by Sarah Noffke
Monet swiveled to face Azure and then Gillian. “Did one of you bring the baby’s bottle? He sounds like he’s getting cranky.”
“Ever, you have the Book of Branches. You obviously know how the rogue dryads work, so tell us now,” Azure said, using an authoritative voice she had never pictured directing at one of her supposed friends.
He sighed loudly. Instead of answering, he waved them forward. “Join me up here.”
Azure and Gillian exchanged nervous glances, but when the gnome nodded she started forward, taking the lead. Climbing to the top of the cave wasn’t hard, but it required using both hands and feet. Blisters gave the group a play-by-play of his progress as he ascended.
“That rock nearly took me out, but I’m okay. All right, just another step, and another. This isn’t really hard, except that my stomach is eating itself. And I kind of need to fart, but don’t think I should since Monet is behind me. And, whoa! That bit was kind of hairy. I don’t mean hair in the literal sense. I mean it—”
“Shut up.” Manx had gotten tired of listening to the unicorn. The pooka had taken the form of a goat and was making the climb look easy. He was the first up the side of the cave wall.
“Is this the piece of trash who betrayed you, Queen Azure?” he asked, turning around and aiming his back legs at Ever. “Just give me the go-ahead and I’ll kick him to shreds.”
“Yes, that’s him, Manx. But no, we’re not killing him just yet,” Azure said, breathlessly taking the final step onto even ground.
“Wait, you’re Manx? What are you doing here?” Ever asked, his eyes wide with disbelief.
“Hold on, you know Manx?” Azure asked. What a small world!
“No, I know of him. He’s pretty much one of the most wanted criminals on Oriceran.” Ever waved his hands in front of him at the look of horror that sprang to Azure’s face. “I mean, he’s not a murderer or anything, but…” Ever turned to Manx. “You’re one crafty fairy, responsible for a lot of mischief.”
Manx lifted one of his goat eyes to the Light Elf. “That I am. The council and the Silver Griffins, they’re all so uptight with their laws.”
“Manx, what have you done?” Azure asked, her voice cautious.
“All sorts of things. And I have many more planned. But for now, I’m a crusader working for the Queen of Virgo. More important matters await your attention than my misconduct,” the pooka said, clearing his throat.
Azure lifted her hand to her head. “Yeah, right.”
“Queen Azure, the rogue dryads know that we’re here now. Thank you very much.” Ever waved his hand at the dry desert on the other side of the cave that they stood on top of. From up high, the desert they’d traveled across could be seen at their back. In front of the group was a crater, as if a huge meteor had struck the desert long ago and hollowed out a ten-mile radius.
Azure stared at the bowl. “Okay… Well, that’s fine. I never wanted to sneak up on them. My plan was to find them in a thoughtful manner, then earn their trust and gain their help. Whereas you were going to sneak up and murder this ancient species. So sorry for ruining your plans.”
Monet wrapped his arm affectionately around Azure’s neck and tugged her into his side. “She doesn’t mean that. We’re not sorry.”
“Ever, we can work together. What if I offer to help the rogue dryads get into the Land of Terran? They get something they’ve wanted—the chance to punish the humans who have hurt the Dark Forest. And in return, they free your father. It was a misunderstanding, right?” Azure said, her voice placating.
Ever grunted with frustration. “That’s what you don’t get. They won’t just release him. They have a zero-tolerance policy. He admitted to the crime of burning down the forest. And if they let him go, they’d punish me for the crime.”
Azure thought for a moment; there had to be a solution—one that helped everyone. She remembered her father just then. He had campaigned for his people. Stated that they hadn’t done anything out of malice, but rather had abused the forest because the Consumer Party had encouraged it. Phillip, in his position behind the Party, had exploited their resources, telling the people how to live their lives. Richard believed that his people were good, but had been misdirected.
