“Jubs are carrion eaters and are known to carry many kinds of diseases. Their saliva also prevents blood from clotting so that any live animals bitten will bleed to death and would be easier for the Jubs to safely wait and watch then come in for the kill. Chances are you’ve got a very nasty infection. You’ll need some help.”
“We need to be on our way, Haigha. So, Jack now you know where you are …” Lily pressed. Then she pointed toward the sky. “Storm’s coming, no wonder the Jubs were desperate for a meal.”
Haigha looked at the dark line of clouds appearing across the horizon. “Probably by nightfall, I’m afraid. And it looks to be a bad one. We should be indoors for it. Miss Lily, a word in private, please?”
Lily cursed under her breath. She stepped in close to Haigha and the two of them had a very short exchange, a lot of it was pointing inland and then pointing to Jack and finally ending with Lily throwing her hands up in frustration.
“We are three brooks over from Lily’s mother's shop in De'Phyve. Not far. You are welcome to come back with us. You look like you are getting worse.”
“Don’t even think about trying anything, offlander,” added Lily. “This is just for the night. Then you are on your way.”
“Don’t worry. I’m trying to get as far away from here as possible,” Jack replied. “De’Phyve? Well that puts me more than halfway there. Look, I need to get to First Rank,” he said. Jack had been trying to mask a weakly nauseous feeling that had suddenly washed over him once they began the walk back up the beach to the tree line; inland to De’Phyve. He followed the other two, with Lily leading the way.
“Are you talking about going to Castling? Impossible,” Lily delivered an emphatic and decisive dismissal of Jack’s plan. “You cannot get into the queen's castle,” said Lily.
“I can—” Jack insisted. “I, uh… left a few things behind,” Jack added, suddenly realizing he was shivering. They walked along a path that wound around tall trees and through the fern covered forest floor. Dappled sunlight swayed along the dirt trail and it was all Jack could do to keep focused on walking.
“An offlander? Ha! And a delusional one, Haigha, just our luck!” said Lily almost breaking into laughter. “I don’t know what your game is, but even those from Ranqtoo don’t just walk in to Castling.”
“I told you,” said Jack. “I am not exactly an offlander. How else would I know about these locations?”
“Good point,” said Haigha. “I must apologize for Lily; she is not very trusting of offlanders.”
“Well, I know plenty of offlanders and I wouldn’t trust them either,” said Jack, joking weakly. “Castling is probably pretty empty,” he continued. “Most of Wonderland’s army is off invading my land at the moment, so I don’t think Castling is well guarded right now.”
“Wonderland’s army is invading?” This news had piqued Lily’s interest. “It’s been a long time since the army has mobilized or invaded anywhere in Wonderland, much less an outside realm. Mother would be interested to hear about this.”
“Why is that?” Jack asked, wiping cold sweat from his warm forehead, he struggled to keep up with Lily and Haigha along the path. Jack barely noticed they had crossed a small wooden footbridge that spanned a rocky stream that had cut its way through a shallow, moss-lined gully.
“My Mother is the White Queen, and the true ruler of Wonderland,” answered Lily proudly.
“I thought… isn’t Alice the ruler of Wonderland?” asked Jack.
“Alice is a name not spoken fondly in these parts, offlander,” Lily warned, not bothering to look back at Jack as they continued walking. “You’d be wise to not get into any discussion about her,” she said. Not getting any response from the offlander, Lily decided to continue with further explanation. “She stole the crown from my mother, and from me,” said Lily still leading down the trail. “Just to let you know you are in the company of the one who should have been the next rightful heir to the throne of Wonderland!” Lily replied, a mix of pride, anger and bitterness in her tone; this time she glanced back to gauge the offlander’s reaction.
Lily stopped. Haigha stopped also and looked back at Jack.
Jack had collapsed face down, lying motionless in the middle of the trail.
CHAPTER 38
IN A FIERY CHARIOT DRAWN BY DRAGONS
Matakin, Present Day.
