by Sarah Noffke
“They’ve got to weigh a ton,” he complained.
“Well, then I suggest that you put your back into it or enchant yourself with a strength spell. On the count of three, lift with your knees,” she ordered, securing her hands around the bars and readying herself to rise to a standing position.
“You realize that if we do remove these bars then we’ve freed a Kilomea, who by the way, looks to be kind of on the hungry side,” Monet told her, but he knelt and gripped the bars despite his words.
“A Kilomea we’ve freed. One who will starve if we leave him in this pit,” she reminded him, and turned her gaze to the Kilomea, who was looking more curious by the moment. His large bald head was tilted to the side, and he was watching her with renewed interest. “Don’t you fucking eat me if I get you out of this pit!”
In answer, the Kilomea grunted and beat his tattooed fists on his bare chest.
“I don’t think that was a real agreement,” Monet said from his hunched position.
“On the count of three, Monet.” She took a breath. “One. Two. Three.”
Grunts spilled from their lips as they hauled the metal bars up a few inches and sidestepped in unison carefully to the right. Azure’s breaths were labored and she thought her arms would be pulled off from the weight, but still she held tight to the bars and kept moving. At one point she nearly dropped her end, and she scraped her fingers across the ground.
“Let it fall,” Monet yelled, his voice sounding taxed.
Azure removed her fingers from the metal, her back giving her trouble as she tried to stand. She then noticed why Monet had given the order. The Kilomea was already digging steps into the side of the pit, trying to make a staircase to get out of the hole. They’d cleared the bars enough for the Kilomea to squeeze out of the cage, but only barely. The beast had shoulders three times the width of most wizards’ and arms as thick as trees.
The Kilomea kept kicking at the pit wall, but only grunts followed his movements.
“I’m guessing that the walls of the pit are mostly stone,” Gillian said, ambling up to the group and peering into the hole.
“That’s why he still can’t get out of there,” Azure said, realizing that the pit was too deep for him to clamber out of. Someone had thought of everything.
“Damn it, I have to do everything myself,” Monet grumped, and waved his wand at the Kilomea. The gray-skinned beast rose into the air, resisting the levitation spell for a moment. He froze as he was lifted out of the hole and was placed a safe distance away.
“Monet!” Azure exclaimed. “You do have a heart. Thank you!” She clapped, running to the Kilomea a few feet away.
“I have a heart, but you have no brain. I put him over there for a fucking reason, Azure,” he snapped, reaching for her.
She swirled her cape out of his reach and pushed down her hood as she looked at the Kilomea.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
The Kilomea paused, pushing out its face like it was trying to see her a bit closer. He blinked at her and tilted his head. “Good. You good,” the Kilomea said.
She giggled, which seemed like a strange reaction in that moment. “I’m Azure, actually,” she said, extending a hand to the Kilomea.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Monet pressed his hand to his forehead in horror. “She’s fucking dumb.”
“Princess Azure,” Gillian corrected. “She’s the Princess of the Virgoans.”
Not paying attention to her crew, Azure allowed her hand to hang in the air. Slowly the Kilomea raised his hand and tugged her fingers—a bit hard, but not enough to pull her to the ground.
“What’s your name?” she asked.
“Drago,” the Kilomea said.
“Pleased to make your acquaintance, Drago.”
“She’s a fucking fruitcake.” Monet shook his head.
“She’s something else,” Gillian agreed, his voice sounding strange.
“Thank you.” Drago moved his giant hand to a rope belt on his waist, from which he removed a large knife made from some kind of tooth. He handed it to Azure. “You take,” he said.
“Oh, that’s not necess—”
“Take!” Drago insisted.
“Thank you.” Azure allowed him to thrust the strange knife into her hands. She examined the designs on the bone handle and lifted her eyes to the large face before her. “Be careful where you walk going forward, Drago. We might not be near enough to help you next time.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“I really hope we don’t come up on a caged dragon next,” Monet said, twiddling his wand in his fingers.
