Green Rising

by AZ Kelvin

  Chyne drew in a deep breath. “Ne’er a more lovely sight hath mine eye beheld.”

  The entrance to the Queen’s Garden, Loko de Belaj Floroj, was covered in blossoms of every imaginable shape and color, from the deep burgundies of the large black dahlia to the bright white of the tiny snowdrop perennial. The mild pastels of echeveria and spiky borage mixed with the eye-catching colors of heliconia and purple passionflower. Élan and other birdlife filled the garden and the sky above. Birds whose wings moved faster than the eye could see buzzed from one blossom to the next, finding sweet nectars to drink.

  The garden grounds stood almost as a maze with the plots of colorful flowers and decorative stands of trees too numerous for one to see the far side of the garden. Fountains threw streams of water into the air to splash down into more than a hundred basins and pools that fed the small streams running throughout Loko de Belaj Floroj. Schools of fish sparkled in the sun as they swam from pool to pool.

  “Oh, it’s so beautiful,” Ticca said. “Look at all the dogs.”

  Handlers strolled around the garden, each walking with a different breed of canine. The traveling duos stopped periodically to give short speeches, which allowed the guests to admire and learn about the breeds.

  “Siestrey, what are those?” Ticari asked Quinlan.

  A troop of monkeys hung about the rafters of a pavilion. They were small to medium in body size with long noses, human-looking eyes, and scruffy grey hair jutting from the bottom of a wrinkled face.

  “They look like old men,” Ticca said.

  “They are called lesula monkeys, Ticari,” Quinlan answered, “and yes Ticca, they appear so human they were once thought to be the Trauco, which are gnomelike creatures of Raskanish folklore.”

  “Look, pavao birds! Oh, they do be my favorite.” Sovia pointed to large ground birds with long tail feathers tipped with a design like that of an emerald-and-sapphire eye.

  “How cute.” Cassae reached out to a hand-sized, fuzzy-faced creature with green-and-yellow-streaked round eyes, grey tabby-marked fur, prehensile feet, and a long ringed tailed.

  “A marmoset from southern Vakere,” Quinlan said.

  “Oh!” Cassae said as the marmoset climbed up her arm and circled her neck once, leaving its tail wrapped around it, and settled down in the crook of her neck. It tucked its chin in its front paws and quietly watched everything go by around them.

  Quinlan smiled at the look on Ticca’s face as she watched the marmoset cuddle against Cassae’s neck. Druid code or not, what young girl would not want to be the one holding a cute and cuddly animal?

  “Charming creatures, are they not?” Kenri joined them with a marmoset of his own around his neck. “Hold out your arm, my dear,” he said to Ticca, which she did. He rubbed the side of the marmoset’s face. “Tuk, tuk, tuk.”

  The creature unraveled itself, climbed down his arm, and up Ticca’s, taking its place around her neck. Ticca’s face lit up with a smile.

  “If you wish them to go, just say ‘tuk’ three times and they will wander off,” he said. “Loko de Belaj Floroj is a wonderful sanctuary of plants and animals from not only Raskan but all around Arden. Many creatures other than humankind call our world home. They are as much our brothers and sisters as our fellow humans. So much will perish should we not succeed.”

  “Indeed, and well said,” Quinlan replied. “Na’veyja will not let us fail. This I believe in mind, body, and spirit.”

  “Aye, blessed be the grace of Na’veyja,” Kian said. “We shall nae fail.”

  “What does Loko de Belaj Floroj mean?” Ticari asked.

  “It means ‘place of beautiful flowers’ in an ancient Raskanish language,” Kenri answered, “which is no longer spoken, yet the Queen has had an affinity for it since her studies at the royal academy.”

  “Oh, my word!” Sovia exclaimed. “And not a one on me!”

  Therin had birds perched all around him, climbing over him, launching from him, and landing on him. Flit and Singer each sat on a shoulder. He raised his arms and the birds flew circles around them.

  “How does that be right, I ask?” Sovia was put out until Flit flew over and landed chittering on her shoulder. “Well, gratitude, Flit, I do love you as well.”

  “Better grab him, or they’ll fly him away,” Quinlan said.

