Foxglove

by Aaron McQueen

  “I thought you did have allies,” Maddie said.

  “A few,” Rose replied. “Brynna and Ida are old friends, and there are a few others who are on the fence, waiting to see how far Aster will take the contest. Some of them might come onto our side in exchange for tribute. And of course, I could probably get a freebie by letting someone marry a son off to Theresa.”

  Maddie gave her a doubting look.

  “Don’t worry,” Rose said. “I’m not planning on it. Theresa would probably give up her crown on the spot. But now do you see why I need your help? You could really put it over the top.”

  Maddie cringed as she gathered the last of her tools. “Oh, alright,” she said. “I’ll help. What’s one excruciating state dinner among friends?”

  Rose let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you. I’ll have Rain and Cedric bring you everything you need to know about our guests. We’re going to have to get you up to speed on traditional etiquette and protocol, but don’t worry. We’ll make sure you’re prepared, and Rain can teach you the dances.”

  Maddie’s head snapped around. “Dances?”

  “It’ll be fine,” Rose said. “They’re easy, and there are only five or six.”

  “Six?!”

  Rose wrapped her up in a hug. “I’m so proud of you. Thank you for doing this.” She headed for the door, stopping as she was about to exit. “Oh, and I almost forgot,” she said, “you’ll need to bring a date.”

  Maddie dropped her tools, and they clattered to the floor. “A date?”

  “Absolutely,” Rose said. “I don’t want them thinking of you like you’re just a refugee.”

  “I am a refugee.”

  Rose took Maddie by the shoulders and gave her a little shake. “But you’re so much more than that! You’re an apprentice witch and a brilliant young woman. We want them to see that. You know, healthy! Vibrant! Full of drive and ambition!”

  “And so, I need a date,” Maddie said.

  Rose grinned. “This is the Veil, remember? You don’t need a date; you want a date.”

  “Uh huh.”

  Rose knelt down and gathered Maddie’s tools. When she straightened up, she dusted off Maddie’s shoulders as though she could brush her skepticism away. “I know it sounds weird, but it will give the faeries in the room something familiar to connect with: a human girl with a faerie in tow. They’ll eat it up. It doesn’t need to be a big deal. Ask anyone.”

  “Rose…” Maddie groaned.

  The queen put her hands together, begging. “Please? Just for one night.”

  Maddie grumbled, squirming before she finally gave in. “Fine, I’ll find a date,” she said, “but only because you begged.”

  Rose leaned in and planted a kiss on her cheek. “You’re the best.” Her steps were light as she left.

  Well, I’m glad she’s feeling better, Maddie thought, flopping back down onto her bed with a sigh. This was going to be awkward.

  Matchmaker

  Green, red, and yellow ribbons covered the front hall of the palace when Maddie walked in. Rain’s staff raced around the room, hauling out tall wooden tables and stools for the party. Maddie found Rain directing traffic in the middle of the fray.

  “Hi, Maddie!” she said, before turning to shout at a pair of faeries setting down a table. “No, not there! There!” She pointed. “By the window!”

  Maddie jumped back when someone tossed a pair of scissors across the room.

  “Hey!” Rain snapped. “Safety!”

  “Is this a bad time?” Maddie asked.

  “No, don’t be silly,” Rain answered, hurrying to the edge of the room, where she picked up a hammer and started pounding hooks into the wall. “What’s up?” she said, holding the nails in her teeth.

  Maddie sidled up to her. “So… are there any special rules for asking someone out? Any weird faerie traditions I should be aware of?”

  “Not really,” Rain said. “Wait, I thought you were putting this off?”

  Maddie squirmed in place. “I was, but Rose asked me to come to the solstice banquet to put on a show for the ambassadors, and she thinks it will look better if I bring a date.”

  “The things we do for politics,” Rain said, giving Maddie a wink. “I’ve never heard of anyone starting a relationship based on a royal request.” She grabbed a big painting off a rack in the middle of the floor.

