Thronegarden

by Andrew Dickerson

  “You won’t be enemies if you’re all dead,” Damselfly stated.

  The chamber fell silent as all eyes travelled to the woman atop the Scorpion Seat. Maiden Fayre’s face was turning the same colour as her lips, and the tension was unbearable.

  “Leave us,” she commanded.

  In moments, Damselfly, Buttons and Delridden were alone with Maiden Fayre and her Sting. A pair of guards remained at the periphery where they could offer protection without hearing what was being discussed.

  “We know the serious nature of our predicament,” the old man spoke in a low voice to avoid it carrying. “Our people have known the Shades as enemies for so long it will not be easy for them to accept such a change.”

  “But you would consider it, a temporary alliance with the Shades?” Damselfly questioned.

  “Perhaps if we could be assured they would accept such an agreement faithfully, we might reconsider our stance.”

  “I could speak to them,” Damselfly volunteered,

  “On your behalf. I am sure they would be willing to speak with you.”

  “Visit the Shades and return with news of your findings,” Maiden Fayre instructed.

  “I wish to accompany them,” Delridden added.

  “Very well,” Maiden Fayre agreed. “I place them under your protection, Rider from the West.”

  They followed the Scorpion’s Sting out of the chamber and back to the tunnels, stopping only briefly for rations, which Delridden shouldered solemnly. Once in the depths of Mount Duskenside, they were at the whim of the old man who maintained a steady pace and soon brought them back to the surface.

  “I see hope when I look at you, child,” he proclaimed.

  “I will speak to the Shades and make them see an alliance is the only way,” Damselfly confirmed.

  “Perhaps you will,” the old man smiled. “I want to offer you a gift.”

  The Scorpion’s Sting held out a scarred hand which opened to reveal a red flower.

  “Be careful, it is poisonous,” Delridden warned.

  “Not all of it,” the wise man corrected. “The petals are ground into powder for dyes. The seeds inside are poisonous, and the only cure can be found in the cacti they grow on. A milky sap inside the plant is the only known antitoxin; without this, the infected will die, and time or no time cannot halt it.”

  Damselfly accepted the bloom cautiously before bowing to the Scorpion’s Sting who returned their gesture before sweeping back into the tunnels. The sun warmed them after their adventure underground, and Buttons was especially happy to see blue sky again.

  “Do you really mean to speak with the Shades?” Delridden questioned.

  “I must,” the princess replied.

  “Then I will do my best to see you there safely,” he swore.

  The three travellers mounted Winter, who seemed pleased to see them, and began their slow descent of the mountain to the flatlands below where the Shades called home.

  Chapter 13

  The Trickiest of Times

  “Is Delridden your real name?”

  “The Scorj gave me that name when I arrived here; it means Rider from the West.”

  “What is your real name?” Damselfly questioned.

  “I left my name and my old life behind long ago,” the soldier declared.

  “Why?”

  “I was sworn to protect someone and I lost them,” Delridden replied. “I lost everything.”

  Understanding she had pushed too hard, the princess changed subject, hoping to lighten the mood of their small travelling party.

  “Maiden Fayre is amazing.”

  “She is an unusual character,” Delridden agreed. “Her father and brothers have all died in the civil war against the Shades. She is the last of her line going all the way back to the Scorpion. Her Sting belonged to him and supposedly drew first blood in the dispute. She only spoke to you because of your own royal blood, though she listened because circumstances are extremely dire for both leading families of the east. This Sprite army could destroy the two longest-surviving dynasties in Fable’s history. Where they failed to destroy each other, this army of the Fairy King may succeed.”

  “That would be terrible.” Damselfly held the flower Maiden Fayre had given to her, both delicate and dangerous.

  “They say her lipstick is made from that poisonous plant. All the Blood Brothers that make up her red guard have built up an immunity to the poison they use to kill their enemies. It is a rite of passage where only the strongest survive.”

  “It sounds barbaric,” Damselfly stated.

