“Nothing new since last time you asked,” Alda answered. “I’m tempted to ask them, but I need more coffee first. Mark my words, Waterfall will be here soon. This mess isn’t easy to miss.”
Finishing her tea, Rose crossed over to the sink, washed her cup, and set it in the drain board. “Thanks for the tea. Silverlight will be expecting me. But if I hear anything, I’ll tell you this afternoon.”
“Tell him before you give him tea or that juice he’s so fond of. One spilled drink is enough this morning.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Rose picked up her basket and left.
She made her way through the herd of creatures, sure that there were even more than when she’d walked to Alda’s. Whatever was making the elemental fey assemble in this area was drawing more. On the way back to her house, it was all she could do to wind her way past the various elementals in her way. When two of them moved closer together to make it more difficult for her to pass, Rose stopped and looked at all the elementals.
“Can you please let me pass? Or tell me why you’re here?” Rose begged. “If I don’t get home soon Silverlight will worry.”
The nearby perytons and unicorns flattened their ears, but none of them offered an answer. The two teal deer in front of her squished to the side. Rose sighed and took the opening. The elementals made way for her, but not one of them offered an explanation.
Slamming the door behind her when she got back to the house made her feel better. Rose flopped onto the couch, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. At least there was enough room to move in here.
“What did you bring for breakfast?”
Rose opened her eyes and looked at him. He was fully dressed and didn’t have a beverage in his hands. This was as good as it was going to get. “Nothing. I never made it to the Commons because there are a lot of elemental fey outside.”
“What do you mean a lot of elemental fey?”
Rose yanked open the door. “Can you tell me a better way to put it?”
Silverlight’s jaw dropped. Then he shut his mouth, swallowed, and said faintly, “No, that covers it.”
One of the teal deer stretched out its neck and stepped closer to the open door. Rose quickly closed it, not wanting the deer to think it was welcome inside, even if it was an elemental.
“Any idea why they’re out there?” Silverlight asked.
“Funny thing—Alda and I asked each other the same question. If you have a theory, I’m all ears.”
“No. No, I don’t. I need tea.” He turned and walked into the kitchen. “Great, they look through windows, too.”
Sure enough, two unicorns were pressing their noses against the magical barrier that was the kitchen window. Rose sighed and started setting out a breakfast from what they already had at the house. Elemental fey weren’t going to get between her and her food.
“Do you want a cup?”
“Of tea? No, I had one at Alda’s.” Rose poured herself some orange juice and sat down.
Silverlight sat across from her, and she noticed the two cups of tea he set on the table. That was one way to be efficient on a day that would certainly call for multiple cups of tea.
Rose hadn’t even gotten the first bite to her mouth when someone knocked on the door. She looked at Silverlight and shook her head. “I found the first surprise. This one is yours.”
Silverlight snorted and went to get the door. Rose took a bite of cheese. Whatever happened, she was going to get some food in her first.
“What’s with the elementals?” Everblue asked from the door.
“That’s a popular question right now,” Silverlight said, their footsteps getting louder as the two of them walked toward the kitchen.
“There’s the fey hearted.” Everblue leaned down and gave Rose a one-armed hug.
Rose smiled. “Good morning.”
Everblue set a bundle on the table and poured himself a glass of juice. “Dig in. I brought blueberry muffins.”
“You must be a mind reader. I was going to pick some up at the Commons before I saw our four-legged friends outside.” Rose dug around until she came up with a still-warm muffin.
“What can you tell us about our friends?” Silverlight pulled the curtain over the kitchen window, apparently tired of the eyes peering inside.
Everblue glanced briefly at Rose and then focused on Silverlight. “There aren’t any near my place or by the Commons. I didn’t start seeing them until I took the path here. They’re concentrated in this area.”
Someone knocked on the door, paused for a moment, and then knocked more insistently.
Silverlight looked at Rose. “I got the last one.”
She rolled her eyes and pushed away from the table. Pulling open the door, she found Waterfall tugging his sleeve out of a baby peryton’s mouth.
“Ah, hello, Rose,” he said, distracted.
The baby peryton planted its feet and tugged again. Rose heard a seam pop. Its mother nudged it, and with a heartbroken sigh, the fawn let go of Waterfall’s sleeve.
“Thank you,” Waterfall said to the baby. It nodded glumly. He winked at the mother and came in.
“Would you like to join us for breakfast?” Rose asked, closing the door behind him.
Waterfall followed her into the kitchen without answering. Silverlight pulled out a chair for his father, and after a round of greetings, Waterfall sat down.
“Do any of you know why the elemental fey are outside?” Waterfall asked, though he didn’t look very surprised that they were there.
They all shook their heads, but only Everblue spoke. “I noticed there were more of them here than anywhere else.”
Waterfall toyed with his cup before pushing it to the side. “There isn’t an easy way to say this, but Dyna escaped. She wants the answer to the riddle or Rose’s death. The elementals are here to protect Rose.”
“My death?” Rose squeaked. She had been under the impression that it was impossible for Dyna to leave her territory and return. In fact, Rose couldn’t picture any creature willfully disobeying Ember.