  Maddie grabbed the other side and helped her hang it up. “Me either, and I’m not even sure I want it to be the start of a relationship. Rose said that it would be fine if it was just for show, but the only guys I know to ask are… well, you know.”

  “Interested?”

  “Right. You see what I mean? It would be complicated. Am I making any sense?”

  “You are. It would almost be easier if they weren’t into you, and it probably doesn’t help matters that you’re obviously into them.”

  “I am not!” Maddie said.

  Rain gave her a sideways glance. “Please.”

  “It’s the truth!”

  “You’re telling me that if one of them asked you out, human-style, right now, you’d say no?”

  “Absolutely, I would.”

  “You’re sure?” Rain asked.

  “I am.”

  “Because you’re busy.”

  “Yes.”

  “Not because you don’t like them.”

  “No. Wait, hang on, I mean yes. What was the question again?”

  Rain cackled evilly and poked her in the shoulder. “Got you.”

  Maddie found a chair and fell into it. “That was a cheap shot,” she said.

  “Just keeping you honest.”

  A member of Rain’s staff approached from across the room with a question about flower arrangements. Rain pulled a sheet of paper out of her dress and explained the placements to her while Maddie went back over her thoughts from the night before.

  Rain was right. She did feel something. Maybe it wasn’t much, and maybe she wasn’t in the mood to act on it, but had to admit that finding someone special in this new home of hers wasn’t the worst idea in the world. After all, unless something changed drastically, she was going to be living in the Veil for a very long time.

  Rain finished with her staff. “Where were we?” she asked. “Oh, right. You were admitting that you’ve got the hots for the prince, or the captain of the wardens, or both.”

  Maddie glared at her. “I do not have ‘the hots.’ But even if I were willing to entertain the possibility that maybe there might be something there, that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. I mean, what am I supposed to do, walk up to Finn and say, ‘Hey, your highness. I kind of like you, but my life is totally upside-down right now and I’m not ready for a relationship, but I need you to go to a royal banquet with me as my date and promise not to read anything into it’?”

  Rain giggled. “Well, I would come up with something more charming than that.”

  “Thanks. Great advice,” Maddie said, collapsing in her seat.

  A trio of faeries set a table down beside them, and Rain threw a tablecloth over it. “You’re settled on the prince then?” she asked. “Ebba will be thrilled.”

  Maddie chewed on her lip. “I don’t know. It’s weird. Finn is great. He’s charming and intellectual and—”

  “— very you.”

  “But Kidhe likes the outdoors and animals and appreciates hard work. And he’s got such a carefree attitude.”

  “Also you, except for that last part.” Rain leaned in and whispered. “You stayed at his house, right? Did you see his tattoos? Not to mention the rest of him.”

  “Rain,” Maddie said, eyes flicking up to her, “you are not helping.”

  “Hey, I’ve already told you how to handle this problem.”

  “Date them both, I know, but that would be even more messed up.” Maddie stood up with a huff and leaned against the wall. “This isn’t fair,” she said, crossing her arms.

  Rain slid in beside her. “You want some real advice?” she a
sked.

  Maddie thumped her head against the wall and looked up at the ceiling. “Yes, please.”

  “Tell them how you feel. They’ll understand. And if all else fails, just show them who’s boss. It worked for me.”

  “And the banquet?”

  “Don’t stress over the banquet. It’s a diplomatic function, and around here, those happen all the time. Treat it like a, I don’t know, friend’s wedding or something. Beautiful venue, nice dinner, a couple of speeches, some drinks…”

  “And a date.”

  Rain gave her a little bump with her hips. “Or two.”

  Maddie pushed away from the wall. “Well,” she said, “I guess I’ll let you know how it goes. Thanks, Rain.”

  She was about to leave when an armload of pizza walked in the door and a woman’s voice said, “Could someone tell me where to find Maddie Foster?”

