The Fairy Tale

by Talia Haze

  “No!”

  I jumped at Saramine and Sean’s outburst. Ryan laughed manically. I turned to their game in time to watch him throw a wooden man into the fire. “I am the victor once more!” he declared.

  Saramine sat up and crossed her arms. “No fair,” she protested. “No fair.”

  “Fair it is, that!” Ryan beamed. “I have conquered your entire army single-handedly…”

  “You threw them into the fire!”

  “It’s called the abyss!” corrected Ryan. Saramine laughed and threw one of Ryan’s pieces into the fir…abyss.

  “No!” Ryan cried out, wailing for several seconds. “That was Lieutenant I-don’t-look-as-good-as-Ryan-but-I-come-close!” Saramine and Sean just laughed, and Saramine threw another piece into the fire. “No! That was General I-am-Ryan’s-favorite-therefore-I-almost-smell-as-nice!”

  Saramine kept throwing in pieces, and Ryan kept making up silly names.

  “No! That was Cardinal I-am-not-nearly-close-to-Ryan’s-manly-stature!”

  Saramine couldn’t stop giggling. Her laugh resonated so high and was so pure that it was contagious. Tears streamed down Sean’s eyes, and my sides hurt. Finally, Ryan’s ‘army’ was all gone. Ryan and Saramine turned eagerly to Sean.

  “Oh no!” Sean leapt to his feet, his army secured in his hands. He ran around the living room and kitchen, trying to avoid them. I caught my breath and wiped my tears as Sean dodged around the house.

  “I got you!” cried Saramine, reaching around him. Ryan jumped onto his back and they struggled to restrain him.

  “Come on, then, Gabby,” Ryan demanded. “Get his pieces!”

  I wondered when I might be allowed to join. I jumped from my seat and after prying Sean’s pieces from his fingers, I ran quickly away from his reach.

  “Gabby, here!” Saramine called. I threw the pieces over my shoulder, making Sean turn towards Saramine. When she was cornered, she tossed them to Ryan, who stood before the fireplace.

  “And now!” he cried, holding the wooden pieces above his head, “Into the abyss!”

  ~

  The high whistle of a tea kettle was quickly muffled. I opened my eyes and scanned the dark room. Angel was gone. It had to be early morning, but a heavy, gray fog concealed the sun. I wrapped a shawl around my shoulders and stood at the large window. The haze drifted over the lake’s quiet waters and crept up the shore, encircling the house. Only through tiny pockets could I see the water’s steady ripple.

  The bedroom door opened with a low creak, nearly mute under the indistinct voices coming from below. I inched down the stairs to find Angel and Saramine speaking with an Inzi boy a little older than I. Only Saramine looked up as I approached, smiling gently before returning to their somber conversation. They spoke in Inzi for several more minutes before the boy respectfully pounded his right fist to his chest with a deep bow. Angel brushed his hand away before reaching out and hugging him.

  I just passed the scene when the boy turned to leave. He wasn’t expecting me to be behind him and jumped back. I leaned back too. I wasn’t expecting to gaze into eyes so beautiful. A splash of vibrant green surrounded a honey-brown center. They were slightly wet, as if he had been crying. Upon seeing me, the boy forced a handsome smile, gently grabbing my shoulder. After this strange, silent greeting, he passed around me and out of the door. Angel followed him out.

  “What just happened?” I asked, sitting at the kitchen table. Saramine seemed to hold back tears and couldn’t answer me right away. Instead, she made herself busy by putting several spices into the teapot. Aunt Beth only received a small ration of tea, and so I was rarely allowed to have any. Still, I had never seen spice added to tea.

  When she finished with her mix, she strained the tea. She then poured a little into a tall, clay canister and added milk. She poured the mixture back and forth between two canisters until the blend was frothy. With a smile, she poured the mixture into a teacup and handed it to me.

  “With the war over, your sister will soon relinquish chiefhood,” she finally answered. Her eyes still glistened with tears. “Pai was just informing us that another has accepted title.”

