Soul Stone Mage Complete Collection Boxed Set

by Sarah Noffke

  “He just wants to be like us, sitting in a chair.” Gillian’s voice was sympathetic, although he flinched with annoyance when the unicorn fumbled, dropping the chair to the floor yet again.

  “Yeah, like that’s totally not weird,” Monet said and leaned forward, his voice low. “No wonder the herd got rid of him. Now he’s our problem.”

  “He’ll be fine. He’s just excited about his new life with us,” Azure offered, finally pulling her eyes away from the commotion. Her eyes briefly connected with Richard’s. She’d asked him to sit in on the meeting and consider taking a formal position as one of the members. She didn’t trust him yet, but her instinct told her that the more diversity she had on the cabinet, the better. “Anyway, down to business. Approximately half our clan has been infected with the virus. Some have started to lose magic already. It’s unclear how fast-acting the virus is. We need to find a cure, but currently the alchemists are stumped. And without Charmsgood, I fear there will be no breakthroughs.”

  “Are you still planning on searching for the Book of Branches?” Gran asked.

  “Yes. Although a cure is my first goal, I think we need to also be working on defensive measures,” Azure said, nodding.

  “I think that would be smart. The virus, according to Emeri, took a few weeks to completely rob her of her magic. That gives us some time, which you’re going to need.” Gran still had her gaze on the unicorn as she spoke. He now had his teeth around one of the legs of the chair and was rocking it back to a standing position.

  “You have to give him credit. He’s tenacious,” Ever commented, also intently watching Blisters.

  Azure snapped at her cabinet members. “Focus, people!”

  “Right,” Gran sputtered, tearing her attention away. “Honestly, I’ve been searching for a cure for this virus since Emeri contracted it. I’m not hopeful that anyone inside Virgo has the solution.”

  Turning her head to the side, Azure regarded the queen mother with a discerning stare. “That insinuates that there’s someone outside Virgo who has the answer.”

  “Oh good, you’re paying attention. That’s more than I can say for most in this room,” Gran said, flicking her hand in Monet’s and Gillian’s direction. Richard’s nervous eyes were trained on Azure; he was giving her almost too much quiet attention.

  Blisters stood just in front of the now-righted chair, heaving ragged breaths. He was about to make his second attempt to sit it.

  “Sorry, Queen Azure. I’ve been listening to every word.” Gillian turned, putting his back to the unicorn and staring at Sari. “Where outside Virgo do you think we should look for a cure?”

  “Well, since you’re already heading to the mountains, I would say you should pay Mage Lenore a visit,” Gran said casually.

  A loud laugh spluttered from Monet’s mouth. He slid back from the table and doubled over, slapping his knee. “Oh, that’s a good one. Next we’re going to change the rotation of Oriceran, and then we’ll lasso a star and completely relocate this planet to a new galaxy.”

  Gran narrowed her lavender eyes at the laughing wizard. “Just because no one living has ever seen Mage Lenore, that doesn’t mean that making her acquaintance is impossible.”

  “Right.” Monet’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “It’s settled, then. We’ll just hike up to the top of the Mountain of Truth, knock on the oldest witch in history’s door, and ask her to help us out with our problem. Why didn’t I think of that?”

  “Because you’re a moron,” Sari said before turning her attention back to Azure. “I think Mage Lenore is the only one who will know the cure to this virus. Your only other solution is to find the rogue dryads and have them intimidate the humans of Terran into giving you the cure.”

  “Richard? Can you offer anything on this subject?” Azure asked, her tone clipped.

  He shook his head. “The virus, as you know, was created and unleashed without my knowledge. I’ll let you know if something comes to mind, though.”

  “Just because the virus came from Terran doesn’t mean the humans have the cure,” Gillian offered.

  “Exactly. Which is why I vote that you track down Mage Lenore,” Gran said.

  “But no one has ever been able to find her.” Defeat had slipped into Azure’s voice.

  “Most haven’t tried. Mage Lenore asked long ago not to be found. She delivers our Howling Willow wands in exchange for privacy on the Mountain of Truth,” Gran explained.

