by Sarah Noffke
“Finally.” Azure shook her head at his antics. “Let’s get moving. We’ve got to get to Terran.”
The Gnome appeared beside her, looking up at her. “Why are you traveling through the Dark Forest to a forbidden land?”
“And what is your name?” she asked, bending down to look the creature straight in the eyes.
He ground his teeth and narrowed his eyes. “Gillian,” he whispered under his breath.
“What was that?” Monet asked loudly.
“Gillian,” the Gnome said louder this time.
Azure smiled at Monet and looked directly at the Gnome. “Gillian, it is nice to meet you. We are going to the Land of Terran to find someone or something, really. That’s as much as I can tell you.” She rose and could see that the forest ahead where before there had only been blinding light. The angel oak was allowing them entry.
“Well, little guy, thanks for all the help. Oh, wait! That’s right, you were zero help at all,” Monet snarled at the Gnome.
“I’m not here to help you. Our job is to ensure that rules are observed and followed,” Gillian told him proudly.
“And you do a fine job of it,” Azure agreed, keeping her eyes on the landscape ahead. She was ready to set off—time was running out to help her mother. “Come on, Monet. Let’s go.”
They’d only moved a few paces when Azure heard another set of footsteps at her back. She turned to find Gillian behind her, his green eyes focused on her as she paused.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I happen to be going this way too,” he said simply.
“Oh really? It wouldn’t be that you’re following us to ensure we don’t break any rules?” Monet asked the Gnome.
“If I were, it would be simply coincidental,” Gillian stated.
“And you’re definitely not following to find out why we’re traveling to the Land of Terran, right?” Monet asked.
“If I find out, then so be it. It might be better for everyone if I knew. I could be useful,” Gillian declared, sounding disinterested.
“I’m honored to have you along.” Azure trudged forward.
“I’m not—”
“Thanks for joining us, Gillian. We could really use your expertise.” She cut him off. A soft growling sound came from the flower on his hat, but she simply smiled at the angry poppy and continued her trek through the Dark Forest.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“It’s good to know that if there’s anything just barely out of my reach, then Gillian can stand on my shoulders and most likely grab it,” Monet said, whistling as he strode along. The landscape of the forest kept shifting, sometimes growing suddenly denser and just as quickly sparse again.
“Ignore him, Gillian. I hear he has small wand syndrome and that’s why he’s easily intimidated,” Azure said, looking down at the Gnome.
The Gnome didn’t hear them, as he trudged forward, easily handling the large roots on the ground.
“If anyone is overcompensating it’s the witch about to lose her crown,” Monet said, scoffing.
Gillian’s ears perked up and he pulled the pad and a pen from his breast pocket and scribbled more notes.
The three walked in silence for the better part of an hour. Azure was surprised that no creatures jumped out at them and no vines tried to strangle them. It was actually quite perplexing. Once she even spied two eyes in the trees overhead, menace clearly written in them, but when she got Monet’s attention and turned back, the eyes were gone.
“Beginner’s luck,” Gillian muttered under his breath.
Azure whirled to the face the Gnome. “What did you say?”
“I don’t repeat myself.’” He pushed the pad of notes back into his pocket.
“You said, ‘beginner’s luck.’ You think just because we’re new to the forest that we’re having some sort of strange luck. That just because we don’t know about the supposed dangers, they are strangely not affecting us? That’s not fair. We’re—”
A farting sound, loud and long, cut Azure off. She wrinkled her face and turned toward the noise. A long pit of mud was at their backs, bubbling and popping. A moment later a swirling section emitted a cloud of smoke, and with it another farting sound.
“Sinner’s Muck.” Gillian pointed at the swamp of mud, almost smiling.
“You said…”
“Beginner’s luck!”
“Wait….”
“Sinner’s Muck”
“He’s doing it on purpose,” said Monet.
“Oh, never mind.”
“That too.” The Gnome tilted his head and smiled.