“Did the Kilomea eat you?” Azure demanded, spinning around as she headed back to the Dryads’ Garden.
“Not yet, but he could be waiting to ambush us down here,” Monet said, pointing to the forest at Azure’s back.
“Oh, you’re impossible,” she snapped, before turning back and stopping short. She covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes going wide.
“What is it?” Gillian asked, his short legs hurrying to catch up with her. He must have been worried by her sudden stiffness.
“Fuck!” Monet said, arriving at Azure’s shoulder.
She turned her head away, trying multiple times to swallow. “Who would do this?”
Monet backed up a few steps, drawing Azure away with him as he did. “Now we know what happened to Charmsgood.” His voice was scratchy as if he was trying to suppress something.
In a patch of bushes and thorns, a blue robed figured laid on his back, his face sunken and his eyes open and staring at the sky. Azure wouldn’t have even recognized him, but the amethyst ring on his hand gave him away. She’d know that ring anywhere. All her life she’d been fascinated by it as she watched Charmsgood pinch ingredients into cauldrons and stir, his lavender eyes always twinkling with excitement.
“He’s dead,” she muttered, mostly to herself.
“I know,” Monet said. He recovered slightly and wrapped her in his arms, pressing her into him tightly. Virgo had relied on the Potions Master for centuries. He wasn’t someone who could be easily replaced, not now or maybe ever. And to Monet, he had meant more. Charmsgood was going to ensure Monet had a special future. For years the Potions Master had been hinting at passing his knowledge to Monet, but now that would never happen.
“He was attacked by a harpy,” Gillian told them, a handkerchief covering his mouth.
“I don’t even want to know how you figured that out without closely studying the body.” Monet pulled away from Azure, even though he was still vibrating with shock.
“The scratch marks,” she declared, seeing them for herself. Azure had noticed them before the revulsion had taken over and short-circuited her thoughts.
“The question is, who gave the wizard to the harpy?” a voice asked behind them.
The three spun, each striking a defensive stance. A guy stood on a low boulder. His spiky black hair stretched toward the canopy overhead and his hands to the ground, and his blue eyes were calm; there was no menace in his stance. He wore a pair of blue jeans and a button-up green shirt. However, although his dress was mostly human, there was something about him that wasn’t purely mortal. His ears! They had a slight point to them. Actually, most of his facial features were angular, like those of a Light Elf.
“Who are you?” Azure demanded, stepping forward.
He hopped off the boulder and bowed slightly, a series of sparks trailing him as he moved. “I’m Ever of the Light Elves, at your service,” he said, winking one of his almond-shaped eyes.
“You’re the one who has been following us,” Gillian accused, scanning the canopy overhead.
“Guilty as charged,” Ever confirmed, turning his focus to the gnome.
“Are you the reason we haven’t encountered more dangers?” Gillian asked.
“Are you accusing me of taking out creatures that would have preyed on you?” Ever asked, the smile that hid from his mouth dancing in his eyes.
“
I think I am,” Gillian agreed. Azure noticed that the gnome had puffed his chest out, as if he were protecting them.
“Well, they were in my way too. I couldn’t have successfully spied on you if I hadn’t taken care of those creatures,” Ever said with a laugh.
“Why were you spying on us?” Azure asked, chin held high and wand even higher.
“For the same reason a gnome has decided to accompany a ragtag crew on a death mission. It’s freaking fascinating to watch this all unfold. This is history in the making,” Ever said.
“This isn’t a death mission!” Azure protested.
“Well, no, not anymore, because I’m here,” Ever declared, putting his hands on his hips proudly. He was tall and lean, but had a nice breadth to his shoulders. “I’ll ensure that you get into the Land of Terran safely, since you’ve passed all the tests.”
