Ara took a small drink of juice and glanced at Phoenix, who gave her an amused smile and affectionately squeezed her thigh under the table.
Though the threat of an unknown enemy shadowed her homecoming, Ara was happy to be home. She knew that together they could overcome anything, and she was eager to put the latest obstacle behind them so they could make up for lost time.
Chapter 10
The knights returned throughout the day with conflicting information. Until they could verify the overall accuracy, Phoenix and Ara delayed rescinding the proclamation. With four days left until the proclamation’s deadline, they wanted to keep the tactical advantage and avoid revealing their knowledge of the enemy’s scheme.
Of all the kingdoms in their realm, Quarrin covered the most territory and had the most diverse inhabitants. This combination made it an obvious target for the opposing group’s agenda. If they could cull and banish most of the non-fairies from the kingdom then take it over as a stronghold, it would be a tremendous step forward in their plan.
From what the knights gathered so far, it appeared the enemy group stationed itself in a base buried deep underneath a nearby mountainside; it was only accessible from entrances high up against the cliffs with tunnels inside the mountain leading down to the headquarters. This made the entrances remote and easily guarded; additionally, they were magically cloaked to prevent unwanted visitors.
Odds were that Sienna’s husband was held somewhere within that base.
The knights now knew the general location; that information was clear. However, who belonged to this group and how many stood amongst their ranks was hazy. The knights could not get a good feel for that information from any of their sources. They needed eyes and ears in that base to get a better sense of what they were up against.
Unfortunately, the travel spheres Phoenix used at the foxes’ home only worked if someone could picture the location in their mind and tell the sphere to take them there. Sienna always met the enemy representatives at outside locations and they always concealed their identities, so not only did she not know the base’s location, she also could not identify any of the enemy race by sight.
Since no one at the villa had been inside the base, they could not utilize the travel spheres to transport them--at least not until someone could get inside and come back to facilitate the transport.
They had a scout who could get them to the general vicinity, but they needed someone else who could slip past the guards and get inside without being seen. Options were slim. Invisibility was not a known power for any of the mountain fairies or for any of the usual residents of Quarrin.
The imps had great camouflage, but their antics and short attention spans ruled them out as contenders; they would never behave long enough to get inside the base undetected.
Sienna, as a shapeshifter, might be able to shift into something small enough to sneak past the guard, but Phoenix and Ara discussed the possibility and were apprehensive of that possibility due to Sienna’s husband--if she were caught, the enemy could probably convince her to do anything to protect him.
Additionally, Ara’s brooch continued to pulse when in her presence, so they knew for a fact that they still couldn’t trust her.
There were other shifters in the area, but none were pure shapeshifters and none of their shifter forms would be inconspicuous enough.
Phoenix asked the witches to immediately work on an invisibility or cloaking spell, though his hopes were low that this would be fruitful; they had tried to develop such a spell for many years without success. Cloaking spells successfully worked on stationary locations and objects, but, thus far, never worked correctly on the living.
He also had them working alternative scrying spells in an attempt to locate Sienna’s husband and possibly get an image from inside the base to use.
Usually, someone picturing an individual’s face and focusing on the mirror allowed their scrying mirror to locate the individual. Unfortunately, Sienna’s scrying efforts turned up nothing; it almost seemed as though her husband had vanished from the realm. He was obviously still alive, or Sienna wouldn’t be due to their mate connection; the witches could only surmise him to be surrounded by strong magic keeping prying eyes from locating him. They would have to figure out another method.
While they waited for more information, Phoenix, Ara, and Maddox decided to work out some of their frustrations in the training room. Though they each had magical powers at their disposal, they all stayed in top physical condition just in case a situation arose where their powers would not work. Accordingly, they often practiced with a variety of weapons.
They went to change into workout clothes and left the others to amuse themselves--Sienna went to cavort with the imps (with a knight covertly keeping an eye on her due to her brooch’s indication of danger), and Lynx and Chrysantha went to explore the gardens.
