Steve headed towards the glow, figuring he’d find both Sarah and the queen where he had left them, namely on the flip side of the trunk. When he got there, however, he was dismayed to see that no one was there. He craned his neck to look up into the glittering golden foliage of the tree. He briefly wondered if the Fae’s Tree would ever look like a normal tree again or if it would forever look like it was made of solid gold. The golden effect couldn’t last, Steve decided. With the Tree giving off as much light as a lighthouse he was certain it was bound to attract the attention of the humans living nearby. If the Fae wanted to remain hidden then this wasn’t the way to do it.
Another Fae landed on his arm, followed immediately thereafter by another, and then another. Within seconds he had at least a dozen Fae sitting on each arm. One Fae on his right arm broke away from the rest of the group and quickly walked up to his right shoulder. He felt a tiny hand grip his ear lobe and finally heard one of the tiny winged figures speak.
“I bid you greetings, human!”
It was a voice Steve recognized.
“Hey there, Thinian. How’s it goin’, pal? It’s nice to see you up and flying around. I can only assume your Tree is back to full strength. Congrats! That was too close for comfort.”
“Tell me about it,” the Fae agreed. “I cannot begin to tell you how elated I feel in knowing I have full use of my wings again. When you’re a Fae, and you’ve danced on the backs of the gentlest zephyrs, being grounded was the equivalent of a death sentence.”
“Melodramatic much?” Steve asked as he grinned at the Fae.
“I’m not familiar with that term,” Thinian returned.
“Forget it. Where is everyone?”
“Their royal majesties are seeing to their people. While many of us are frolicking in the reemergence of our jhorun, others aren’t as fortunate. Many were on death’s door. It will just take some time, so their majesties are helping with the transition as much as possible.”
“I understand. Do you know where Sarah is? Or Mikal, for that matter?”
“The human prince and his princess are seeing to the infirm. As for Lady Sarah, she awaits your return. Come. I will show you to her.”
Thinian flew off his shoulder and headed into the heart of the tree. Steve followed Thinian’s tiny glowing form as he vanished down a tunnel leading away from the entrance. Steve nodded. Everywhere he looked he could see smiling faeries, only this time they were human-sized. Confused, Steve glanced through each open doorway they passed and saw more of the same thing: full-sized faeries performing any number of tasks that one would expect to find inside a proper castle.
“Hey, I have a question for you,” Steve called out after he rounded a bend and saw that Thinian had become human-sized once more.
They passed yet another group of winged servants who all smiled and bowed before them. Thinian paused only long enough to glance back at him.
“Oh? What is your question?”
“What’s the deal with your size? One minute I have nearly a dozen of you faeries sitting on my arm and the next we’re passing the kitchen and I can see a whole group of people cooking up a storm. And… I see wings, so I know they’re all faeries.”
“And you wish to know why I am not presently smaller than you? Or perhaps why we are not glowing?”
Steve nodded, “Well, yeah. When we were on Ranal you could sit on my shoulder. Hell, you were doing just that only a few minutes ago. What’s the deal? Can you change your size at will?”
“How do you know you’re not the same size as a Fae?” Thinian countered, trying unsuccessfully to hide a cryptic smile. “For all you know you were shrunk as soon as you stepped foot on this island.”
“You were sitting on my arm, remember?” Steve reminded the Fae. “Try again.”
“We can change our size accordingly,” Thinian finally said after remaining silent for a few seconds. “Whether we increase our mass to the equivalent of a human or shrink ourselves down until we are on the same level as the Alluin, our size is entirely of our own doing.”
“The Alluin?” Steve repeated, puzzled. “Who are they?”
“A very peculiar species who only wish to… Ah. Here we are. Lady Sarah, your champion has arrived.”
They arrived in a large chamber that Steve could see had been turned into a hospital of sorts. There were rows of cots filling the room with most of them holding patients. Faeries outfitted in bright yellow were stopping by some cots, squatting down next to others, and laying hands on various extremities. There was Sarah, standing next to the queen. They had both stopped at the foot of a cot that contained an elderly fellow that was doing his best to regain his feet. Sarah looked over at him as he entered the room and smiled warmly.