  Maddie jogged across the room. “Moira? What are you doing here?”

  Moira set the pizzas down on the table. “Well, I heard you’d been working hard, so I decided to make good on my offer.”

  “Your offer?”

  “Pizza delivery, remember?” She thumped the boxes. “One cheese. One pepperoni. One sausage.”

  “That’s way too much food.”

  “Well, then you’ll just have to share the wealth.”

  Maddie eyed the faeries in the room, who met her gaze with hungry glances. “Looks like the wolves are already circling,” she said. “What do I owe you?”

  Moira said, “Nothing. These are on me. Leoh will be happy enough to know his food’s getting served in the palace. Oh, speaking of which…” She fished a necklace out of her pocket. “How about a little branded marketing?”

  Maddie held the necklace up. It was a metal disk with a piece of copper in the shape of a slice of pizza. The words “Cook Country Caravan” were etched along the bottom.

  “Nice, eh?” Moira said.

  Maddie put it on. “It’s cute. I like it.”

  “Keep it. We’ve got more.”

  “Do you have time to eat?” Maddie asked.

  Moira glanced back at the door. “Actually, no. I have to get back to the restaurant.”

  Maddie’s face fell. “Well, thank you for bringing these. Will I see you at the festival?”

  “Maybe,” Moira said. “I’ll be working. Are you going?”

  “I am.” Maddie grabbed the box of cheese pizza. “And on that note, I’ve got to make some arrangements.”

  Rain snorted.

  Maddie glanced up at the ceiling in frustration for a moment, propping the pizza box against her hip. She leaned in and gave Moira a half hug. “I’ll see you later,” she said.

  Moira answered, “I’m sure you will.”

  Friends with Benefits

  Maddie stood on her balcony, fiddling with the hem of her witching robes as she stared down at the city. The markets were bustling with activity as every faerie for a hundred miles packed the streets, scrambling to finish preparing for the biggest event of the year, the solstice festival. And with the centennial vote looming, it promised to be a blowout.

  Someone knocked on the door. Maddie straightened her robes, turned around, and said, “Come in!”

  The door opened a crack and Ebba poked her head through. “Miss Maddie?” she said. “They’re here.”

  Maddie braced herself. “Alright, send them in, and then wait outside.”

  “But I want to watch!” said Ebba, whining.

  Maddie shot her an impatient look. “Please, Ebba. This is awkward enough as it is.”

  “Fine.” Pouting, she shut the door, and Maddie heard whispering in the corridor.

  A moment later Kidhe and Finn walked in, side-by-side. Maddie had never seen Kidhe so tidy, and Finn was wearing the same red outfit he’d had on when they first met. His sword hung from his belt, shining with fresh polish. Neither one of them said a word.

  “Relax,” Maddie said. “This isn’t a job interview.”

  They both returned a nervous laugh. Maddie had been told about the role of the faerie men, but she’d never really believed that it was true. Seeing them like this made Rain’s meaning perfectly clear. They weren’t human, and they behaved, thought, and felt in different ways. It would be up to her to reach out, though exactly what she was reaching for, she had no idea.

  “I’m glad the two of you came,” she said. “I hope this isn’t too awkward.”

  Kidhe answered first. “Of course we would come.”

  “And it’s not awkward,” Finn added.

  “I’m going to start with the bad news,” Maddie said, wringing her hands. “I’m not sure I’m ready for a relationship. With everything that’s going on in my life, I wasn’t sure that it would be fair to you… to either of you.”

  “But…?” Finn said, perking up.

  Maddie shot him an annoyed look. “How do you know there’s a but?”

  He flashed a grin. “Call me crazy, but I couldn’t help but notice that you used the past tense just then.”

  “First, you are crazy,” Maddie said, glaring at him.

  “And second?”

  “Will you stop that!”

  Laughing, Kidhe put a hand on Finn’s shoulder. “Just let her finish, highness.”

