My shoulders sagged. “Then it’s most likely neither one exists, which puts me back at square one.”
“Not necessarily. Creatures of myth are most often based on truth. What more do you know of this being? Think only of what you know for certain, not what the rumors may be.”
I contemplated the last several days. “It’s very good at hiding and blending in. It gave Kull a nasty wound, and he described it as having long nails or claws. It may also have some type of long fur or hair, but I suspect that’s when it is in its true form. Also, I’m pretty sure I saw it once, although I only saw its eyes, which were glowing green. I’m confused because each of its victims was found with flowers in their eye sockets, and there is only one person I know at the festival who had those same flowers—Madame Glitter, the palm reader.”
Thin trails of smoke rose from Fan’twar’s nostrils. “Palm reader? What more do you know of her?”
“Not much. She came in for a consultation once, but it didn’t go very well. She was guarded with her information and seemed to want to know things I didn’t have answers to.”
“What sort of information did she seek?”
“She wanted to know how I used my powers and where my knowledge came from, that sort of thing. It didn’t seem all that important at the time. I didn’t even charge her as none of my tests confirmed that she’d been to Faythander. If she’s the shape-shifter, it seems unlikely. She didn’t possess magic.”
“Yet she was curious about your magic?”
“Yes. When I get back to Earth, I think I might need to have a chat with her.”
“I believe that would be prudent. Because she does not possess magic, it is unlikely she is the shape-changer, but it would be wise to learn what she knows. Are there others who may possess magic?”
“Possibly, but it’s hard to say. My own magic has been off lately. It’s hard to balance Earth magic with Faythander’s powers. Sometimes my magic acts by itself without being conjured. It seems the two don’t want to work together. I don’t know… It’s hard to describe.”
“That may very well be the case. You never had to rely on your Earth magic until Faythander’s magic ceased, and now that your Earth magic has grown stronger, balancing the two may be a challenge.”
“Do you think I’ll ever get my magic back the way it used to be?”
“No. At least, not the way you were once used to. For now, your magic has evolved into something else entirely. I suspect in time you will learn to balance the two.”
“I hope so.”
Blue Faythander light sparked through the crystals growing overhead, illuminating Fan’twar’s face in a turquoise glow.
“What more do you know of the creature?” he asked me.
Remembering the hairs I carried in my pocket, I pulled them out and laid them atop the dais. “Kull found these,” I said. “When I spellcasted them, I found dark magic, but I wasn’t able to learn any more than that.”
Fan’twar studied the long strands of matted hair. Carefully, he reached forward and touched a claw to the hair.
“Dark magic, yes,” he said after a pause. “Very odd.”
“Why?”
He pulled away. “It is unicorn hair.”
“Unicorn?” I asked, surprised.
“Yes.”
“But I don’t understand—how is it possible that dark magic is connected to a unicorn?”
“I do not know. Like fairies, the unicorns also possess an Arrubicus stone. Both stones absorb Faythander magic and give power to the fair species, and they absorb dark matter, making it impossible for the fairer races to accomplish a dark spell. Once a dark spell is uttered by a fairy or unicorn, the starstones absorb the dark energy, making the spell void.”
“Where do the stones come from? Maybe if we know more about the stones, we can understand who took them.”
“They were formed during the first rift, along with the rest of the planet. In those early times, all magical creatures were gifted with an Arrubicus stone, but now, only two remain.”
“The unicorns’ and the fairies’.”
“Yes. These dark troubles are disturbing, indeed. Anyone wishing ill will on Faythander’s fairer races is a threat to us all.” He picked up the unicorn hair and inspected it more closely. “I should like to know how these hairs became tainted with dark powers.”
Turning to me, he added, “I shall perform one last test, but I will need your Earth magic to aid me.”
“Are you sure you want me to?”
“Yes,” he answered. “Controlling your magic along with my help should not pose a threat. But,” he said, “the images we encounter may not be pleasant. Are you sure you wish to help?”
“I’m not sure I have a choice. I’ll do whatever I need to do if it means we find this monster.”
He nodded. “Very well. After I place the hairs in the water, touch them with your Earth magic, and we shall see what has tainted them.”
Fan’twar gently laid the hairs atop the water’s surface. As they floated, I readied my magic, praying I could control it long enough to enact the spell.
My Earth magic glowed inside, bubbling to the surface like a pot of boiling water, and I released it before it overpowered me. As the magic fused with the hairs, the moat’s water glowed bright blue.
Soon, an image of a mountain range appeared. I recognized it as the unicorns’ peaks. I’d only flown over them a few times, but the marble rock on the mountains made them look white and easily identifiable. Below the mountain spanned the unicorns’ forest, the dark green leaves of the closely growing trees crowding out the sunlight.
The image moved from the mountains to deep within the forest. A small pool of water sat in a clearing devoid of trees, allowing the sunlight to illuminate the open space. Above the pool floated a crystal-white gemstone. Its reflection was mirrored in the water, making tiny rainbows appear as sunbeams refracted off the gemstone’s surface.
Something moved within the pool. A humanoid hand with mottled, decomposing skin broke through the surface.