  “I am still shaken that she even became chief,” I answered. I never had anything like her tea. It had a deep, strong flavor that was slightly fiery and very sweet. I drank the tea quickly, even though it burned my tongue in consequence. “If that’s all, why did he look so sad? He looked as if someone had died.”

  Saramine smiled down at her cup. “It will just be different, is all,” she answered softly. “It is hard to describe how close you become with your tribe during war.”

  I thought of the riddles we faced in the fairy route, and how close we became with Connie.

  “And now it is life as usual,” Saramine continued, her voice breaking. She caught herself and coughed. “It is not sad. War is never a happy time. I am glad it is over. The end of war brings changes. It will be different.”

  “Yes,” I agreed. “It’s just different.”

  Angel returned from outside, and joined us at the table, pouring herself some of Saramine’s tea. We sat silently, each absorbed in our own thoughts. It was different. Maybe a little sad. I felt so uncertain about leaving my home because I knew I would miss them. And I did; I missed Anna making extra pastries, I missed Hannah’s talks, I missed sitting in the study and daydreaming as Aunt Beth did needlework, I even missed that brat Jessica hovering over me while I tried to do chores. It was sad. But wasn’t that the plan anyway? Uncle Harrison certainly wouldn’t leave by himself. He’d take his family too. We couldn’t get rid of just him.

  It wasn’t sad. I always made excuses for them, and they treated me horribly. Even Hannah who I loved so much. She was kind to me, but only as kind as a lady could be to a maid. It wasn’t sad. It was different and it would be better. And the boys! How much better would it be for them? They wouldn’t feel so burdened to protect me.

  “Well, never mind this mood!” Saramine said, rising to her feet. “I shall make porridge! The day has arrived, and it is beautiful!” She pushed the black pot over the fire and began adding meal. Angel nodded and rose as well.

  “And I must prepare for our journey,” she said quietly. “I will go to the village. I will offer your congratulations to Are’An as well, Saramine. I will be back in a few hours.”

  I took my cup to sit by the window. At least Angel still loved window seats. Each of the windows facing the lake had one. I sat within, watching the fog roll over the water. As the smell of Saramine’s porridge filled the house, the fog disappeared completely, revealing the teal blue lake and golden sun. Saramine soon sat across from me.

  “Breakfast is prepared,” she said as she glanced up the stairs. “Your friends must have been so weary from your journey. Should we wake them for breakfast?”

  “Perhaps not Connie. She hasn’t yet recovered from becoming a gem. We can try to wake the boys.”

  Sean was exhausted. He would be difficult to wake. Ryan was probably already up. Years on the streets of Tempton made him exceedingly wary and he woke at the slightest sound. I wondered if he ever got any real rest.

  I threw open the window of their room, letting in the morning mists. “Good morning!”

  Sean stirred, but Ryan didn’t budge. Interesting. I leaned on the bed. “Good morning!” I repeated.

  Sean rolled over and peeked at me through half-opened eyes. “Good morning,” he answered, weakly. Ryan remained motionless. I gently grabbed his shoulder and shook him, but he didn’t move. He finally felt safe enough to let his guard down, and he had exhaustion to match. Sean lay back on his pillow with a shrug.

  I leaned close to Ryan’s ear. “Good morning, Ryan!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, “How was your sleep?”

  Ryan jumped clear out of the bed. Sean and I laughed loudly as Ryan looked around in a panic. He was so unprepared that his round eyes rolled wildly, and his shaggy brown hair stood on end.

  “I will kill you!” he screamed. I
leapt from his bed and thundered down the stairs, Ryan close behind, angrily swinging his pillow.

  “Na-izik,” Angel commanded. He almost knocked her over as she opened the door to leave. He simply grabbed her hips, pushing her out of his way.

  “I don’t know what that means!”

  I spun around to face him when I trapped myself by her hearth. Ryan pulled me to him by the skirt of my frock…or rather, Hannah’s frock. I stopped struggling; I feared tearing it. “I’m sorry!” I cried out. Ryan didn’t relent.

  “You’re sorry that you got caught, ey?” he corrected, scooping me into his arms. I couldn’t stop laughing, but Ryan wasn’t amused and kicked open the door, stalking past my angry sister and towards the lake. I struggled, but he held me so awkwardly, I feared he would drop me.