“What if…” Azure started slowly. “What if the only person who will suffer is Phillip? What if I negotiate for the release of everyone in the statue garden? They committed crimes, but if those crimes were erased, then the dryads would have no reason to hold them. However, the Duke of Terran is operating out of pure malice. He can’t be changed. Or maybe he can. He will be given that chance, but if he declines…”
“Dear Azure, what are you rambling on about?” Monet asked.
“It makes sense,” Gillian said in a hushed voice.
“Oh, of course the gnome gets it. Right, well, that just means that my confusion is founded in sanity,” Monet said in disgust.
“If the Dark Forest around the Land of Terran were healed, that would undo many of the crimes. We could offer that to the rogue dryads in order to get them to release the people in the statue garden,” Gillian said, and looked at Azure for confirmation. She nodded.
“And then we bring down the wards around the Land of Terran. Those who continue to commit crimes are on their own. However, if we re-educate the people—”
“Or better yet, allow Emperor Frederick to do so,” Azure cut in.
“Yes—we allow the new emperor to create change. Those who learn are safe, and those who don’t will be given to the rogue dryads,” Gillian finished with a victorious smile. “I think it could work!”
“And the ones in the statue garden?” Ever asked.
“Same idea. By healing the Dark Forest, we will have absolved their crimes. They’ll be warned, but everyone gets to start over,” Azure said, hope in her voice.
“And do you think you really can heal the Dark Forest? That’s quite the job,” Manx asked. He had now taken the form of the shaggy black dog.
“I think that I can do anything, with the help of my friends,” Azure said. She looked at Ever. “What do you think? Will this work for you?”
“Killing an ancient race of nymphs seems like it would be much easier, but sure. Let’s try it.” He winked at her, shadows still dancing in his dark eyes.
“Okay. So now, stealer of the Book of Branches, please inform us where the rogue dryads can be found, since I don’t think it’s in the middle of a desert,” Azure asked.
“Oh, but appearances have deceived you,” Ever said, waving his arm at the dust bowl in front of them.
The group blinked at the empty desert, most of them shaking their heads.
“I don’t get it. What are we missing? I’m cool with anything, if it includes whiskey shots. Does it?” Monet asked.
Ever withdrew a long stick of shiny metallic bark from his pocket. It resembled the wood that the witches’ and wizards’ wands were made from.
“Hey, that’s from the Howling Willow,” Azure declared.
“It’s true. I took it when we were on the top of the Mountain of Truth. However, it was a fallen piece,” Ever explained.
“Doesn’t matter. We were told by Mage Lenore to stay away from the tree.” Azure seethed, her nostrils flaring wide.
“And I knew, based on talking to certain individuals on Earth, that we’d need a piece of the Howling Willow to properly see the land where the rogue dryads sought refuge.” Ever held the piece out for Azure to examine.
“I could have just used my wand. It was made from the Howling Willow.”
“Actually, it’s been altered, so no, you couldn’t have. Scenic, the land of the rogue dryads, requires a piece of unaltered Howling Willow.” Ever strode forward until he was at the edge of the rock that overlooked the crater before them.
“Okay, so where is this place? Scenic?” she asked.
“It’s right there.” Ever swept his arm out.
The group blinked at the dusty desert before them.
“Yeah, I don’t
think so, buddy-old-pal.” Monet snorted.
“You don’t see it now because it’s cloaked. However...” Ever held the piece of wood in the air and muttered an incantation. Symbols began to rise to the surface of the skin of his arms and neck, and the brown dusty crater was replaced by a shimmering green forest, complete with a waterfall and a beautiful sparkling lake in the center.
Ever turned to the group; everyone’s mouth was hanging open. “Welcome to Scenic.”
CHAPTER TEN
Birds that had been unseen moments before flew between the lush tops of the trees below where the group stood. The mist from the waterfall created a rainbow effect, and the enchanting smell of nectar-filled flowers rose into the air.
“Okay, paradise, here we come,” Monet said, taking a step forward. A staircase made of stone and covered in patches of moss stretched from where they stood to the grassy land below them.
“What is this?” Azure asked.