  Maddie took a moment to frame her thoughts. “So, you’ve heard about the review,” she said.

  They answered, “Of course.”

  “Well, Rose thinks it will help swing the vote if I’m there to give a speech about my time here, and she…” Maddie looked down at the floor. “She suggested that it might help the ambassadors accept me if I bring a date.”

  “You’re doing this for my mom?” Finn asked, his face falling.

  “No!” Maddie said, snapping her head back up. “That’s… no. That’s not it at all. The truth is, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what I want for myself—here in the Veil, I mean—and I’ve decided that…” She trailed off, abandoning the thought. “I’m not good at this.”

  “It’s alright,” Kidhe replied. “You’re doing fine.”

  Maddie pressed her hands together and said, “Listen, I’m the Foxglove. Being with me isn’t going to be easy. My life is going to be complicated. I don’t know how far this will go, but the truth is, I like you… both of you, and I guess around here, that’s allowed.”

  They nodded in unison and said, “It is.”

  This is so weird, Maddie thought. She fixed them both with an assertive look. Here goes. “I would like you both to attend the solstice festival with me.” She waited anxiously as a moment passed in silence. Kidhe and Finn glanced at each other briefly.

  “I accept,” Finn answered.

  Kidhe said, “I’m in.”

  They stepped forward and bumped into each other. Kidhe took a step back and gestured for Finn to go first. Finn did the same.

  Maddie threw up her arms. “Will the two of you just get over here?”

  Finn approached and leaned up, and Maddie gave him a kiss on the cheek. Kidhe leaned down and she did the same, chuckling in her head as she took a step back. Something told her that, for the foreseeable future, a great many things in her life were going to start arriving in pairs.

  “Now, no fighting,” she said, pointing a finger at each of them in turn. “Or posturing. Or silly competitions. I may be in faerie land, but I’m still a human girl, and we don’t tolerate that kind of nonsense. Got it?”

  “Okay,” they said.

  Maddie turned to Finn. “And no banishing Kidhe to Alaska.”

  “Dang,” Finn said, snapping his fingers. “There goes plan A.”

  Maddie walked them both to the door. “Now, I have to get to work,” she said. “Maeve’s expecting me. I’ll be working right up to the morning of the festival, so I’ll see you both in a couple of days. Sound good?”

  “Sounds great,” Kidhe said. “It’ll give me time to get all dolled up.”

  They each leaned in to offer another kiss before they left. Maddie obliged
and watched them go. When the door shut, she lay down and stared up at the ceiling, counting the rings as she’d done on the evening of her first day in the Veil.

  Bloom

  “Maddie, wake up! Look!” Ebba jumped up onto the bed and Maddie rolled, shielding her eyes against the sun streaming in through the window. Ebba stood over her, two wrapped boxes tucked under her arms. “Presents!” she squealed.

  Maddie sat up. “Presents?”

  “Actually, they’re called ‘enticements’,” Ebba said with an evil grin.

  Maddie shuffled back against her pillows and sighed. “This is how they’re going to compete?”

  Ebba dumped the boxes in her lap. “It is when you tell them they can’t fight each other. I swear, Maddie. You have no respect for tradition at all.”

  There was a note of disappointment in her voice that Maddie found very disturbing. Ebba sat down and pushed the gifts towards her. “Do the big one first!” she said.

  Maddie gave her an amused look. “You think it’s from the prince, don’t you?” she asked as she unwrapped the gift. Yellow wood polished to a mirror shine met her eyes as the paper peeled away and revealed a box inside.

  “Definitely from the prince,” Ebba said.

  Maddie opened the box and gasped. “Woah,” she said, gazing at the contents.

  Ebba giggled and squirmed. “It’s gorgeous!”

  Cream silk spilled over Maddie’s fingers as she examined the dress. Gold embroidery swept up across the chest and shoulder in a pattern of oak leaves caught in the wind. The sunlight coming in through the balcony door lit the fabric up like shining fire.