Chapter Ten
As soon as the news of Anteus and Dragon finding Rose and Deshica had gotten to Whirlpool and Winter the Water Guardian took over the situation, “If you can freeze something up for us I can get us there.”
Winter hesitated, recalling Dice's warning, “I'm not sure that's a good idea. What if they think we're trying to attack them?”
Whirlpool grabbed Winter by the shoulders, “Then they can deal with me.”
More afraid of the Water Guardian than the impression she would be making on the Fairy Nation, Winter created something that looked like the basket for a hot air balloon with sled runners attached to the bottom. Whirlpool was looking at the runners and before she could ask Winter explained their presence, “I figured that the extra energy it would take to make us airborne can be used to make us go even faster over the ground.”
Whirlpool couldn't argue with the logic, “Good thinking. It will make it easier after we pick up Turbulence and Dice too. Just give Turbulence a heads-up because I'm going to put all my concentration on getting there as quickly as possible.”
Even with Whirlpool's warning Winter found herself knocked onto her backside when the sled took off. At the speed they were going the runners had to be melting as the sled flew over the grass. If it was anybody other than Whirlpool providing the propulsion then Winter would have worried about the ice melting and breaking up but Whirlpool was able to not only keep the ice from cracking too badly but to keep it frozen as well. Once Winter was able to find a steady footing she called out the notice to Turbulence that they were on their way to transport her and Dice to the location where Anteus and Dragon had found both Deshica and Rose.
Turbulence and Dice were ready and waiting by the time that Whirlpool had gotten the sled to the Fairy settlement. Turbulence offered to help propel the sled if a sail was created but found herself struggling to stay on her feet once the sled started moving. Dice, who was already pressed against the back of the sled, offered Turbulence a hand to get on her feet. Even Winter stumbled with the takeoff and she had braced herself for it.
It was another two minutes before they had reached the top of the hill that was their destination. Once they had crested the hill Whirlpool allowed the sled to disintegrate as it had been trying to do the entire trip. Whirlpool ran the rest of the way to the pool where Anteus and Dragon were waiting. Anteus had created a three walled room out of dirt and stone to allow Rose and Deshica some privacy while they dried themselves and dressed. Anteus explained this to Whirlpool to calm her down but she was still trying to get past him to see her mother. Anteus had to grab his girlfriend and explain to her that she was still in costume and wearing her mask so Mama Draiman wouldn't recognize her immediately. Whirlpool remedied this by changing to her civilian garb but the transformation wasn't quite complete by the time she had made her way into the makeshift dressing room. Eve ran to her mother, mask still fading away, and threw her arms around her, “Mom! Thank God you're safe!”
Rose Draiman's view of the world had changed dramatically in just the past twelve hours. During that time frame she had become unblinded by a Fairy, discovered that a Troll lived in her backyard and that it wasn't a threat to her, learned that because Deshica enjoyed her company that she had a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel to Faerie and come back cancer free and just now found out that her daughter had been keeping quite the secret from her. Rose held onto her daughter but looked to Deshica for an answer, “How did Eve follow us to Faerie?”
Deshica smiled proudly, “Your child is special.”
Eve stepped back but kept her mother's hands in hers, “I am a Water Guardian. I became one just a few weeks after Dad died.”
Rose was still in shock, “I'm not sure I understand.”
Eve tried to explain how she became a Water Guardian and what it meant to herself and the world at large. Deshica helped fill in a few details of a Guardian's duties when Eve was so excited to finally get this secret off her chest that she couldn't help but to stumble over her words a time or two. Once Rose had been caught up on everything she had another question, “What about Christopher?”
Eve blushed at the mention of her boyfriend's name, “I'm pretty sure he's okay with all of this.”
Rose shook her head, “That isn't what I meant dear. What kind of Guardian is he? I know he's the one in the green and brown outside.”
Eve was floored with the revelation that her mother knew about Chris being Anteus. Before she could regain her composure her attention was drawn to the sounds of an argument coming from outside the changing room. Eve looked in the direction of the argument and then back to her mother, “Promise me you'll stay here until me or Chris come to get you.”
