“I will refrain from saying the name of the Seer, for it is not mine to share," Dina said. "They were one of the first, though, and they were powerful." She looked like she wanted to say something else but the words caught in her throat, so she took a breath and tried something else. "Magic was not as widely spread then. It was more concentrated among those who used it. This amplified their ability, even though they did not understand what it was they were seeing.”

  “They believed all of their visions were prophecies?” Rapunzel asked.

  “Something like that." Dina shifted her attention to a loose thread on her sleeve, toying with it while she talked. "For a long time, they believed their visions were destined to come true. It was not until they started seeing new futures for the same people that they realized it was just possibilities." The pieces started falling into place and they painted an unpleasant picture. "At that point, though, the Seer had already gained a powerful reputation among the people. They had learned much of their gift, and so they were able to foresee specific outcomes with great accuracy. This fed into the people’s belief in them as knowing all, even though they tried to convince them otherwise.”

  “So, the Seer carried the book while learning their gift, but once they realized their visions were only possibilities, they stopped believing in the importance of the book," Rapunzel observed. "The pattern would have been broken, and the old king’s rise to power would have been centuries later.”

  “Correct.”

  “Regardless of how much he believes in the book, its power would have faded by then." I shook my head. "He must have used something else in conjunction with the book if he used the book at all.”

  “Sometimes when you are unsure of where to go, it helps to start at the beginning,” Dina said. The hum intensified ever so slightly but she did not continue, so it soon dissipated.

  She was working hard to dance along the thin line between what was allowed and what was forbidden, and I was nervous for her. That dance was a dangerous one. Old magic could exact a heavy toll if broken, and this situation was delicate.

  My mind was racing as I tried to process her statement. So many possibilities and I had to find the right one before we ran out of time. I could not sit still. Something was scratching at the back of my mind, something important.

  Then it clicked.

  “The Seer used the book. The king twisted it." My mind raced with the implications. "But who made the physical book? Who enchanted it?”

  Rapunzel gasped as the dots connected in her mind as well. Dina’s smile widened, and I knew I had hit on the right question.

  “The Seer in question was good friends with one Obadiah Grimm.”

  “Grimm?” Rapunzel repeated, shock clear in her voice.

  I was surprised as well. I had at least a passing familiarity with the old families, but I would never have associated them with bookbinding.

  Once I started thinking about it, though, it started making more sense. They were known as talented enchanters who kept the details of their art a secret. The secrecy was common for most old families, so I never thought anything of it. It would not be too much of a stretch to imagine they were involved in bookbinding.

  Morpheus looked at me questioningly, so I briefly explained what I knew of them.

  “They still do enchantments in their bookbinding,” Rapunzel clarified. “They can enchant existing books as well. They mostly offer preservation and replication, though sometimes they can make a book read itself to you. But that requires a thorough review of the contents to ensure there are no rituals written in the book.”

  I gave her a questioning look. She shrugged.

  “My family has used their services before,” she explained. "It’s kind of a badge of honor to have a library full of books they have preserved. It isn’t cheap.”

  “That does make sense. I imagine their family has a large operation?”

  “Oh, of course. It’s a big family too. Some of them can be rather reclusive, though.”

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  “Well, at least it’s a starting point,” I replied, reaching for the ale. Rapunzel held out her tankard immediately, so I chuckled and filled it. I gestured to Morpheus, and he held his out as well.

  “I am afraid I must leave soon," Dina said apologetically. "There is business to attend to elsewhere. Is there anything else I can do to assist you? This may be the last time we meet for a while.”

  “We could use cover, and extra supplies would be nice,” Rapunzel said.

  “Already taken care of.”

  Something still nagged at the back of my mind.

  “There is something else we are missing.” Morpheus glanced at me as I said this, a curious look in his eye. He must have noticed it too.