My insides knotted at the sight. Something felt wrong and unnatural.
The hand grabbed the stone in a swift motion, and then both the hand and the stone disappeared into the pool.
The image blurred and then faded completely.
“That was odd,” I said.
“Yes,” Fan’twar agreed. “It has been many years since I last visited the unicorns. After several mishaps involving my kind, they forbid dragons from wandering through their forest, and I have no other choice but to respect their privacy. Unicorns are rare to see anywhere outside their forest, but this brings up a greater question.” He turned his gaze on me. “When is the last time you saw a unicorn?”
I thought back. “It must have been a decade or more since I last saw one.”
Fan’twar nodded. “It has been many years since I have spotted one also. I fear we must travel to the unicorns’ forest. If what we saw in the vision is true, then their Arrubicus stone has been stolen as well.
“The unicorns’ forest is a unique place in Faythander,” Fan’twar continued. “Their magic protects it from anyone with ill intentions, but it also makes it impossible for me to use my clairvoyance to see inside their forest for more than a few moments. I am only able to do it now because I have the aid of the unicorn’s hair. The only way to confirm the stone is missing is by physically traveling there, and we must do so immediately. The destruction of the fair creatures’ starstones would bring great damage to not only their kind, but to all other races as well.”
“How so?” I asked.
“The fair creatures are unique. While all other races lost their Arrubicus stones early on, the fairies and unicorns continued wielding only light magic. Years passed—eons of time—and it shaped who they are now. If they no longer had the starstones to absorb dark energy, they would become creatures of the darkest magic. Their taint would spread throughout our world until it covered Faythander like a plague.
“We must make haste to the unicorns’ forest, and we need your companions to journey with us. Two of my best dragons will give them passage. Together, we shall learn what has happened to the unicorns.”
Chapter Thirteen
“Are you sure we should enter?” Heidel asked as we stood on a hill overlooking the unicorns’ forest. Fan’twar and two other dragons waited behind Kull, Heidel, and me. It had taken us half a day to fly to the unicorns’ forest. During the flight, I’d nodded off a few times. But now, standing on the edge of the forest—with the vision of a decomposing hand fresh in my mind—adrenaline made my heart race.
“You must enter,” Fan’twar said behind us. “We must know the fate of the unicorns.”
The trees swayed slightly, causing their limbs to creak.
Kull crossed his arms. “I am still unsure as to how this will help us find the fairies’ stone.”
“We know that the fairies’ stone has been stolen,” Fan’twar replied, “and it is likely that the unicorns’ stone has also been stolen.”
“If we find out who took the unicorns’ stone,” I said, “we may find our thief.”
Kull eyed the forest, his expression dark and brooding. “I do not like this place. It feels wrong.”
“I agree,” Fan’twar answered. “The forest is not usually a foreboding place, but now, I suspect that with the stone’s power unable to absorb the negative energy, it is becoming a place of darkness.”
As if to emphasize his point, the tree limbs creaked in a stiff breeze. Something else moved, rustling the leaves nearby, though I couldn’t tell what had caused the noise.
“How do we find the stone’s location—assuming it’s still there?” I asked.
Fan’twar waved his claw, and green mist gathered over his open palm. A scroll formed, and he gave it to me.
“A map?” I asked.
“Yes.”
I quickly gave the rolled parchment to Kull. “Here,” I told him. “I’m lousy with directions.”
A hint of a smile crossed his face but quickly disappeared.
I turned back to my stepfather. “Isn’t there any way you could come with us? It would be easier than trying to find our way with a map.”
“I cannot. I must give heed to the unicorns’ wishes, for that is how I maintain peace on Faythander—through respect. This is a quest you must accomplish without me. Search out the stone. If it is gone, which I suspect it is, then search for any clues as to its whereabouts. Return quickly, for this path you take is one of grave danger. When you have learned the truth of what has happened, meet us here and we shall return you to the dragons’ caves. And…” Fan’twar exhaled a great sigh, causing steam to rise from his nostrils. “Take care, young one,” he said quietly. “You must not linger too long in this forest.”
“I understand.”
He nodded. The dragons backed away, then took flight. I watched as they disappeared, anxiety making my stomach churn. Fan’twar’s golden scales reflected a stray sunbeam as it pierced through the low-lying clouds, and then his form faded as he flew away from the forest.
The broad expanse of woods spread below us, an impenetrable fortress of leaves and limbs. It was impossible to tell what lay inside.
Heidel gathered her cloak, her face growing pale. “Do you think the rumors are true?” she asked.
“Rumors?” I asked.
“Yes. Now that we’re here, I am reminded of the stories I heard when I was younger.”
“I am not familiar with those stories,” Kull said.
“No, you wouldn’t have known of them,” Heidel answered. “They weren’t told by the Wults, but by the goblins.”
A stiff breeze pulled at the dark strands of her hair as her voice drifted back to another time. “It was said that a witch lived in this forest—one who had hidden here in order to evade the burnings during the elven inquisitions. She was said to drain the blood of anyone who crossed her path.”
The swaying trees stirred in the valley below us, creaking as the branches caught the wind.