  A large élan swooped around Therin chatting up a storm before it flew off again. The flock of newcomers on Therin all flew off in the same direction and began to gather in the bushes and trees around a woman who was surrounded by people, too.

  “Ah, Queen Aibreann,” Kenri said. “She asked to meet the druids who took the artifact to Drifting Leaf. Now, before the ceremony would be an ideal time.”

  Ticca’s face went pale. “Meet the Queen?” The marmoset snuggled around her neck suddenly looked up and turned its head back and forth, barking loudly with its tiny voice. “I’m okay,” she told it.

  The commotion drew the Queen’s attention and she started to walk their way. Guests bowed and curtsied as she walked by.

  “Oh, no,” Ticca said. “Shh, shh, shush now.” The marmoset calmed down but remained alert.

  Kenri approached and bowed elegantly. “Your Majesty.” All of Grove Seven followed his example.

  Aibreann, Renalth’s wife and Queen of Raskan, was a woman whose aura Quinlan read as bright and honest. She was dressed in traditional Raskan gowns of state instead of the slim-waisted, crinoline-supported ball gowns that were the latest in court fashion.

  Aibreann took the time to hear everyone’s names and thanked them warmly for their efforts in saving Drifting Leaf.

  “And I do see ye back there, child.”

  Ticca peered out from behind Kian.

  “What’re ye doin’ back there?” Kian asked Ticca.

  “Apologies, Queen Aibreann, I did not hurt it.”

  “Oh, I know, dear. Pie’s only soundin’ off because she thought ye needed protectin’ is all.”

  “Pie?”

  “Aye, Pie Thief is her name and aptly so.

  “Pie Thief, ha, that’s funny,” Ticca said.

  “Your Majesty.” Kenri reminded Ticca she was speaking to the Queen of Raskan.

  “Apologies, Your Majesty,” Ticca said quickly.

  “Eck, bother all that.” Aibreann waved Kenri away. “From here on, dear, ye’re ta call me Aibreann. And Kenri, dinnae be such a storm cloud.” Kenri bowed in acquiescence.

  “Gratitude, y—Aibreann, I’m Ticca.”

  “Pleased ta know ye, Ticca.”

  Pie stood up barking and chittering before she hugged Ticca’s head and cooed.

  “Well I’ll be…” Aibreann put her hands on her hips after Pie’s demonstration. “Pie seems ta’ve found herself a new home.”

  “A new home, Your Majesty?” Quinlan asked.

  “Aye, that little dance she did there shows she’s chosen Ticca as a loved one,” Aibreann answered.

  “I can keep her?” Ticca asked and looked at Quinlan who shrugged and nodded.

  “She’s free ta make up her own mind and it looks ta me she’s made her choice,” Aibreann said. “Unless ye stand opposed ta such an arrangement, that is. If so, a handler’ll take her away.”

  Pie Thief barked, flattened her ears, and went to hide in the pulled-back hood of Ticca’s raiment.

  “No!” Ticca regained her composure. “Ah, no, I, ah, I’m not opposed to such an arrangement.”

  Ticari laughed, but not unkindly, at his sister.

  Ticca ignored him. “My deepest gratitude, Queen Aibreann.”

  “Ye’re most welcome, Ticca.”

  Pie cooed from within the hood.

  “And ye as well, Pie. Heed this girl, mind ye.”

  Pie issued a single coo.

  Ticca turned and grinned at her grove mates.

  “Bree!” Renalth called out. “It’s time.”

  “Come, friends,” Aibreann said. “We’ve a tree ta plant and a friend ta remember. Wylla, dear, come up front wit
h me, if ye would.”

  “Aye, ma Queen, ’twould be ma honor.”

  Aibreann took her arm in hers. “I want us ta start this new life together in Freyn’s name.”

  Wylla broke down in tears.

  Aibreann gathered her up in an embrace. “There now.”

  “I miss her so.”

  “I know, dear, I know. It’ll never go, but after a time it’ll nae hurt so badly.”

  Wylla smiled sadly. “Gratitude, my Queen, fer what yer doin’ fer Freyn and fer everythin’ ye and the king’ve done fer our people.”

  “The Raskan people make it easy fer us ta care about them,” Aibreann said, “and we love ta do so.”