  “Ryan, stop! Put me down!”

  He ignored my cries and walked onto the shore. “RY-A-A-A-AN!”

  He dropped me into the lake. I screamed and jumped out of the icy cold water as he turned away, starting back towards the cottage. Sean and Saramine collapsed at the doorway, laughing hysterically while Angel stood nearby, annoyed.

  I ran behind Ryan and jumped on his back, hoping to drip on him. He wasn’t prepared and lost his balance. We toppled back down the shore and into the water. Even Angel couldn’t remain stern, and the three of them laughed as Ryan and I sat in the freezing cold water. I held out my arms, pools of water dripping from my sleeves. My frock! My only frock! I turned to him, angrily. Several wet leaves stuck to his hair and ears. I giggled and handed him one.

  We couldn’t leave right away as Angel had hoped. She had more chiefly duties to perform, and needed to council her successor. So, we spent the next few days in leisure at the lake…a delight when I wasn’t in it. The mighty dragon-boy, Sean would play a lute on its sandy banks, while the beautiful princess and dragon-girl would sing along, a lovely harmony. The brute Ryan skipped stones across the waters, occasionally pausing to lay in the grass.

  And the fair maiden Gabriella? She sat high above it all. Upon a huge branch that dangled over the crystal lake did she make her seat, just close enough to dip her toes as she read the grand book of tales. While the rest was indeed warranted, she felt so odd to be so idle.

  I looked off across the shimmering waters. I had no work, or chores or fears to distract me from my tales, yet my mind still returned home. What would Anna be making for lunch? Would Jessica be the one to clean now? It had been days; Aunt Beth’s dinner party was that night. Or did she cancel it? How would they explain our sudden disappearance? Certainly, she would have to find some servant. What would she say to the guests? Would she claim we were all sick?

  I leaned against the trunk, splashing my feet in the water. It didn’t matter anymore. Yet, I still worried about it.

  ~

  “Each fairy route is different,” Angel explained as we walked down the trail. “This one is rumored to be very dangerous with several challengers and riddles you must solve before you can pass through.”

  “Isn’t a shortcut supposed to be easy?” Ryan scoffed. “Why make it so dangerous, then?”

  “That is uncertain,” Angel replied. “Some say it is because the fourth land of Agyra is extremely dangerous, and this is a sort of ‘preparation’ for the traveler. Others claim the route was to be exclusive to only fairies and making it difficult was the method used to ward against humans. Others still say that the fairy who made the shortcuts just had a malicious sense of humor.”

  “I shall believe that one,” Connie muttered. A solid gray mass loomed behind the trees in the distance.

  “That is it there, just up ahead.”

  The trees thinned as we approached, and soon opened into a large field. The gray mass was a stone wall, three feet in width and loomed so high into the sky, that I had to lean back to see the top. Two tall doors sat in the center, but there was no opening at all on the other side of the wall.

  “Once we are inside, there is no turning back,” Angel said, resting her hand on the handle. “If you wish to return, this is the time to do it.”

  Silence.

  Angel turned to Connie. “Are you certain, Princess? If you desire a company back, I have an entire tribe at my command.”

  Connie shook her head. “I cannot return. Not yet.”

  Angel stared at her hard but nodded. “Ma-hali…let’s go.” She pushed the handle, and the large door slowly creaked open, enveloping my sister in a bright light. I followed closed behind, shielding my eyes as I walked into the brilliance. Through my eyelids and hands, the brightness soon disappeared. I looked around.

  I stood on a path in a quiet forest. Angel knelt just off the path, drawing stuff in the dirt and hiding behind her long, black hair. Once everyone had arrived, she stood and turned, nearly running into the floating stone face from the crypt.

  “Oh!”

  “It’s him!” Ryan said, holding Angel to her feet. “Stony!”

  “Listen hard and listen well. The book you hold will take you through the first stage. There are ten keys all together; five in the first stage, five in the last. Once you have all ten of these keys, you may leave the fairy route and enter the land of Agyra.