Fae Gaia watched the celebrations of the honey banquet from far up amid the dusky shadows of the rocky cliff s underneath the Queen of Fayres’ castle. In the distance she could hear sounds of laughter and music, and see the distant warm glow of party lanterns and firelight as the banquet started at dusk and continued as the bright full moon glided across the horizon. Even the smell of the freshly baked honey breads wafted along the warm night breeze. There was a part of Fae Gaia that wished more than ever to be down there, dancing and flying along with the fairies and playing games with the animals. But it was Fae Gaia’s more tempered side, the human mortal body her fairy spirit was fused with, and that grew restless as she waited for Day, Morning and Azure to arrive. Time was wasting. At the height of the honey banquet all of the fairies and everyone else, including the fairy court and the Queen of Fayres herself would be down there, immersed in the noise and distraction of the biggest festival of Matakin. It would be easy to sneak into the vault.
“They should be here by now,” she sighed in frustration as shifted herself more comfortably against the rocks. “After all, it was their idea to break into the Queen of Fayres’ vault and steal the dragons. Maybe I should just leave on my own,” Fae Gaia said aloud to herself. “It might be better that way. What’s the Queen of Fayres going to do to stop me really?” Fae Gaia said.” I flew here, I’ll fly back,” she looked up at the castle, high on the cliff above her. “Still, Day is right; dragons would be helpful in a war.”
Then Fae Gaia heard a soft “pssssst” from above her on the rocky path and looked to see the bright and happy faces of Day and Morning, peering out from the rocks giving eager waves.
“Where’s Azure?” Fae Gaia whispered loudly as she quickly made her way to them. They had changed their outfits into simpler peasant clothes and seemed freshly cleaned for their trip; each carried with them a simple strapped canvas pack, each pack almost bursting at the straps, as they were packed so full.
“We thought she would be with you,” Morning said.
Fae Gaia shook her head with disappointment. “Azure is a great fairy and a dear friend, but somewhat prone to distraction, I’m afraid.”
Day and Morning led Fae Gaia through of series of tightly walled pathways and crevasses, slipping under boulders in a rocky scramble. Morning explained, “With all of the time we’ve stayed here, we’d go and explore every area of Matakin. And one day we found this trail that leads into the vault.”
Ahead of them was a tall narrow fissure that one could only enter by shimmying through in a side step.
“An easy enough path for children who are small enough to pass through,” Fae Gaia remarked, giving a huff as she scrambled through the rocky path. Unbuckling her scabbard from her back to better fit in the crevasse, she ducked down on to her hands and knees and was barely able to squeeze through the final part of the passage, following the children through a particularly tight group of rocks. They emerged into a large room, the Vault the children had called it.
The Vault was really more of a cavernous room of artifacts on display than any sort of sealed tomb. Polished stone floors met with rough stone cavern, with great relics of Fae antiquities floating about in magical bubbles, their magic cast a warm soft glow throughout the room.
Fae Gaia marveled for a moment, her fusion to the human mortal body made her Fae memories clouded. She could not recall ever seeing this room.
“The bubbles hold such curious and odd artifacts,” Morning said, pulling her light blonde hair behind her small ear, as she curiously gazed through the one of the bubbles. “We’ve looked at them all. When you approach, the swirling interference on
the surface of the bubble forms words that tell you what it is in the bubble.”
Fae Gaia stepped closed to a bubble that enclosed an odd pair of boots. Just as Morning had explained it, the swirling colors of the bubble formed the words BOOTS OF SEVEN LEAGUES- WORN BY A DWARF.
“The bubbles only open to the Fae,” Day added. “We’ve never been able to open these, or else we would have used something like those boots you were looking at to get off of Matakin along time ago.”
Morning looked about with casual familiarity as Day pointed to anther bubble nearby.
“This one is Prince Ivan’s Firebird feather and a golden cage” Day read aloud.
“Prince Ivan?” Fae Gaia repeated as a foggy memory began to be recalled. Fae Gaia looked around at the bubbles nearby, and quickly she found what she was looking for.
“An old friend from way back, the Gray Wolf, was friends with a Prince Ivan… Ah! Here it is!” Fae Gaia exclaimed. “The water of life and death!”