Phoenix and Ara took a private moment to mourn the loss of a child who had only existed in their hearts, then fully immersed themselves in their workouts.
After half an hour of sparring, Ara ducked the eight-foot quarterstaff Maddox swung at her head and lunged forward, knocking her shoulder into his chest with her full weight behind it. His feet flew out from under him and he fell, landing flat on his back on the padded training room floor. Ara went to touch her staff to his neck, but he quickly rolled and swept his leg to the side, knocking her feet out from under her. She, too, fell on her back on the floor. They stared at each other for a moment, then burst out laughing.
“You’ve learned some new moves, Maddox. Excellent technique,” Ara said as she lay there catching her breath.
Maddox chuckled, released his quarterstaff, folded his hands behind his head, and crossed his feet at the ankles, relaxing on the floor. He said, “Thank you, my queen. Those moves would be courtesy of the dragonlings. They liked to puff fire at me to keep me on my toes. It did force me to work on my reflexes. I never realized how slow and clumsy I am until I met them. They singed my hair daily those first few months... Honestly, I’m surprised I still have eyebrows...”
Ara laughed and leaned back, copying Maddox’s position.
Phoenix chuckled from across the room where he was alternating between a general workout and practicing evasive maneuvers, which included strategic back flips and tumbles.
He currently worked his upper body and core strength by executing a steady, freestanding handstand.
He watched them from his upside-down perspective for a few moments. Ara could see the wheels start turning in his mind.
“You know, now that you mention fire...” Phoenix said, flipping to his feet. He grabbed a towel off a nearby bench and wiped the sweat from his face before tossing it back on the bench.
He walked toward them and continued, “Maybe we need an elemental spirit. The base is inside a mountain, so a natural element would be right at home. Someone without a corporeal body, so they will not be seen slipping into the base. Possibly even someone who can easily pass through the physical walls.” He started pacing, deep in thought.
“Fire and water spirits are out of the equation...since they physically consist of those elements, they would be too visible, too conspicuous. A ground spirit would probably do in a pinch since they could easily incorporate themselves into the mountain’s natural walls, but they usually are connected, rooted, to a certain area and are reluctant to leave it. Perhaps an air spirit... Yes! That would work beautifully!”
He stopped pacing and peered down at Ara, who still lounged on the training room floor watching him with amusement. She loved watching her husband strategize and how his face always lit up when he reached a solution.
“Where can we find a sylph?” he asked.
Sylphs essentially existed in the wind. Made of air and only visible as fog or mist when they chose to be, they could truly go anywhere undetected--wherever air could go, so could they. Most chose to live in the sky, ensuring the health of their home, decorating the clouds with beautiful patterns and shaping p
erfect snowflakes in winter.
Their temperaments could affect the weather; fierce winds that seem to swirl from all directions, tornadoes, hurricanes--all caused by upset sylphs. Routinely, they announced their presence with an unexpected gust of wind--but that was only if they wanted you to know they were present.
Locating them (when they weren’t upset, anyway) was notoriously difficult unless they were at their castle, which was located far, far away from Quarrin.
Often, sylphs didn't concern themselves with the lives and actions of others. A select few found humans fascinating and would sometimes cross the boundary into the human world to act as artistic muses; however, most tended to go about their own business.
Ara teasingly tsk tsked Phoenix. “I’ve been out of the loop for a year, love. How would I know?”
Phoenix sighed and ran a hand through his hair, guilt crossing his features. “That’s right. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
Ara chuckled. “It’s okay, Helios. You will forget occasionally. To you, I was here the whole time. But don’t worry. When it happens again, I’ll probably forgive you.”
His eyebrow quirked. “Really? Probably?”
Ara smirked, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “Did I stutter?”
Phoenix pursed his lips for a second, trying unsuccessfully to hide his smile.
Then he grinned and quickly dove toward her.