“The rogue dryads will have to explain, but from what I’ve learned from the Book of Branches, this was where they originated. It’s a cloaked part of their land, and I sense it was once much bigger,” Ever said, taking the steps behind Monet.
“I guess I could eat grass,” Blisters grumbled from the back of the group. “It’s what some unicorns eat. Not really befitting of a wizard unicorn, though.”
“This place is incredible,” Gillian said, his trusty notepad already out and being scribbled in.
“How will we find the rogue dryads? What does the book say about that?” Azure asked, nearly being knocked off the steep staircase by Manx, who raced forward in dog form.
“I don’t think finding them will be a problem,” Ever said, coming to a halt beside Monet on the grassy lawn. Before them stretched a forest, rich with life and bustling with sounds and smells.
Azure wasn’t sure what he meant until her vision cleared and she realized that the line of trees bordering the grassy lawn weren’t trees at all. Women with tree branches and waving vines for hair stood in a line. Real trees, tall and covered with lush leaves, stood at their backs. The women had brown skin and their hair-vines were covered in leaves. They wore mossy dresses that started just under their arms and dropped to the forest floor. These were the rogue dryads. They weren’t beautiful like women, but rather exquisite like trees, although they were more reminiscent of people than of plants.
A dryad with sharp eyes and roses crowning her head stepped forward, her mossy gown swaying. Fireflies swarmed in her dress, giving light to her movement. “We’ve remained hidden for many centuries. That was for our protection, and for the protection of the forest. What brings you here, Queen Azure?” the rogue dryad asked, her voice deep.
“You know of me…I should have guessed.” Azure stepped forward, bowing to the leader of the rogue dryads.
“I am Payne Springs, and these are my sisters,” the dryad said, waving her long branch-like arms at the women around her. She moved like a woman, but the skin on her arms took on the appearance of bark if not looked at directly.
“Payne Springs, thank you for allowing us into your borders. I—”
“I do not believe I was given a choice in the matter. You barged into my land. Scenic has been uncloaked, thanks to you,” Payne Springs said.
“I’m sorry. I believe we should be able to help you fix that.” Azure turned to Monet, who nodded with an irritated look in his eyes. He headed for the stairs, off to charm the land of Scenic so it again couldn’t be seen. It would merely involve removing Ever’s charm, which would reinstate the enchantment initially placed on the area.
“Why do you bother us? We have no business with you, Queen of Virgo. You’ve done nothing to earn our ill favor,” Payne Springs said.
“I know I haven’t. My people and I respect the forest, but we recognize that others have made mistakes. I want to offer you a deal. It will free many, but more importantly, it will heal the Dark Forest, which we all hold dear and now needs our attention,” Azure said. She sucked in a breath and rushed into her rehearsed speech.
***
“You really believe that you and your comrades can heal the Dark Forest? It has been harmed greatly,” Payne Springs asked, her branch-like hair wiggling down her back.
“Yes. Even if it kills us, we will bring the forest back,” Azure stated.
“Uhhh…hold up a sec,” Monet spouted, trotting back down the stone staircase as he returned from reinstating the cloaking enchantment.
“If we heal the forest, I want your word. You’ll release all wrongdoers from the statue garden. You’ll erase all bad deeds from your minds, but issue a warning to those who you free,” Azure said, her chin high in the air, her shoulders back.
“Yes, that’s something I’m fine with giving. But the Land of Terran—they, more than any of the others, have harmed the forest. I can’t just look away. Someone must answer for the past, even if the forest is repaired.” Payne Springs turned her head, and a chorus of rustling whispers filled the air. “My people tell me that their emperor is free in the forest, and has been offered as a sacrifice. However, the harpies swarm overhead. They have been the problem since the beginning.”
“Frederick can’t be the reason for this. It has always been the Duke. He was the one who killed Charmsgood. The one who infected my people with a virus. The one who harvests the forest,” Azure argued. “It is the Duke we want you to punish.”