Eve stayed just long enough to see her mother agree before running out as she changed back into Whirlpool. What she saw immediately put her on the offensive. Gonder had arrived and he had company in the form of at least a dozen guards ready for a battle, covered with leather armor and bearing spears with swords sheathed on their belts. Whirlpool was more than ready to fight but Anteus held her back. Gonder pointed at the Guardians and screamed as spittle flew from his mouth and his face turned as red as a ripe strawberry, “It wasn't enough for you to hold Deshica against her will in the world of Man, was it? You had to pursue her and extend her captivity when she was mere miles from her home as well?”
Dragon was outraged, “After everything we freaking did to help you? This is the crap you come up with? You're lucky that I'm a Guardian and I have to wait for you to throw the first punch or we would already be beating the hell out of each other.”
Gonder was taken aback, “You threaten me?”
Dragon had to fight to restrain himself, “I'm letting you know what your stupidity and superior attitude are going to get you. You don't have enough guards to keep me from getting my hands on you. Okay, maybe you do but I know for a fact that if you piss of 'Pool she'll definitely get to you and even Anteus won't be able to hold her back.”
Gonder wasn't able to exercise the same restraint that Dragon showed, “I want all of you out of Faerie and to never come back! The Fairy Nation does not need your assistance!”
Turbulence gestured for the rest of her team to stand down as she stepped up to handle the situation, “You realize that you speak not just for yourself but also for all future generations of Faerie? It isn't just the Guardians you see before you that you are cutting yourself off from but every Guardian there is now and ever will be. Consider the weight of your words.”
Gonder stood by his words, “I am in the favor of Delanno, the Fairy King. I think it is safe to say that what I have just told you will stand and is as good as law.”
The argument that came forth at that moment was not from the Guardians but from Deshica, emerging from the dressing room. Upon seeing Deshica all of Gonder's guards knelt down in reverence with heads bowed and weapons lowered. Deshica pointed an accusing finger at Gonder, “Your favor with my father will be no longer once he hears of your actions. You may have been the suitor he preferred for me but once he learns that you absconded with me to the world of Man during their winter and left me there to fend for myself just to keep me to yourself you will be lucky to know freedom again.”
Gonder turned to see his accuser, “Wench! Your father will believe me before he believes you!”
Deshica stepped between the Guardians and Gonder, “You overestimate my father's gullibility. The human that I brought with me also brought the remnants of the cocoon I had to construct to save my own life. My father will know that the cocoon is mine because only a cocoon of royal bearing is nature's shade. What color is your cocoon Gonder?”
Gonder didn't have the chance to respond because the guards that he had brought with him took him into custody and dragged him away screaming and struggling. Deshica turned to face the Guardians and addressed them, “I am sorry if I have caused you any worry. I was merely trying to think of a way to thank your Ros
e Draiman for taking me into her home and away from the cold and snow. I had assumed that being Guardians you would know about the properties of these pools.”
The Guardians looked among themselves for answers and Dragon and Anteus said something about overhearing them say the springs had some healing effect but it was Dice that gave the answer Deshica was looking for, “Rose is cancer-free now. There's actually a good chance that she won't have to worry about getting cancer ever again. Heck, she might even be able to go the rest of her life without so much as a sniffle. You really did this for her?”
Deshica turned to Anteus and Dragon, “Will you verify this for me?”
Anteus turned to Whirlpool, “When we found them they were relaxing in the pool. I'm assuming that there's no special actions that they need to do for Mama Draiman to take advantage of the effects of the water, so, yeah. I'm verifying this. It actually happened.”
Deshica was caught off guard when Whirlpool ran up to her and embraced her, wiping away tears as she went forth. Anteus turned to the rest of the team, “I think this is a moment between the two of them. Why don't we find something to do? I'm going to let Mama Draiman know that everything is good to go out here.”
Deshica addressed the Guardians, “Don't leave just yet. I would like to take you to the village and introduce you to my father. While it is true that Gonder was in his favor before this episode that will no longer be the case. Let me show you that the Fairy Nation is still appreciative of all that the Guardians have done for us in the past.”
Turbulence spoke for the rest of the team when she agreed. The only condition that she issued was that both Dice and Winter be given the same respect as the actual Guardians because they were considered an integral part of the team. Deshica agreed and once Anteus came out of the dressing room with Rose on his arm they made their way to the village.
Rose and Deshica Page 10
