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I turned to Jezel. “Can the inn remove her camouflage?”

“Since she lied about her identity, the inn is within its rights to still that magic away. None of my guests ever lied outright. And no, Selene, my seaman doesn’t count.”

I inclined my head toward her. “Son of a biscuit, Jezel, I wasn’t going there. Let’s try not to fight in front of guests. Strip her of her magic.”

Magic encircled the cage. “You can’t do this,” Queen Margotta declared. “I’m the fairy queen.”

“Not yet, you aren’t. And I say she can do anything to you that she wants,” Elsbeth announced with a cackle.

The magic coating Margotta melted away to reveal a short, beautiful woman who looked like her daughter. “Great disguise, Queenie. I bought it completely. Unfortunately, the inn didn’t. That’s why you’re now in a cage.”

“I’m only here because Alfred betrayed me.”

“No, Alfred saved your royal ass because I was going to zap you into your Next Great Adventure for lying about who you were. He pleaded with me to spare you, so I brought you to my makeshift dungeon instead. Ironically, I don’t care about your deception anymore because I found another solution to my issue.”

Margotta perked up. “What issue? Perhaps I can help. Perhaps we can strike a deal.”

“It’s far too late to offer to be helpful. I already turned your daughter into a centaur. Well, the inn did. Your presence in my cage tells me you’re not more powerful than the inn.”

“You did what?!!!” Margotta yelled as she stood to glare at me. The outrage was very Gertruda of her. “When I am out of here, I swear I will turn you into a goat.”

I laughed at the threat. “Not before I can turn you into one. We’re on my territory. Besides, your mother would likely help me.”

“I would. I think Margotta would make an excellent goat,” Elsbeth said with another cackle.

I smiled wide and saw her wink.

Margotta slowly sat back down in the chair. “I don’t understand how this could go so wrong. All I wanted was for Peace to be happy.”

I snorted. “Happy, but only on your terms and with the male you chose for her. Robin was your choice initially because you wanted to be politically connected to his parents. You didn’t curse Robin to help him. You cursed him hoping Peace would be upset enough by his new mojo with women to never to want him. I think you have someone else in mind for her now—someone who you think might bring a higher gain to your fairy queendom. Don’t you care at all about what she wants?”

“Wanting the best match for your child is not a criminal act. Peace is a princess. The political gains of her marriage can support her rule.”

“They won’t make her glad to bed him every night. Or happy to raise his children. The inn and I think cursing the only man Peace has ever loved is a crime. If it’s not, then it should be. Robin did nothing to deserve what you did to him. His brother knows it. His parents know it. Peace knows it. You lost respect all around for doing that to him.”

Margotta snorted. “I did my daughter no actual harm. She doesn’t love Robin. If she had loved him, she would have married him long ago.”

“Did you marry the man Elsbeth picked for you?”

“No,” mother and daughter answered.

“Then butt out and let Peace choose her own life mate. Promise me that, and your deception will be forgotten by me and the inn. Peace may never forgive you, but that’s between you and her. She pretty much hates you at the moment.”

Margotta looked like I’d slapped her. “I’m her mother. She can’t hate me. It’s not allowed.”

“No, the innkeeper is right, Peace hates you,” Elsbeth said. “She told me she did. I don’t think she would shed a single tear if she never saw you again. And your other daughter hates you for giving all your attention to irritating Peace. Go find a man and get a life of your own, Margotta. It may yet save you and your children.”

“I never hated you, Mother,” Margotta said.

“Of course, you did. And I don’t want you to repeat my mistakes. Peace’s father was a far superior fairy to the man I promised you to. You were right to get with child by him. You were right to do as you pleased. With the exception of the cruel tricks you play on your subjects, you’re a decent queen.”

Margotta scrubbed her face with her hands. “Why did you never tell me any of this before now?”

“Because you would never have believed me—until now. Also, the innkeeper’s mistake brought my family situation into sharper focus for me. I want you to be successful as a queen. I want you to mend your relationship with both your daughters. Peace will make a good queen without or without your help, but you will miss a lot of wonderful things if you don’t get this right. Don’t wait until you’re ancient to learn these life lessons.”

Margotta sighed at the lecture.

My legs were getting tired while they fought, and I wished I had another chair. Surely, the inn had some others in storage? I hummed a game show theme in my head while mother and daughter cleared the air between them. The conversation was tense and I tuned out after a few minutes.