  “The Scorj have lived war since the very beginning, they know no other way,” Delridden explained.

  “We have to get the Shades to agree an alliance.”

  “That will be easier said than done.”

  All this time they had been travelling down Mount Duskenside towards the plains, Buttons had remained silent, which was unusual for him; he had not even spoken up about being hungry or scared.

  “If we can’t, what then?” Buttons finally broke his silence.

  “There has to be a way,” Damselfly said determinedly although she did not feel certain.

  The Shades had resided in a high tower above the lake that housed their precious deity Vaxlesh, the water spirit, until the betrayed Lady had brought it crashing down. Now the Shades inhabited the lonely plains without shelter or protection from their enemies. They discovered a smaller band of Sprites resting on the boundary belonging to the Shades territory. A foul smell permeated their camp and took away even Buttontail’s appetite.

  “We must pass without being seen,” Delridden instructed.

  Although the band of Sprites was nothing compared with the army besieging Mount Duskenside, they still far outnumbered Delridden, Buttons and Damselfly. Thankfully, the group appeared to be poorly led with little discipline or control. With some luck they would be able to pass by unnoticed. They could not wait for dark as the Shadowgarden sun remained stubbornly above the horizon. However, there were patches of long grass which might offer some protection in crossing the open plains. Only a couple of Baywolves appeared amongst the pack and their keen sense of smell was being overridden by the stench that surrounded the disgusting camp.

  “We need a distraction,” Delridden prompted.

  “What about a fire,” Damselfly suggested.

  “It could be dangerous as the grass here is so dry; even a small fire could burn for days and do a lot of damage,” Delridden warned.

  The fields held little in the way of food as the grass and long stalks were dry to the point of being brittle. A fire could still damage the soil and any hope of growing food in the future.

  Surprisingly, a better solution came from Winter. The beautiful white stallion neighed in exasperation at their stupidity, pawing at the ground in frustration.

  “Are you sure they won’t catch him?” Damselfly asked.

  “Winter can run like the wind for days,” Delridden assured. “He is a unique horse.”

  The war band were so shocked to see a pure white horse gallop past them they almost tripped over each other in their eagerness to give chase. Delridden, Buttons and Damselfly waited for the party to pursue before making their own way towards the open grassland. Unfortunately, the two Baywolves caught their scent and changed direction, leaving the Sprites chasing Winter. Delridden, seeing the danger, herded them towards the long grass, hoping to hide from their stalkers. Buttons scampered away through the long grass, using his powerful hind legs. Damselfly and Delridden struggled behind as the Baywolves closed the distance.

  “Go, I will hold them off,” Delridden drew his sword.

  Damselfly continued to run, pushing aside the dry stalks that stood almost as tall as she was. Terrifying noises echoed behind her as the Baywolves discovered Delridden. The princess was tempted to go back and help her protector though what she could do in such circumstances was uncertain. The momentary hesitation had left Damselfly disorientated. She looked around an
d could see only grass with no sign of which direction Buttons had taken; she was lost. A terrifying howl of pain from behind her forced Damselfly into a run. It did not seem to matter which direction she travelled as long as it was away from the Baywolves. Suddenly her foot gave way underneath her, and Damselfly hit the ground hard, forcing all the breath out of her body. With a grazed chin and blurred vision, she noticed what appeared to be a rabbit hole that had caused her to trip. Regaining her feet, Damselfly looked back to where Delridden had made his stand. When she turned back it was to discover a dripping monster with no face and bright green eyes standing over her. Damselfly screamed in fright as the creature lurched towards her with both arms extended. There was no time to avoid the cold embrace as the Washerwoman pinned Damselfly to the ground. Releasing a bone-chilling cry, the legionnaire pressed her slimy, wet hands around the princess’s throat. Damselfly could not fight against the monster’s strength and was even unable to shout for help. Damselfly told herself that she could not die. Time had stopped; no one died any more and yet there seemed nothing except murderous intent in those jade-green eyes that bore down at her. A blur in her peripheral vision seemed to distract her assailant, giving Damselfly a brief respite. Taking a painful breath, she caught sight of Buttons held within the Washerwoman’s cruel grasp. From nowhere, the resourceful rabbit produced the cactus flower that Maiden Fayre had gifted to them and forced the poisonous bud down the Washerwoman’s open mouth. For a few seconds it did not appear to have any effect. Then the clay figure released Buttons who dropped to the ground with a thud. Damselfly struggled across the ground to her friend’s side. The Washerwoman was shaking her head then holding her throat and making unnatural choking sounds. Clearly, the poisonous seeds had been consumed by the creature who was now suffering the full consequences. With both hands wrapped around her own throat, the Lady’s disciple fell to her knees and with one last roar of anger dropped to the ground. The clay body dissolved into the ground, leaving behind a tarnished piece of jade.

