by Taylor Fray
Hanford scrunched his brow and nose. “I think you’re the one who has a lot to lose, you pale bolliwag. The forest domains have remained neutral to the Black Hand. Not that my queen hasn’t been willing to fight you scoundrels, but that she has promised others not to involve their domains by fighting openly. But if you so much as ruffle one of the hairs on this pair seeking refuge, then you will be attacking the queen’s realm, and all the forest domains will have a reason to spite you. I don’t believe you would survive, either the forest’s anger, or even the anger of your own Black Hand leaders when they realize you dragged entire kingdoms into war against them.”
Gestaffos seemed to consider that for a long moment, then the flame on his hand died down. His two bodyguards lowered their weapons as the stone golems towered over them.
“Go now,” Hanford said. “And consider it a good day that you left here with all your heads upright.”
“We’ll see about that, you fairy loving snatch,” Gestaffos hissed as he glided away into the darkness. His two bodyguards looked like after images as they too darted into the forest at an inhuman speed.
As she saw them go, Morgan felt as if her heart was finally beating again. But now she looked at creatures who, though less menacing, were just as strange as the ones who had just left. The giant stone golems walked a few paces, making the ground shake, surrounding Morgan and Zak like a protective Stonehenge. The glowing green faeries fluttered like agitated hornets.
“Make sure they’re gone far, far away,” Hanford said to the cloud of faeries. With that, the vast majority of them buzzed off in the direction that Gestaffos had fled, though some stayed hovering like fireflies near Hanford. He looked at Zak. “Zak of the 13 Moons, what brings you to these parts, and why are you always pursued by monsters of one kind or another?”
“Destiny and all its twists, Hanford,” Zak said, greeting him with a hearty handshake. “And I suppose we’re pursued… by what we are.” Morgan noticed that he spoke differently to Hanford, the way someone might speak differently to someone from another culture.
“Oh, come now. That’s glum talk. Stay in the queen’s realm for a time, and it’ll brighten you till you’re starshine.” He looked at Morgan then. “And you’re welcome to visit as well, lass.”
“This is Morgan,” Zak said. “She grew up only knowing the human world, though she is a wolfblood. We were seeking safe passage to Grey Home.”
“Thank you for your help,” Morgan said. “You came just in time before things got really ugly.”
“The trees whisper things, and Fae love to hear gossip. It travels faster than the wind. As soon as any magic creatures enter the forest, I find out. It’s my duty to find out, since I’m its keeper.”
“So you’re… the king then?” Morgan asked.
“Oh, no no no, I’m a servant of Queen Lyra. It’s her domain. I merely keep it for her. Speak of which, I should mend this gate.”
He turned to the two charred trees. Fixing his gaze on them, he raised his staff and green magic sparks swirled around it. This magic enveloped the two trees. It began healing them; before Morgan’s eyes, new bark began growing, new leaves began sprouting and the runic symbols returned to the trees once more. Then a doorway opened. It was made of a green light, and was like an ornate doorframe emblazoned with stylized leaves swirling around it. The glowing green light lit up their faces.
“It’s… amazing,” Morgan said, her eyes wide, lips parted.
“I’m only mending what the queen’s magic created,” Hanford said. “Luckily those troublemakers didn’t destroy the gate altogether or I’d be at a loss.”
“We can really go into… another world if we step through?” Morgan’s mind was swimming with the wild thought.
“You could say that, yes.” Hanford scratched his beard. “Certainly a part of the world very few humans have ever visited.” The cloud of green fairies returned after having chased after the three beasts. They spoke something to Hanford, their language sounding like chimes playing in the wind—it was indecipherable to Morgan. “Looks like the beasts have left the borders of the forest,” Hanford said. “We should head back to the queen’s realm, it’s not good for all these Fae folk to be out in the human world long.”
“Hanford,” Zak said. “I would like to ask you, though it’s burdening you even more, if some gnomes could take care of my vehicle. It’s just up the path. Silver. The only one in sight. It’s just that we’ll need it to be in one piece to get back to Grey Home.”
