by Sarah Noffke
“Would you like another spot of tea?” the girl, who had golden blonde hair and deep brown eyes, asked a blue teddy bear.
As if the stuffed animal had answered, the child poured nonexistent tea into a cup.
“One lump or two?” she asked the bear, who wore a white bonnet that was too small for his round face.
“Oh, you’re off sugar, huh? Good on you. I’ve been trying to give up the stuff too. It’s poison, some say,” the child remarked to the stuffed bear.
Azure slid her legs off the bed, her hands on the bed beside her. “Excuse me. I’m sorry, is this your room? Did we take it?”
The little girl turned her head and peered at Azure, a wise expression in her young eyes. She wore a pink and white checkered dress with puffy sleeves and a large bow in the back. “This is my room, but I don’t mind if you slept here. I sleep in another room, but I love to play here in the morning.”
“Oh. Well, thank you.” Azure pushed up off the bed and took a seat next to the little girl. “Mage Lenore gave it to us for the night,” she said, indicating Ever on the top bunk. He was just rousing, and stared down at the two with great curiosity.
Azure turned back to the little girl, who appeared to be about eight years old. “How do you know Mage Lenore? Is she your grandmother?”
The girl shook her head and rose to her feet. “Do you know how to play Elements?”
“It’s my favorite card game,” Azure said with a giant smile.
“Will you play it with me?” the girl asked her.
“Of course, but first will you tell me what your name is?”
The girl blinked at her, putting her hands on her hips, a new menace written on her face. “How do you not know? We’ve already met.”
“Oh, have we?” Azure asked, scanning her memory for the little girl’s freckled face. She didn’t know many blonde-haired girls. None, really, if she thought about it.
“Yes, and you’d better go and shower right now,” the girl said, turning her attention to the door. “The bathroom is now unoccupied, but that won’t last long. Monet has an awful stomachache, and has been up most of the night.”
“Oh, you know Monet? How?” Azure asked.
The girl rolled her eyes before pulling a jack-in-the-box from the open toy box. “I’m the one who warned him against eating dessert. He should have realized by now that he’s lactose intolerant.”
Ever slipped down from the top bunk and strode forward. He knelt when he was just in front of the child. “Wait. You’re Mage Lenore?”
The girl pursed her lips at him. “Of course I am!”
Ever stood and turned, giving Azure a look of bewilderment.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Washed and wearing a clean set of clothes, Azure made her way down the winding staircase. In the living room she found a sight she had never expected. Crouched on all fours on the rug in front of the fire was Gillian, wearing a pair of pointy ears. His nose had been painted black and his cheeks sported whiskers.
“Oh, no! The werecat is going to get me!” the child who was Mage Lenore yelled. She jumped onto the sofa and scampered across it. When she made it to the far side she turned to Gillian, giving him an expectant look. “Go on, then.”
With a disgusted snarl, Gillian shook his head. “I’m not doing it.”
“Come on, Gillian,” Ever said, standing beside the couch. He wore a unicorn horn strapped to his head.
“This is making me feel better, and Lenore loves it,” Monet said from where he was sprawled on the other sofa.
“Mage Lenore,” Gillian corrected. “And fine.” He arched his back, looked up at the young girl, and hissed.
“Oh, no! He’s going to get me! Help me, trusty unicorn,” Mage Lenore cried, hands flailing.
“To the rescue!” Ever cried, putting his back to the girl and offering her his hand over his shoulder. She climbed onto his back and they galloped around the house.
“What on Oriceran is going on here?” Azure asked, taking the last step and striding into the living room.
“It’s the best show,” Monet said, moving his feet to the side and motioning for Azure to join him. “Come here and watch. Gillian is the beast who frightens this young witch, and Ever is the one who saves her. Neither wanted to play, but who could tell that sweet kiddo no?”
Ever lowered Mage Lenore to the ground, and she looked at Azure with her big brown eyes.