  “Are you two all right?” Delridden crashed through the undergrowth.

  “Yes,” Damselfly replied.

  “Speak for yourself,” Buttons added.

  Delridden was astonished to discover they had defeated a member of the Clay Legion alone. These creatures were feared throughout the land and had taken more victims than could be counted.

  “What about the Baywolves?” Damselfly questioned.

  “I fended them off for now, though they will return, and likely with reinforcements,” Delridden warned.

  “We best find the Shades before then,” Damselfly cautioned.

  They continued their journey at a quick march, always looking over their shoulders. The plains were unnervingly quiet and they were all on edge.

  “Wait.” Delridden broke the silence. “The lake is up ahead, we should go around.”

  “Is the Lady of the Lake truly as bad as the stories say?” Damselfly wished to know.

  “She is worse,” Delridden replied.

  They circled the lake at a safe distance, keeping themselves hidden in the long grass as much as possible. When they were about half way round, a thunder of hooves stilled them, thankfully it was only Winter returning. Delridden checked his horse was unharmed, giving it a thorough welcome, and decided they would be better off riding the rest of the way. Buttons seemed to have overcome his fear of riding a horse and he was the first to be placed on Winter’s back.

  “I saw something,” he whispered to the others.

  “Is it Sprites?” Damselfly urged.

  “No, it was movement coming from over there.” The rabbit pointed up ahead.

  “Let’s go take a look,” Delridden decided.

  They trotted forward with Delridden’s hand upon his sword hilt, Buttons leading the way, until they reached the position where he had seen something. A clear track revealed someone had recently passed this way, so they followed it until the evidence suddenly ended.

  “Where did they go?” Buttons posed.

  Before Delridden could offer a warning, they found themselves surrounded by men with sharp sticks who seemed to have materialized from thin air.

  “We wish to see Laetitia Shade,” Damselfly requested.

  One of the men gave them a twisted smile before leading them onwards across a swathe of fields and across a ridge before they saw a small group of people gathered around a circle of mud huts. All the people looked hungry, with dirt covering their face and hands. Damselfly felt pity for them although she did not forget that they were currently these people’s prisoners. They were taken to a young woman only slightly older than Maiden Fayre. She was pale despite the constant sun with dark, lank hair and blue eyes, just like her adversary.

  “I am Laetitia Shade,” she welcomed them.

  The woman’s voice resonated somewhere deep in Damselfly’s memory.

  “I am Princess Damselfly, and I am here to recover what you took from me.”

  The woman stared for a long time before finally seeming to accept her claim. Laetitia looked burdened and the weight she carried appeared to be burying her.

  “Please come inside so we can have some privacy,” she offered.

  “They may be Scorj spies,” the guard argued. “I have seen this one with them.”

  The guard pointed at Delridden, who glared back confrontationally. Thankfully, Laetitia waved them away. The young girl did not seem like she had much fight left in her. Inside, the shade of the hut offered some protection against the relentless heat. A small cooking fire smoldered with wisps of smoke rising and exiting through a small hole in the thatched roof.