“Yes of course it’s not a problem—we’ll take care of your steed.” Hanford looked up at the buzzing faeries. “Chynzinia, Moggensen, Ruu,” he said, calling three fairies by name. “Fetch some gnomes to make sure the silver-metal-machine-steed is hidden from humans. It’s up the path toward the human road.” The trio of fairies responded with what sounded like chimes mixed with grinding glass. “Don’t start with me and all that machine-hate-talk! You won’t have to touch it! You just have to tell the gnomes! They’ll take care of it.” The way Hanford waved his arms reminded Morgan of a boss trying to convince his employees to do something they didn’t like doing. Their response sounded like grudging acceptance, and they buzzed away in search of gnomes.
“I didn’t mean to trouble them,” Zak said.
“Oh don’t you mind,” Hanford said. “They’re like that all the time, those three. Just remember to ask where the gnomes hid it once you’re ready to leave or all you will find of it will be stones and leaves.” It sounded as if they were going to disguise it by some kind of magic. “And you, great earth people,” he said to the enormous stone golems. “Please stay here. Guard this gate and the borders of this forest. Sleep here and watch, sleep here and listen.” With the sound of stone churning against stone they nodded their two-ton heads and they sank back into the earth. Some of them moved along the earth like giant stone gophers raising small clumps of dirt as they traveled under the surface, spreading out to the edges of the forest.
“Come,” Hanford motioned to Morgan and Zak. “Come rest.”
Morgan and Zak looked at each other. “It’ll be nice, not to be running from something, at least one night,” Zak said to her. Morgan nodded back, liking the sound of safety and comfort for once.
Morgan walked up to the gate. She watched as Hanford and the faeries plunged through. Zak waited behind her, giving her time to work up the will to walk through the doorway. He stepped close to her, lightly put his hand on her waist, and grabbed her hand with his other. She took a breath and they plunged in together. She felt as if she were stepping through a waterfall, but instead of rushing water it was just a current of energy, waves of energy, surging through her for a brief moment. And then she was through with Zak and Hanford. What she saw then was the most beautiful landscape she had ever seen. Everything was blue-green, lush. Green mountains and waterfalls dotted the landscape in the distance, and closer were white stone paths that wound through small hills. Fairies of various colors hovered in the air like drifting fireworks. Here and there gleaming white towers rose into the sky like guardians, and brown-domed houses dotted the hills. The night sky looked different somehow, like it was glowing with a subtle magic.
“This is Managhen, queen Lyra’s domain.” Hanford said.
“I’ve been feeling like I’m in a dream the last few days,” Morgan said. “And now, I know I am.” She smiled in disbelief as she took in the surreal sight of this place.
“Life is but a dream, as they say,” Hanford answered.
The three of them walked along a white stone path, Morgan taking in the sight of rainbow fish leaping in bright blue streams, flowers that seemed to change colors, and curious miniature fairies with ornate dresses hovering around her and Zak.
“Have you been here before?” Morgan asked Zak.
“Once. A long time ago.”
“When you said you knew a safe place that we could stop on the way, that was a bit of an understatement.”
“Well if I said we’re stopping a
t a magical fairy kingdom you probably would have given me that disapproving look you get sometimes.”
Morgan looked at him with that exact disapproving look. “You’re right. I would have.” They shared a smile and kept walking. Finally, they were someplace that wasn’t horrifying.
“Tonight you can both stay in my guesthouse, that you can,” Hanford said.
“Really Hanford, it’s not too much trouble?” Zak asked.
“Oh of course not. Maggie and I love having guests.”
“Maggie, is that your wife?” Morgan asked.
“Yes indeed. 98 years now. Two more and I have the big one. A lot of pressure on me there is. Going to have to go all the way to the moon to get her the right present. I tell you.”
They walked a mile or so until they reached a house that was built out of the side of a small cliff. It had a wooden statue of a bear standing at the doorway. Morgan noticed that it was just like the one at Bradley Oak’s inn.
“You did say we were visiting a relative of Bradley’s,” Morgan said.
“You know Bradley?” Hanford asked.
“We stayed at his inn on the way here,” Zak answered.
