then at the list. He shrugged and shuffled off to do as he was told.
“Don’t be mean to him,” Daphne snapped at the prince.
Charming rolled his eyes.
Veronica stepped forward. “What can we do?”
Snow smiled. “You and your family are the key to our success. We need you to train us in how to use this stuff.”