“And maybe we will. We will convene at the border of Terran once you’ve healed the forest. They have been horrible to our lands, and could create another wasteland like where you stand now. I need you to bring down the wards protecting their city so that if they disobey our laws again they will be punished. Their emperor must agree to this, or he will be punished as well. Then we will see about the Duke,” Payne Springs said.
“And the statue garden?” Ever asked.
“Those there will be freed by my sisters once the forest is healed, but warnings will be issued and no tolerance will ever be given again,” the leader of the rogue dryads stated. The women around her moved forward, all headed for underground tunnels carved into the side of the crater.
“You said this wasteland was created?” Azure asked, motioning to where they stood.
Payne Springs nodded as her sisters departed, leaving her alone with Azure’s group. “Yes, many centuries ago this was a sprawling forest, rich with life. But greed stole from the forest until all that remained was the patch we reside in now. That was when my sisters and I took on the role of protecting the trees. They had no one to stand up for them. They provide so much, and are abused by so many. We vowed that no one would create a wasteland again, but then the humans of Terran started overconsuming the Dark Forest. We have been somewhat powerless to stop them, but that shouldn’t last long if this truce works.”
“We’ll make it work. I promise,” Azure assured her. “And the virus—you mentioned that you knew of the virus that besieges my people. Do you know how I can save them?”
The nymph shook her head, leaves rustling as she did. “I know that your people were infected by humans, and only they can fix your illness.”
Azure crushed her teeth down on her bottom lip. “That’s what Mage Lenore said.”
“Then, daughter of Emeri Vladar, it is time you accept this answer.” Payne Springs turned, putting her stiff back to the group. “We will reconvene when you have done as you said you would.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Well, you just set us up for the fucking impossible. Way to go, Azure, Queen of Farce,” Monet grumbled as they climbed the stairs to depart from Scenic.
“Could you not be so grumpy for once in your life? This isn’t impossible,” Azure said, carrying Manx in her arms. The pooka had apparently worn himself out in Scenic, and had shifted into rabbit form. She’d taken pity on the mischievous fairy and was carrying him out of the ancient land of the rogue dryads.
Monet spun around, his green eyes slicing like blades. “Even as incredibly brilliant as I am,
there’s no way I can create a potion in time to heal the Dark Forest. And you’re powerful, but that won’t help you to fix the thousands of acres that have been destroyed. Even if you were strong enough, how the hell do you expect to find every section of the forest that’s been damaged and repair it? Really, Azure! Why didn’t you just sell Payne Springs a star in a distant galaxy or something else ridiculously impossible?”
Azure closed her eyes, feeling the heat of the moment overwhelm her. “I know it seems impossible, but there has to be a way. Gran always says that a solution proceeds from the faith that there is one.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake—you’re spouting the wisdom of a crazy-ass witch who uses her toenail clippings in her potions!” Monet shook his head, his pale skin flushing red.
“She says they have a magical quality.”
“Speaking of the queen mother, do you by chance have the crystal ball she gave you?” Gillian asked, scratching his stubbled chin.
Azure blanched, the question throwing her for a moment. “Mage Lenore’s crystal ball? I do, actually. I brought it with me, thinking it could be of help.”
“You’re lugging around a crystal ball in there?” Monet pointed at her bag, disapproval written on his face.
“Are you thinking that the crystal ball can help us in some way?” Azure asked Gillian.
“Not in its current form,” Gillian said, off in thought.
“What if she fitted it onto a piece of the Howling Willow?” Ever asked from the back of the group.
Everyone turned to find him pulling his pack from his back. He removed the long stick of Howling Willow he’d stolen from the Mountain of Truth and used to open the land of Scenic.
Azure pushed Manx into Monet’s hands, surprising them both. “Wait, you think that if I attach Mage Lenore’s crystal ball to this piece of Howling Willow it will create—”
“A staff!” Gillian exploded with unexpected excitement, cutting Azure off.
“Yes, but not you. You’re not equipped to create something of that sort,” Ever said, a sly smile on his face.