“What’s that?” Azure pinched her nose. The smell rising from the farting mud was increasingly awful.
“I believe our little bald headed friend called it Sinner’s Muck. I’m guessing our past wrongs are about to come back to haunt us.” Monet elbowed Azure in the side, a half-smile on his face.
“Actually, Wizard, you are incorrect. Earlier, you were asked to leave something behind to progress and you paid the toll to the Angel Oak. In this part in the forest, you’ll have to cross the muck,” Gillian told him, and quickly clapped his hand to his mouth.
“Oh, did you accidentally find yourself helpful? Poor you,” Monet teased the Gnome.
“What happens when we cross it?” Azure asked, looking at Gillian. He just pressed his mouth into a hard line and didn’t make eye contact.
“You’re the most unhelpful tagalong there ever was,” Monet declared.
“Will you at least nod your head if I’m correct?” she asked the Gnome.
He crossed his arms in front of his chest, his face remaining stoney.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Azure said. “Before we left something behind. I’m guessing now we take something with us? Is it based on how much we’ve sinned? Like the more bad things we’ve done, the more mud sticks to our shoes?”
Gillian lifted his chin into the air, acting like he didn’t hear the question, but with the tiniest of nods, his eyes looking up at the great canopy overhead.
“Who said Gnomes were unhelpful? They’re just reluctant when we’re facing uncertain dangers,” Monet said, pulling his robes up so they didn’t brush the ground. “After you, Princess.”
“Oh, you’re such a damn coward, Monet. I won’t be surprised if you come out of this pit of mud covered from head to toe.” Azure marched forward. Her first step into the mud made a hissing sound. The steam rising from the swampy pit was warm, maybe even hot. Her boot sank deep before finding solid ground. She pulled up her foot, the effort making a squelching sound, as she took another step.
“I wonder if we could have used magic to get across?” Monet asked as he entered the sludge.
Azure turned to laugh at her friend, but behind him Gillian shook his head. “I don’t think the Dark Forest will allow us to cheat our way through it,” she said, winking at the Gnome before turning back around and taking another treacherous step. Each step made her think she’d slip and fall into the foul mess. It smelled even worse once she was in it, and the constant farting sounds were making Monet chuckle.
“This is by far the most revolting thing I’ve done today,” Azure said.
“You only have five more feet of pit left,” said Monet.
Azure’s boots where covered in mud, but it wasn’t caked on like she’d expected. She turned when she was on solid ground to find that Monet wasn’t as fortunate.
The mud was clear up to where his boots met his socks, seeping in. On the bottom of his boots was two inches of thick black mud, making each of his steps more uncertain. On his last step, his eyes widened and he teetered for a moment, looking as if he were close to falling over.
Azure reached out and grabbed his robe, tugging him to the solid ground where she stood. He used the momentum to move quickly in her direction, not stopping until he’d taken extra steps away from the pit. Once on dry land, he let out a long roar and shook his fists at his boots.
“What a mess,”
he complained. His boots were caked with stinky mud, still releasing bits of steam. At once he started shuffling his boots across the ground, leaving behind tracks of mud.
Azure laughed, relieved to be across, looking down at her own boots. They weren’t clean by any means, but they also weren’t covered. Just a fine layer of mud around the sides. She pointed her wand at her boots, but catching sight of Gillian on the other side of the pit, she changed her mind.
“No magic,” she agreed reluctantly. “Got it.”
The Gnome nodded his head. She wasn’t sure what would have happened if she had used magic to clean her boots, but she guessed it would have been more unpleasant than making the effort to rub her boots against a nearby rock until they were clean.
After a few moments, Azure was reasonably happy with the look of her boots. She was also thoroughly annoyed with the sputtering growls that emanated from Monet every few seconds. He’d been working to clean his boots, but still had far to go.
Azure was surprised when Gillian walked to her side, his shoes clean. “How’d you get across without getting dirty?” she asked.
