#fantasy

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"You missed a smudge," said the magic mirror.

"Where?" asked the young manservant, squinting at his reflection - a little taller and richly dressed, not a hair out of place.

"Up along the frame, you'll need the step-stool," his reflection said, pointing at the spot.

"There. Did I miss anything else?"

"You finished early, could you brew some tea?"

"You can drink?"

"No, I'd like some company; there's cake in the pantry you can have too."

A new month means a new @InterzoneMag - and I couldn't have hoped for better weather to sit down with what looks to be another cracking issue of science fiction, speculative fiction, fantasy, and more.

If you fancy being on the receiving end yourself*, in DRM-free ePub format, subscriptions are available on the Interzone site!

https://interzone.press/

* Subscription only delivers the magazine, good weather not included.

A top-down picture of a circular glass table, finished in a very bright green, on which an eReader is sat. The eReader is showing the cover of Interzone 299 in shades of grey: a character can be seen cradling a glowing orb, with a second orb surrounding his head and what appear to be flames licking all around. Two chairs are partially visible against wooden decking and a wooden wall.

The princess adjusted her tiara again - no position seemed to ease the pinching.

But the wizard had insisted - she wasn't a simple book-seller anymore. No more shapeless frocks, no more simple braids, no more chunky boots.

She missed the books, the frocks, and the sensible shoes.

"When can I go back to selling books?"

"Back? You've got to pick a royal spouse to rule with!"

The next day, she escaped the castle in a wagon full of scrolls.

The prince sank into the soft seat in his small secret room.

On the other side of the hidden door music, dancing and chatter was blissfully muffled, distant.

It had been his first chance to rest his voice, eyes and feet all day; the Ball had begun at dawn and he was sure most of the bachelorettes who'd particularly stunned him were enchanted by Fairy Godmothers, or had stolen the beauty of other maidens.

Why did dating have to be so hard?