Soul Stone Mage Complete Collection Boxed Set

by Sarah Noffke

  “But why? What is Phillip’s greedy deal?” Azure asked.

  “He’s impatient. Taking only a little bit of magic, as we do when drawing from the elements, won’t produce shiny buildings and make broken televisions come to life. He wants an empire that’s like Earth, and he thinks that the forest should be mowed down so he can build that.” Frederick shook his head and ran his hands through his hair. “He’s more out of control than ever before. There’s no reasoning with him, and many in Terran follow his rule. They want to consume without discretion. They want what they want, without concern for what it does to Oriceran.”

  “When the rogue dryads make their decree, they’ll be punished if they go against it,” Azure said.

  “They’ll be statues then, won’t they?” Frederick asked.

  “Yes, that was the deal we made. And we will be taking down the wards on the border wall to allow the rogue dryads into Terran.”

  A sober look crossed Frederick’s face. “This sounds like war.”

  “It’s overdue.” Azure gripped the staff tighter in her fingers. “Now we have to get to work. It's time for us to heal the forest.” The group stared at the blackened trees and ash-filled soil. The devastation stretched for as far as they could see, and circled the Land of Terran, and in other places the Dark Forest had been damaged by humans, Elves, or some other magical species. All were guilty of hurting the forest, and their damage had to be fixed.

  “Join hands,” Azure said, taking a step forward and holding the staff vertical.

  At Azure’s back, the four men joined hands.

  “Elfie, you’ve got sweaty palms,” Monet remarked.

  “Focus,” Azure ordered. “I’ll need to draw from your energy for this to work.” She lifted the staff high in the air and began chanting, growing breathless almost at once.

  “Omnibus partibus silvae opacae, juncturam suam. Stratum operi sicut moles deterrere potuerint quin cum magica nos de potestate virgam, elementa in utraque potentia unum. Hoc remedio eget justo in saltu singula pandit. Permanet sanitas usque cicatricem amet nostris.”

  Azure’s eyes rolled back in her head as a bold wind swept across the plains, scattering dirt into their faces. The orb on the staff glowed bright purple and white smoke spun like a tornado in the center. Her hand shook as she held the staff over her head and sweat poured down her brow, but she continued to chant, repeating her words.

  Black clouds swept in, hovering close to the ground. The land in front of them took on an ominous greenish tone. Something knocked on the inside of Azure’s chest. Monet began chanting in unison with her, lacing his own magic into the words. The power of the other three men flowed straight into the staff, imbuing it with almost more energy than it could hold.

  Thinking her arm would break from the weight of the staff, Azure brought it down with a sharp movement and stabbed it into the ground. “Permanet sanitas usque cicatricem amet nostris,” she yelled to the forest.

  Lightning splintered the sky overhead, and the ground under their feet shook. Cracked. Azure stumbled back several feet, ramming hard into Monet, who tried to catch her but tumbled backward, losing his balance.

  Rain pelted Azure in the face. Wind swept past her ears with a deafening high-pitched whistle. She turned her head to the side, seeing the men’s bodies lying flat on the forest floor beside her. Her eyes fluttered and then fell shut, sleep taking her against her strongest desires.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Something slapped Azure’s face, and she opened one eye to find Monet crouched over her.

  “Oh good, you’re not dead,” Monet remarked, slouching next to her. Rain still pelted them, although it was slowing to more of a mist.

  “Did you slap me?” Azure asked, pushing up to a sitting position. Her hand cupped her cheek, which stung.

  “Yeah. How else was I supposed to wake you up?” Monet asked, twisting around. “Do you want to slap Ever, or shall I?’

  Behind Monet lay Ever, Gillian, and Frederick. “They passed out too?” Azure asked.

  “We all did,” Monet said, rubbing his head. “And damn that spell gave me a hangover.”

  Azure stared at the darkened land. It was either a blur of blacks and grays, or her eyes were momentarily broken. “Have you considered that it’s a real hangover from that bourbon you slammed?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. If you’ll notice, I’m actually awake while these others are napping,” Monet said, bending over Ever and nudging him with his foot.