“Mage Lenore, you said you’d tell me how to cure those infected in Virgo. Can you tell me that now?” she asked the little girl, feeling very silly for directing such a huge question to a kid.
“I wish I could, but I’ve got to go do my chores now. Playtime is over. My chores will take most of the day to complete, but after that I could share it with you,” the child said.
“Well, what if we all pitched in to help you with your chores? Together we could get them done faster, and then you can tell me.” Azure looked to Ever and Gillian, who agreed with a nod.
“Yes, that would be good. I could stay and take care of Monet. He needs me to rap him in the head three times a minute, administer barley weeds every thirty minutes, and tell him what’s good for him every hour,” Mage Lenore said, sounding strangely like the oldest witch in existence with those words.
“You have your hands full,” Azure said with a laugh.
“I think I feel better,” Monet said, making to stand up.
“You stay still,” Mage Lenore pointed at him, a warning in her voice. She turned back. “I need you three to weed the garden, feed the animals, milk the goats, collect firewood, and pick cucumbers, berries, and some dill weed for lunch. Once you’ve done all that, you can return and I’ll tell you what you want to know over sandwiches.”
Azure agreed with a nod, turning for the door. She was shocked that a little girl did all those chores by herself most days.
“Oh, and…” the young girl added innocently, making the three turn back to her. “Stay away from the Howling Willow. I’d hate to have to bury one of you on the Mountain of Truth.”
A shiver ran over Azure’s arms as she nodded. It had something to do with being threatened by a mostly innocent-appearing child.
***
“Who saw that shit coming?” Azure asked as they trudged around the back of the house to the gardens and stables.
“Not me,” Ever said, shaking his head in disbelief.
“I’m not sure I would have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes,” Gillian said.
Azure pulled on a pair of gloves she’d found in the gardening shed, grateful that soon she’d have her hands in the dirt. This would be calming for her. She always felt at peace when toiling away in the gardens. “Do you think she changes every day?”
Ever nodded. “That must be the key to how she’s lived so long. Every day she cycles through her life again, and therefore she doesn’t really age.”
“It must be the magic from the Howling Willow,” Azure guessed, kneeling and starting to pull weeds from the closest bed.
“Yes, I think you’re probably right. It must make its guardian special in that way,” Gillian said, turning to pluck berries from the vines and drop them into a basket.
“How did Monet get out of chores, like always?” Azure asked, pulling a stubborn set of weeds from the ground.
“Oh, I don’t know, Mage Lenore is going to be pretty demanding on him. You think I would have acted like a werecat if I’d had a choice?” Gillian said.
“She has all of her powers even as a child, doesn’t she?” Azure asked.
“Yes, it’s quite bizarre,” Gillian replied.
Azure pulled her gaze from the dirt. Behind her Ever stood tall, his eyes on the Howling Willow in the distance. The chimes’ music rang from the tree again—no more howling.
“Hey! Is there a reason we’re doing all the work while you stand in a trance?” Azure asked.
He glanced at her, shaking his head as if to dispel a vision. “No. Sorry. I was just lost in thoug
ht.”
“Well, get lost in helping us. I want to get this stuff done so we can be on our way. This is all fascinating, but I need to find the Book of Branches and return to Virgo with a cure,” Azure said as a fairy flew over a row of plants in the distance.
“Yes, the Book of Branches. That’s our next mission, and I fear it will be even more complex than this one,” Gillian said, popping a raspberry into his mouth. His face puckered from its sourness.
“More complex than the Mountain of Truth and a woman who cycles through her various ages daily? Oh man, fuck my life,” Azure said with a laugh.
***
Late in the afternoon the three returned to the house. They were sweaty, their mouths parched for water.
To Azure’s relief, Monet was up and setting the table when they entered the house.
“Oh, look who is all better!” she exclaimed as she set a basket of cucumbers on the table.
“Yes, and I’ve learned my lesson. I won’t eat anything with milk in it for the rest of my life,” he said, placing a fork and napkin next to each plate.