In another floating bubble were two small and ornately carved slender glass flasks that rested on a small leather satchel. One glass flask was full of continuously sparkling water, and the other flask was full of a very heavy, still water.
“The still water restores the body. The sparkling water restores the life. Perfect!” She said. With a magical wave of her hand, Fae Gaia was able to unlock the bubble’s magic. Then cautiously, she reached in and pulled the two bottles forth. Placing them in the leather satchel, she threw the strap over her head, cross her chest and it rested securely on her shoulder. “This will come in rather useful for when I return,” Fae Gaia patted the small brown satchel.
But the major display in the room was the dragon drawn chariot. Arching over the whole of the cavern was a large crystalline form. Held within were three great dragons, frozen in mid-flight, their dramatic formation arching high above the whole expanse of the vault like a giant wave, frozen as its crest was about to break. From the golden chariot, it rose up, spreading across as three dragons had fanned out their great wings, all of which was timelessly encased in transparent crystal. Forming an arc, the wingtip of the one dragon touched the floor in a distant corner in a graceful crystalline stalactite column that fused to the ground. Secured on the opposite side, the formation arched well above Fae Gaia and the others; the wingtip of the furthest dragon on the far right touched similarly to the towering rocky wall of the cavern. Well above them they could see the bright moonlight shining down from the opening at the top.
“The dragons are too big to be held in a bubble,” Day said excitedly. “But with your wand you can free them!”
“You want me to release dragons? Fire-breathing dragons?” asked Fae Gaia suppressing her surprise somewhat. Suddenly this did not seem like a good idea, she thought to herself.
“Don’t worry, the dragons aren’t dangerous as long as they have the harnesses on them,” Day assured Fae Gaia.
“And how do you know? Have you actually seen this to be true?” asked Fae Gaia, she was not about to release any fire-breathing dragons on a fanciful whim of children, no matter how old the children actually were.
“The Queen of Fayres told us,” Morning explained, rolling her eyes at the insinuation they would want to release fire-breathing dragons without so much as a plan. “The magic of the fiery chariot’s harness will keep them docile enough to be driven by reins. How else would a fairy ride in a fiery chariot drawn by dragons?”
“She told us everything about everything in this room, when she first took us in,” Day explained further, “I guess to keep our minds off of our mother’s death, Queen Aurora’s, that is.”
“Give us your wand then, and we’ll do it,” offered Morning interjecting with a big smile, she held out her hand. “Where is your wand, anyway?”
Fae Gaia reached over her shoulder and drew forth her long slender sword, with ethereal mist falling into evaporating licks from the glowing blade. “This is my wand, not the typical fairy type wand, and I will hold on to it, thank you.”
With some trepidation, Fae Gaia walked beneath the dragons coming to a point where, her arm trembling slightly, she reached up with her ethereal sword and lightly touched the crystalline encasement. From the point of contact, fine cracks began to spread about in a growing spider web of fractures, racing quickly over the entire crystal. Fae Gaia pushed off quickly, her fairy wings fluttered in alarm as she drew back to a safer distance as Day and Morning quickly ran out of harm’s way.
The great weight of the dragons gave way as their crystalline supports gave way. With a deep booming crash the three dragons each landed on the floor of the vault, shattered crystal falling around about them with an echoing tinkle as the pieces hit the hard floor.
“Magnificent beasts,” Day marveled as he softly patted one of the dragons on the shoulder
“And well mannered,” added Morning. “They are quite tame … for dragons.”
Morning quickly set to check the dragons’ harnesses.
“We need to hurry,” Fae Gaia reminded them.
Day went over and inspected the large golden chariot. The front was sloped and wedged. It was heavy and strongly built as something that was pulled with the strength of three dragons needed to be. The chariot’s thick walls had etchings and textured carvings throughout and large wheels with delicate spokes. Day walked around to the open back, ornate handles and a delicate step rail invited him to step up inside. The chariot’s walls were tall enough that all but Day’s head and shoulders were visible. Spreading his arms out wide; he was not able to touch either side of the chariot.