  “Bree!” Renalth called out again. “Sheep farts in aspic, woman! Can ye never be on time?”

  “Dinnae get yer knickers in a twist at me, Yer Highness!” she called right back and turned to the others. “Ooh, I could leather the arse on him some days. We best be gettin’ on or he’ll send in the king’s guard.”

  The ceremony got underway as soon as they arrived at the plot with fresh dirt around a hole waiting for a tree to be placed within. Wylla took part in the ceremony and spoke of Freyn after the loom sapling had been set and watered.

  Quinlan thought she looked better for doing so. He, too, missed Freyn’s presence and energy. He was pleased Kian was not hurt worse and they had no other casualties in the skirmish at Drifting Leaf. He wondered how they would fare in the days to come. Would others of his grove pay the cost with life or limb?

  The nearly summer-height sun was bright and warm as the Cetria of Green Rising was coming to a close and the Cetria of Na’veyja’s grace was about to begin. Quinlan had an uneasy feeling he should enjoy it while it lasted.

  *~*~*

  Chapter Eighteen

  Primerey Joseah awoke with a little less enthusiasm than usual, but she still loved mornings in the Great Marsh. The flaura mixed with the steam of the wetlands and the view was ignited into bright colors by the morning sunlight. She arose from her bed and prepared for her day.

  A young woman waited for her outside her bedchamber as she came out. “Lah ahm, Bekka.”

  “Lah ahm, Primerey,” the woman replied. “Did ye sleep well?”

  “Only well enough, I’m afraid, but the night has gone and the chance for more sleep has gone with it. I hope yours was pleasant?”

  “Aye, indeed, Primerey, even though youn’ Taryl did beat the rooster in both in risin’ and in loudness of cry.” She smiled happily.

  “Ah, ha ha, I remember when my children were newly born. The toughest pleasure a woman could hope to have.”

  “Right ye are there, ma’am.”

  “Shall we start our day?”

  “We shall, ma’am. Segoney Silari asked ta meet with ye after the mornin’ meal.”

  “Yes, very good.”

  The clamor of the meal hall grew louder the closer they approached it. Joseah loved this part of the day. She was always pleased to see her fellow druids coming together to share a meal and camaraderie. This morning, the hall was filled with the joyful sounds of laughter and happiness.

  Druids greeted her as she walked through, and she greeted them back, even stopping to talk here and there. They selected what they wanted to eat and found a spot at one of the many long tables in the hall. Everywhere she looked she saw bliss and contentment.

  We must prevail somehow, she thought but continued to speak cheerfully throughout the meal.

  Segoney Silari, her subordinate and close friend, waited for her at the hall entrance.

  “Lah ahm, Joseah.” He embraced her.

  “Lah ahm, Silari, you should have joined us.”

  “I’ve nae the stomach fer that now.” The look on his face said it all: there was bad news waiting.

  “Bekka, please inform my first appointment that I may be delayed.”

  “Aye, ma’am.” Bekka nodded to them before she left for the Primerey’s office.

  “Walk with me,” Joseah said.

  They walked into the herb gardens growing outside the meal hall and kitchen. Joseah sat on a bench by a fountain and Silari joined her.

  “The Wardens have received word—Freyn has been killed,” he said.

  Joseah closed her eyes tightly to hold back the tears of grief and frustration. “How?”

  “A skirmish with the dreyg.”

  “Did she make it to see Kenri?”

  “Aye, and more. Wylla and Freyn teamed up with Grove Seven out of the Northern West Conclave.”

  Her eyes snapped open and she looked at Silari. “Yes, and?”

  “Driftin’ Leaf has been saved.” He smiled widely.

  “Oh, thank Na’veyja!” Joseah said. “I knew Quinlan’s grove was the right one to send, but at such a sad cost. I am heartbroken.”

  “As am I, but the cause was great and she’d nae be dissuaded.”

  “Wylla?” she asked.

  “Alive. More heartbroken than we, I’d say.”

  “Yes, to be sure.”

  “There’s more. King Renalth has secured Raskan through and through. The disciple has been driven back ta Shaan. That’s two out of three. We may win this thin’ yet.”

  “Encouraging news indeed, my friend,” she said.