  “What if I break that agreement by searching her out?” Azure asked.

  “I’d much rather the witches and wizards of Virgo not have wands than lose their magic,” Gran said, her eyes skirting to Blisters. He was inching the chair into place from the floor, trying to situate it close to the table.

  “Yes, that makes sense.” Azure’s wand had been delivered decades ago, just before her magic started. That wand now rested on the table in front of her. It was an extension of her, but she would rather have her magic than the wand.

  “So, Queen Mother, you must have some idea of how we can find Mage Lenore,” Ever said.

  “Of course I do.” Gran reached into her robe and withdrew a purple amethyst crystal ball. “This once belonged to Mage Lenore. If my suspicions are correct, which they undoubtedly are, then the crystal ball will assist you in finding her.”

  “Will we see visions of where to go, or will it light up when we’re close?” Azure asked.

  Gran shrugged. “I actually have no idea, but I’ll be curious to know when, or rather, if you return.”

  “You are one morbid old witch,” Monet said, shaking his head at her.

  “Well, the mountains are dangerous—you all know that. And the Mountain of Truth isn’t a place many return from.” Gran handed the crystal ball to Azure, who eyed the mist swirling inside it.

  “Okay, so it’s settled. We’ll set off at first light tomorrow morning for the Mountain of Truth and, contingent upon our survival, we’ll search for the Book of Branches,” Azure said, rising to a standing position while cradling the crystal ball with both hands. She stared down at her father. She didn’t know how to feel about him yet. As his daughter she wanted to push him away, but as the queen of Virgo she knew keeping him close would be wise. She hoped that he would be able to offer insights, due to his expertise, that otherwise she would not have access to.

  “Sounds like I need to go stock up. I’m off to the Dark Market,” Monet said, stretching up into a standing position.

  The rest of the cabinet members pushed up or away from the table, all exchanging cautious stares before turning their attention on the unicorn. Blisters, with slow grace, jumped from the floor and landed on the chair. He looked around the table, a victorious smile on his face. “I’m ready for the meeting,” the little unicorn said with his bright eyes shining.

  “And this meeting is adjourned.” Monet laughed, swinging the door to the room open.

  Chapter Nine

  Azure held the fidget spinner between her fingers. It was a useless item, but strangely she’d found herself addicted to playing with it. Rotating the spinner on her fingers was somehow calming. Humans created the strangest things, like this one. They also created wonderful things, like frozen yogurt.

  “Who’s ready for this impossible mission?” Monet asked, stepping out onto the porch. Azure sat on the first step.

  “You know you don’t have to go,” she said, and instantly regretted it. What if Monet bailed on her now? He was the only one who could keep her morale up if things got bleak. Azure rose to a standing position, hefting her bag onto her shoulders.

  “What? Not go and miss the opportunity to insult Mage Lenore? Come now.” Monet met Azure on the step. His mint-green hair was mashed to one side of his head, like he hadn’t bothered to comb it. “Besides, with all this adventure business, I’m turning into an adrenalin junky.”

  “Yeah, I feel you,” Azure said, staring out over the green hills. She loved this kingdom, but she also loved the idea of ruling by doing something
rather than sitting on a throne. Maybe that feeling would wear off when she got her hand bitten off by a dragon.

  “Where are the freaks?” Monet asked, staring around.

  “If you mean Ever and Gillian, they are meeting us at the border. I sent them to instruct the Orcs. We need to ensure that our water supply isn’t tampered with again.”

  “You just love bossing people around now, don’t you, Queen Pain-in-the-Ass?”

  “Don’t let Gillian hear you calling me names. He’ll, I don’t know, scold you severely or punish you with cold stares.” At their backs, Azure heard the not-so-graceful sounds of Blisters thundering across the porch. She spun and darted out of the way just as the unicorn bounded off the porch. Once in the grass he ran in a circle, chasing his tail and nearly nipping it.

  “Wow, his stupidity knows no bounds,” Monet said, watching with awe in his eyes.

  Azure peered down to find Finswick beside her. “You must already know I’m going to tell you that you can’t accompany me on this mission, right?”