“There you are! We were beginning to worry about you!”
Steve started to head towards his wife when he paused, turned back to Thinian, and held out a hand. Once the Fae had grasped his forearm in his own Steve grinned. He gripped Thinian’s hand tightly in his own and gave his jhorun the order to ignite his hands.
Thinian let out a yelp and tried to pull his hand away. Steve’s grip was stronger and he held on. He let his flames burn for a few seconds before he extinguished them.
“Now we’re even.”
Thinian was confused, “For what? What have I done to you?”
“Who are the Alluin?”
Thinian nodded with comprehension, grinned, and gave him a small bow.
“I see your point. Thank you for all your help. I won’t ever forget it, friend Steve.”
“Take it easy, pal,” Steve jovially returned. He detected movement in his peripheral vision and saw that Sarah was now standing before him.
“What was that for?” Sarah demanded. “I’ve half a mind to knock some sense into you. That was rude!”
“No, it wasn’t,” Steve argued. “It was just two guys getting even with each other. No harm done.”
“What did he ever do to you?” Sarah asked, perplexed.
“What are the Alluin?” Steve countered.
“What was that?”
“What – or who – are the Alluin? Ever hear of them?”
Sarah shook her head, “No. What are they?”
“That’s what Thinian was in the process of telling me when we made it in here and he dropped the subject. Little turd. Now I’m curious as hell.”
Sarah giggled, “Curious enough to research it in the Archives?”
Steve vehemently shook his head, “Oh, hell no. You couldn’t pay me to go back in there to see that old crone again. Where’s Mikal?”
Sarah turned to point at the far corner of the chamber. Mikal was laying in one of the cots, resting. He saw Lissa sitting quietly nearby, reading a book.
“What happened? Is he okay?”
“He expelled a lot of his jhorun making certain that sapling finished the job,” Sarah quietly explained. “He told me that he hadn’t ever felt that drained before. So he was understandably weak.”
“Did he have any problems?” Steve asked, curious.
“Only when he tried to take his hands off that sapling,” Sarah told him. “Every time he did the glow would start to fade. So he had to sit there, in that hunched over position, for over an hour. Aside from a backache and a practically drained jhorun, he seems to be okay. What about you? Tell me about Loryss. Were you able to find her mate?”
Steve gave her a recap of everything that had happened, starting with the moment he stepped outside and contacted Kahvel and ending with discovering the faeries had regained the use of their wings.
“I am so glad you were able to warn him,” Sarah said as she slid her arm into his. She gently turned until both of them were able to see the queen. She began walking that direction. “Did Ceraeon say what he was going to do?”
“I got the distinct impression it wasn’t going to be pretty,” Steve answered. “He promptly told me that it was now a griffin issue and he didn’t need me hanging around anymore.”
“Ah. Got it.”
“Wish I could’ve seen the instant the Tree returned to health,” Steve said. “Did you see it? What happened?”
“It was such a wonderful thing to see,” Sarah wistfully sighed. “As soon as that sapling made it to the top of the Tree the whole thing began to glow. Ria told me that it was like the difference between night and day. We had been sitting on the ground as we watched Mikal apply his jhorun. Ria was leaning up against me because she didn’t have the strength to keep herself upright. The next moment she was leaping to her feet as though she were a ballerina! Her wings appeared and she rose up off the ground. And then I heard it.”
“Heard what?” Steve asked, leaning close.
“Singing. I could only assume the Fae started to sing as they got their strength back. It was so wonderful and magical! I will never forget those voices. Ever.”
“That was the voice of our Tree, Lady Sarah,” a male voice said from behind them.
Husband and wife turned to see the Fae king and queen.
“Thanks to you,” Tivan was saying, “our Tree will live to sing countless more songs. We are in your debt.”