“That cousin, always preferring the human ways. How is he these days?” Hanford dug in his pocket and brought out an enormous ring of keys. Morgan wouldn’t have been surprised if he was carrying ten pounds worth of keys on him.
“He’s very happy, as all of you Oaks.”
“He’d be happier here, I tell you.” Hanford opened the massive wooden door to his home. “Welcome, welcome, come on in and make yourselves at home.” He held the door open and Morgan and Zak stepped in.
“Wow, this is beautiful,” Morgan said as she took in the sight of his home. The stone inside the house had been carved smooth, and decorative flares had been chiseled here and there along with nooks for displaying pretty plants. It was stonework that would have taken decades or centuries back in the human world. The room they entered in was large and open with a big woven tapestry hanging on the back wall, a wide hearth, and a rug that seemed to be made of some kind of dried grass. The seats were plush and cushioned with translucent orbs filled with a honey colored gel, which made sitting on them like sitting on a waterbed. Two stone staircases spiraled out from either direction of that room, and one of them resounded with footsteps.
“Maggie? Come and meet our lovely guests,” Hanford said to the woman who was descending the stairs. She was sturdy and plump, with happiness on her pretty face. Brown curls surrounded her cheeks and a ringlet held them down. She wore a blue dress with black and white hems and sleeves. Sparkling jewelry dotted her frame here and there.
“Hanford, you should have told me—I would have prepared a feast!” Maggie said hurrying down the rest of the steps.
“No need, but that’s very kind of you,” Zak said.
Maggie walked up to the trio. “Hello,” she said as she patted down her dress and her curly hair. “Welcome.”
“Maggie, this is Zak… of the 13 moons clan,” Hanford said. “And his companion Morgan, a wolf blood just like him.”
“Oh, hello,” Maggie said, her face a little startled as she looked at Zak. “You’re… Gustav’s son then?”
“Yes, I am,” Zak answered, trying to stay composed at Maggie’s discomfort as she realized his lineage.
She shook off the lapse in cheer. “Welcome! Welcome! It’s so good to have fellow Shifters around. It’s rare any come visiting anymore. What with the troubles out there. Oh but I should offer you a taste and a pint at least! Oh yes I should!” Maggie scurried about, going into the kitchen to prepare some food for her guests.
“Really, don’t trouble yourself,” Zak pleaded.
“Hey, why not be a little more gracious?” Morgan asked him. “You’re a bad guest if you don’t accept a host’s welcome.”
Zak raised an eyebrow. “Since when are you Miss propriety?”
“You don’t need propriety to know that.”
“Oh don’t you mind,” Hanford said, a little flustered at the whole situation. “It’s custom here. And we rarely get to enjoy the company of visitors these days, especially fellow Shifters like Maggie said.” He made himself busy and began lighting the fireplace in the center of the room. “Sit, sit.” He motioned to the big stone seats with the fluid cushions.
Morgan plopped down on one of the seats, and felt the most comfortable cushion she’d ever sat on. She sank just enough that her entire back seemed to rest with just a moment’s sit. Zak followed and soon Maggie was back from the kitchen with an enormous platter full of grapes, biscuits, fruit juice, a big block of cheese, cookies and pies, a casserole, bread and jam, vegetables with wedges of lemon and spices, and all kinds of food that Morgan didn’t recognize but that got her mouth watering like a hydrant.
“Just a little something to hold you over. If you’d like I can prepare a proper supper,” Maggie said, as if hoping that they would still be hungry so she could indulge them in her cooking.
“Oh wow,” Morgan said as she munched on a piece of pie, a kind of berry flavor she had never tasted but that she knew would make a billion dollars if it were sold back in the human world. “Really Maggie, I think this will be plenty.”
“Yes, thank you so much,” Zak said. “Please, join us. Enjoy the fruits of your own labor.”
“Oh believe me,” Maggie said as she sat down, “I enjoy them a regulars.”
“I haven’t tasted Fae food in years,” Zak said as he took a bite of fruit.
“Well I’m glad you could have it again,” Maggie said. “But really both of you must try this Oroberry juice. I made it fresh this afternoon.”