  “I’m sorry we have so little to offer guests.” Laetitia sat down on a wooden bench wearily.

  “We are grateful to have an audience.” Damselfly spoke politely.

  “What are you doing in Shadowgarden?”

  “My uncle, King Abeldine, had a valuable item which he hid in my crib; I believe you took it, and I have come to get it back,” Damselfly explained.

  “What kind of item was it?” Laetitia questioned.

  “It was a bell.”

  Laetitia gasped, her hands going to her neck where a fragment of glass hung around a chain; the rest of her clothing was economical as she wore only a simple white dress and worn clogs.

  “Then you really are the princess,” she accepted. “How did you know it was me?”

  “It is a long story and I have travelled far to recover the bell. Do you know where it is?”

  “That also is a tale all of its own,” Laetitia admitted. “I was afraid for my family. After the tower fell, we were cursed and forced to live in a land that did not suit us. I thought the king would offer support if I petitioned him. The rest of my family were too stubborn to ask for help, so I went alone in the night. When I arrived at Thronegarden, no one would take me seriously, they almost threw me out of the castle, and when I asked to speak with the king they laughed. I took a job as a scullery maid too afraid to return home with nothing. I stayed patient until finally I was given a chance in the royal apartments. I overheard the king talking to you about a powerful weapon he wanted to hide. He seemed to want rid of the artefact, and I was desperate. When he left, I snuck into your room and retrieved the bell from under your covers. I remember looking down at you and wavering in my duty until a noise outside in the corridor forced me to flee. When I returned home, things were worse than I had imagined; my remaining family were seriously considering an alliance with the Scorj and everyone looked so defeated. I showed them the bell, though none of them took me seriously. They asked how such a small inanimate object could rescue us. In my ignorance I rang the bell and…”

  “What happened,” Damselfly queried, “when you rang the bell?”

  “Everyone disappeared,” Laetitia sobbed. “My father, brothers and cousins were all just gone. Worse still, I found this necklace broken upon the floor.”

  Laetitia clung to the shard of glass around her neck like it was the only thing that kept her fr
om unravelling.

  “I don’t understand,” Damselfly enquired.

  “When my ancestor, King Byron, founded his dynasty, he tricked the water spirit Vaxlesh into watching over our family; as long as a Shade wore this necklace we would be protected. For a drop of water from Vaxlesh himself was trapped within the glass and with it his allegiance.

  When I sounded the bell, it not only destroyed all the remaining male members of my family, but also released Vaxlesh from his promise to us. I have not told my people this news as it would certainly see the end to all we have built here. I cannot see a way out of this mess.”

  “What happened to the bell?” Damselfly focused.

  “With Vaxlesh gone, a leviathan occupied the lake, a beast large enough to frustrate even The Lady of the Lake. I tossed the bell into those dark waters, afraid of what it could do and the leviathan took it.”

  “What kind of sea creature are we talking about?” Delridden queried.

  “It is fifty feet long with a giant head, sharp teeth and a hide strong enough to deflect magic,” Laetitia described.

  “How did your ancestor trick Vaxlesh into becoming your deity?” Damselfly posed.

  “The stories do not say though all maritime life enjoys gambling.”

  Before they could learn more, a deafening crash resounded all around them and continued until Damselfly believed the sky itself was falling. Laetitia Shade burst out of the hut to discover the origin of this cacophony. Delridden followed while Damselfly had to practically drag Buttons along behind her.

  “What is going on?” Laetitia could hardly make herself heard over the tumult. The guard seemed to realise that speech was useless and simply pointed towards Mount Duskenside. At first Damselfly thought there had been a catastrophic rockslide. Then she understood that the Sprite army was marching down the mountain at double quick speed.

  It was almost as if the army were fleeing from something.

  Damselfly could just make out the giant standing head and shoulders above everyone else as they descended to the flatlands. The ground shook under their feet and many of the Shades appeared, ready to run.