  “Yes, it’s our thing. I go above and beyond to serve you as I have my entire life, and you leave me behind at every turn,” the feline said, his eyes also watching Blisters, who was still chasing his tail.

  “Well, what you may not know is that this time I’m going to put you in charge of Blisters,” Azure said, her face scrunching up with tension.

  Finswick meowed, a growl low in his throat.

  “I figured you’d feel that way about the task,” Azure said, offering her familiar a nervous smile.

  “Why don’t you take him with you? Maybe he’ll be eaten by a swarm of trevor beetles or drown in a puddle.”

  “We could only hope for such a blessing.” Monet laughed when Blisters stumbled forward, dizzy from circling.

  “You know I can’t take him on this expedition. He’d…” Azure’s voice trailed off, thinking of all of the horrible accidents the bad-luck unicorn would bring upon them on the Mountain of Truth.

  “He’d get us killed ten ways to Tuesday,” Monet said.

  Azure knelt and scratched Finswick behind the ears. “I trust that you’ll keep Blisters mostly out of trouble. Try to keep him here at the House of Enchanted. I fear there are a few witches around Virgo who would pluck every hair from his body, squeeze tears from his eyes, or saw off his horn to create an immortality potion.”

  Monet looked at Finswick. “Which means, keep the queen mother away from the unicorn.”

  “Oh, shush it,” Azure said, standing upright. “Gran probably created that potion long ago. That witch is going to outlive us all.”

  “Good, because I’m going to come back and haunt her. Just imagine the look on her face when I swap the labels on her hair growth and night cream potions. She’ll be sporting a beard to rival Finnegan’s.” Monet chuckled at the thought.

  Azure approached Blisters, who was walking around like a drunk, similar to how Monet would act. “Blisters, I’ve got to be off, but you’re in good hands. Finswick will keep you company.”

  “Finny!” the unicorn yelled, his tongue hanging out of his mouth like a golden retriever’s. “We’re going to be the best of pals. You can read me books and make me a cake and let me lick the bowl, and we’ll play board games all night.”

  “Right after I kill myself,” Finswick said, his tail flying into the air as he turned and strolled for the house.

  “He’ll warm up to you,” Azure said to Blisters, leaning over and petting his rainbow mane.

  “Thank you for taking me in, Queen Azure. I know you probably don’t notice this, but I’m a bit different than other unicorns. But you treat me real nice. My herd didn’t want me, but you do.”

  “Different? I hadn’t noticed,” Azure said, suppressing a grin. “And you’re welcome. This is your forever home. We will never turn you away.”

  “Come on, Queen Fibber. It’s time to go,” Monet said, tugging Azure forward toward the border.

  Chapter Ten

  “We’re off to see the mage, the wonderful mage of MOT,” Monet sang as they neared the forest.

  “Mot?” Azure asked.

  “Mountain of Truth. The song didn’t work with that long-ass name, so I shortened it.”

  “Song?” Azure asked again, not sure if she wanted to know.

  “Yeah, I’ve been watching these things called movies in Ever’s room. He’s got this setup…” Monet’s voice became cautious. “Never mind. The less you know, the better.”

  “Oh great, my cabinet members are going to get me in a load of trouble with the Silver Griffins. What are these movie things you’re watching?”

  “They’re so cool. They’re stories. Like the one that song is from is about this wizard from a place called Oz, but he doesn’t have any actual magic. Sorry for the spoiler. Anyway, there’s this one character who reminds me of you. She’s from the west and has green skin,” Monet said with a sneaky grin.

  “Mmm. She sounds like an Orc,” Azure mused. Ever had obviously smuggled some electronics into Virgo and was bewitching them using either his human or elf magic.

  “Oh, no, she’s definitely a witch. And she’s after a human named Dorothy.” Monet’s face was flushing pink, his voice about to overflow with laughter.

  “Yeah, that reminds me of my battle against the Duke of Terran. I hope that witch from the west wins,” Azure said.

