Twin

Regina works for the wizard Wychol; she hardly remembers any other life.  The only friend she has is the crow Gorchack, Wychol’s familiar. One morning she finds Wychol has disappeared. The crow chooses a book which it indicates Regina should take along with a magic ring.  She learns from the wizard’s diary how she was kidnapped and she has a twin sister.  They take to the road.  Regina hopes to find her sister. Gorchack teaches Regina to build a fire, to construct a crude bow and arrows.  She hunts for food and learns to skin and prepare it from the crow.  As winter approaches, Gorchack guides her to a deserted hunting lodge where they can spend the winter. On their way there Regina comes upon her twin whose mother has just died.  Regina invites Katrina who seems totally helpless and a spoiled whiner to boot, to join them because they are the only family each other now has.  Katrina ungraciously accepts. Katrina doesn’t help carry Regina’s burdens.  For a while Katrina is reasonable company.  One day Regina and Gorchack go out to hunt, Katrina stays behind.  The crow instructs her to put on the ring and re-enter the cabin invisibly.  Regina learns that her twin has a particularly nasty and jealous streak as she watches Katrina slash her sister’s favourite blouse to shreds. One night Regina awakens to see Katrina approaching them with Gina’s hunting knife as is she’s about to kill them.  Regina indicates that she is awake and Katrina backs away.  The next morning Regina, disappointed, with much regret in her heart for the sisterly bonding that will never be, sends Katrina to be on her way.  She and Gorchack will travel on alone. Once they’re back on the road, Gorchack asks her to open Wychol’s book.  He finds the spell he wants, and instructs Regina to learn it.  It takes her a month to do, however, when she finally invokes it, Gorchack turns into a very handsome blonde man who happens to be a prince. Wychol had kept Prince Brett Ulmsford in thrall as the crow for more than fifty years.  Gina and Brett fall in love.  He takes her back to his kingdom which is now ruled by his cousin.  He is welcomed but knows that he can no longer expect to be the crown prince that he had been before his disappearance.  Brett has no wish to rule either and all he wants is a simple, uncomplicated life with the woman he loves. They marry and live near the castle.  Eventually, Regina becomes pregnant.  After delivering a baby boy, she dies.  However, unable to let her go, Brett summons a demon whom he knows and with whom he had a professional friendship while as a crow.  The demon is able to revive Regina and the happy family is now one again…