“What about Cheetos?” Ever asked, adding his dill harvest to Azure’s cucumbers.
Monet scoffed. “I said no milk. I didn’t say no fun.”
“I’m sorry to inform you, but—”
“But forks go on the left,” Azure said, cutting Gillian off and giving him a measured glare. Monet was having a hard time, and didn’t need to learn yet that Cheetos were off-limits too.
“Oh, right,” Monet said, looking apologetic.
“Monet, are you all right?” Azure asked, inquiring more into his mental state rather than his physical wellbeing.
“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just that—”
“Is that lot back?” Mage Lenore’s voice boomed from the other side of the kitchen door. She didn’t sound like a sweet child anymore, but rather like an angry adult.
“Yes,” Monet said, sounding completely beaten down.
The door to the kitchen swung open and a woman in white slacks and a navy-blue blazer strode forward. She had a pinched look, and her hair was slicked back into a low ponytail. “It took you all long enough to complete the chores. I could have done the work myself just as fast. Do you three share a brain, or did you all just loaf under the Howling Willow and share a bottle of the cooking sherry?”
Azure’s eyes widened as she stared at the woman, who resembled both the child from this morning and the old woman from last night. However, this woman was more beautiful than either, with her mature features, and yet she had a stern look on her face as if something was bothering her greatly. “Uhhh… Mage Lenore. We brought the items you requested.” Azure waved her hand at the fruit, vegetables and herbs on the table.
“That only proves you’re not a complete imbecile,” she said, flicking her wand at the table of food. It transformed into a platter of cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches and a bowl of berry and mint salad. “Oh, and for you, Monet.” She twirled her wand again and a plate of dry toast appeared on his place mat.
“Oh, yum.” Monet’s tone lacked enthusiasm.
“Now go and wash up, all of you. I don’t have all afternoon to wait around for you,” Mage Lenore said tersely.
“No, I guarantee you she doesn’t,” Monet whispered in Azure’s ear as he turned her around and led her toward the sink in the kitchen.
***
Azure and the three men returned to the table with their hands washed, but Mage Lenore wasn’t anywhere to be found. Instead they found a note that read:
“Go ahead and eat. I was quite tired, and have settled down for my late-afternoon nap. I’ll see you just before you head off.”
“Head off? It’s getting late. She expects us to hike down the mountain a few hours before sunset?” Azure stared at her cucumber sandwich, not sure she could eat it. Her stomach rumbled with nerves. They’d spent a whole day at Mage Lenore’s house and were no closer to finding a cure for her people or the Book of Branches.
“Just between you and me,” Monet leaned down low, his voice a whisper, “that bitch is messed up in the head. She berated me for over an hour about my green hair, telling me that it meant I was destined to be mischievous and disregard rules. Like, tell me something I don’t know.”
“You mustn’t disrespect a mage. She’s complex, and we can’t assume we know what she’s been through or why she’s the way she is.” Gillian spooned berry salad onto his plate.
“Yeah, if I had been cursed to guard a tree for all of eternity and cycle through my stages each day I’d probably be pretty bitchy too,” Ever contributed.
There was that word again. “Cursed.” Twice it had been used when discussing things that shouldn’t be considered curses. Azure was human. Why did that mean she was cursed? Mage Lenore had been chosen to protect the last howling willow. These were gifts, weren’t they? Perspective had to be key here, she thought.
“Okay, well, since we’re headed out of here soon, let’s discuss where we are headed,” Azure said, stirring her salad with her fork, still not interested in eating.
“It will take the rest of the day to get down the Mountain of Truth,” Ever said.
“Great. That will put us in the goblin city at the base of the mountain by sunset. Sounds like we will all be roasting over an open fire by the time the stars are out,” Monet said, eyeing his dry toast like it had offended him somehow.
“Well, I can tell you that the Book of Branches is located in a mountain just north of here,” Gillian said.