“Tests? What are you talking about? Are you the one who caged the Kilomea?” Azure asked, repulsion suddenly covering her face. She didn’t care what people thought of Kilomeas; they were creatures with emotions and desires like everyone else, and deserved to be respected. She reached for the knife the Kilomea had given her and felt a bond with it. Although witches and wizards were not commonly trained to use a knife, she was going to learn now. Being in the Dark Forest had proven that she couldn’t just rely on her magic.
“Oh, no. I’d never do such a thing as to cage a magical race or creature. I think I know who is behind it, though, and you’ll meet them once you enter the Land of Terran,” Ever said, casually striding forward, sparks trailing him as he did. Light Elves were an interesting race, considered to be quite peaceful.
“The humans? You think they set that trap?” It was Monet who asked the question this time. He stood at Azure’s shoulder looking both protective and skeptical, two expressions he rarely wore.
“I do,” Ever confirmed. “I’d also venture to say they are behind this great wizard’s death, but I can’t prove it.”
“Charmsgood? You think the humans killed him?” Azure asked, her blood starting to boil in preemptive anger. If that was true, then she was going to burn down Terran. How dare they? Who were these people, that they caged wild creatures and killed ancient wizards?
“I think they did, but it is only a guess based on my own intuition,” Ever clarified.
“What good is a Light Elf’s intuition on this matter?” Gillian asked.
“Well, about as good as a human’s, which I happen to be as well,” Ever said.
He was both human and Light Elf. That made sense, Azure thought, studying the sharp features that were reminiscent of a Light Elf’s, especially his nose and ears. However, his eyes were more almond-shaped and his mouth was full. He did resemble a human in some ways with his softer features. He was tall like a Light Elf, but had that ordinary look she associated with humans.
“You’re a hybrid?” Gillian asked.
Was that what half-beings were considered? Azure hadn’t really thought about it since finding out she was half human. Really, she’d only considered herself as cursed since then.
“I think of myself as something in between. That’s why I mostly spend my time here.” Ever gestured vaguely around.
“You mean in the Dark Forest?” Azure said.
“I think he means between the Land of Terran and the Light Elves’ Castle,” Monet whispered to her.
“But you can’t get into the Land of Terran, can you?” she asked.
“No, and with your current appearance, neither can you. However, I think I can help you with that,” Ever assured her.
“Are you offering me your assistance?” she asked, realizing that Charmsgood’s dead body was only a few yards away. She hustled several yards farther from the decaying man.
“I guess I am,” Ever said.
“But why?” she asked.
“Because you rescued a Kilomea and got through the Sinner’s Muck easily and figured out how to pay the toll,” Ever said.
“You’ve been watching us that long?” Monet sounded offended.
“I have,” Ever kept his eyes on Azure, “and I know that Azure has a noble mission.”
“Princess Azure,” Gillian corrected.
“Yes. I know that Princess Azure has something important to recover from the Land of Terran,” Ever said.
“Her father.” Gillian clapped his hand to his mouth as if he had misspoken…again.
Ever nodded, his eyes still pinned on Azure. “Yes, her father, but something else of importance as well.”
Did he know? He seemed to. But how could this hybrid know that she was seeking her mother’s soul stone? She hadn’t spoken of that since entering the Dark Forest. She thought Ever held a deep wisdom in his eyes, and there was a purity about him that slightly endeared him to her.
“Okay, you can help,” she finally agreed. “What can you offer?”
The half-Light Elf pointed to the forest floor beside her, and a light sprang into the air, spiraling again and again as it enlarged.
“An illegal gate!” Gillian yelled, shock on his face.
“Indeed it is, but no need for you to report it,” Ever said to the gnome before turning to Azure. “I can offer you the secret of going unnoticed into the Land of Terran. I can get you in there, but you’ll have to follow me to Earth to do that.”
Without thinking, pulled in by the hovering light, Azure took a step forward. Monet caught her shoulder, spinning her around. “No! Did you hear what he said?”