“Or the correct answer to the riddle,” Waterfall said.
“What, how did she escape?” Silverlight said.
“I don’t know. I’m not sure if she was bound to her land or if Ember thought the threat of his rage was enough to hold her.”
“But why disobey Ember? The punishment could be death,” Everblue added.
“Ember will find her, and there will be discussions over her punishment. I have no doubt that she will be captured, but until then, you should be careful.” Waterfall focused on Rose. “We don’t want anything happening to you.”
Rose nodded. A fleeting image of Ember flame-broiling Dyna before eating her for dinner crossed through Rose's head, though it really wasn’t funny. Dyna’s actions were horrible but really shouldn’t merit death. Then again, Rose was rather vested in staying alive.
“I need to speak to Alda, but under the circumstances, it would be best to hold all your lessons here today.” He was gone before they had a chance to ask more questions, but there really wasn’t anything to ask. Dyna had gone rogue and was hunting Rose.
Rose was still stuck on the riddle, and that worried her. If Dyna managed to find her, Rose wanted to have an answer. She eyed Silverlight. He might be willing to help her, even if it meant disobeying his father, and Rose didn’t doubt that Everblue would help if she asked nicely. Sighing, she ate a piece of cheese. It wasn’t worth broaching the conversation until they could be alone for a while. Since it wouldn’t take Waterfall long to talk to Alda, she needed to wait.
The rest of the meal passed without any conversation, and Rose noticed that she wasn’t the only one who had trouble finishing what was on her plate. There was something about knowing Dyna was loose that killed an appetite.
Waterfall returned while they were cleaning up. He came in after a cursory knock. “Weapons work is outside. I’ll be back when I have more news.” With that, he was gone again.
With the dishes do
ne, Rose retreated to the living room. She wished Pearl were here, not because the dragon would have any input, but because she enjoyed her company and could use a cuddle.
The fey sat in the seats on each side of her, and Rose took a good look at them. Between Silverlight’s furrowed brow and deep frown and Everblue picking at a seam on the cushion, she could tell her friends were worried.
“Will you help me solve the riddle?” Rose asked. “I don’t want to risk another fight with her, so if I could just give her the answer…”
Silverlight sighed. “For reasons I can’t share, no. I can’t. And so I don’t have to tell anyone else what you’re doing, I’m going to go lie down. I find myself suddenly exhausted and in need of a nap.”
When he left, Everblue turned to Rose. “Do you know what that was about?”
She shook her head.
“I’m guessing, and this is just a guess mind you, that his father asked him to report if you were working on the riddle.”
Rose grimaced and nodded. She had thought as much.
Everblue went on. “I am under no such orders and would be more than happy to help, though I’m not particularly good at riddles.”
“Why would Waterfall care if I worked on the riddle?”
“Wish I could say. He’s good at being mysterious, and Silverlight won’t betray his trust.” Everblue shrugged. “One thing you can be sure of is that he isn’t going to feed his dad information without warning you.”
Rose let that sink in. That fit with what she knew of Silverlight, but it didn’t make her feel any better about Waterfall. Then again, there could be a good reason for his orders. None came to mind right now, but that didn’t mean anything.
“Let’s get started.” Everblue scrounged around and came up with a paper and pencil. “Can you recite it to me? I don’t think I ever heard the riddle.”
Rose snatched the pencil out of his hand. “Are you crazy? We can’t write it down. What if Waterfall finds it?”
Everblue raised an eyebrow. “Who’s going to search me? Besides, if we solve it you’ll have a way out of this mess. I need to see it if I’m going to work on it.”
Grimacing, Rose returned the pencil. She still thought it was a bad idea to put the riddle on paper, but she didn’t see much choice if she wanted his help. “Fine, but you better be careful.”
“Agreed.”
“Are you ready?”
Everblue nodded.
“I am found at the beginning but not the end,
then contained in a turn but not in a tune.
I am usually found with a space on each side,
and, I am always at the end of beginnings.
You have not called me this, but what am I known as?”
Rose had to repeat it twice before he had it written down correctly.
“So far I can’t think of any items, people, or creatures that meet all the criteria and answer the riddle,” she said.
Nodding, he read through the riddle again. “Well, it’s gibberish to me. Any helpful hints?”
“I wish,” Rose said sourly. “I’ve been working for days without getting anywhere. Riddles are complete nonsense.”
“You’re the one who thought this was your way out of getting eaten. Do you want to contribute?”
“If I had a solid idea, I wouldn’t be asking for help.”
“Right.” Everblue read the riddle again. “Have you tried taking it literally?”
Rose shook her head. “I don’t follow.”
“Well, take the second line. Turn has an r, something tune lacks.”
Rose winced. “I should have noticed that.”
“I only saw it because I’m looking at the words.”
“Fair enough.” Rose read through the riddle. “S is at the end of beginnings, but I’m not sure about the first and third clues.”
Everblue opened his mouth to say something else when a knock sounded at the door. He stuffed the paper under a book while Rose answered the door. As Waterfall came in, she could see the dense herd of elemental fey behind him. These guys were serious about keeping her safe.