“There’s plenty of room for us.” he said. There was even a chest to stow their bags. Then Day saw the thick leather driving reins. Each dragon harness had a set of two very long reins that were gathered about on three large cleats on the front of the chariot. Day reached out to hold them and as he did, the chariot erupted with magical flame. It startled Day at first and in a moment of panic dropped the reins. As he did the fires disappeared. When he touched the reins again, the harmless flames came alive again engulfing the chariot in a fiery display.
“Whoa,” Day exclaimed under his breath.
“Brother, come and help me check the harnesses,” Morning asked.
Day hopped down and went to help his sister finish adjusting the harness.
“I only wish Azure had shown up,” Fae Gaia said turning to help Day and Morning secure the last of the harnesses. “She would have been excited to see this.”
Day and Morning stopped abruptly, even the dragons paused, suddenly bowing their heads. Fae Gaia was still facing the two children, growing puzzled as to why everyone suddenly stopped. She was about to speak to Morning and her brother, when she heard a new but familiar voice behind her. Whirling around, Fae Gaia finally realized what everyone had been looking at.
“I’m sorry.” It was Azure, her blue locks of hair hung about her lowered face, too ashamed to even look at her friend. Standing next to her, almond shaped eyes smoldering in anger, was the Queen of Fayres.
Fae Gaia’s stomach dropped. “Azure!” She said, taking a step forward. “How could you?”
“ I was wondering why you weren’t at the Honey Banquet, Fae Gaia, now I see it’s because you are stealing my dragons,” the Queen of Fayres said.
“I’m sorry,” Azure cried out again, choking back her tears. “I was just going to stop at the Honey Banquet for a little bit, maybe bring some of the butter bread for your trip back and…”
“Oh, dear Azure, why did you have to go to the honey banquet?” Fae Gaia asked wistfully shaking her head. From behind the Queen of Fayres the others of the fairy court began to stream in through the main doors.
“Don’t be mad at Azure,” the Queen of Fayres interrupted. “It was not out of malice. It’s not really her fault. I had bumped into Azure and was simply asking where you were. Azure is not a very good liar.”
Fae Gaia wasn’t sure who she could not stand more at the moment, Azure for her unintentional betray
al or the Queen of Fayres with her snide, measured tone as she spoke. Then she turned her attention to Fae Gaia’s two accomplices. “Day and Morning, you two should be ashamed,” the Queen of Fayres scolded. “You have disappointed me greatly. Tonight you act like the children you so claim you are better than. This is not what I expect of those who are to act their age.”
“We’ve wanted to leave for years now and you never listen! You never let us leave Matakin,” Morning answered back.
“I’ve kept you here for your own protection, from a cruel human world. And this treachery is how you repay me?” The Queen of Fayres replied. “Besides, I have forbidden any Fae from leaving Matakin,” the Queen of Fayres turned to face her court, reminding the room with a calm voice filled with icy words. “So why would you even try?” she said. “Do I not provide a just and fair rule in Matakin? Do I not provide prosperity to my children? Why leave when there is not a need for want? Why steal from the one who gives her all to everyone, asking little in return?” With her slender arms outstretched, the Queen of Fayres faced her subjects and added, “and all I ask in return is a small gesture of compliance.”
Polite applause rolled through the crowd of court members, approving again of the Queen of Fayres as she spoke.
“Here’s another gesture for you!” Day shouted from behind. There came a sharp crack of the long reigns, as the chariot burst into licks of magical orange flame, the sound of applause was interrupted and had turned into startled gasps. Day and Morning brought the chariot to blazing life and urged the dragons to take flight, much to the complete surprise of the court members and the Queen herself. As the Queen of Fayres turned around, she saw the dragons straining against their bridles and with great strength in their wings took to the air. Day and Morning were safely in the chariot as they drove upwards, heading toward the opening in the ceiling. Flying up into the open night sky the fiery chariot circled just above the cavern exit.
Shards Of The Glass Slipper: Queen Alice Page 14