Curious, Morgan took a swig of it. “Wow,” she said, feeling as if liquid bliss was pouring into her mouth. “I’ve never tasted anything like it.” Maggie smiled to hear that.
“Thank you again for intervening, Hanford,” Zak said. “I don’t know how things would have turned out back there if you hadn’t.”
Maggie looked back and forth between Hanford and Zak with concern. “It’s alright, dear,” Hanford said as if sensing her worry. “It was just some Black Hand nasties, troublemakers you know. But they’re gone gone gone now. Nothing to be worried about.”
“Yes, thanks to your husband,” Zak said. Maggie beamed at that.
“Oh, just tending to my duties. And what news have you of the 13 Moons Clan?”
“Well… to be honest,” Zak said, “I am still an outcast. And so, I don’t know much of the news. But likely, it’s as always. Drinking, fighting, protecting the veil and the clan laws, and breaking them too. Lots of fighting the Black Hand trying to gain glory, trying to gain renown and glory to find a mate. You know how it goes.”
“Yes, yes. Wolves will be wolves as they say.” Hanford nodded. “And what about you, Morgan, are you looking forward to joining the 13 Moons?”
“Well,” Morgan said, looking back and forth between Hanford and Zak. “I haven’t really decided what I’ll do. I’m very new to all this. You know just last week I was a girl living in Brooklyn.”
Everyone shared a laugh. “Oh my that is amazing. And this must be like a dizzy crazy dream,” Maggie said. “To go from New York to here.”
“You know New York? I mean, you know the human world?”
“Yes, of course,” Maggie said. “Both of us were born here, but we lived there a bit. It was a long time ago now, but I still remember what it was like there.” She smiled at Hanford. “A lot of us bear Shifters choose to live in the Fae realms, but some here and there live human side. But it seems there are fewer of us these days.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Morgan said. “I hope things get better.”
“And what news here?” Zak asked. “What news of the queen?”
“The queen is the queen, as always, everything is at her fingertips. But you know even here the world is becoming harder. And the weight is on her shoulders. The last centuries, the last decades, all very hard on the Fae lands, what with humans
turning the world into one big machine. Used to be that fairies would travel freely to the human world and some even live there. Not no more. Only the bravest Fae even travel there now. And used to be there was no need to protect our borders so much and now, like you saw, we have to have keepers like me and golems and armies at the ready it seems. And all the Fae kingdoms on the whole just want to be left alone to live in peace. Some see things like the war with the Black Hand as things they should keep out of. Queen Lyra is good and brave but she cannot act against the will of the other kingdoms without hurting her own. And so she stays neutral and defends her subjects as best she can.”
“Wars find a way of coming to your doorstep,” Zak said.
“You may be right, Zak, you may be right. But who can sway a Fae queen?”
“True.”
“Well at least we’re lucky enough to visit here,” Morgan said.
“Everything here is amazing, especially the food.” She had gulped down the juice and was now trying some kind of candied yams.
They talked for a little while longer. Hanford and Maggie convincing them that they should stay as much as they would like. Morgan and Zak only responded that they would love to but it would probably only be for one night, as they should keep heading to Grey Home the next day. “Well, we’ll let the two of you rest and get a good noggin’s sleep,” Hanford said.
Zak and Morgan said goodnight to Maggie. Then they followed Hanford along a winding tunnel that ran through the cliff his house was attached to. The tunnel was carved out of the sheer stone, and lit naturally by crystals embedded in it that gave off a mellow purple light. When they made it to the other side of the tunnel they emerged to a valley. An azure-colored lake was at the center of it, and small hills and forest surrounded it. Overlooking all of it, and near the end of the tunnel they emerged from, was Hanford’s guesthouse, which was a domed structure made of smooth, sturdy wood and painted bright blue and white. Hanford unlocked it and let Zak and Morgan in, lighting the crystal lights in the house. It was decorated much like Hanford’s house, with woven tapestries and bulbous cushioned seats, but it seemed a bit less alien to Morgan as it was made of wood primarily, and had glass windows much like the world back home. He showed them inside and bid them goodnight.