  “The king's final words,” Rapunzel chimed in. “That there would be someone following in his footsteps. He wouldn’t say that unless…”

  “He had an heir,” Dina and I said. Or, at least I think I said it. Any thoughts that came after were drowned out by the thudding of my heartbeat ringing in my ears.

  “Wouldn’t the rebellion have known about an heir?” Rapunzel asked. “They were working with the queen, after all." She considered for a second before continuing. "Unless the heir was illegitimate, which could work.”

  “I think a far more likely answer is the king took a child the queen thought was dead and hid him away from the world as a sort of failsafe, to protect his legacy,” Morpheus replied.

  I doubled over, head in my hands, trying to think past the increasing pressure building behind my eyes. The pieces were there but the more I tried to fit them together the more disorientated I got.

  “Snow, are you alright?” Rapunzel sounded alarmed.

  Of course, this was alarming. I felt a hand on my shoulder that felt like it could be hers, that is something she would do, but it was not hers. It was Morpheus.

  “Don't try to force it. It’ll only make them resist more,” he said gently. "Relax your mind, focus on your breathing, and think around it until the pieces settle into place.”

  I focused on controlling my breathing, using the hand on my shoulder as an anchor point, dragging my attention away from the truths that were staring me in the face, though I was not ready to know. I let my mind drift, counting my breaths until the pressure decreased so I could think once more. Then I took a few extra seconds to steady myself before lifting my head to face my worried companions.

  Rapunzel examined me with great concern, so I gestured to her I would be fine. She accepted this but I could see she was still worried. Morpheus’ hand remained on my shoulder. I could have shrugged it off, but with everything going on I decided to allow it to remain. My mind was still reeling, if less vehemently.

  “So,” Rapunzel started, “the king has an heir…a son that no one knew about. A son who was at least somewhat familiar with the book and its magic." She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Do you think he is the one behind all of this? Is he trying to rebuild the legacy or bring the old king back?”

  Dina grimaced and said nothing.

  “I think that is something we will have to find out for ourselves,” I explained, barely suppressing a grimace myself. The air was getting thick with old magic and much as I wanted answers, I wanted the conversation to be over.

  “If the magic is preventing you from answering the question, that means we are at least looking in the right direction, yeah?” Rapunzel tried.

  “Well said, Rapunzel,” Dina said. There was a faint hum as the door behind her began to glow faintly. She sighed and scribbled some information down on a piece of parchment.

  “I am afraid I must be going, but if you follow these directions, you should find someone who can better answer your questions." She held out the paper. "Don’t be afraid to call in a favor from me if you need to. My safe houses are yours to use as well.”

  I stood and took the paper from her, tucking it into my pocket before holding out my hand.

  “Your help is always appreciated.”

  She brushed aside my hand and pulled me in for a hug. Some of the tension melted out of my body as she held me tight.

  “I am so proud of you,” she whispered in my ear.

  Not for the first time I thought to myself this must be what people mean by a motherly hug. She certainly was the closest thing I had to one.

  I let go first, and we both stepped back. Her face was a mixture of worry, pride, and something else I could not quite identify. Rapunzel stepped forward and was also gifted a hug and a whispered message.

  When it was Morpheus's turn, he stepped forward uncertainly, offering his hand. Dina took it and shook it firmly before pulling him forward for a gentle half hug. Then she excused herself and left, the door ceasing to glow once it closed behind her.

  “Oh look, she left the key for this room and the next. I guess it's ours for the night,” Rapunzel exclaimed. "I don't know about you, but I could use a good night's rest before we hit the road again.”

  “So, what happens next?” Morpheus asked.

  “We rest, and then in the morning, we set out to find the Grimm brothers. They should have the answers we need to plan our next move.”

  “And if they don’t?”

  “We will find someone who does.”

  “That’s my girl.”

  It was not the first time he referred to me as ‘his girl’ with that cheeky grin of his, but it was the first time I did not protest. Instead, I did something unexpected.

  I kissed him. Briefly. Then disappeared into my room.