by Sarah Noffke
“No apologies necessary.” Azure settled on the floor next to Gillian, pushing her gown to the side so it wasn’t in the way. “But I’m not going anywhere until you’re caught up. Tell me how I can help.”
Gillian paused, his mouth popping open. “Shouldn’t you be packing? You leave tomorrow morning.”
“I am leaving tomorrow, which is why I should help you now.” Azure extended a hand, combing her fingers through the air. “Hand me the inventory sheet. Together we can knock this out twice as fast.”
CHAPTER THREE
The sun wasn’t even up when something woke Azure. She peeled open one eye to find Finswick sitting on her chest, his tail on her face. She pushed to a sitting position and tossed the cat off her. “Why do you have your ass in my face?” she asked, wiping the hair clinging to her cheek away.
“Oh, you’re awake! Great, we can get on the road now,” Finswick said from the corner of the large bed.
Azure let out a sigh of frustration. “Very cute. Yes I’m awake, but we’re not leaving until the planned time.”
“You realize that you’re the queen and can do whatever you like?”
Azure eyed the clock on her bedside table. “Firstly, Monet probably went to bed an hour ago. Secondly, I’m the queen, which means I can banish you if you don’t keep your butt out of my face while I’m sleeping.”
Finswick lifted his chin high in the air. “I, as your familiar, am linked to you. If you banish me, you’ll banish a part of yourself. Hurt me and you’ll feel pain.”
“Is that how it works? I think you’re making it up,” Azure challenged.
“Only one way to find out.” Finswick leapt from the bed, pawing at the door to Azure’s room and opening it. “Chop chop. The sun will be up in an hour. Let’s get going.”
Azure rolled her eyes and pushed the large comforter off of her legs, muttering to herself, “I have a feeling I’m going to regret allowing that cat to come on this trip.”
~~~
“Finswick, have you seen my hiking boots?” Azure called to the other room, where she could hear the cat clawing up the chaise lounge that sat in the corner.
The scratching stopped. “Yes. Your gran used a disappearing spell on them last night while you were sleeping,” Finswick said, a laugh in his voice.
Azure pulled her head out of the giant armoire, confused. “What? Why would the batty old woman do that?”
“Because if she can’t find them then she can’t wear them,” Finswick said in a voice meant to impersonate her gran’s.
“That damn witch.” Azure pulled the only pair of boots she could find from her closet and held up the knee-high footwear with a sneer. “She obviously wants me to break my neck, by the looks of it.”
“Probably, but she also said you had to keep up appearances while you were on the world tour, and muddy boots and a scraggly ponytail wouldn’t cut it.” Finswick peered around the open door, rubbing against it. “She actually washed me and brushed me with argan oil.”
Azure eyed the black and white cat. He did look sleeker. “Well, then are you planning on doing my hair? Because if not, then I’m throwing this mess into a ponytail.” She indicated her messy blue hair.
“I’ll do your hair if it will get you out of here quicker.”
“Why are you so antsy to get out of Virgo?” Azure asked.
“I’ve never been outside these borders. For a hundred years I’ve watched over you and the House of Enchanted, and now It’s my turn to have the adventure. Do you know that they have rats the size of small dogs in New Egypt?” Finswick asked, looking interested in her answer.
Azure grimaced. “That’s disgusting. On second thought, we’re not going to that kingdom.”
“The hell we’re not. I’m catching one of those rodents and mounting its head over our bed.”
Azure turned and looked at her canopy bed. “Uh, yeah, I don’t think so, Fin.”
“Get dressed! Your breakfast is already cold.”
“I haven’t even ordered it yet,” Azure protested.
“Yes, but I did. It was delivered an hour ago, when you should have been up.”
Azure huffed, but smiled inside. She was secretly thrilled for Finswick. He did deserve this trip. They’d see so much of Oriceran together, but it would be different than her other adventures because there would be no dangers. They could just sit back, enjoy the scenery, and relax.
“I’d be ready, but I can’t find my hiking pants…” Azure trailed away. “Wait, the old witch again?”