  The Light Elf stirred, pushing Monet’s foot away. He rolled over on his side and pushed up, bewilderment covering his face as he stared around. He wiped the dirt off his face and shook his head.

  “Head hurts like a bitch, doesn’t it?” Monet asked, peering down at him.

  “To say the very least,” Ever said, taking the hand Monet offered him.

  “What about the other two? Are they going to be okay?” Azure asked.

  Ever leaned down and touched his hand to Gillian’s pulse, and then did the same to Frederick. “They should be fine. Maybe just expended more energy than they had. I think we all did.”

  “The question is, was it worth it?” Monet asked, staring at the forest around them. It hadn’t changed, from the looks of it, but the dark and the rain hid much.

  Azure’s hand paused a few inches from the staff, which still glowed brightly. Finally she closed her fingers around the shaft and lifted it high into the air. A sharp thundering sound echoed overhead. The ground shook, again almost throwing her backward. Monet caught her, and they both stayed standing. They shielded their faces from a bright light that shot across the sky, bathing them in a warm glow. A deafening hum spread through the forest. It carried on for a long moment, making all three keep their heads down and covered. As quickly as it had started, the sound ended. The light dimmed. The ground stopped vibrating.

  No one uncovered their head until the sound of beating wings filled the air. Afraid they were about to be attacked by a harpy, Azure tore her gaze up. But what she found wasn’t something that filled her with dread—quite the opposite. Stretching out in all directions was the fertile soil of an ancient forest. Luscious green ferns and plants of a hundred varieties were scattered around the trunks of large trees. The canopy was full of leaves. Birds hopped amid branches, and squirrels dived from tree to tree.

  The dense forest had returned, a quiet expanse.

  “Fucking awesome!” Monet shouted, throwing his fist in the air.

  “We did it,” Azure said in disbelief, her voice hushed.

  “You did do it,” a voice said in the distance. Ever and Monet pressed close to the queen, their stance protective.

  Vines slipped out from behind a tree and then the figure attached to them materialized. A moment prior, Payne Springs had been camouflaged as a part of the forest. Now the dryad stood in her leaf-strewn dress, her slanted eyes studying the three.

  “Is the forest healed throughout?” Azure asked.

  “As far as I can tell. What you’ve done and sacrificed for this is enough,” the rogue dryad said. “I’ll honor my end of the deal. Currently my sisters are freeing those in the statue garden. We hope that it is never so full again with wrongdoers to the forest.”

  Ever’s back stiffened and his jaw clenched. However, he kept his focus on Payne Springs.

  “Thank you. And Terran? You’ll enter the land with me?” Azure asked.

  “Yes, and we will offer the humans redemption, but we won’t be lenient to those who refuse to change or to give back that which belongs to the forest. From now on they must not abuse the forest, or they will pay—no second chances.” Payne Springs lifted her head, her vine hair waving in the wind.

  “That’s fair. We hope it won’t come to that,” Azure said.

  Payne Springs turned to face the border to the Land of Terran. Around her, more rogue dryads materialized. “We are ready, Queen Azure. Please take down the wards, and we shall enter the Land by your side.”

  Azure held t
he staff up a few inches, but Ever placed a soft hand on her shoulder. “No. If you use your magic and the magic in the staff, you’ll be depleted. You might need that magic later, or you could use it to heal the Virgoans, like Seraphina said.”

  “What else am I supposed to do?” Azure asked.

  “Let me do it,” Ever said.

  Azure regarded him for a long moment. He hadn’t rushed off to the statue garden as she’d expected. He was staying with her, helping her. Finally she nodded. “It’s going to take a considerable force to take down the wards for the rogue dryads to enter.”

  “Yes, especially because those wards were created specifically to keep them out.” Ever nodded. “Don’t worry.”

  “The entrance is around this bend, Queen. We should go there now and be ready to enter in case your friend can’t keep their wards down long,” Payne Springs said.

  Azure gave Ever a measured stare before turning her attention to Gillian and Frederick, who were still on the ground. “You’ll be okay?” she asked her brother.