“Maybe Gnomes don’t ever do anything wrong,” Monet said, his attention still on his boots. He had a stick in his hand and was poking at the grooves in the soles, trying to clear all the mud.
Azure turned back to the Sinner’s Muck and to her surprise, six elephant-ear leaves were lying in a path across the pit.
“What? You used leaves to get across the mud?” she asked Gillian.
“It can’t be just any leaves,” the Gnome said, holding up one finger.
“Why didn’t you tell us that was an option?” Monet asked, angry.
The Gnome shrugged, pursing his lips. “It didn’t occur to me to share the information.”
“Okay, well, the next time you know something that can save our lives or keep us from smelling like shit, would you mind passing along the bit of wisdom?” Monet requested, tossing the stick into the pit of bubbling mud.
“I don’t make promises,” Gillian said, taking the lead and trudging off, his leather shoes pristine.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Azure still found it strange that they’d traveled a great distance into the Dark Forest and weren’t met by any other creatures. She expected to fight some sort of diabolical beast by now, but so far the forest was silent. Several times she heard something jumping through the trees overhead, but when she looked up there was only a faint glow of leaves. The rest was darkness.
“Is anyone else getting hungry?” Monet asked, walking beside Azure. “I’m hoping that your gran packed some roast beef sandwiches for you to share. But sure, I’ll give you some cheese dust in exchange, if I must,” he offered.
“Always so kind. I’m shocked you had so much Sinner’s Muck stuck to the bottom of your boots,” she said.
“You wouldn’t be if you heard the things I say behind your back,” he told her.
“Up ahead there is an adequate place to take a break,” Gillian offered.
Monet caught Azure’s eyes. “Adequate, like it’s not a place where we’ll be eaten alive… maybe.”
“Thank you, Gillian. I appreciate you sharing that,” she said, ignoring her best friend.
Sure enough, a clearing came into view shortly. A lawn of mowed grass met their feet, a strange contrast to the overgrown forest they’d been hiking through. The sunlight filled the grassy yard dotted with thousands of stone statues. They were spread out in all directions. Each one was of a person. A man. A woman. An elf. A troll. There were creatures of all types in perfectly carved, stone form.
“Where are we?” Azure asked, taken aback by the beauty of the statue garden. The number of stone figures spread out around the space was making her uneasy.
Gillian remained silent, his hands behind his back and his lips buzzing slightly from a gentle hum.
“Well, the garden Gnome obviously knows, but he’s not going to be helpful. Maybe if I turn him to stone as well?” Monet reached for his wand.
“No, you don’t.” Azure shook her head. “You know it’s not in a Gnome’s nature to be helpful. He’s only along to gather information. We should just forget he’s here altogether.”
Azure strolled forward, her cape catching slightly on the statues as she crossed the lawn. She barely caught the look that flashed across Gillian’s face—disappointment. That’s right, no creature is an island. She knew that.
“What an odd place,” Monet remarked, high-fiving a statue of a man. The statue wore a look of horror. They all looked as though they’d seen something incredibly scary. Who carved these frightened figures, and why?
Monet dropped down on a patch of ground that wasn’t littered with statues of Pixies or Orcs and patted the grass. “Azure my love, won’t you please take a seat next to me?”
She spun to face him and noted the devilish grin. “I do believe your stomach is making you grossly polite.”
“It’s true. Can I bum a sandwich off you? I’ll pay you back tenfold,” he asked.
“In our next life, right?” she replied, untying her cape and folding it up. She set her bag down on the ground and settled next to it.
“What did Granny make for us?” Monet leaned over her shoulder, impatient.
“In just a moment I’ll let you know what my gran made for me to eat,” she told him.
“Oh, come on. You know that loony woman would have guessed I’d be accompanying you on this trek,” he said.
“Rumored loony. How did you know Gran packed my bag, anyway?” She handed him something wrapped in parchment and tied with a brown string that felt like a sandwich. Actually, there were quite a few extra. She took one for herself, laying it in her lap, and kept digging. The next parcel she pulled out had something written on the parchment.