Finswick nodded. “She put a disappearing spell on anything that made you look common. Put on a dress and let’s go.”
“I can’t travel in a dress. That nutty old bag is out of her mind,” Azure said. She pulled a black skirt from the wardrobe. It wasn’t exactly appropriate for hiking, but it was better than the jewel-encrusted gowns in the armoire. The plain shirt she found next must have slipped by Gran too.
Azure threw on her clothes and plaited her hair into a loose braid. She was just about to head out of her chamber when she paused in the doorway. Something on the table caught her eye. Drago’s knife winked at her from the table, its shiny hilt catching the light from the fire, so she doubled back and grabbed it. The orc’s hand-forged weapon had served her well before. Maybe it would come in handy again if they encountered any danger.
~~~
“What in the hell?” Azure stepped out of the House to find a burgundy carriage encrusted with bits of gold and pulled by four green dragons.
“You’d better watch your tongue when you’re gallivanting about,” Gran said from the bottom of the stairs. She turned back to the carriage, focusing her attention on the coachman, who wore long black robes and a large matching hat. “Are you sure they don’t breathe fire?”
The wizard, who had a bluish-silver beard, smiled around the pipe in his mouth. “Mademoiselle, you asked for kind dragons and I have delivered. These are Baltic Long-tooths. They are docile, and extremely trainable” the wizard said, his voice thick with a foreign accent.
The green dragons had lowered their horned faces and were grazing on the green grass of the lawn. They swished their tails every now and then, but not enough to create any disturbance to the carriage’s hardware. Azure had never seen such well-behaved dragons.
“What exactly is going on? What is all this?” Azure asked, striding down the stairs. She clenched her long blue robes, she had pulled on, around her neck to keep the morning chill away.
“Surprise!” Gran said, turning to face her. She was enveloped in a fur-lined robe with a large collar that obscured her neck and part of her chin. “I wanted you to travel in style. Just imagine what the kingdoms will think when you show up in this.”
“That I’m completely insane?” Azure answered.
“I was going for eccentric and wealthy.”
“Gran, you might be able to hide my hiking pants and make me wear these ridiculous boots, but there’s no way I will travel across Oriceran in this.” Azure pointed to the carriage, which was lined with gold silk and had a gargoyle perched on each corner.
Gran looked at Azure, disapproval heavy in her eyes. “Where did you find that skirt?”
“Ha! You missed it, old woman. You’ll have to wake up earlier in the morning to put one over on me.”
“Please rest assured that your commoner clothing will all be burned while you’re gone. Now, I’ve gone ahead and loaded the carriage with gowns so I expect you to change and wear appropriate dress when traveling into the other realms.” Gran looked too pleased with herself. Azure should have known that the old woman’s silence of late had meant that she was plotting.
“Gran, there is no way I’ll sit idly in a carriage during the journey. I want to ride! And there can’t possibly be room for my entire party in there,” Azure said, pointing at the small vehicle. It looked like it would provide a dangerously bumpy ride.
“There’s room if you and Ever squeeze in close and you make Monet sit on top,” Gran
said with a devilish smile.
“Speaking of Monet, apparently he’s one step ahead of you.” In the distance Monet rode over the rolling green hills on a beautiful palomino. Behind him Laurel rode on a mostly white horse and Ever was in the rear on a reddish apache and was ponying another behind it. Manx ran behind them in horse form, but once he spotted Azure he sped up. The black stallion overtook the rest and halted with a huff.
“What are these?” Gran asked, pointing at the horses.
“Wow, your gran is going senile,” Monet said, in a loud whisper to Azure.
“You have no idea. The antique has lost her damn mind,” Azure said, pointing at the carriage. “She expects me to ride in that.”
“It’s a perfectly adequate conveyance for a queen. I would have been honored to travel Oriceran in such a ride,” Gran said.
“I think I’ll take a horse, if it’s all the same to you,” Azure said, smiling politely at the coachman as he disembarked.