Waterfall scanned the room. “Where’s Silverlight?”
“Here.” Silverlight walked out of his bedroom.
Waterfall sat down. “Any lessons you can’t do here are canceled. Any questions?”
“What happens if Dyna finds me and I refuse to answer?” Rose had to ask. Even with Everblue’s help it didn’t seem like she was going to figure out the actual answer, and it would be worth knowing what was at stake.
“Under normal circumstances, you’d have to turn back. She wouldn’t let you travel past her. Since this is anything but a typical situation, I cannot be sure what will occur, but I suspect she will try to kill you. But Ember will get her under control. He’s more than capable of dealing with Dyna.”
“Can I work on the riddle, just in case?” Rose asked hopefully.
“No. I have spoken with a representative of the kin, and there is more to this. I do not understand why Dyna is doing this or what part the kin are playing, but the elementals are on your side. Ember will deal with Dyna. This is merely precautionary. As I said before, if you solve the riddle, you play her game.” Waterfall sighed.
Rose didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t that she doubted Ember’s abilities, but the sphinx was still after her. And on the loose. Waterfall could say all sorts of things about the elemental fey protecting her and just being a “precaution,” but that didn’t change the fact that Dyna seemed rather determined to have Rose for lunch. With that cheerful thought, she lost the little appetite she’d gained in the past four hours.
“If you would excuse Silverlight and myself,” Waterfall said, “I need to discuss a few things with him.”
Rose watched the two of them walk out of the room, wishing she understood what was going on. Waterfall’s orders didn’t make sense to her, and she had the feeling he was withholding important information. No matter how many times he said this was just a precaution, Rose didn’t believe him. Dyna wanted her dead, and there was only one way to prevent that: she had to solve the riddle.
Silverlight looked at his father. “What was so important and private that you couldn’t tell me in front of Rose and Everblue?”
Waterfall paced the length of Silverlight’s sitting room. “How is she doing?”
“She’s worried. We all are.” Silverlight sighed. “Will you sit down? You’re making me nervous.”
Waterfall sat. “The kin representative I spoke to assured me that they don’t support Dyna, but they will not involve themselves in this conflict. I have been in contact with the elementals, too. They care for Rose and will protect her.”
“You’ve said as much before. Though you also said their protection was just a ‘precaution,’ which you know I don’t believe. What’s this really about?” Silverlight knew his father, and Waterfall was not himself.
His father studied him intently. “Does the word iris mean anything to you?”
“It’s a flower. What else would it mean?” Why would his father be asking about that when there were more important things going on?
Waterfall shrugged. “It came up, and I thought you might know something.”
Silverlight crossed his arms over his chest. “Well I don’t.”
“One more thing…” Waterfall leaned forward. “Has she been working on the riddle?”
“I have not seen Rose work on the riddle. Now, if there’s nothing else, I would like to get back to her now. She needs me.” And while he didn’t know anything about irises now, he could work on that while Rose and Everblue worked on the riddle.
Chapter 24
“Shoo. Off with you,” Rose heard Alda saying through the door. “Yes, you’re very pretty, but you’re still in my way. What part of ‘I need space’ is so hard to understand? This is sword practice. There will be flying blades, and I don’t want to have to stitch any of you back together.” She paused. “Now that’s better.”
R
ose couldn’t help but smile as she opened the door. Alda was standing in front of the house, hands on her hips, nodding approvingly at the circle. It wasn’t huge—maybe thirty feet in diameter—but it was enough room for them to move.
“Tell Silverlight and Everblue to hurry up, and then come on out, Rose. I won’t have them sit on their backsides and worry. We are going to get some exercise.” Alda’s tone was light, but Rose could see the concern etched on her face.
“No need to shout. We’re here,” Silverlight said, coming up behind Rose.
“I’ll shout if I want to,” Alda grumbled. She pointed to the weapons by her feet. “Practice blades. You’ll find the real things by the door. I know everyone’s nerves are shaky today, so remember, practice blades are still big pieces of pointy metal that can hurt people.”
Rose nodded, ignoring Silverlight’s sigh. Everblue must have done something because Alda’s eyes narrowed and darted between the boys.
“Jog a couple of laps around the circle, then we’ll stretch,” Alda said, although they all knew she never actually meant “jog” or “a couple.”
They were all lightly panting when she announced that they were finished. The only good thing about the run was that it got their blood flowing and kept them from feeling as cold. Rose lost some of the warmth while they were stretching, but it was worth it. She hadn’t realized how stiff she’d been after sitting around all day.
“All right,” Alda said, “we’re going to pair off and do drill work. Nothing fancy, just some maneuvers to keep everything fresh.”
Rose was picking up a sword when the elementals started moving around, nickering and grunting at one another. She quickly straightened only to find herself squished against Silverlight and Alda as the unicorns formed a tight circle around them. She couldn’t turn or move away because one unicorn’s backside was pressed against her.
She looked around the clearing, trying to see what all the fuss was about. Rose didn’t see Dyna, but she did see a group of perytons taking flight. They were going in the one direction she couldn’t see, and after a lot of wiggling, she managed to pivot enough to look behind her.
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