She rolled swiftly out of the way so he landed on the floor, then she scrambled on top of him, straddled his back, and started tickling him mercilessly.
“Oh no you don’t!” he managed between laughs, wiggling and twisting around underneath her so that he was on his back and his arms were freed to tickle her in return.
They wrestled around on the floor in a massive tickle fight, shrieking and giggling with Maddox enthusiastically cheering them on, until they called a draw and fell over side by side to catch their breaths.
The play fight was just what they needed to release some of the current situation’s building tension.
Once she recovered her breath, Ara looked at Phoenix and said, “The answer to your earlier question is Castle Erindos. Azea, Queen of the Sylphs, built her castle at the peak of the tallest mountain in the realm so she would be approachable for non-sylphs but still surrounded by her beloved sky. Castle Erindos is where we will locate a sylph. Even if Queen Azea isn’t home, other sylphs will be there and may be willing to help.”
Phoenix turned to his side, pulled her close, looked at her with admiration, and said, “You, my queen, are magnificent.”
He kissed her softly, stroking his fingers down her cheek. When he broke the kiss, he affectionately pecked a kiss on the tip of her nose and smiled at her.
“Now, who do we know that has been to Azea’s castle?” he asked. “We have to use a travel sphere because it’s too far away to reach in time otherwise, so we need someone who can get us there.”
Though Phoenix and Ara had met Queen Azea on several occasions throughout the years, neither had stepped foot in her castle. Mount Erindos, home to Castle Erindos, was quite a journey from Quarrin; it was located in a hazy place between their realm and the human world, where the boundary was thinner. This made it easier for sylphs to cross into the human world to act as muses when the notion struck. Queen Azea ruled the sky in this realm, as well as all of Mount Erindos.
“Well...” Ara contemplated for a minute. “When we’ve seen her at parties and past events, she’s usually accompanied the freshwater nymph with the aquamarine hair. I think they’re good friends due to the air and water symbiosis in the sky...you know, clouds, fog, mist... I don’t know either of them well, though, and it’s been so long I’m having trouble remembering the nymph’s name. It starts with an ‘N’... She’s the quirky one who swears all the time...”
“Nerina? The water nymph from Lake Amonrila?” Maddox chimed in.
He’d moved to a nearby bar mounted to the wall and was doing chin-ups. He stopped at the top of a pull and held himself in position as he spoke.
Phoenix and Ara tilted their heads up to look at him.
“Yes. Do you know her?” Ara asked.
“Oh yes. We’re very well acquainted.” Maddox grinned and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “I met her on my way to The Dragon Lands. And made a point to stop again on my way back. She gave me the best...uh...” He cleared his throat and flushed a little. “Let’s say she was my ‘safe harbor’ for a few nights and leave it at that.”
He went back to his chin-ups as though he’d said nothing.
Phoenix and Ara laughed.
Nymphs were notoriously sensual beings. There were no longer any male nymphs; accordingly, the females regularly pursued males from other races, both for fun and for mating. They normally didn’t stay with a single partner for long, though there were notable exceptions.
Several different races of nymph existed. Nerina was a freshwater nymph. While in water, they were usually fluid like the water; when out of water, they often took the form of gorgeous young women, though water ran through their veins instead of blood. They loved to sing, dance, and have a good time. Due to their intense connection to water, they always resided near a large water base, such as a lake or river for freshwater nymphs or the ocean for saltwater nymphs.
Maddox obviously succumbed to the temptation presented by this freshwater nymph--more than once.
“Can you ask Nerina for assistance?” Phoenix asked.
Maddox released his grip from the chin-up bar and dropped to his feet on the floor. “Absolutely. We parted on good terms. It’s been a month, and I would love to see her again. I can leave now if you want, my king.”
“Yes,” Phoenix affirmed. “Please bring her here if she will help. Stop by to see the witches for some travel spheres before you leave. Remember, picture your destination and then verbally tell the sphere where to take you. And, just a tip: pick a location outside her house so you don’t abruptly appear in her living room.” Phoenix chuckled.