“Are my services not needed?” the man asked.
“No, you’ll still have to deliver my granddaughter’s trunks to her locations. And when she wises up and realizes I was right, she’ll join you,” Gran said to him.
He nodded, bowing slightly to Gran before turning to Azure. “I look forward to accompanying you on your journey, Mademoiselle. My name is Oak, and I will provide you safe travel as well as the protection of my dragons. They sense evil, and have many mysterious ways of banishing it.” Oak extended his hand to Azure, which she wrung. How could she refuse such an offer? Although it did seem absurd to have this man travel across Oriceran just to transport a bunch of frilly dresses.
“Thank you. I’m really intrigued by your dragons. You called them…”
“Baltic Long-tooths,” Oak said supplied. “They are wickedly wonderful creatures.”
“They sound about like someone I know,” Azure said, casting a sideways glance at her gran.
Ever had dismounted and stepped to Azure’s side, but was not really looking at her. “So we will ride in a caravan? That seems like a smart approach.”
“Orrrrrrrr?” Monet asked with one finger in the air and a mischievous look on his pale face.
“Or what?” Azure asked, intrigued to find out what he’d offer.
“Or we race in teams to the first location, New Egypt. First one there gets one thousand points. We will do it for each new place,” Monet said in a rehearsed fashion.
“What are the points good for?” Azure asked, although she had a sneaky suspicion she already knew.
“Bragging rights!” Monet said victoriously, raising his finger all the way into the air.
Azure shrugged and turned to Ever and Laurel. “Fine with me. What do you think?”
“I’m not so sure…” Laurel said, staring at her horse. She didn’t look comfortable riding yet, but then it took practice.
“Well, as long as you ride in the carriage in the cities, I for one love the idea. I will send word to the kingdoms—it will give them something to look forward to. Who will they spot first? Team One,” Gran said, pointing to Azure and Ever, “or Team Two?” She pointed to Monet and Laurel.
“What about me?” Oak asked, thrusting his thumbs into his sides.
“You’re Team Three, and my money is on you and the dragons,” Gran said slyly.
“Wait, who said you get to decide teams?” Monet asked.
“Age and experience. The Light Elf with the witch, the werecat with the wizard. It’s basic math,” Gran said, hiding a sneaky grin.
“What about me?” Finswick asked from beside Azure, offense in his voice.
“You’re with me, of course,” Azure said, hoping to keep him happy. He’d been looking forward to this so much.
“Then you’re with us, Manx,” Monet said to the black stallion. Manx turned into a small black cat and arched his back in protest in front of Finswick.
“May the best cat win,” Manx said, narrowing his eyes at the other feline.
“Well, since poser cats can’t win, it looks like I have this in the bag,” Finswick said as Azure scooped him up. She handed him to Gran to hold while she got onto her horse, then took her familiar and positioned him safely in front of her.
Azure gave her gran a look and winked before facing forward. Goodbyes had never been their thing. She’d hugged her mom and dad the night before, but there would be no such demonstration between her and Gran.
“Okay, so we’re off on a great race?” Azure asked.
“Yes, off to New Egypt to win a thousand bragging points,” Monet said.
Azure cast a sideways look at Ever. “Come on, partner. Let’s show them how to do this.” And they set off, leaving the carriage and Gran in the dust.
CHAPTER FOUR
Manx, in raven form, flew over Azure’s and Ever’s heads. Without warning he dropped down into stallion form, making them yank hard on their reins to avoid running into him.
“Damn it, Manx! If you weren’t so fucking big then I’d just run over you,” Azure threatened. The pooka changed back into a raven and flapped his wings to gain height.
“I don’t think you mean that, Queen,” he squawked down.
Azure’s horse gained speed again, but Monet and Laurel were now a good distance off now.
“We can catch up,” Ever encouraged.
“Yeah, if Manx will stop messing with us.” Azure angled her horse to the side, trying to get out from underneath the raven overhead.