“Fucking brilliant. There are only a dozen mountains north of this one,” Monet said, sounding extra grumpy.
Gillian held up a fat finger. “Yes, but only one is covered in bluebonnet flowers.”
“So?” Monet asked, drawing out the one word.
“So, the mountain where the Book of Branches can be found is covered in these wildflowers. It should be fairly easy to spot this mountain from the valley floor, because it’s rumored to appear blue from afar,” the gnome offered proudly.
“Well, that only means it will take us about half my life to find this bogus mountain,” Monet said, shoving back from the table.
“Don’t be absurd, Monet. You’re going to live many centuries,” a voice said from the living room.
The group turned to find the older woman who had served them dinner last night.
“Mage Lenore,” Azure said, relief flooding her voice. She pushed away from the table and rushed over to the woman. Her kind eyes were a welcome sight after meeting the demanding child and disapproving adult.
“Yes, child. And now you’ve discovered secrets that no other knows. It makes every day unique and binds me to the Howling Willow. The moment I leave the Mountain of Truth, I’ll age rapidly and soon die,” the old witch said, a new sadness in her eyes.
“I’m sorry, Mage Lenore. What can we do?” Azure asked.
“Oh, this is a fate I’ve accepted, and I wouldn’t give it up. Not yet, anyway. But having your company was nice for me, so thank you. And now it’s my turn to return the favor.” Mage Lenore waved the guys over from the table, encouraging them to gather around her. She turned back to Azure when everyone was shoulder to shoulder. “I’ll offer you two bits of knowledge that will help you save the people of Virgo and also stop the tyranny in the Land of Terran. None of what I offer you is a guarantee, but rather, if used with great determination, it will help you to persevere.”
Azure sucked in a breath, her nervous eyes meeting Ever’s for a moment. He understood her stress, judging by the tentative look on his face. Why couldn’t this damn witch just give her answers rather than riddles?
“Queen Azure, the only way to heal those in the kingdom of Virgo of this virus is through a human,” she said, and then sucked in a breath, as if waiting for the questions to begin.
“What? The humans? But they won’t help us. They’re the ones who created this virus,” Azure said, her voice bordering on yelling.
“That may be true, but it is through our
enemies that we must find solutions,” Mage Lenore said, her warm brown eyes lighting up.
“Look, I traveled all this way for answers, and you’re telling me I need to turn to my enemies for a cure? That’s not helpful at all.”
“I can see that from your perspective it would seem unhelpful, but I promise that answers are found on the journey, not from being handed a solution. Give a man the truth and he will discard it in the ocean. Make him discover the truth on his own, and he will know it all his life.” The old woman pulled her wand from the pocket of her apron and assessed the group.
“Can’t you tell me something more specific?” Azure asked, frantic that she’d wasted all this time on a wild goblin chase.
“I cannot. Now, I believe you’re also looking for the Book of Branches. I’m not going to tell you where you can find that ancient book,” the witch said, waving her wand back and forth in a rhythmic fashion.
“So, more awesome reasons we trekked out here, then?” Monet said, his tone about as angry as Azure felt.
“No, I’m going to do one better,” Mage Lenore said, with a smile. “I’m going to send you to the cave.” She swiped her wand through the air and the four disappeared.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
The group spiraled through purple mists and shadowy clouds until they landed on uneven ground.
“Is everyone okay?” Azure asked, pushing up from the ground and spitting out a bit of dirt. The surroundings spun in her vision for a moment before righting themselves. She saw that the others were starting to stand too.
Azure wiped her hands across her eyes, trying to clear the blur. “Where are we?” she asked, staring down at a mountainside bedecked with sapphire blue wildflowers.
“I do believe this is Lancothy Mountain,” Gillian said at her side. “Which would make those the caves of Lancothy.” He spun around and pointed at a hole in the hillside above of them.
“If you knew that, why didn’t you say so before?” Monet asked, shaking his head. He was a bit woozy from traveling a great distance in a single moment.
