by J E Mueller
We entered the drawing room where Cedralla and Mollria stood behind their healer, working on the complex potion.
The healer, Cyprin, motioned over to me, his voice low, “Good good, perfect timing, come here. We are at the final stages, Your Majesty.”
I was always a little surprised to be addressed as such but after a little over a year it was growing on me. Circling around to him with Soleia and Aylum on either side, I stopped just before the potions.
“Is that callttle weed and rose-fig petals?” I asked curiously.
“You’ve got a good eye, Your Majesty.” Cyprin gave a quick smile and nod before adding in a few drops of something I couldn’t quite identify. “Now all we need is a quick drop of blood.” He motioned to the table where a thin sharp knife lay, before setting the mixture he had been working on down in front of me. “If it’s easier, I can prick a finger for you.”
“It doesn't bother me,” I admitted honestly, grabbing the medical knife. I let my dragon magic warm my hands to get the blood flowing before pricking my finger. The blood pooled quickly to the surface and it wasn’t hard to make drip into the brew.
Cyprin nodded his thanks as he got back to work, quickly adding in two more things before stirring rapidly and adding the brew to the vials. I watched them with great interest, my heart beating rapidly, threatening to implode. Could my healing magic revive me from that?
One by one the vials turned black until the second from the end glowed gold. For a moment, it was as if time froze. An answer sat there, across the table. I didn’t know who it belonged to, and for a moment I forgot to breathe.
“Ah, perfection. I was hoping you’d find them here,” Cyprin admitted. “Let me know if I can be of any more service.” He handed off a paper to Cedralla before leaving the room.
Everyone stood silently. My eyes still hadn’t left the vial that was now slowly dimming, the magic of the potion wearing out.
“I’m sure we can trust you to the arrangements,” I heard Aylum say.
“It would be my honor,” Cedralla replied.
I turned to see her and Mollria bow before excusing themselves, giving us space.
I glanced from Soleia to Aylum; words caught in my throat, blocking the butterflies from escaping. It was real. My family was here somewhere.
Soleia engulfed me in a hug, half a second before Aylum could. I let them both wrap around me, soaking in their calm, their warmth, their support.
“What if it’s been too long?” Nineteen years was a long time. Nearly two decades.
“It’s never too late to grow new relationships.” Soleia chuckled. “It’s not like you’ve known Aylum long, nor Edelora and Adyana.”
“You haven’t known my family much longer either,” Aylum replied, rubbing small circles along my back.
They were right. I knew they were right, but that anxious part of my brain screamed this might be a disaster.
Or it might be the best thing ever. I tried to push the negative thoughts away as I pulled in a deep breath. “Okay, what now?”
Soleia stepped back, giving Aylum and me some space. He smiled, keeping a steadying hand on either arm. “It depends on how you want to do this. Do you want to meet them all at once? If there are siblings, do you want to meet your parents first?”
“I…” The words I wanted to say felt blocked. The fear and anticipation mixing, intertwining together, were hard to speak over. “I think I just really want to meet my mom.”
Aylum didn’t miss a beat. “Then that’s where we’ll start.” He turned to Soleia. “Can you find the Altocumu and update them on our plans? I think we’ll go for a walk while everything gets set up.”
I was itching to pace again, so a walk sounded perfect. “I like that idea.”
Soleia nodded. “As you wish. I’ll come find you shortly.”
I gave her as much of a smile as I could manage, tugging on the dragon link we had formed for this adventure. “Thank you.”
“Always.” She headed out, leaving Edelora and Adyana with us.
“What do you say to a stroll through the gardens?” Adyana suggested as we headed to the door.
“Not that you haven’t memorised it all yet,” Edelora teased.
I laughed, feeling a little relief from the ridiculous comment. “Not yet, but there’s still time to learn every inch of it.”
“Have you asked about taking some clippings and samples yet?” Adyana walked a step in front of me, leading the way while Edelora and the guards followed behind.
“No, but Mollria has seen me eyeing several things and has offered already. It’s only a matter of time before I end up with the same reputation I had back in school.” I chuckled at the thought. Collecting things and experimenting with potions was just too much fun.
“And thankfully you aren’t harvesting random dangerous ingredients any more.” Aylum smirked.
I cast a glare at him, shooting him all the annoyance I could offer. “Stupid guards not letting me just grab things. I can heal from most things in just a few minutes!” I tossed my hands up in exasperation. “I don’t need proper supplies to gather them.”
“Oh, would you look at that. My mother has ordered otherwise.” Aylum laughed.
“Yes, yes, very motherly of her,” I grumbled. “Did you really have to tell her about the ocin moss?”
“Of course. There’s not much I keep from her,” Aylum admitted, a bit too happy at the point.
“You don’t say?” I shook my head. Between him and Luniria, not much was a secret. Nyria kept more to herself, but only a little. She was the only reason the two sisters ever pulled off a successful prank.
We strolled the garden in peace. The bushes and rows of flowers were easy to get lost in. For the first few minutes my mind was an anxious mess. Edelora started asking about different plants, if they were good for anything in particular, and I quickly got lost in the conversation—even if I knew it was a distraction. For a while Aylum debated with me about what plants could be replaced with what in different types of potions before Adyana cleared her throat.
“They’re here,” she said in a neutral tone. “Would you like your mother to come out here, or would you prefer to go inside?”
“Here’s fine,” I replied quickly. “I’m sure we could both benefit from the walk.”