He swooped down again, this time changing into a small black fox. Azure was just about to trample the fox who was resting on the ground, looking up at her with large eyes. She jerked the reins, nearly dumping herself off her horse.
“For fuck’s sake, are you trying to kill me?” she yelled.
Manx shifted to back to a raven, a satisfied expression on his bird face. “No, but now I’ve proven my point. You won’t run me over.”
“I didn’t, but things could change.” Azure threw her hand wide. “Look how far in the lead they are now.” Monet and Laurel were just spots in the distance.
“Hey, follow me. I know a short cut.” Ever angled his horse into a ravine off the mountain ridge the others had taken.
“How do you know a shortcut? You’re not even from Virgo.” It would be a while before they hit the border.
Ever dipped his chin and flashed her a rebellious smile. “Knowing the land is in my blood. I learn it quickly.”
Azure directed her horse to follow Ever. “Okay, well let’s hope you’re right, because I want those points.”
“Don’t worry. You picked the right partner for this race. Now we just have to work on sabotage.” Ever pointed up at the ridge, where Monet and Laurel could be seen up ahead. Azure and the Light Elf had already made up some of the distance.
“Sabotage, eh?” Azure shot Finswick a look. “What do you think?”
“I think Monet is a snake and you should surround him with his kind,” Finswick said.
“Good idea.” Azure pulled her wand from her robe, directed it into the distance, and muttered an incantation.
From the sky, just in front of Monet and Laurel six snakes dropped through the air and landed at the feet of their horses, who reacted immediately by bucking and nearly throwing off their riders. It had been a mean trick, but Azure knew the two would mostly find it funny.
“Damn you, Queen Jerk-Face!” Monet’s voice echoed back. Manx dove again, turning into a dog this time and racing after the snakes.
“Good one,” Ever said. They sped up to maximize their time while the others were distracted.
“Will we make New Egypt by nightfall?” Azure asked.
“At this pace we will make it before lunch.” Ever rode just in front of Azure, his back straight and eyes scanning the upcoming territory. It was true that few understood the land better than Ever. Azure felt safe with him. He was competent, and relied on his instincts in a way she’d never seen before. That was one reason she’d asked him to accompany them on this trip.
<
br /> “How is your father?” Azure asked, pulling her horse next to his when the path widened.
Ever brought his piercing blue eyes away from the land and looked directly at Azure. “He’s never been so happy. Like many in Virgo, he’s been reset and realizes how much he took for granted before he was frozen into a statue.”
“It appears that many have benefited from what could have been an incredible tragedy,” Azure observed.
Finswick yawned and curled up, looking strangely comfortable on the neck of the horse.
“He wanted me to pass along his gratitude to you. He says now he understands why I decided to join your council and stay full time in Virgo, although he was surprised at first,” Ever said.
“Oh, and why is that?” Azure asked.
“I’ve never stayed anywhere full-time.”
“I realize that horse isn’t a couch and I’m not a shrink, but you want to dive into the whys and reasons?” Azure asked.
“I believe those are the same thing,” Ever argued, a clever grin on his mouth.
“Yes, finally someone gets it. I’m so tired of people saying ‘the reason why.’ It’s repetitive.”
“Wow!” Ever exclaimed with a laugh. “I didn’t take you for someone who cared much about semantics.”
“Let’s call it a hobby of sorts.”
Ever cleared his throat and his jaw tensed. “Belonging in one place always seemed like something other people did. I, on the other hand, was intrigued by new places and opportunities. Why limit myself when the wind blows me every which way?”
“Which is why things didn’t work out with you and Seraphina, right? You didn’t want to remain on Earth.”
“Correct.” Ever gazed upward to the ridge; they were ahead of Monet and Laurel now. The snake trick had worked and the ravine was easier to negotiate than the ridge, making their progress faster.
“What’s changed, that you’re willing to stay in one place?” Azure asked.
“As long as we’re discussing semantics, willing is the wrong word. Willing makes it sound like a compromise or agreement. I truly want to be there. It feels like… I don’t know, a home of sorts.”