“Couldn’t you have warned us of this sooner?” Kull asked.
Heidel shrugged. “It was merely a goblin superstition.”
“But what do you think?” I asked. “Do you believe a witch hides in these woods?”
She shrugged. “I suppose we’ll find out.”
Without another word, she made her way down the hill, and we followed, approaching the edge of the tree line. As we stepped into the woods, the shadows blocked out the sunlight, making the air grow chilly. I pulled my cloak tighter as goose bumps formed on my skin.
Our booted footsteps were muffled by the damp leaves covering the ground. Old, thick trees, their trunks covered in carpet-like moss, grew along our path. Their gnarled trunks and crooked branches seemed to grow at unnatural angles, some branches sweeping the ground and growing in a dense jumble that made one tree indistinguishable from the next. Even the rocks and tree stumps were covered in the same verdant moss.
Kull inspected the map as we walked. When we stopped for a brief break, he opened the map for us to see.
“There should be a trail not far from here that will lead us to an elder tree grove, which should provide good shelter. I believe we should do our best to make it to the grove before nightfall. From there, we will follow a river. It looks as if the river breaks off, and so we will have to follow one of these streams.” He ran his finger over the parchment, then looked up. “The map does not give the exact location of the stone. How are we to find it?”
“That’s probably because the location is hidden,” I answered. “However, I saw the place in a vision in Fan’twar’s chambers. The stone had been floating over a small pool of water. Is there anything like that on the map?”
He studied the map, then shook his head. “I see nothing.”
“Then we have no choice but to follow the map,” Heidel said, “and hope that we come across it.”
Kull sighed. “This forest is exceedingly large. We may be wandering for quite some time.”
“My magic can help,” I said. “I’m sure I can come up with some sort of spell that will draw us to the right place.”
“Very well,” Kull said, “but I think it unwise to travel this forest in the darkness. We are not sure what lurks here. Making it to the elder grove should be our first priority.”
He rolled up the map, and we continued walking. Soon, we found a narrow, winding trail that snaked through the trees. Patches of sunlight filtered through the branches and painted glowing splotches on the forest floor. The air was still, without the slightest hint of a breeze. A rich, earthy scent filled the woods. On occasion, something would move in the trees, although I never saw what caused the noises.
As noon approached, we found a small clearing with a few felled logs, then got ready to eat our lunch. The Wults had come prepared, with dried meat, nuts, and salted maepepper leaves rolled and filled with something that tasted similar to corn mash.
“I’ve never tasted anything like this,” I said as I tried the leaves.
“My sister Eugrid makes them,” Kull said. “When she’s feeling up to it, she prepares hundreds before we go off to battles or on expeditions. She means to keep us fat even while we travel.”
“They’re very good.”
“If you say so,” Heidel answered. “But you’ve not eaten as many as we have. After time, they lose their appeal.”
“Don’t tell my sister,” Kull said, “but there have been times when the bog-beasts have been unusually well fed.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Is that so?”
“It is.”
Our eyes locked, making my heart give a small flutter, and I couldn’t seem to pull away from his gaze. Old memories surfaced, images of times I’d hoped to forget. I heard his voice in my mind—something he’d said to me once, a long time ago.
We are not meant to be apart, Olive. I will always find you. No matter how far we become separated, I will always return for you.
His words kept replaying in my head, and I knew I needed to get away from him as soon as possible.
I stood abruptly, leaving my half-eaten meal behind. Neither Wult spoke as I walked out of the clearing and made my way through the forest, stopping near a huge felled tree. Feeling a sudden chill in the air, I crossed my arms, trying my best to clear my head as I stared at the fallen tree. A poisonous vine crisscrossed its crumbling exterior, but in a few areas, the bark had fallen away, revealing a pristine white log beneath—an uncanny reminder of the feelings I still had for him. Not gone, but hidden away.
I cursed myself for making this expedition with Kull. I should have refused to come. It was too soon, and some memories were too hard to forget—old scars that had been reopened. Perhaps it was true that time healed all wounds, but I would never find closure as long as I stayed near him.
Tears tried to push free, but I clenched my fists and forced them back. Focusing on things I could never have would only bring heartache, so I closed my eyes and envisioned our mission instead. Find where the starstone had been located. Find the one responsible for taking it. I took solace in knowing that once the quest was over, I would never have to see him again.
By the time I finally made it back to the Wults, they’d already packed up the food and wore their packs. Heidel handed my pack to me, and I took it from her.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, not meeting Kull’s eyes. “I wasn’t feeling well. Should we continue?”
“If you’re not feeling well,” Heidel said, “then there’s no need to continue. We can wait.”
“No, I’m all right. A bit of a headache, but I’m better.”
“You’re sure?” Heidel asked.
“Yes.”
She turned to Kull. “Very well. Brother, lead the way.”
Without speaking, he turned, and we followed him back to the trail.
The midday sun began its descent toward the horizon as the path took us deeper into the forest. As the sunlight began to fade, the forest grew quieter. The sounds of birdsong and scampering animals became less frequent, while the shadows grew darker under the tree canopy.
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