  “Oh, she brings down the house.” Monet pointed ahead to where a few Orcs stood at the border. “Speaking of our green-skinned friends. Smells as though they rejected my care package of soaps and Squeaky-Clean potions.”

  Azure ignored Monet and nodded to the chief of the Orcs. The bald giant grunted in reply, knocking his fist to his chest. Drago, whose knife Azure had brought with her, almost seemed to smile at the queen.

  “Ever and Gillian? Have they been by here?” Azure asked, at first worried that something had happened to them.

  “They await you just up ahead,” the chief said, throwing a long finger in the direction of the forest. “We’ve received our orders and will comply.”

  “Thank you,” Azure said, nodding. “And as a show of my appreciation for your help and because I value your input, I’d like to offer you a seat on my cabinet, Chief.”

  “Oh, dude, we’ll never—”

  “Shut it, Monet,” Azure said, cutting him off. She watched the chief, gauging his reaction.

  “That is a noble gesture, but not necessary. Orcs do not engage in such meetings. We will help you now, but do not want a long-term alliance. It is better for us if we work alone,” the chief said.

  Azure nodded. “Well, the invitation is always there if you change your mind.”

  “We will not,” the chief said, turning to Drago. “Provide coverage for the queen until she’s safe in the mountains.” He spun back to face Azure. “There you’ll be past the harpies, but other dangers await you in the mountains that we cannot guard you from.”

  “Love the ominous talk. Really gets me going,” Monet said.

  “I understand, Chief. And the protection is much appreciated. Thank you, Drago,” Azure said, bowing her head to the Orc beside the chief.

  He nodded, shouldering a bow and a bundle of arrows. “My payment to you, Queen Azure, will be high, for I owe you my life.” The Orc turned to the closest tree, mounting it and climbing the trunk with a strange grace.

  “Drago will guard and protect your group from up high,” the chief said.

  “Thank you.” Azure smiled before heading for the mountain.

  They hadn’t hiked far into the scattered trees before Monet let out a long sigh. “A place on your cabinet? Are you insane? We’d never get that smell out of the House of Enchanted.”

  “I knew the chief wasn’t going to accept. It’s not their way. However, the gesture has been made and will be remembered,” Azure said.

  Monet lifted an eyebrow, looking at Azure. “You are a crafty little queen, aren’t you?”

  “I’m working on your demise as we speak, shou
ld you ever cross me.”

  “I have no doubt you are telling the truth.” Monet laughed, just as Ever and Gillian came into view. They stood by a small stream on the border of Virgo, the same creek the humans of Terran had poisoned with the virus.

  “Is everything in order, Queen Azure?” Gillian asked, wearing his usual brown suit. Whereas Ever had a pack like hers and Monet had filled his robes with supplies this time, the gnome carried nothing extra. However, she’d observed that he often pulled things from his pockets he shouldn’t have the room for. Gnomes were a strange and wonderful species.

  “Yes, all preparations have been made for our absence,” she said, stepping around them on the path and taking the lead. The hike to the Mountain of Truth would take most of the day, so making quick progress up through the hills was crucial.

  “Shouldn’t the little guy take the lead since he’s one of the hill people?” Monet asked from the back of the group.

  “Gillian and I went over the route last night while you were getting drunk on the expensive wine the House of Enchanted reserves for visits from council members.” Azure grabbed her hair and twisted it up on top of her head, sliding her wand through the center of the tangle.

  “Another problem I’ve spotted in how the House of Enchanted operates,” Monet observed. “Expensive wine should be reserved for cabinet members.”

  “Oh good, you’re putting together a list of problems,” Azure said.

  “Yes. Like for instance, the kitchen serves vegetables with every meal. And bowls of fruit can be found in every room. I’m going to eradicate these wasteful practices. Instead, shots will be served with every meal except breakfast, where we’ll sip champagne like civilized folk. And instead of bowls of fruit, scantily-clad witches will be draped across the furniture in every room,” Monet explained.

  “Great. So we’ll all be sloshed by lunch and there will be a gaggle of little Monets running around in no time,” Azure said, growing breathless. The terrain had quickly turned steep, and the dirt was now mixed with large rocks.