“Let’s meander toward the garden entrance then,” Edelora suggested. Her casual tone made it seem like this was normal, despite it churning my stomach into knots, twisting and pretzeling it into shapes it shouldn’t try to hold.
Aylum held my hand, giving mine a comforting squeeze as we walked. As we reached the entrance, I could hear Soleia’s voice ringing clear as she talked, “Yes, I’ve known Kariea for a long time now. She is a brilliant healer, though maybe a little problematic when it comes to her potion making. She’s kept me on my feet and made every adventure worthwhile.”
I pulled back on Aylum’s hand, wanting to slow down and see if my mother would reply. I longed to hear her voice, to hear some sign she was excited to see me.
“It’s nice to hear she has good friends,” a sweet, nervous voice replied. “If anything, I’m glad she got to have that.”
“Kariea will love to meet you. New adventures are definitely her thing. Even if you are both a little nervous, I’m sure it’ll work out just fine.” Soleia gave an easy laugh. “I can smell you, I know you’re close. Stop hiding.”
“Maybe I want to listen, jerk,” I teased.
“You can hear her better in person. Get over here,” Soleia insisted. “I promise, she won’t bite any worse than that flying squirrel from five years ago.”
“That brat had it out to get me.” I couldn’t help but chuckle a little out loud at the memory.
I glanced at Aylum and took a breath. “Shall we then?”
“By your lead.” He kissed the top of my head, as if that would give me all the courage I needed.
Knowing everyone was so close was as much comfort as I could hope for. With a nervous s
mile, I nodded and we moved into view.
The woman wasn’t much taller than me, and her hair was a little more strawberry than mine, with a few streaks of white speckled through it. Her eyes looked so much like mine, blue-green like the lake where I grew up. My heart melted, all doubt gone. This woman was clearly every inch my mother.
“Oh, my Valleltra,” she said, closing the gap and engulfing me in a hug. I readily returned the gesture. Tears fell from her eyes, landing on my cheeks and mixing with my own. “I never thought I’d see you again.”
I squeezed her a little tighter, lost for words for several moments. “I’m glad I finally get to meet you.”
We stood there, the moments not mattering for a long time before we pulled apart. I noticed everyone but Aylum had vanished, at least from sight.
“I should introduce you to my husband.” I waved Aylum over.
My mother smiled. “I’ve heard a little bit about this one.” She teased, keeping the conversation light. “It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for helping with this.”
Aylum gave a quick bow. “It’s nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“Tephfaen.” She replied, before looking at me. “My name is Tephfaen. Your father is Valsaer. You have a fifteen year old brother named Reimnik and a thirteen year old sister named Pria.”
“I have siblings?” The level of excitement in my voice was palpable.
“Yes.” She laughed. “They’d love to meet you, whenever you’re ready to.”
My stomach knotted for a moment. “Are you sure? Springing another sibling on them might be weird.”
“They know of you, they always have,” Tephfaen replied, giving my arm a squeeze. “They were taking bets on who would be taller. Pria is a little tired of being the short one of the family, so she’ll be thrilled to see she’s about your height, if not a little taller.
I laughed at the ridiculous sibling conversation, glad to be included. “Okay. Let’s go meet them.”
Soleia appeared, likely listening for this very cue. “Right this way.”
I looped my arm through my mother’s, excited to see where this new adventure would lead.
Hierarchy of Venerth
Arix- Land of the Blue Stone
Title—————Based On Stone
Pphire (Royalty) ————Sapphire
Lari——————————Larimar
Arai—————Paraiba Tourmaline
Derite———————Grandiderite
Tite—————————Benitoite
Sedimentary———Commer/Peasant
Hierarchy of Venerth Continued
Lorias -Kingdom of the Skies
Title—————Based On Clouds
Atmos (Royalty) ———Atmosphere
Ocumu —————Cirrocumulus
Ostratu————— Cirrostratus
Altocumu—————Altocumulus
Altostratu—————Altostratus
Stratocumu————Stratocumulus
Mist —————Commoner/Peasant
Acknowledgments
Aud: thank you for all your beta work and feedback. Also, whhhhy? This wasn’t supposed to be a series. Now there is certainly more to come.
Van: for kicking my butt, the transition songs, and all your wonderful pec bouncing comments.
Nico: I loved all your opinions. Thanks for kicking my novels butt. Thank you for being a poisonous moss as well.
Geetha: for all the reading you always do. You help me believe in my novels, even when they are very rough drafts.
To everyone who helped with this blurb. It has been the toughest (so far) to write.
To the TWC Discord - finding a good writing group is hard. Finding a great writing family is even harder. Thank you for everything.
About the Author
Mueller is a midwesterner who was born and raised in IL where she currently resides. Mueller has been described as two penguins in a trenchcoat with a herd of cats ready to help her type like the wind, but in reality she is actually two author penguins in a trench coat who is herded by a clowder of cats.
Currently, Mueller is focused on writing all things magical and adores having characters battle curses, tangle with spirits, and face off against wicked family members for a chance at a better ending.
For more information, check out Mueller’s website here: https://authorjemueller.wixsite.com/online
Also By J.E.Mueller
A Tune Of Demons
Fire’s Song
Spirit’s Lullaby
Dreamer’s Melody
Fairytale Adventures
An Unexpected Brew
For The Guild
Of Beasts And Bells
Once Upon An Adventure