“Yes, he said he’d help me get into the forbidden land. That’s one of the many things I hadn’t figured out how to do yet, and he’s supplying the answer,” Azure told him, her voice growing adamant. She didn’t know this character, but she knew he had been helping them since they’d entered the forest. She’d felt his presence in the canopy, and had wondered why there weren’t more creatures attacking them. It was because of Ever. Something about that told her she could trust him. And she’d passed his tests, without even knowing she was going through them.
“Where are you taking her?” Monet asked, his gaze on Ever and his tone sharp.
“She needs new…well, everything. Her entire appearance needs to be changed,” he said, sweeping his hand at her.
“Why don’t you look in the mirror before saying such things? Your hair is the color of coal.” Monet crossed his arms on his chest. Witches and wizards prided themselves on the fact that their hair was unique and always a vibrant shade.
“That’s exactly what I mean. There’s no way she’ll get into the Land of Terran like that. But on Earth I can get her clothes, change her hair, and secure the necessary forms.”
“Why can’t you do that here?” Monet asked, still not budging.
“Because, my dear wizard, we’re in the middle of a gigantic forest. But if she comes with me through this portal here, I can remedy her witch look.” He pointed at the spiraling white light.
“I’m going too,” Monet declared, taking a step forward.
Ever held up his hand. “I really must insist you stay here. I can’t take more than one through the gate. It’s illegal, as you must know. The more who pass through, the more risk that I’ll be caught. However, what if I promise to bring you back a souvenir?”
“I’m listening,” Monet said, crossing his arms on his chest again, his chin held high.
“I hear that in some stores on Earth, they have supersized bags of Cheetos,” Ever related, with a smile that showed his pointy bicuspids.
“I deem this venture to Earth completely safe.” Monet rounded on Azure. “We’ll be here when you return.”
She let out a disappointed sigh. “I see your priorities are in the usual place,” she said, stepping forward until she was even with Ever, who stood before the white light. She wanted to trust him, and she really didn’t have much of a choice anyway. This was just part of the journey. If it would get her closer to saving her mother, she’d do whatever it took—even venturing to Earth.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Azure watched the light spiral around her as she stepped through the portal. If her mother knew she was on Earth…well, she’d probably laugh. Soon she’d either be queen, or outcast. Why would it matter what she did at this point?
Her stomach sank to her knees when her feet met the ground and she thought she’d be sick, but instead she rose to her full height and shook her head. She refused to get sick on a foreign planet. But as soon as I’m back on Oriceran I’m puking on Monet’s boots, she thought to herself.
“Made the journey in one piece, did you?” the stranger with the jet-black hair asked her.
She looked at the Light Elf named Ever and nodded. Strangely, his ears were suddenly less pointy. “Wait, if you can do that, then can you get into the Land of Terran?” she asked, indicating his ears.
“Probably, but I have no reason to risk it. One Reveal charm, and the people of Terran would have me thrown into a dungeon or jail or whatever they do with trespassers,” he said, waving her forward as they walked through a shiny hallway crammed with people.
Just then Azure noticed the area around her. It wasn’t just strange—it was unworldly. Lights hung in the sky, which wasn’t a sky at all but rather a sort of ceiling. And around her people hurried by carrying strange square bags and holding things to their faces.
“Phones,” Ever supplied. “Nearly everyone on Earth has a cellphone. You’ll see them pressing the things to their ears or tapping on them excitedly. There’s a lot of that, especially in Santa Monica, which is where I’ve taken you. Humans are obsessed with phones.”
“What’s Santa Monica, and why have you brought me here?’ Azure wondered.
“Because you have blue hair and look like a pirate. I had to take you somewhere they wouldn’t judge your look, and where better than Santa Monica where freaks are welcomed?” Ever informed her.
“Sounds like you’ve spent a lot of time on Earth,” she told him as a woman carrying a tiny dog in her purse passed them.
“My mother is from here, and I visit her in the summers. She actually lives down the road from here in Malibu.” He pointed nonspecifically over his shoulder. “However, we are here to make you look human enough to pass in the Land of Terran, so follow me. First things first—we’ve got to fix that hair.”