  “Never forget a key anywhere, and do not let enemies seize it. Some want to leave as much as you do, and you can take their place. Remember, Seraphs, if you do not find all the keys, or if you disregard a key, you will be trapped in the fairy route until you obtain it! Now that you are in here, there is no way out but the end. I will see you at the end of the first stage.”

  The stone face disappeared. Angel spun around.

  “You know him…?”

  “See, and if we didn’t find you, you wouldn’t have the book and your journey would have been that much harder,” Ryan said continuing down the path. “You’re welcome, then.”

  We laughed and followed Ryan. Saramine excitedly clapped her hands in rhythm and sang;

  “One, two, one, two

  Willows great and old,

  Good morning to you! Good morning to you!

  Three, four, three, four

  Pebbles on the road,

  Good morning to you! Good morning to you!

  Five, six, five six,

  Blue and cloudless skies,

  Good morning to you! Good morning to you!

  Seven, eight, seven, eight

  Red and orange sunrise,

  Good morning to you! Good morning to you!

  Nine, ten, nine ten,

  Cool and soft winds,

  Good morning to you! Good morning to you!

  We soon joined her, singing and laughing, all except Angel. She just walked behind us quietly, staring off into the trees and turning around frequently with her hands fanned at her sides. I did remember her never really being much fun; always so focused and rigid. What could possibly make her so wary?

  Book Two

  Fairy Route

  Chapter One

  Key One

  “Finally!”

  “Wait, Ryan. Perhaps it is not abandoned.”

  Difficult to tell. The yellow cottage stood near a large oak in a lone corner of the field. Autumn-yellow grass patched the green field, and a few late flowers dotted the garden. Angel stood at the wooden property marker near the end of the road. “What does your book say?”

  I sighed as Sean rummaged through his bag. My legs were sore, my feet blistered even through my new slippers, and my shoulders hurt from the weight of my bag. But even after six hours of walking, Angel still showed no signs of weariness. She just stood expressionless while waiting for Sean to find the page. The shutters of the house quietly creaked in the breeze.

  “This is usually in a pot nine days old, but it is also on the menu of a triad of suspicious characters,” Sean read.

  “Now we know,” Ryan said impatiently starting for the house. I turned to follow. “The book says nothing of any danger, so let’s just get on already! My feet are killing me!”

  “Your feet are going to get us kil
led if we rush into things,” Angel remarked. Ryan waved his hand as he pushed open the door.

  “Is anyone home?” he called out, looking around. “Like you would answer if you were!”

  It seemed no one was ever home; there were no portraits on the wall, no belongings scattered around…nothing. The sun poured through the many windows and cast bright square beams onto the wooden floor. Ryan closed the door with a creak and our light steps were barely heard.

  “At last!” Saramine exclaimed upon seeing the sofa. She collapsed loudly into the cushions and stretched as tall as she could. “I am not sharing! I am so very tired!”

  “She is also very out of her mind,” Ryan whispered. Saramine grinned at him, her eyes flashing yellow.

  “I heard that,” she replied. I dropped my bags as Sean blew a fire into the hearth. I didn’t mind if Saramine didn’t share. I knew that hearthrug was made of woven yarn from soft lamb fleece. It would be just as soft, if not more so, than her sofa.

  “Oh!”

  Sean struggled in the armchair he chose. The chair was so soft that it consumed him. It looked so silly; a large gray chair with flailing arms and legs.

  “Do you sit often, Sean, or do you just practice?” Ryan teased. We giggled. Sean finally rolled limply from the chair and grinned.

  “You wanna trade?” he asked. Ryan shook his head and leaned the plain chair back against the wall.

  “Not hardly.”

  “My chair is not much better,” Connie agreed, rising. “It makes me sore.”

  So, they joined me on the hearthrug, atop on our stomachs and staring at the fire. Angel still on guard, disappeared further into the house. I watched her go, wishing she would come join us. She was chief, but she didn’t have to act so solemn all the time. The war aged her; my twin sister felt no longer my peer, but my elder. She seemed even older than Connie.