“Now and for all time,” Ria agreed.
As one, the Fae king and queen bowed. Almost immediately all conversation and noise in the room ceased. Everyone who was able also bowed.
“Is your Tree going to be golden now?” Steve asked.
Sarah groaned and shook her head.
“If it is, I welcome it,” Tivan answered.
“As do I,” Ria added. “The health of our tree has been restored. I do not care what color it is.”
“What about the outside world?” Sarah asked. “With the Tree glowing that brightly isn’t it bound to attract visitors?”
“Let them come,” Tivan warmly answered. “We would welcome the company.”
“Really?” Sarah asked, surprised. “I’m shocked, but in a good way. Good for you, your majesty.”
“Life is too precious,” Ria added. “I never want to hide again. From anyone.”
Tivan embraced her and they moved off, stopping at each and every cot. Steve pointed over at Mikal and Lissa. Mikal was now sitting up in his cot and holding Lissa’s hand.
“What about tomorrow?” Steve asked, worried.
“What about it?” Sarah wanted to know. “He’s not going to be needing his jhorun tomorrow. He’ll be too preoccupied to notice anything else, trust me.”
“Are you sure?” Steve asked.
“We certainly were,” Sarah reminded him. “What do you expect? Weddings have a tendency to do that to people.”
Chapter 14 – Off the Market
“Don’t forget to bring it. I get so little chance to wear it that I’m not about to pass up an opportunity. Especially when it’s for something as cool as this.”
Sarah groaned and rolled her eyes, “There’s absolutely no reason to have that thing strapped to your back. Besides, you don’t even know how to use it.”
“Regardless of that, it’d be only proper,” her husband argued.
Sarah laughed, crossed her arms over her chest, and sat down on the corner of the bed in their cabin.
“Proper? Explain yourself. Since when would it be proper to wear a sword on your back?”
“When you happen to be dressing up for a formal ceremony here. In Lentari. A land where it’s perfectly acceptable to have a medieval weapon strapped to your belt. Or to your back. Lest you forget, I earned that sword fighting the guur. Besides, the dwarves are sending representatives. What if Maelnar is there? What would he think if I didn’t have Mythrin with me? I think the least I could do is to wear it as an homage to our friends from Down Under.”
Sarah shook her head in exasperation.
“I told you to stop referring to them like that. ‘Down Under’ refers to Australia, not the dwarven realm.”
“If they’re gonna call us ‘Topside’ then I get to call them ‘Down Under’.”
Sarah giggled, “You’re just being a goofball.”
Steve grinned and shrugged.
“If Rhenyon isn’t wearing his then you’re taking it off,” Sarah decided. “Agreed?”
Steve’s smile melted from his face. He reluctantly nodded his head, but not before crossing his fingers behind his back.
“Fine. Agreed.”
Sarah pointed an accusatory finger.
“No warning him, either. I know that sword allows you to contact each other.”
“Fine, fine. You win.”
Her husband fell silent as she returned her attention to her wardrobe. What should she wear? It wasn’t every day a formal occasion presented itself in Lentari.
“Why don’t you bring the dragon sword, too?” Steve idly suggested, clearly demonstrating that his mind was still elsewhere. “Then I could wear ‘em both. That’d be cool, wouldn’t it?”
“I am not bringing back both of those swords,” she informed him. “One is bad enough, but two? That’s ridiculous. You’ll have to make do with just the one sword.”
Grinning, Steve nodded, “Okay, just the one, then. I guess I can make do with that. You win, dear.”
Sarah blinked with surprise, “Wait, what? Did you just sucker me into dropping my argument to get your green sword by trying to suggest I should bring back both of them?”
Steve nodded and tapped the side of his head.
“Don’t even think you’ve won this one,” Sarah laughed.
“Look, you have to go back and get Lia and Adam anyway, right?”
“What about your parents?” Sarah argued. “What about mine? What about Annie and Tristan and the kids? I have a lot of people I need to get from our world to here.”