‘For any little creatures who decide to tag along.’
“Well, now, that’s just creepy,” Monet said, reading the words over Azure’s shoulder. He took a large bite of his sandwich and looked at Gillian. The Gnome was several yards away inspecting a statue.
“The spirits packed some extra sandwiches for you, little man,” Monet said through a mouthful of bread and roast beef. He wiped the side of his mouth with a delighted smile. “Mmm…horseradish. That’s my favorite. Glad I thought to add it to the sandwiches.”
Azure smiled at Monet, strangely glad he was there. No, he’s not especially helpful yet, but he’s always great for morale. There was something about the white-haired guy with the pale green eyes that kept her smiling. Probably his rude behavior. Makes me look like a saint in comparison.
“Gillian, you do have to eat. Please join us,” Azure said, holding up the sandwich.
“Even if he’s as unhelpful as a three-day old splinter,” Monet whispered over his shoulder to Azure.
She took three bites of her sandwich before chewing, not realizing until that moment how hungry she’d been.
“It is true that I am hungry. I do appreciate the offer.” He withdrew a flask from his pocket and offered it to Azure. “A contribution to the meal,” Gillian said, a bit of blush on his freckled face.
“Thank you.” She took the flask and paused before putting it to her lips. The container was small, and she feared she’d down all its contents with one sip. However, when the warm buttery liquid met her lips she yanked the flask away. It was strong, like honeysuckle mead.
“Only a drop will be enough. More is a potential hazard,” said Gillian.
“You drink this stuff?” she asked the Gnome, handing the flask to Monet, who was eying it hungrily.
“We do. It doesn’t take much to get us going, and therefore it’s a smart investment,” the Gnome said.
Monet shook the empty bottle in front of Azure’s face a moment later. “That was delightful,” he mumbled, his words already slurring.
“Damn it, Monet, you finished it!” she said, turning to her friend.
“Finished it? I took a single swallow!” He hiccupped.
“Don’t worry, P
rincess Azure.” Gillian pulled another flask from his pocket. “I always travel with two, and your friend will be fine. I dare say he’ll be happier than two nightingales on the evening of the full moons.”
The Gnome unscrewed the lid from the flask and took a long sip. A smile, albeit a small one, appeared on his mouth when he finished drinking. He handed it to Azure, who took it, smelling the thick, sweet liquid inside the container as she did.
Monet slid down to lie on his back at her side. He was giggling, feeling drunk. It made her happy and she tossed back her head and took an actual drink of the liquor, enjoying the way it coated her tongue and made her insides warm. She handed the flask back to Gillian, and realized that the Gnome was watching her.
“What?” she asked, wiping the sides of her mouth.
“The Virgoans are a strong breed of witches and wizards,” he said.
“We like to think we are the strongest,” she said.
“Why would their soon-to-be queen, someone in one of the most prestigious roles on Oriceran, venture into the Land of Terran, a place that isn’t at all safe for her?” he asked.
She knew it. Curiosity was eating him up.
“Do you know how give-and-take works, dear Gillian?” she asked him, conscious that Monet was snoring on her other side.
“Yes, it is detailed in many books,” the Gnome said.
“How about I give you part of the reason I’m venturing to the Land of Terran and you tell me what this statue place is all about?”
“The Dryads’ Garden,” he corrected.
“See, we’re already making progress,” she replied with a wink. Azure caught a flash of clothing on the far side of the garden—something green and blue. It was gone as soon as she saw it, but her curious focus caught Gillian’s attention. She shook her head, the liquor making it feel heavy.
“This is more of a prison than a garden,” Gillian said, earning Azure’s full attention. “There are many who look after the Dark Forest. Each has their own rules. Some are fair. Some offer those who violate the forest a chance at redemption. However, there’s a group of rogue dryads who aren’t as forgiving.”