  “The Wardens report two dozen more blendin’ pairs have been trained and sent south ta Hearth’s Port.”

  “I must admit the Warden’s contingency plan seems to have some merit after all.”

  “’Twas all. I just thought ye’d want ta know about Freyn.”

  “Gratitude, Silari, you were right.”

  They left the herb garden and went about their separate duties. Joseah switched back and forth from being happy about the report and sad about it moments later. The conversations she’d had with Freyn crept into her mind attempting to steal her attention away from the morning’s appointments. By midafternoon, the entire conclave was abuzz with the news of Drifting Leaf’s salvation.

  Bekka came into the office. “Primerey, is it true, about Driftin’ Leaf?”

  “It appears so, yes. Northern West Grove Seven should be on the way home and I’m sure we’ll hear many grand tales of the adventure.”

  “I cannae wait. I hope there’s a gatherin’! I—oh!” Bekka was cut off by a rumble and a slight earth tremor.

  A knot of fear formed in Joseah’s stomach even though earth tremors had occurred in the region periodically.

  “Oh, my,” Bekka said after it passed.

  “Nothing to fear,” Joseah said. “Have the chief of personnel do a rounds check to be on the safe side.”

  “Aye, ma’am.”

  Bekka was barely to the door when a stronger tremor passed through the ground. Items on tables and shelves were jostled and tossed about before the tremor ceased.

  “Initiate safety proto—” Joseah was nearly thrown to the floor by the force of the next event.

  Loud cracks and crashes could be heard all around them.

  “Get everyone outside!” Joseah said.

  They managed to get to the hallway, telling everyone to evacuate the conclave hall.

  Druids poured out of every structure to find safety only to discover the falling trees outside to be just as dangerous. One druid was crushed by a large foundation limb from an upper walkway right in front of them.

  “Ah!” Bekka screamed and jumped backward.

  Joseah saw Silari close by. “Get everyone out of the trees and into the open fields of the farms!”

  “Aye!” he answered and yelled at the panicked throng to head to open spaces.

  The ground continued to tremble more frequently and a heavier shudder started up every few minutes.

  “Check every classroom. No child will be left,” Joseah directed some of her staff. “And clear the infirmary. Get everyone out of the trees! You two, escort Bekka to find her family.”

  “Gratitude, Primerey!” she said.

  “Go! I’ll find you later.” Joseah saw her off and turned to other urgencies.<
br />
  “Joseah!” Silari called to her.

  The tremors intensified and cracked the foundation trees of the conclave. Areas of the ground snapped apart while others cracked away and shifted in elevation. The heavier shudder made the ground jump under their feet.

  “Hurry!” Silari grabbed her hand.

  Together they scrambled up a stairway when a tremendous crack and rumble louder than a thousand thunders preceded the stairway falling away from under their feet. The ground they were on fell three stories in a series of rough drops over five seconds’ time. They both landed hard each time the ground fell away. Debris of all sizes, freed by the rending, crashed down around them. The tremors subsided and the ground became still.

  “Joseah?” she heard Silari call out.

  “I’m here!”

  Blood ran from a cut on her right forearm. Pain in her head, back, and neck on the left side made her aware of injuries there but none immediately critical.

  She got to her feet. “Silari, are you injured?”

  “Nae badly,” he replied from a ledge above her. He reached an arm down.

  She grabbed on and half climbed while he pulled her up to the ledge. They had to climb four more times but managed to make the top before more tremors dropped the section even farther. She turned to look behind them. The Central Conclave lay in rubble spread out down the steep wall of the newly formed gorge.

  “What…?” Silari said when he saw the scope of the destruction.

  The massive series of earth tremors had consumed all the Great Marsh and the entire complex of the four conclave halls, opening a sinkhole the size of a deep river gorge.

  Joseah cried for the hundreds of friends and fellow druids who had to have perished in such devastation, as well as the animals of the forest who had fallen victim to this attack on the druids’ complex.

  “All of it—gone,” Silari said. “How can this be?”

  “Fairtheora, they are after the oak tree.”

  “What? Ye think his disciples did this?”

  “Yes, they are trying to free him from under the ground and we are powerless to stop them!”