  “Yes, I’ll be fine. I’ll be here when you’re done,” he said.

  She gave him one last look before turning for the entrance to the Land of Terran.

  Chapter Twenty

  Azure marched around the perimeter of the brick wall of the Land of Terran, holding her staff in front of her. The object strangely felt as comfortable as her wand, although tying her hair up with the staff was going to be a bit more difficult. She’d have to take a hair-growth potion. The hem of her blue robes caught on the fresh plants that now grew on the path—it was hard to believe that moments ago the ground had been barren, scorched from overuse. But never again!

  Azure held her chin high as they rounded the bend where the guard station stood at the front gates. A uniformed guard sat in the small enclosed building, his head down. Azure lifted the staff and set her intention. The gates marked with “LoT” flew back, catching the attention of the guard. He dropped his magazine as he stood, his eyes growing wide as he stared at the sight before him. A witch queen holding a glowing staff, flanked by a wizard and a dozen rogue dryads, was a sobering sight.

  The guard fumbled with a walkie talkie on his belt, finally pulling it off and holding it up to his mouth.

  Monet flicked his wand at the guard, and the walkie talkie flew through the open window and smashed against the wall, breaking into bits.

  “You’re going to have to pick that up, or it will be considered littering,” Azure cautioned Monet in an undertone.

  “I’ll get it on my way out,” he commented.

  The guard nearly fell out of the small building, shaking his head adamantly.

  “You can’t go in there,” he said, his face screwed up in a rush of anger.

  “Of course I can. I’m the Queen of Virgo,” Azure stated confidently.

  “Well, they aren’t allowed in.” He lifted a shaking hand and pointed at the rogue dryads.

  “They weren’t allowed, but things have changed,” Azure stated, and strode forward. She paused on the threshold of the gates. “Are you ready?” she asked Monet.

  “Hell, yes! And I’ve got to take a piss, so let me know when you see a suitable place,” he said with a wink.

  “Yes, that will be my first priority,” Azure said, staring down the long manicured road that stretched before them. She cast a brief look at the rogue dryads. Payne Springs face radiated an intense focus. A wind passed over the dryads, bringing the smell of fresh cut grass and rustling pine needles.

  The queen of the rogue dryads stepped up next to Azure. “There is no going back once we enter. Are you ready for what could happen?”

  “The humans will be cooperative,” Azure assured her.

  “Humans, like all beings, are flawed and think only of themselves. Don’t be disappointed when they choose their own selfish gains over preservation,” Payne Springs said.

  “Your optimism blows me away, tree-lady,” Monet said, crossing his legs uncomfortably. “Can we get this over with? Gotta piss, remember.”

  Azure shook her head and took a step forward onto the even concrete. Beside her strode Payne Springs. Ever had done it—he’d taken down the wards. He was probably passed out now, snoozing off the magic overload with Frederick and Gillian.

  “What is that?” Payne Springs asked, pointing at the fake grass that ran along the side of the road.

  “Astroturf, according to Ever. It’s artificial grass,” Monet informed her.

  “What? Why?” she said, disgust written in her green eyes.

  “Well, no bugs, dirt, or maintenance. I mean, the forest is a dirty-ass place,” Monet complained. “Maybe after we restore order and save the day, you lot can devote your time to picking up leaves.”

  “Monet, if she turns you into a statue, I’m totally chopping off your hand and using it as a paper weight,” Azure said with a laugh.

  “Man, you’re a sicko. And don’t even pretend—I know exactly what you’d do with a statue of me,” Monet teased.

  “Oh, dear Merlin. I just threw up in my mouth,” Azure said.

  This part of Terran was deserted, but small cars and bikes drove through an intersection ahead, cutting off pedestrians trying to cross. They held up fists and yelled curse words at the drivers.

  “Hey, do you think this Dairy Queen lady will have a bathroom I can use?” Monet asked, pointing at a sign that stood outside of a red and white building. A picture of an ice cream treat filled the front window.