“All the more reason you should bring back Mythrin on your first trip. I’ve got all those mimets charged up. Something tells me you’re going to need to recharge your jhorun a few times before all this is said and done. Wait. You know what? Why don’t you just use the portal at our house? Why not just get everyone to the manor and then you can use our portal to bring them all here.”
“Except the portal won’t bring them to the right place,” Sarah reminded him. “If we use our key then we’ll get the forest. If I use the king’s then I’ll get R’Tal. Besides, the ceremony is being held in Capily. That’s on the west coast.”
“Oh. That’s right. I forgot that they decided to have the ceremony in Lissa’s village. Why are they doing that again? Mikal is the crown prince. The wedding should be held at the castle. Did I miss something?”
Sarah nodded, “Naturally. Don’t you remember Kri’Entu telling us about Gareth’s father? He’s a water dragon. I think they called him a ‘shealk’. Anyway, Gareth is already there, spending time with him underwater in shealk form. However, he and Mikal are friends. Mikal wanted to make sure he’d be there. So the site was moved from the castle to Capily. It’s a good thing, too. From the sounds of it the ceremony will have to take place outside.”
“Are there that many people coming?” Steve asked.
Sarah nodded, “Of course, but that’s not the question you should be asking.”
“Alrighty. I’ll bite. What should I be asking?”
“‘Who is planning on attending?’” Sarah clarified. “Wyverians, griffins, and dwarves, for starters. Plus we have the shealk. Those are the species that I know about. All are coming together to honor Mikal and Lissa’s wedding.”
Steve whistled, “Amazing. Who would’ve thought that the little boy we first met all those years ago would be getting married? And that we’d be there to witness it. Man alive, time flies when you’re having fun.”
“If I get everyone to the manor,” Sarah suddenly said, surprising her husband into silence, “and use the portal to get everyone to the castle, then I could use the castle’s portal to get everyone to Capily. Yes, that’s what I’ll do. That way I won’t drain my jhorun. I wonder why I didn’t think of it before.”
Steve held up a hand, “Umm, excuse me? Didn’t I just suggest that?”
“No, you suggested I use the portal to get to R’Tal and then teleport everyone to Capily. I made your original idea better, making it my idea.”
“It’s a good thing you’re cute,” Steve grumbled.
Sarah giggled, selected an ornate purple gown, and laid it across the bed.
“This one. I think I’ll wear this one.”
“What time do we need to get going?” Steve asked.
“Like, right now,” Sarah answered.
“Already? Okey doke. Let’s get a move on. What do you need me to do?”
“You’re going to be working with Rhenyon to see to it that all the guests are on their best behavior. Dragons, dwarves, and griffins are all going to be in the same area. Their history isn’t the greatest when in close proximity. They all need to behave themselves.”
Steve nodded, “Got it.”
****
An hour later a familiar chime filled the smaller chamber adjacent to the castle’s Great Hall. Large wooden frames began glowing while a high pitched – but not too unpleasant – chime started to ring. The surface of the portal rippled several times and then turned opaque. A scene of a comfortable sitting room should have appeared except this time all anyone could see was a large group of people waiting anxiously in their finest attire. Sarah stepped through the portal first.
“Okay, quickly now. We’re all walking through the portal. You don’t want to get left behind. Mom? Stop staring. It’s a portal. I told you it’s a portal, even though I’m pretty sure you didn’t believe me. Dad, Annie has her hands full. Grab Christopher before he knocks over that suit of armor. Come on, everyone. Don’t be afraid. I’m pretty sure the portal won’t close if someone is in the process of stepping through, but why chance it?”
A blonde-haired woman in her forties pushed by Sarah’s dumbstruck parents, leaned forward, and snatched Christopher up off the ground. The two year old squealed with delight.
“Come on, kiddo,” the woman told the toddler. “Stick with me. Where’s your brother? We’re all going to have fun together. Whaddya say?”
Close Encounters of the Magical Kind Page 32