“Learned that the hard way, did you?” Maddox quipped, laughing.
“Not me, but one of the witches sure did.” Phoenix winked at him.
He turned his attention back to Ara as Maddox left the room.
“Now that we have some alone time...” Phoenix grinned and pressed his lips to Ara’s. When she responded enthusiastically, he pulled a travel sphere from his pocket, broke the kiss long enough to whisper “our bed” to it, resumed the kiss, and shattered the sphere against the floor.
Chapter 11
Maddox and Nerina arrived at the villa later that afternoon.
Nerina’s human form was beautiful. She had strong, exotic features, and perfectly proportioned curves, displayed by the form-fitting dress she wore. Her waist-long aquamarine hair was the only indication that she was non-human. She walked barefoot gracefully, one might say fluidly, and her voice easily enchanted those around her. She emanated an innocence that many found irresistible.
Nerina’s graceful, innocent appearance was a tad deceptive, though, as it was accompanied by a notoriously dirty mouth. But even that had its charm.
From observing them together for even just a few minutes, it was obvious that Nerina and Maddox genuinely enjoyed each other’s company. Ara was ecstatic for Maddox; this nymph made him happy. Ara hoped the relationship would continue in a healthy direction for both of them.
In the past, a long-term relationship would have been a challenge for the lovers. Nerina couldn’t be away from her lake for long, only a few days at a time; conventionally, due to the distance, Maddox could not move closer to Nerina’s lake unless he left the knighthood, which he was unlikely to do. However, now if they chose to pursue a relationship, the travel spheres would make distance an easy factor for them to overcome--and Ara would ensure Maddox always had plenty of those. As far as she was concerned, he could travel to the lake every night if he wanted, without issue. Maddox grew up under her watchful eyes. He was not only her most trusted knight and friend; he also evok
ed a strong protectiveness within her. She would always make sure whatever he needed was available to him--and she could easily see him needing this nymph in his life.
A river drained from Nerina’s lake and its waters eventually reached Mount Erindos. As long as some of the lake’s water was nearby, Nerina’s life force was stable, which allowed her extended time away from the actual body of the lake. Nerina seized the opportunity provided by the river and often travelled as far as possible. During her explorations, she met and became good friends with Queen Azea. Nerina knew the queen well and had visited her castle on multiple occasions.
Nerina agreed to take Ara to Castle Erindos while Phoenix and Maddox remained in Quarrin to further strategize.
As they readied to leave, Phoenix brought Ara the cloak from Grandmother Aspen with its protective brooch, the Fortuitous Blade still safely tucked in its pocket.
Phoenix said, “I know you can protect yourself, but I want you to take these for my peace of mind.” He kissed her softly as he tucked the cloak around her and carefully fastened it. “Be cautious, my love. Come back to me.”
“Always.” Ara smiled and embraced him, reveling in his warmth.
Though she hadn’t known what exactly she missed when her memories were gone, she now realized how much she’d missed him during their time apart. This place wasn’t the home she’d missed; he was. Leaving again, even if for only a few short hours, was hard for her; she could tell Phoenix felt it, too.
She kissed him softly again and tugged his hair affectionately before taking a small step back.
After kissing Maddox “for good fuckin’ luck,” Nerina approached Ara and Phoenix confidently with a smile and held her hand, with perfectly painted fingernails, out to Ara. “Queen Ara, I’m ready when you are. Maddox showed me how to work the spheres, so we’re good to go.”
Ara smiled back at her and nodded, taking Nerina’s hand, which was a little cooler than Ara’s due to her water composition.
Nerina pulled a travel sphere from between her cleavage. “No pockets on this dress,” she laughed in explanation. She held the sphere delicately between her index finger and thumb, said “Castle Erindos,” pouted her lips sensually while she blew on the sphere, dropped it, and squealed in anticipation as it fell to the floor.
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