  “I don’t think a queen lives there, nor do I think the place across from it is the home of a king,” Azure said, pointing to the restaurant named ‘Burger King.’

  Several residents paused when Azure and the gang of rogue dryads came into view. Their faces filled with alarm before they retreated inside the air conditioned shops or fled down the street. A row of tract houses sat on the eastern ridge, and beyond them a great commotion could be heard. The sound of an amplified voice rang through the air.

  “Come this way.” Azure yanked Monet in the direction of the noise.

  “So, no popping into a shop then?” he asked, his voice full of amusement.

  “The new development would be over here. This must be where they built that golf thing, whatever it is,” Azure said, picking up her pace. She was so close. If she stopped the people of Terran, made them better, everyone would benefit. And then they’d free the statues and her people would… Well, her people would still be suffering from a deadly virus, but she’d figure that out. Maybe those of Terran could help.

  Ahead, a crowd of people sat before a large stage. It seemed to Azure that the humans were always having conferences and ceremonies, thinking of the Mount Crushmore ceremony. On the stage the Duke of Terran was holding a large pair of scissors. Azure halted, watching from a distance, trying to decide the best way to proceed before they were spotted. That wouldn’t take long. Women dressed in leaves with tree branches for hair kind of stuck out in this starched land of ties and pencil skirts.

  “A great leader on Earth,” Phillip said into a microphone, his voice booming over the speakers, “was acknowledged for his perseverance and ingenuity. Caesar Salad once said, ‘I came, I saw, I consumed. Truer words have hardly ever been spoken. It is our birthright as humans to take that which we deserve. To enjoy the vegetables of our labor. I’m speaking figuratively, of course. But my point is that I, as your emperor’s Regent, have gone to extreme lengths to once again give you something you desire. When I learned of the magnificence of a golf course on Earth, I put myself at great risk to have one built for you. I know that Emperor Frederick would have loved to have been here to share in this occasion, but he was detained in the Dark Forest.

  “It is my honor, on behalf of the emperor, the Consumer Party, and the royal house of Terran, to present to you the Lion Woods Golf Course.” Phillip clipped the ribbon stretched in front of him, and a moment later the blue curtain behind him dropped to the ground. Behind it could be seen an expansive lawn, devoid of trees and punctuated by
sand dunes. The grassy plain rolled backward until it met the brick wall in the distance.

  Clapping filled the air and the humans of Terran bolted to their feet, excitedly talking to their neighbors.

  “What have they done?” Payne Springs said in an angry whisper.

  “It looks as though they’ve created a treeless forest,” Monet said, opening his mouth to say something else but yelping in pain when Azure elbowed him in the side.

  The sound caught the attention of the Duke, and he narrowed his eyes in Azure’s direction. Knowing time was of the essence, Azure started forward, feeling the force of the rogue dryads rippling behind her like a curtain in the wind.

  “What are you…they doing here?” Phillip asked, his voice filled with disgust. His dark eyes narrowed with disbelief. As usual, he wore his long brown trench coat and a snarl that matched the edge in his tone.

  The crowd turned, the faces of the humans constricting with panic at the sight of the rogue dryads. “A witch,” “The dryads,” “That’s Emperor Richard’s daughter,” various voices in the crowd whispered frantically.

  “We are here to put a stop to your consumption of the Dark Forest.” Azure stood several feet from the crowd, her eyes scanning their faces. “We don’t want trouble, but we will cause it if you don’t comply.”

  “Comply?” Phillip laughed loudly. “What are your demands?”

  “You must stop harming the forest. There are sustainable practices to draw energy that you can teach the humans of Terran. Emperor Frederick knows these methods. And those who don’t comply—”

  “Emperor Frederick is missing,” Phillip said, shaking his head as if Azure were a dumb child who misunderstood.

  “Emperor Frederick was assaulted and imprisoned by you,” Azure accused.

  “How dare you? You broke through our borders, and now you’re making accusations,” Phillip said. He’d backed up several feet and now stood on the far side of the stage. The crowd swiveled back to Azure, awaiting her reply.